PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Complete Works of Thomas Manton — Volume 10
Thomas Manton · 317,241 words · 313 reading sections
Section 121
2. Since Christ so earnestly sued for his glorification, it is our duty, by all means, to procure and further his glory. AVe cannot do any- tliing as his Father doth ; we cannot bestow anything upon him but praise, and magnify him by a steadfast faith, and by a holy life. Mortified Christians are the glory of Christ. …
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[4.] Here is comfort for the church ; while our head is so highly magnified, and made Lord of all, he will rule all for the best; certainly no good shall be wanting to them that are his : Ps. ex. 1, ' The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.^ There shall come a ti…
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I shall open the phrase more fully in the next clause. The points of doctrine are these : — 1. Observe, in the business of salvation Christ would deal with us not by angels, but by men given him out of the world, that is the description of the apostles and doctors of the church in the text. * To us he hath committed …
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(1,) Look to the distinction. How many steps of election may we walk up ? That we were not toads and serpents, but men, the same nothing was as pliable ; not men only, but christians, within the pale of the church ; not christians at large, but born there, where the mists and fogs of popery were dispelled ; nor Protest…
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2. Observe the earnest desire Christ had to glorify his Father, by living, teaching, dying ; — thy name, thy word. Oh ! that we would learn of our Lord to glorify our Father which is in heaven ; to be contented to do anything, to be anything, so we might be to the glory of God ! 3. Observe the excellency of the doctri…
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VeR. 6.] SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. 201 branch, this Is the name whereby he shall be called, The Lord our KiGHTEOUSNESS.' Then God will be known by his sjrace, justifying his people, and accepting them for Christ's sake. But in the New Testament all is open and clear ; he is called ' the God and Father of our Lord Jesus …
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[3.] The necessity of this inward light ; without it the word will not W'ork. Many hear outwardly that are never the better : John vi. 44, * No man can come to me except the Father which hath sent me draw him.' There must be an inward light, an inward operation on the soul, or the word is without effect ; the heart mus…
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From hence — 1. Observe that Christ pleadeth interest as an argument in prayer. It is meet, when we come to pray to God, that we can say, We are his. This way would Christ endear his own disciples to the Father's respect and grace : Ps. cxix. 44, ' I am thine ; save me,' The great work of christians should be to disce…
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2. By way of charge. This again is proper to the elect, who are re- deemed, justified, sanctified, glorified. The elect are made over to Christ, not by way of alienation, but oppignoration ; none of them who are given to Christ by way of charge can miscarry : John vi. 37, ' All that the Father giveth me, shall come to …
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In short, concerning this kingdom, which belongeth to the second person, the Father appoints it, the Son merits it, the Holy Ghost as Christ's viceroy governs it. The Father chooseth a certain number of men, giveth them to Christ ; the Son dieth for these men, ransometli them from the grave and hell, and committeth the…
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VeR. 6,] SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. 209 4. We are given to him as the wife of his bosom. As a father giveth the daughter whom he hath begot to another for a spouse and Wife, so dotli God give his elect to Christ. Indeed, Christ hath bought her at his Father's hands ; other wives bring a dowry, but Christ was to buy his s…
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Use 2. Let us consecrate and give up ourselves to Christ. Walk as his : 1 Cor, iii. 23, ' Ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's ! ' Look for all from him, by dependence on him ; be whatever you are to him, to his glory. You are given up to him, you are not at your own dis- pose ; neither tongue, nor heart, nor estate is…
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212 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [SeR. IX. thy will, 0 my God: yea, thy law is within my heart;' Ps. ii. 8, ' Ask of me, and I will give tlice the heathen for thy inheritance, and the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession ;' Ps. ex. 1, ' The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemi…
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[3.] In love and mercy. God was resolved that the heirs of salva- tion should infallibly be conducted to everlasting life ; he would not be defeated of his purpose, and therefore would have them quickened by virtue of that power and life that was given to Christ. God would now deal with us upon sure terms, and take ord…
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[1.] You must chiefly commit your souls to him. Most men lose VeR. 6.] SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. 215 their souls to keep the body. That which a man chiefly looketh after is his jewels and precious things, in a dangerous time, to commit them to the custody of a friend. So a christian, whatever becometh of him in the wor…
