A30243:851
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.
Fourthly, Therefore may we not trust in these, because we many times abuse 1them to a contrary end for which God gave them; he gave them to be instruments of much glory to God, and good to others. If God give thee honours, dignities, success, wealth, thou art to be glad of them no further then they may make thee serviceable to God; Thou dost not look at thy own ease, thy own profit by them, but only attend unto the serviceableness thou mayest be capable of thereby: But oh how rare is this! Rich men are the greatest men in debt of all others; they are much to God, much to the public, much to others necessities; now what comfort canst thou take if God bless thee with these things, if thou dost not also find him making thee thereby instrumental to his glory? If thou keepest all the good mercies God vouchsafeth to thee, as the Ants and Pismires do their grain and corn which they hide in their little hills, and as they say, bite it that it may not grow.
Fourthly, Therefore may we not trust in these, because we many times abuse 1them to a contrary end for which God gave them; he gave them to be instruments of much glory to God, and good to others. If God give thee honours, dignities, successe, wealth, thou art to be glad of them no further then they may make thee serviceable to God; Thou dost not look at thy own ease, thy own profit by them, but only attend unto the serviceablenesse thou maiest be capable of thereby: But oh how rare is this! Rich men are the greatest men in debt of all others; they are much to God, much to the publick, much to others necessities; now what comfort canst thou take if God blesse thee with these things, if thou dost not also finde him making thee thereby instrumental to his glory? If thou keepest all the good mercies God vouchsafeth to thee, as the Ants and Pismires do their grain and corn which they hide in their little hils, and as they say, bite it that it may not grow.
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