PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Complete Works of Thomas Manton — Volume 10
Thomas Manton · 317,241 words · 313 reading sections
Section 181
286 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [SeR. XV. [3.] To convince the world by their example, their strictness, patience, fortitude. They are in the world, but not of the world. If a christian were not a member of the world, he would never be the wonder of the world. They have flesh and blood as others have, and have not diveste…
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[2.] So at his death. A great thing that was in the eye of Christ was victory over the world : Gal. i. 4, ' He gave himself for us, to redeem us from the present evil world.' Certainly Christ is willing to help you, when he suffered so much that he might help you. When you love the world, you cross the end of Christ's …
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(3.) His charge. Cinist hath taken an office upon him, to defend, pity, and guide the elect through all temptations to salvation. Now Christ cannot be unfaithful in his office : Heb. iv. 15, ' We have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infir- mities.' He that is passed into the heavens is …
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Use 3. Examination. What kind of temper have we ? There are ' children of this world,' Luke xvi. 8. The world is their own mother, they love to lie hanging on the dugs and teats. And there is a spirit called ' the spirit of the world,' 1 Cor. ii. 12, a genius that suiteth with present conveniences ; there is ' their po…
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292 SERMONS uroN JOHN xviT. [Ser. XVI. approbation, the effect of his operation ; he Avorketh holiness, and ho delightcth in it. ' Holy Father,' that art holy in thy essence, holy in thy influences, holy in thy dispensations, ' sanctify them by the truth ;' thou that abhorrest all that is evil, workcst all that is goo…
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[2.] God is infinitely holy, siqjer-iyurissimus. The faithful in this life are holy, but imperfectly ; but ' God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.' 1 John i. 5. Of all creatures, light is the most pure and defecate ; therefore it is put to resemble God's holiness. Our life is a chequerwork of light and darkne…
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[2.] To make us prize Christ. Our best w^orks would stink in the VeR. 11.] SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. 295 nostrils of tlie most holy God if tliey were not accepted in and for Christ. Nothing can be acceptable to infinite purity but what is pure : Hab. i. 13, ' Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not lo…
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2. How much we should prize holiness. It is the glory of God and the glory of holy angels (the devils also excel in strength), and the glory of the saints : Eph. v. 27, ' That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy, and without blemish…
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[1.] By a hatred of sin. Where God doth change a soul, he breedeth a disposition in it in some sort like himself. Those sympa- thies and antipathies that God hath, the soul hath. Now God is a holy God, he cannot endure sin ; so it is with a holy heart. AVhat have I to do with sinners ? saith God ; and. What have I to d…
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4. We should go away the more holy from worship. You have been with a holy God ; what of his holiness do you carry away in your hearts ? They that have looked on the sun go away with a glaring in their eyes, and they seem to see the sun in all that they look upon. You should carry away the enlighteuings of worship alon…
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1. I shall show how I build the certainty of perseverance on this place. 2. I shall handle the doctrine, confirming it by other grounds. First, How this doctrine of the certainty of the saints' perseverance is built on this place. Christ hath begged it, and he beggeth it for VER. 11.] SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. 301 al…
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5. Grace indeed, if left to us, would be soon lost ; we showed that in innocency. But it is our advantage that our security lieth in God's promises, not our own strength, that we are not our own keepers. God would not trust this jewel but in safe hands. Perseverance is God's gift, not man's act ; he is engaged in Chris…
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8. Again, this certainty of our standing in grace doth not exclude prayer : Luke xxii. 46, ' Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temp- tation.' Perseverance is God's gift, and it must be sought out in God's way, by Christ's intercession, to preserve the majesty of God, and by our prayer, that we constantly profess o…
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3. On the Spirit's part, there is a continued influence, so as to main- tain the essence and seed of grace. The Father's love is continued by the merit of Christ, that he will not depart from us, and we are pre- served by the Spirit of Christ, that we may not depart from him. He doth not only put into our hearts faith …
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Use 2. If you fall, be not utterly discouraged. As the spinster leaveth a lock of wool to draw on the next thread, there is somewhat left when you are departed from God ; you have more holdfast in him than an unregenerate sinner. A child, though a prodigal, will go to him, and say, Father : Ps. cxix. 176, 'I have gone …