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Thirdly, The third argument is what they had done, in the next clause, ' They have kept thy word.' Here is another reason, their obedience. He had mentioned what the Father had done, now what they had done. His ministry with them was not without success and fruit. This phrase, ' kept thy word,' is very significant ; it…
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[2.] It must be expressed in our life : Luke xi. 28, ' Blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.' To keep the law is to live according to the prescript of it. [3.] There must be a perseverance to retain it in our conversations : Kev. iii. 18, ' Thou hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.' Do we…
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Observations. 1. Observe Christ's faithfulness to his Father, in two things — in revealing his mind ; in referring all things to his glory. In revealing his mincl, he acted according to his instructions : ' The doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me,' John xii. 50 ; ' Whatsoever I speak, even as the Father said un…
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VeE. 7.] SERMONS UPON JOHN XV 11. 221 confirmed by the truth of the word ; God continually confirmeth it by the seal of the Spirit, and there is an inward certioration, whereby believers are satisfied : John xviii. 37, ' For this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth : every one that i…
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(2.) Take in the advantage of external confirmation. By miracles Christ's testimony was made valuable to the apostles. You have not only authentic records, wherein these miracles are recorded, which as a history may be believed, but the testimony of the church, which hath experience of the truth and power of the gospel…
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224 SERMONS uroN JonN xvir. [Ser. X. [2.] The Father is the highest judge. AH the persons of the God- head arc co-essential, and co-equal in glory and honour; only in economy or dispensation of salvation, the Father is to be looked upon as judge and chief. Man is the debtor, Christ the surety, and the Father the judge…
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(3.) As supreme judge, he appointeth his sufferings, and the measure of the satisfaction he was to make : Acts iv. 28, ' To do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.' Whatever men did to him, it was by his hand and counsel. We must look to a higher court, from God's providence to God's decree…
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SEEMON XL For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me ; and tlieij have received them, and have hnoion surely that I cayne out from iJiee, and they have believed that thou didst send one. — John XVIL 8. Christ in this verse further explaineth the argument that was Tirged before, which was taken from the…
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2. Observe, again, the certainty of christian doctrine. The word delivered to the apostles was received from the Father by Christ. It was no invention of his own, but brought out of the bosom of the Father: John vii. 16, ' My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.' So John xiv. 10, 'The words that I speak, I speak…
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2. Observe, they know surely. In the knowledge of faith there is an undoubted certain light. It dependeth upon two things that cannot 230 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [SeR. XI. deceive us — tlie revelation of llie word, and the illumination of the Spirit. The knowledge of faith is less than the light of glory for clearnes…
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[5.] The light of faith is an undoubted certain light, but in wicked men it is always mingled with doubting, ignorance, error, and un- belief. It is not convictive, but a loose, wavering opinion, not a settled, grounded persuasion ; they have not * the riches of the assurance of understanding,' Col. ii. 2 ; that depend…
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VeR. 8.] SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. 233 promises, but commands, conditions, and articles of the covenant, which are no less to be received than the promises. First, receive the commandment concerning repentance and conversion, with a resolution to cast thyself on Christ ; and then be of good confidence, thy sins shall be…
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4. These endeavours are supported by affiance, or a resolution to wait upon God till the blessings of the covenant be accomplished and made good. Though they meet with difiiculties, they keep wrestling with God : Gen. xxxii. 26, ' I will not let thee go unless thou bless me.' There is an obstinate purpose : Job xiii. 1…
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23G SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [Ser. XT. We ought not only to acknowledge him to be the true mediator, but to choose and receive liim for our all-sufficient portion. Worldly men look to Christ as fit for their consciences, but look to the world as an object for their aflfections. Now Christ should not only pacify the con…
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2. Keceive Christ in the word. In a contract, there is not only a receiving a bond, but, by virtue of the bond, an inheritance conveyed to us. So you must not only receive the word ; we are not saved by giving credit to any maxim of religion, fides non est assensus axiomati. Not they that saw the ark — many saw it, and…
