A30243:914
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 33
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.
when we have desires and affections to duties, how many times are we diverted, and through laziness or distractions interrupted, but grace carrieth us out to the work it self. There is also corroborating grace, whereby the principles of holiness, being weak and unsteady, are confirmed and strengthened more and more; for grace though it keeps us from sin, yet carrieth us on to holiness weakly and faintly. Thus he prayed, I believe, help my unbelief, Mar. 9. 24. Thus the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh, that many times they do the things they would not, Gal. 5. 17. Paul calls this to be strong in the might of the Lord; and I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me. Paul hath a kind of omnipotency, and to him all things are possible, because possible to grace which enableth him. Lastly, There is persevering Grace; for let a man be furnished with all the former fruits of grace, yet if this of perseverance be not added, their works are not crowned; when we do things [Greek or Hebrew], then they are [Greek or Hebrew], as they are often put one for another. Its not of the essence of grace to continue always in the subject where it is, for then Adam and the Angels could not have fallen. It is therefore a distinct work of grace to give perseverance from the first infusion of it.
when we have desires and affections to duties, how many times are we diverted, and through lazinesse or distractions interrupted, but grace carrieth us out to the work it self. There is also corroborating grace, whereby the principles of holinesse, being weak and unsteady, are confirmed and strengthned more and more; for grace though it keeps us from sin, yet carrieth us on to holinesse weakly and faintly. Thus he praied, I believe, help my unbelief, Mar. 9. 24. Thus the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh, that many times they do the things they would not, Gal. 5. 17. Paul cals this to be strong in the might of the Lord; and I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me. Paul hath a kinde of omnipotency, and to him all things are possible, because possible to grace which inableth him. Lastly, There is persevering Grace; for let a man be furnished with all the former fruits of grace, yet if this of perseverance be not added, their works are not crowned; when we do things , then they are , as they are often put one for another. Its not of the essence of grace to continue alwaies in the subject where it is, for then Adam and the Angels could not have fallen. It is therefore a distinct work of grace to give perseverance from the first infusion of it.