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308 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [SeR. XVII. God, and the righteousness thereof, and all these things shall be added to 3'ou.' Gifts, they are for the body, rather than the person that hath them. Men may be carnal, and yet come behind in no gifts. Judas could cast out devils, and yet afterwards was cast out among devils: 1…
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But now, because comforts are never prized but in their season, men that have not been exercised in spiritual comforts nauseate these sweet truths ; they know not what it is to be left to uncertainty, when troubles come like waves, one upon the neck of another. Let us see when these truths will be sweet and seasonable.…
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[2.] His mercy, in opposition to oui 'dnworthiness ; mercy to pardon and pity and help us. Poor creatures ! they will surely miscarry if I do not go down and help them: Heb. iv. 16, ' Let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain grace, and find mercy to help us in time of need.' God is not upon his tri…
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2. To confidence. We may boast of his name : Ps. cxviii. 10-12, ' All nations compassed me about : but in the name of the Lord will I destroy them. They compassed me about, yea, they compassed me about : but in the name of the Lord I will destroy them. They com- passed me about like bees ; they are quenched as the fire…
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2. How are they said to be given to Christ ? Persons are given to Christ two ways — by way of reward, or by way of charge. [1.] By way of reward, and so more largely all nations are given to him : Ps. ii. 8, ' Ask of me, and I will give thee the heathen for thy inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy…
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316 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVIT. [SeR. XVIII. 1. They are given to him by way of charge. What his charge was will he opened by considering what the Father proposed concerning the elect, and how the Son undertook it. [1.] What the Father proposed. The words of heaven are app-qra. p-q/xara, 2 Cor. xii. 4, ' Words which it i…
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2. By way of reward. As in a covenant there is not only a duty incumbent, but a benefit accruing to the party that contracteth ; so Christ in this eternal treaty dealt with God by way of bargain and pur- chase ; his aim was to get a special interest in, and relation to believers, as mediator. Tliis was all the gain he …
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VeR. 11,] SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. 319 perform our homages, by alms and acts of charity we pay him tribute, and praise and obedience are the constant revenues of his crown. This is the first grant. [2.] We are given to Christ as scholars of his school. He is the great prophet and doctor of his church ; certainly Chris…
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Secondly, How this is a ground of establishment and consolation. 1. By this gift we have an interest both in God and Christ : 1 John i. 3, ' That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us ; and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ;' 2 J…
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2. By your act towards Christ. All the Father's acts are ratified in time by believers ; he ordaiueth, we consent ; he chooseth Christ for Lord and king, and ' they shall appoint themselves one head.' So God's giving of souls to Christ is ratified by the believers' act. As there is a double giving on his part, by way o…
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[2.] Let them be one in heart, and with joint consent carry on this great charge that is committed to them. So did the apostles, by unanimous consent, divide their labours for the edification of the world, and kept a fellowship among themselves : Gal. ii. 9, ' They gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, …
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[3.] In his prayers, that which he reinforced again and again is unity and love. When he was about to die he foresaw the divisions of the church, and that Satan would by all means endeavour to sow strife ; corrupt nature putteth us on discords. He left some apostles, others believers, but all men ; wherefore he prays f…
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(3.) That v/e might know that unity among believers is a possible blessing. It seemeth many times past hope, and that it were as good to speak to the winds to be still as to men's prejudices and boisterous aftections. Ay ! but there is hope ; Christ hath prayed for it, and his prayers are as good as so many promises : …
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[7.] It is the end of his ordinances and appointments in the church. Baptism and the Lord's supper are to keep the saints together. It is sad indeed that the world maketh them apples of strife, when Christ made them bonds of love : ' We are all baptized by one Spirit into one body, and have been all made to drink into …
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Use 2. Let us be as earnest for unity as Christ ; let us think of charity more than we have done, how to preserve peace, as well as truth. Cer- tainly we that have one Father, are born of one mother, acknowledge one elder brother, even Christ, by whom we are adoj^ted, hope for one patrimony, we should be more careful '…