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VeR. 8.] SERMONS UPON JOHN XYH. 239 by liis transfiguration, by liis miracles ; they believed that he was the Lamb taking away the sins of the world, that he was the living manna that came down from heaven ; but all this while their faith was weak ; they had but a confused sight of his godhead, of his eternal generati…
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[3.] For whom he came, for wretched men, to seat us in the vacant places of fallen angels. 2. ' And they have believed that thou hast sent me.' — There is a mission on God's part, as well as obedience on Christ's. Observe the love of God in sending Christ, and giving him a charge concerning us. This sending implieth …
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[2.] Christ did not pray for all his persecutors, and every one of them, but only for those that sinned out of ignorance, as the words imply ; chiefly for the standers-by, rather than the priests and pharisees, many of which came rather out of curiosity than despite. Yea, this supplication was effectual and successful …
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3. Because all Christ's prayers were to be grounded on a promise. There was an indenture drawn up between him and his Father ; he had the assurance to be heard in whatsoever he asked : Ps. ii. 8, ' Ask of me, and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession…
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[3.] The sublimity of his office. It is an authoritative act. God hath always refused such mediation as is not authorised by himself. When Moses interposed for the children of Israel, said God, Exod. xxxii. 10, ' Let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them ;' because he would reserve this honour for him who al…
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VeR. 9.] SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. 247 liis hand lost in the service of the state. All this is to the Father, who being appeased, all the rest of the persons are appeased ; for they are one, and agree in one. He pleads with God for the application of good things procured by his oblation, especially in deep exigencies an…
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We may look upon it as a moral, as well as a mediatory act, an act of Christ's love to his own disciples, chiefly the apostles, who were, as it were, his family and special charge. Out of this example of Christ let us learn to pray one for another ; it is a spiritual act of love. You may discern the hypocrisy and sin-…
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250 SERMONS uroN JOHN XVII, [Ser. XII. many now pray against them ; the calling is repined at, as if it were some heavy plague and judgment sent upon the world. But therefore you have need to pray the more : 2 Tlies. iii. 2, ' That we may he delivered from unreasonable and wicked men ; for all men have not faith.' Pra…
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5. By the example of Christ we should embrace them, and show special love to them, that are chosen out of the world. Christ saith, ' I pray for these ; I pray not for the world ; ' we should specially remember them in our prayers. The apostle saith concerning alms, Gal. vi. 10, ' As we have therefore opportunity, let u…
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1. ObserA-e, the elect are so given to Christ that they are still the Father's. Though they are mine by grant, yet thou hast lost no part of thy right and propriety in them. They are given to me by way of oppignoration, not by way of alienation ; as the father that giA^eth his daughter in marriage to another doth not l…
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2. Observe again, that nothing moveth God to mercy so much as the consideration that we are his. This is Christ's own argument, ' For they are thine.' And interest is elsewhere pleaded by the church : Isa. Ixiv. 8,9,' But now, 0 Lord, thou art our Father ; we are the clay, and thou our potter, and we all are the work o…
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^ Qu. ' uncreated ' 1 — Ed, 256 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [SeII. XIII. From hence we may g-ather the unity, and yet the distinction of tlie divine i)Grsons, they have their distinct right and title, and yet they all communicate in the same essence, dignity, and privileges. 2. To persons ; and so it implieth not the un…
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Use 1. To condemn them which put asunder those operations which God hath joined together, the Arminians in doctrine, the common people in practice. 1. The Arminians in doctrine, by dividing Christ from election, or election from Christ; as if Christ were to die for those that were never elected and chosen to life, equ…
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2. Actively, by their faith, by their ministry, by their life and conversation. [1.] By their faith. To glorify any one, is to have a good esteem of him. Those that did not believe did as it were obscure the dignity VeR. 10.] SERMONS UPON JOHN XVIL 259 of his person, rejecting him as a contemptible man. Now the apos…
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[2.] It is the evidence of our interest in the Son. Those that mind Christ's glory, he mindeth their salvation. He is interceding for you in heaven when you are glorifying him on earth ; he is doing your business in heaven when you are doing his business in the world; lie is your advocate, and you are his bailiffs and …
