PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Complete Works of Thomas Manton — Volume 10
Thomas Manton · 317,241 words · 313 reading sections
Section 61
[2.] For the soul ; the soul's evils arise from a lively and effectual sense of the wrath of God, and the gnawings of conscience. There is a fire and a worm, Mark ix. 44, the wrath of God and the horrors of 96 SERMONS UPON MATTHEW XXV. [SeR, XXVI. conscience. There is an allusion to the worms that breed in dead bodie…
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2. There is the sense of their present pain. Here, when we are corrected, we are senseless, like stocks and stones ; but there must needs be feeling, because there is nothing to mitigate their torment, no carnal comforts wherein to steep conscience, no carnal companions that can be a comfort to us : the more we look up…
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[2.] It is without intermission : Eev. xx. 10, ' They shall be tor- mented day and night, for ever and ever.' Not a drop to cool their VeR. 41.] SERMONS UPON MATTHEW XXV. 99 tongues. Here sin is everlasting ; all day it runneth in the mind, and all night it playeth in the fancy. Wicked men begin the morning with it, …
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First, A distinction of the persons ; these and the righteous. See the last sermon on 2 Cor. v. 10. Secondly, As there arc different persons, so different recompenses. See 2 Cor. v 10. Thirdly, Observe, these different recompenses are dispensed with respect to the different qualifications and state of the persons jud…
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102 SERMONS UPON MATTHEW XXV. [SeR. XXVII. Fourtlilij, Observe, first, the wicked are described by sins of omis- sion ; as ver. 42, 43. Tliose that have not visited, not clothed, not fed, not harboured ; these shall go into everlasting punishment. But the righteous, by their faithfulness in good works, or acts of self…
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[2.] If the omission be total: Jer. x. 25, 'Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name;' Ps. xiv. 2, 'JSTone seeketh after God.' [3.] If a duty be seasonable ; the feeding the hungry, <fec., as ver. 44, ' When saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a strange…
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Fifthly, Observe the notions whereby their different estate in the other Avorld is expressed, punishment and life. See sermon last, on 2 Cor. v. 10. VeR. 46.] SERMONS UPON MATTHEW XXV. 105 Sixthly, Observe, eternity is affixed to both ; everlasting punish- ment and eternal life. See last sermon on 2 Cor. v. 10. Seve…
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Well, then, let this be considered by us seriously and often and deeply, that everlasting woe and weal is in the case. Meat well chewed nourishetli the more, but being swallowed whole breedeth crudities ; so when we swallow truths without rumination or consi- deration, we do not feel the virtue of them ; they do not ex…
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[2.] Observe Christ's order and method. From preaching he de- scendeth to prayer ; the word worketh not without the divine grace. We may open the word, but God must open the understanding, Luke xxiv, 28, with 45. Christ himself, you see, sealeth his doctrine with the seal of prayer. Moral suasion worketh not without a …
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2. Spiritual reverence of God : ' The heavens are his throne and dwelling-place,' Ps. ciii. 19. There his majesty and power shineth forth, there we behold his majesty, in that sublime and stately fabric. Earthly kings, that their majesty may appear the greater to their sub- jects, have their thrones exalted, and made o…
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2. That we might have a copy of his intercession. Christ is good at interceding ; he gave the world a taste in his last prayer. It is a pledge of those continual groans which, as a mediator of the church, he putteth up for us in heaven. We have an excellent advocate : 1 John ii. 2, ' If any man sin, we have an advocate…
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Secondly, The next thing is why Christ spake aloud in prayer. I answer — He might have prayed in silence, but he would be our advocate, but so that he might be our teacher. When he prayed for us, he prayed publicly and with a loud voice, for our comfort and instruction, and to give vent to the strength of his affectio…
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2. Christ was about to suffer bitter things from the hand of God, and yet he calleth him Father. In afflictions, we must still look upon God as a Father, and behave ourselves as children. Christ felt him a judge, yet counts him a father. God, as a judge, was now about to lay on him the sufferings of all the elect, yet …
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2. That hour which was determined and foretold in the prophecies. God doth all things in fit seasons ; he hath his days and hours. Daniel ' understood by books the number of the years,' Dan. ix. 2 ; Hah. ii. 3, ' The vision is for an appointed time.' It easeth the heart of much distraction when we consider there is a p…
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7. The act of Christ's death was quickly over ; it was but a short sjiace of time ; he calleth it an hour : Ps. ex. 7, de torrente hibet, ' He shall drink of the brook in the way ; ' a draught of death : ' He tasted death for every one,' Heb. ii. 9. At one draught he drunk hell dry as to the elect. Ohject. But we were…