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Use 3. To persuade the ministers of the gospel to a greater concord and amity in the joint discharge of their work. Christ prayeth liere for the apostles, 'that they may be one.' How should we agree to- gether in pressing duty, reprehending sin ! This would be an effec- tual and potent means, not only to the peace of t…
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334 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [SeR. XX. tual fissistance, and praj-ers for the common good. When the finger is hurt, there is pain through the whole body. We should live as if we had but one essence and interest. It is almost in vain to hope for the public at present, but in your particular societies, faithfully yet reg…
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' But the son of perdition.' — Let us clear this a little. May any of those that are given to Christ miscarry ? Certainly no ; his charge was, John vi. 36, ' That of all whicli the Father had given him, he should lose nothing.' His prayer is, John xvii. 24, ' Father, I will that they also whom thou hast given me be wit…
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2. Observe how loyal, faithful, and tender Christ is over his charge. He is loyal to God : ' I have kept them in thy name ; ' faithful to his flock, he omitted no point of the duty of a good shepherd ; he was tender of them : * Whilst I was with them in the world, I kept them ; ' and now he surrendereth his charge into…
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Use 2. Learn to wait upon God, though you want an outward guard and veil of safety. Christ's corporal presence was removed, and s\i])- plied by the Spirit ; and if God can make us amends for Christ's company, certainly for an outward comfort and blessing. Do not limit God to one way of keeping ; he hangeth the earth up…
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Secondly, Now I come to the success and fruit of Christ's care. 1. As to the elect. 2. As to Judas. 1, As to the elect : ' I have kept those whom thou hast given to me, and none of them is lost.' None of the elect can be lost ; God's election cannot be weakened by the falling of hypocrites. Christ may lose members, …
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4. Against restraints of providence, when God hath hedged up their way with thorns, or they have found much inconvenience in that course : 2 Chron. xxviii. 22, ' In the time of his distress he trespassed yet more and more : this is that King Ahaz ; ' the scripture sets a brand upon him. As Baalam would go on, 2 Peter i…
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(2.) His hypocrisy. He continued the profession of an apostle, preached against sin, seemed to be zealous for the poor. Nay, his hypocrisy was augmented by the constant means he had to convince him, he was hardened in it the more. Jesus Christ was a constant preacher of repentance ; and all those sermons and discourses…
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mit sin with security, in the midst of all your displeasing of God; though you may eat and drink, and rise up to play, take heed lest at length you cry out, ' I have sinned, and my sin is greater than I can bear ; ' for Judas came at last to this, ' I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood,' Mat. xxvii.…
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Use. Let us hate those sins that brought Judas to destruction. If you imitate him, you make him your patriarch. We all defy his memory, but we love his practices. Every one that bearetli the name of a christian would have nothing to do with Judas. Abandon his sins ; you have heard what they are. 1. Covetousness. It is…
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348 SERMONS UPON JOHN xvii. [Seh. XX. Judas, you love his sin. I observe that the historical passag'cs of Christ's sufferings are often morally verified. The Jews preferring Barabbas, by the sensualist preferring his pleasures and brutish and swinish delights before the delights of communion with Christ ; Judas his se…
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Use 1. Do not rest in outward privileges. Say, What am I ? It is a privilege to be a member of the churcli. David accounted it so ' to be a doorkeeper in the house of God,' Ps. Ixxxiv. 10. A man may be an apostle of great authority ; but there is a more excellent way, that is grace. Outward advantages, without special …
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2. Observe; to show the truth of whatever is foretold in scripture, scriptures must be fulfilled, whatever inconveniences fall out. See how tender God is of his word. [1.] He valueth it above all his works : John x. 35, ' The scriptures cannot be broken ; ' Luke xxi. 33, ' Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word…
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2. Others think that by my joy is meant a joy like mine ; when they feel the same desires kindled in their hearts, they may be comforted with the workings of the same spirit of prayer in them ; that is, feel such a joy as I feel in uttering these requests. But this doth not run so smoothly. 3. ' My joy,' because he is…
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2. In what manner he M'ould have it received, TreTrXrjpcofjbevrjv, ' ful- filled in them.' The joy is full because the object is infinite ; we can desire nothing beyond him. Desire answereth to motion, joy to rest ; when we can go no further, there we rest. What can we desire beyond God? Acts xiii. 52, ' The disciples …