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262 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [SeR. XIII. fisherman he was made a disciple. The loss is little ; but we think it a great matter if we part with om' superfluities, with the tenth part of a child's portion for Christ's cause, and owning Christ's interest, or the propagation of religion. Nay, if we suffer but a disgraceful…
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2. By the holiness of your conversations. Every christian should walk so as remembering that Christ's honour lieth at stake. It is not a moral life that I persuade you to, but a christian life, such a life wherein Christ may be specially honoured. [1.] For the manner ; your practice should be elevated according to the…
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[1.] We must think ourselves to be honoured by this service, how grievous, disgraceful, and troublesome soever it be : 2 Cor. v. 9, ^l\o- riixov[jie6a, ' Therefore we labour, that whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.' We labour, that is, we strive after this honour, to labour with ambition. The meanest…
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VeR. 10.] SERMONS TTPON JOH-ST XVH. 2G7 receive honour, and glory, and power ; for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.' They do not slight their glorious work. All the glory they have is God's mere bounty ; they hold it by grace, and magnify it by grace. So Eev. v. 8, ' The fo…
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2. There is no station so private but thou mayest do something for Christ, to bring up thy children in the nurture of the Lord, to instruct thy servants, thy neighbours, thy fellow-servants. Zeal is like fire or like leaven, it will spread and diffuse itself Object. 3. I have laboured, but to little purpose. Ans. Suc…
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' Bu*- these are in the world.' — I am almost on shore, but these are still to remain at sea, floating upon the waves ; out of the duty of their calling, they are to stay behind, and must expect tempests, labours, dangers, and persecutions, infirmities within, and temptations without. The world is a step-mother to the …
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[6.] The manner : Acts i. 9, ' When he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight.' The cloud answered to God's appearance in the taber- nacle. When we look on the clouds, this was Christ's chariot ; he will come again in like manner. [7.] In his ascension …
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2. The reasons why. Christ would not have gone, if it had not been expedient : John xvi. 7, ' Nevertheless, I tell you the truth, it is ex- pedient for you that I go away.' A woman had rather have her husband live at home than go to the Indies, but when she considereth that it is to do her good, to enrich the family by…
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[4.] To pour out the Spirit ; John vii. 39, ' The Holy Ghost was not yet given, for Christ was not yet glorified.' When the husband is wanting, then he sendeth tokens ; so wlien Christ is glorified, then he giveth out the Spirit ; as Elijah, when he ascended, let fall his mantle. Proper acts have their proper fruits. C…
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2. It informetli us that all that Christ did was for a believer's use and comfort ; if he cometh into the world, it is to merit ; if he ascendetli into heaven, it is to apply. He descended from heaven for the redemp- tion of man ; after that work is accomplished, he ascendetli thither again to bestow it on us ; and at …
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Use 4. Direction in the sacrament. If wo have anything to do with Christ, we know where to seek him : ' Blgssed are they that believe, and have not seen,' John xx. 19. Those that are far from court never saw the king. God hath removed Christ out of sight that we might behold him by faith. Let us look for him in the sac…
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Use 1. For confutation of the Lutherans, whoj to establish their doctrine of consubstantiation, make Christ's ascension to be, not a local remove, but only a change of the manner of his presence ; they say he is still corporally present, but not visibly ; as if the human nature of Christ were made invisibly omnipresent…
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VeR. 11.] SERMONS UPON JOHN XVIT. 281 that live far from court, never saw their king;, yet they enjoy the benefit of his government, and are bound to allegiance. Christ is as meek, as gentle, as easy to be entreated as ever. Use 3. For the conviction of them that please themselves in fond wishes and excuses ; they th…
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(2.) The powers of the world ; usually they are set against Christ, and therefore at the latter end of the world they shall be broken and dashed to pieces. The world is a country wherein the church is a stranger ; every man fearing God is like a strange i)lant brought from a far country, hath much ado to grow. The wick…
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2. Why God permitteth them to be in the world ; he might have taken them to himself, and glorify them as soon as sanctify them, or else have gathered them into some island, some obscure angle and corner of the world, out of harm's way. But I answer — That doth not suit with God's dispensations : John xvii. 15, ' I pray…
1,010 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.