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But how doth Christ pray, ' Glorify me,' when he saitli elsewhere, John viii. 5, ' I seek not my own glory ' ? I answer — Christ speaketh there of himself in the judgment of his adversaries, who thought him a mere man, and showeth that he came not as an impostor, to seek himself. God would well enough provide for his …
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' That thy Son also may glorify thee.' — Here is another argument. It is usual in prayer to speak of ourselves in a third person ; so doth Christ here, ' That thy Son may glorify thee.' This may be understood many ways ; partly as the glory of the Son is the glory of the Father ; partly by accomplishing God's work ; th…
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How must this be done ? [1.] By reverent thoughts of his excellency, especially in worship ; then we honour him when we behave ourselves before him as before a great God ; this is to make him glorious in our own hearts, when we conceive of him as more excellent than all things. Usually we have mean base thoughts, by w…
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[2.] In his rising to glory he still eyed us ; when he went to heaven he went thither on our errand, to seize upon it in our right, and to prepare it for our coming : John xiv. 3, 'I go to prepare a place for you.' Not so much to be glorified himself, as to get us thither : Heb. ix. 24, €fj.(f)avicr9r]vai, ' There to a…
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[4,] Christ is really put into a greater capacity to do us good. (1.) He hath seized on heaven in our right : John xiv. 3, ' I go to prepare a place for you.' God the Father prepared it by his decree ; but Christ, by his ascension, went to hold it in our name ; he took possession of it for himself, and his people, and…
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1. I may observe something from that, ' As thou hast given him.' The memory of former benefits is an encouragement to ask anew. Experience begetteth confidence. The heart is much confirmed when faith hath sense and experience on its side ; and the belief of what is to come is facilitated by considering what is past. We…
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1. That Christ is true God, for otherwise he could not have such an absolute power. It is proper to his divine nature, though, as it is a gift, his W'hole person God-man be invested with it. He is called the only God, not excluding the Father, who subsisteth with him in the same essence, but including the Son : Isa. xl…
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Use 2. An invitation to bring in men to Christ. Oh ! who would not choose him to be Lord that, whether we will or no, is our master ? He can hold thee by the chains of an invincible providence, that art not held with the bonds of duty. Oh ! it is better to touch the golden sceptre than to be broken with the iron rod, a…
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134 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [SeR. II. merit but as they come from the grace of God, and are washed with the blood of Christ. But neither salve will serve for this sore. [1.] It is not enough to ascribe grace to God. All justiciaries will do so. The pharisee said, God, I thank thee I am so and so. You confound the cov…
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[3.] This life is begun, and carried on by degrees. (1.) The foundation of it is laid in regeneration : then do we begin to live when Christ beginneth to live in us ; and we may reckon from that day when, in the power of his life, we began to advance towards heaven ; for then there was a seed laid of a life which cann…
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VeR. 2.] SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. 137 2. Who are they that are given to Christ ? I answer — The elect are intended in this scripture, as is clear : ' He hath a power over all flesh,' but, ' to give eternal life to as many as are given to him.' So ver. 24, ' I will that all they whom thou liast given me may be with me.'…
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Use 1. Comfort to believers. 1. Concerning the safety of their eternal estate. Christ bargained for thee by name. That the Father and the Son should pitch upon such a forlorn and wretched piece of the creation as thou art, and they should talk together of thy heaven, i Son, this is one for whom thou nnist die ! That t…
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1. Partly because the word yivcoaKeiv, which is here used, is proper to the light of faith ; and so it is used ver. 7, ' They have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee ; ' and ver. 8, ' They have known surely that I came out from thee.' Vision is proper to the light of glory. It is more usual…
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[2.] To note the order and economy of salvation, in wliich the Father is represented as supreme, in whom the sovereign majesty of the deity resideth, and the Son sustaineth the office of mediator and servant : John xiv. 28, 'My Father is greater than I ; ' not in respect of nature or essential glory, for therein they a…
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Use 1. Is to show us the sad estate — 1. Of men without knowledge : Prov. xix. 2, ' Also that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good.' Fruit that hath but little sun can never be ripe. Men will say we are ignorant, but we hope we have a good heart. You can as well be without the sun in the world, as without kno…