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2. To mar the taste of carnal pleasures. The soul cannot remain without some oblectation ; it delighteth either in earthly or in heavenly things. Love will not remain idle in the soul. Now God will give us a taste of spiritual joy, of pleasantness in wisdom's paths, that we might disdain carnal pleasures. It is not a w…
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5. The feelings of this joy are up and down, yet when the joy is gone, the right remaineth, and this joy will be fulfilled : John xvi. 22, ' Ye now have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.' If we lose it ourselves, it is not utterly lost. The sun is alway…
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VeE. 13.] SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. 359 . Use 4. Eeproof to two sorts : — 1. To tliose that are always sad. Christians do not live up to that care and provision which Christ hath made for them. In scripture it is, 'Rejoice evermore,' 1 Thes. v. 16. And they live as if God had said. Weep evermore. It is verily a fault, …
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2. The other sort are those that would rejoice, but do not provide matter of joy. Christ saith, ' That my joy may bo fulfilled in them- selves.' But in whom ? He had pleaded their interest, ' They are thine ;' he had spoken well of them to the Father, ' I am glorified in them.' Alas ! the joys of others are but * stole…
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[2.] Hope ; this dependeth much on faith ; it is an earnest elevation of the mind to look for what faith counteth real. Now hope ravisheth the soul, as if it had its head above the clouds: ' Kejoicing in hope,' Kom. xii. 12. Joy is proper to enjoyment, but hope serves instead of enjoyment ; they feast and entertain the…
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3b'4 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [Ser. XXIL ' I have given them thy word.' — Partly hy external revelation in iiis ministry during life, partly by inward illumination he had given tliera the knowledge of it : John xvi. 27, ' Ye have loved me, and have believed that! came out from God ;' John xvii. 6, ' I have manifested t…
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[1.] Christians, that do not let fall the strictness and majesty of their conversations, if they keep the word that Christ hath given to them, that is, keep close to it, they must expect troubles. Christ's subjects are the world's rebels, and if they will not forfeit their allegiance to Christ, the world will fall upon…
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[2.] Ministers ; this is usually their portion ; few of the apostles and prophets came to a natural death. As their calling is eminent, so are their sufferings : James v, 10, ' Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have suffered in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffer- ing affliction, and of patience.' He doth…
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2. Observe, after trials and reformations there come trials and pro- bations, that after we have submitted to the ways of God, we may lionour them with sufferings. The ten persecutions were after Christ had set up the ordinances of the gospel. The Marian and bloody days were after King Edward's reformation. God will ha…
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^ Qu. ' KOI.VOVS ' ? — Ed. VOL. X. 2 A 370 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [SeR, XXII, I shall say no more, but that it is a doctrine fit for a worldly age. The disciples had such a dream, and Christ cureth it by those threaten- ings, Mat. xxiv. But because that was not a sufficient cure, but after Christ's resurrection they…
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5. When you are actually burdened with the world's hatred in the course , of your profession, be not dismayed. Whenever this is thy case, thou art an object of Christ's prayers. When Christ was to go to heaven, he remembers all that are hated for his sake. Christ maketh the world's hatred an argument, and we may concei…
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VeR. 14.J SEBMONS UPON JOHN XVII. 373 Christ, and Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek against Israel. Thus you see doctrinally the scripture speaketh of such a thing. 2. By way of instance and example. Let us see how this spirit of enmity hath been working, and how the holy men of God have had bitter experience of it. Abel …
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But to take off all cavils, let us see how it appeareth that this hatred is the effect of their abhorrence of that which is good and holy. 1. This is some discovery of it ; because the servants of God have been hated most, and troubled by the worst men ; which is a shrewd presumption that the proper reason of this hat…
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7. It appears by the joy wicked men take when they have anything offered to justify their opposition ; as suppose by the scandals of any that profess the ways of God, as the heathens took an advantage from the impurity of the gnostics to defame all christians. Kegular 376 SERMONS UPON JOHN SVIT. [SeR. XXIII. zeal is …
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2. On man's part ; and there seemeth to be a double reason — pride and envy. Pride is impatient of reproof, and envy looketh with an evil eye upon their privileges and advantages in Christ. [1.] Pride, which is impatient of reproof. Strictness is an object reviving guilt : Heb. xi. 7, ' Noah, moved with fear, prepared…
962 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.