A30243:850
Spiritual refining
Spiritual refining: or A treatise of grace and assurance Wherein are handled, the doctrine of assurance. The use of signs in self-examination. How true graces may be distinguished from counterfeit. Several true signs of grace, and many false ones. The nature of grace under divers Scripture notions or titles, as regeneration, the new-creature, the heart of flesh, vocation, sanctification, &c. Many chief questions (occasionally) controverted between the orthodox and the Arminians. As also many cases of conscience. Tending to comfort and confirm saints. Undeceive and convert sinners. Being CXX sermons preached and now published by Anthony Burgess sometime fellow of Emanuel College in Cambridge, and now pastor of the church of Sutton-Coldfield in Warwickshire.Spiritual refining: or A treatise of grace and assurance Wherein are handled, the doctrine of assurance. The use of signs in self-examination. How true graces may be distinguished from counterfeit. Several true signs of grace, and many false ones. The nature of grace under divers Scripture notions or titles, as regeneration, the new-creature, the heart of flesh, vocation, sanctification, &c. Many chief questions (occasionally) controverted between the orthodox and the Arminians. As also many cases of conscience. Tending to comfort and confirm saints. Undeceive and convert sinners. Being CXX sermons preached and now published by Anthony Burgess sometime fellow of Emanuel Colledge in Cambridge, and now pastor of the church of Sutton-Coldfield in Warwickshire.
London: printed by A. Miller for Thomas Underhill, 1652
Title page typeset from the transcription.
A TREATISE OF GRACE and ASSURANCE; Being CXX. SERMONS. › Section 3 › Sermon 31
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Thirdly, Therefore may we not trust in outward prosperity, because God 1many times giveth a man all the good things he shall have in this life only; and afterwards there is nothing but everlasting woe and misery. Thus Abraham answered Dives in hell, Remember thou receivedst good things in thy life time. Now this is an heavy doom if men did rightly consider it. Thou hast much abundance, much ease, thou thrivest and growest fat in the world, thou eatest and drinkest, and makest merry. Oh fear lest God give thee all thy good things in this life only! What a wonderful change was made with Dives and Lazarus; the one having only good in this life meeteth with only evil, not a drop of water to cool his tongue; the other having nothing but evil, meeteth with that which is altogether happy. You may read in Judges about Gideons fleece, how that was first all wet, and then the floor dry, afterwards the floor was wholly wet, and the fleece dry. Thus Dives in this life, Soul, take thy ease, for thou hast much good laid up for thee; in the other life, Soul tremble and plunge thy self in horror, for thou hast much torment and wrath treasured up for thee, all is changed.
Thirdly, Therefore may we not trust in outward prosperity, because God 1many times giveth a man all the good things he shall have in this life only; and afterwards there is nothing but everlasting woe and misery. Thus Abraham answered Dives in hell, Remember thou receivedst good things in thy life time. Now this is an heavy doom if men did rightly consider it. Thou hast much abundance, much ease, thou thrivest and growest fat in the world, thou eatest and drinkest, and makest merry. Oh fear lest God give thee all thy good things in this life only! What a wonderfull change was made with Dives and Lazarus; the one having only good in this life meeteth with only evil, not a drop of water to cool his tongue; the other having nothing but evil, meeteth with that which is altogether happy. You may read in Judges about Gid•ons fleece, how that was first all wet, and then the floor dry, afterwards the floor was wholly wet, and the fleece dry. Thus Dives in this life, Soul, take thy ease, for thou hast much good laid up for thee; in the other life, Soul tremble and plunge thy self in horrour, for thou hast much torment and wrath treasured up for thee, all is changed.