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2. You must read the word with diligence ; that is every man's work that hath a soul to be saved. They that busy themselves in other books will not have such lively impressions : Ps. i. 2, ' His delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate day and night ;' that must be our exercise, not play-books…
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5. Spiritualise every outward advantage, so as to raise your hearts in the contemplation of God. As when we observe the wisdom of a father, or the bowels of a mother, let us take occasion to exalt the love and care of God. As from a mother's bowels: Isa. xlix. 15, ' Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should…
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3. These necessary doctrines must be entertained without doubt and hesitancy. It is dangerous when foundation-stones lie loose. We are pressed 'to stand fast in the faith,' 1 Cor. xvi. 13, and to hold the pro- fession of it without wavering, Heb. x. 23 ; not to inquire after the gods of the nations, Deut. xii. 30; and …
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2. The sufficiency of this knowledge. For understanding of this, you must know that all breviates, where religion is reduced to a few heads, must be enlarged according to the just extent of the rule of faith ; as in the commandments, where all moral duties are reduced to ten words ; so in the summaries of the gospel, f…
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Use 1. (To confute them that say that every man shall be saved in his own religion, if he be devout therein, Turks, Jews, heathens ; and among christians, Papists, Socinians, &c. You see this is life eternal; this, and nothing else — no religion but that which teacheth rightly to believe in Christ is a way of salvation…
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VeR. 3.j SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. 153- Use 4. To press us to seek salvation in no other but in God throuj2;h Christ. Come to Christ ; you are in need of salvation, and there is no other way : Acts iv, 12, ' Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby Ave must…
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4. From several experiences. The power of the word : 1 Cor. xiv. 2.5, ' Thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face, he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.' There is some God guideth these men. There are devils, and they would undo all were they not bound up …
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156 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVI r. [Ser. IV. ever the state of things are, yet he is resolved to hold to principles. So Jer. xii. 1, he layeth it down as an undoubted maxim, ' Righteous art thou, 0 God.' God is God still. So when we meet with oppression, men pervert judgment, others forswear themselves, our innocency doth n…
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2. If God be but one, worship him with an entire heart. The story goeth, that the senate, hearing of the miracles in Judea, decreed divine worship to Christ ; but Tiberius the emperor crossed it, when he heard that he would be worshipped alone. God is but one ; our hearts should close with him as an all-sufficient port…
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160 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [SeR. IV. sistence. But how came the word 'person in use? I answer — The Latin Church expressed it by ' person,' upon these grounds : partly because they woukl have a word in their own hmgunge that might ser\ e for common and vulgar use, and the right apprehension of this mystery ; partly b…
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Secondly, Now we come to speak to the second head of christian doctrine, what is to be known concerning Jesus Christ ? I shall not wander and digress from the circumstances of the text. Here are three things offered to our consideration: — (L) That he is sent ; (2.) That he is Jesus, or a saviour ; (3.) That lie is Ch…
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3. It implieth the incarnation of Christ : ' Sent into the world,' John X. 36. So Gal. iv. 4, ' God sent forth his own Son, made of a woman.' Christ's sending doth not imply change of place, but assump- tion of another nature. Now this was necessary, otherwise Christ neither ought to nor could suffer. Justice required …
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2. Christ's condescension. He submitteth to be sent : Ps. xl. 7, 8, ' Lo, I come ; in the volume of the book it is written of me. I delight to do thy will, 0 my God ; yea, thy law is within my heart.' AVe could never have asked so much as God hath given. He would not only borrow our tongue to speak to us, but our bowel…
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Well, then, own him as Jesus, as the only Saviour. Acts iv. 17, the apostles were charged ' not to preach any more in the name of Jesus.' Kest upon his merit, and wait for his powder. 1. Kest upon his merit. Troubled consciences, that think to help themselves by their own care and resolution, are like men that are lik…
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168 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [SeR. IV. [1.] The giving of power and authority : Heb. v. 5, ' Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest ; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son ; this day have I begotten thee.' Therefore though Christ be of the same power and authority with the Father, yet as mediator h…
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From Christ's suing for glory upon this argument, I might note, that we may plead promises. God saith, ' Put me in remembrance.' There is difference between a plea and a challenge ; hypocrites challenge God upon the merit of their works ; believers humbly urge him with his own promises. Not as if God did need excitemen…
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Use. God loseth no honour by Christ. God hath more glory, and we have larger demesnes of comfort and grace to live upon. All parties are satisfied ; we have a better portion ; Adam had paradise, we have heaven ; God hath more glory ; the creatures are more acquainted with the infiniteness of mercy, power, and wisdom. I…
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' Which thou hast given me to do,' SeSw/ca? ; it is the same word VeK. 4.] SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. 173 with that, ver. 2, ' Thou hast given him power over all flesh ; ' and now, ' the work which thou hast given me to do/ God, that gave him his power, gave him his work. Augustine interpreteth the word somewhat nicely…
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But what is it thus actively to glorify God ? Ans. [1.] To acknowledge his excellency upon all occasions : Ps. 1. 23, ' He that ofiereth praise glorifieth me.' Praising him for his excellencies, and declaring the glory of his attributes and works, is one way of glorifying him. God's glorifying of us is effective and c…
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17G SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [SeR. V. on us when a true spirit of wisdom, justice, holiness, truth, love pre- vaileth upon our hearts, and runneth through all our operations ; when we live as such as converse with the great fountain of goodness and lioliness. A christian's life is a hymn to God ; his circumspect walk- …
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6. By doing that work which he hath given us to do. But what is that work which he hath given us to do? Ans.—{1.) The duty of our relations ; (2.) The duty of our vocations and callings. [1.] The duty of our particular relations. They that are not good in their relations are nowhere good. This is a rule, that whatsoev…
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VeR. 4.] SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. 179 owned me in my abasement, and I will own them in my exalted state. You cannot lionom- Christ so much as he will honour you : Mat. xix. 28, ' Ye which have followed me in the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve throne…
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VeR. 4.] SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. 181 contention and unneighbourly quarrels. There must be a calling, and a work to do. 3. This work is given them by God. He appointeth to every one his task, and will be gloriiied by no works but what are by himself assigned to them in their station : — (1.) By his word ; (2.) By his …
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Secondly, Why this should be our great care ? 1. This is the end why all creatures were made : Eom. xi. 36, ' For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things.' When God did make the world, he did not throw it out of his hands, and leave it alone to subsist of itself, as a thing that had no further relation to …
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184 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [SeR. V. 6. God will have his glory upon you, if not from you, for he is re- solved not to be a loser by the creature : Prov. xvi. 4, ' The Lord hath made all things for himself, yea even the wicked for the day of evil ;' Lev. X. 3, ' This is that which the Lord saith, I will be sanctified …
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SEEMON VI. And noio, 0 Father, glorify thou me ivith thine oivn self, with the glory which I had zvith thee before the luorld ivas. — John XVII. 5. Jesus Christ, as God-man, in this chapter, prayeth to God. His prayer is first for himself, and then for his members. In all things he is to have the pre-eminence, as bei…
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Quest. 3. Why he seeketh it of the Father ? Could he not glorify himself, and exalt his own person and human nature ? VeE. 5.] SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. 187 I answer — He could, but would not. 1. The Father is the fountain of the divinity ; he is first in order, and so all such actions are ascribed to him. However, to…
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These things premised, the words will be easily opened. ' Father, glorify thou me with thine own self ;' that is, sufi'er me to return to the glory which I had in common with thee in the divine nature, by the resurrection of my body, ascension, and sitting down at thy right hand. Uapa aeavrw, is opposed to eho^aaa ae …
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190 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [SeR. VI. ness. Christ was compreJiensoj' ; be perfectly knew upon earth what we shall know in heaven, and was perfectly holy and perfectly good. [2.] The glory of his office was to be mediator between God and man ; an office of so high a nature that it could be performed by none but him w…
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Therefore, leaving his resurrection, let us speak of his ascension, and sitting on the right hand of God. 1. His ascension. Three things happened to Christ at his ascension. [1,] The exaltation of his body and human nature ; it was locally taken from the earth, and carried into heaven: Acts i. 9, ' While they beheld,…
1,013 wordsSource & rights
Public-domain historical edition (1870); OCR text from Internet Archive. OCR may contain scanning/transcription errors. Verify quotations against page images when precision matters.
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.