PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Complete Works of Thomas Manton — Volume 10
Thomas Manton · 317,241 words · 313 reading sections
Section 241
1. It is a mark of a child of the devil, the express image of Satan. Thereby our Saviour convinced the Jews to be of their father the devil, because they hated him that came from God : John viii. 40, 41, ' But now ye seek to kill me, a man that have told you the truth, which I have heard of God : this did not Abraham. …
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Use 3. Advice to the people of God. 1. Be not amazed at it if you meet with trouble and opposition from wicked men, even for goodness' sake : 1 John iii. 13, ' Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.' So it hath ever been, and so it will be. We are surprised and perplexed at it, as men use to be at some- thing…
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1. There is a difierence in the inward principles — the spirit of the 382 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [SeR. XXIII. world and the Spirit of God. Ciiristians are acted by the Spirit of God, not by the spirit of the world : 1 Cor. ii. 12, ' Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God.' …
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[2.] Because of their new birth. Man's heart naturally is addicted to the world, and runneth thither, whither the world carrieth it, even to forsaking God ; but by grace it is turned the quite contrary way : ' We have forsaken all, and followed thee,' Mat. xix. 27 ; and Ps. xlv. 10, ' Forget also thine own people, and …
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2. Nothing worthy of their hopes, and of that eternity which they expect. When men waste their strength and time in worldly projects VeR. 14.] SEKMONS UPON JOHN XVII. 385 and pursuits, they live as if their portion were only in this world. A traveller, that is to stay but half an hour in a room, or for a night in. an…
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Use 2. To press christians not to conform to the world. It is Paul's exhortation, Rom, xii. 2, [irj cri;o-;^7;yLtaT6'^ec7^e, ' Be not conformed to the world,' It is a sad thing when christians are cast into the world's stamp and mould, to symbolise with them in practices and affections. Two things you should take heed…
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5. By the stream of your desires. Desires are the pulses of the soul. You may know the temper of your souls by the beating of the pulses, 388 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [SeR. XXIII. by the current and drift of your desires, as physicians judge by appetite. The saints plead their affections : Isa. xxvi. 8, ' The desire o…
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2. Carnal compliance. The worldling serveth the times, cozeueth, lieth, cheateth, hateth Christ; so must not you: 1 John v. 19, 'And we know that we are of God, and tlie whole world lieth in wickedness,' as a carrion ia a sink. [1.] Consider your condition; you are strangers. The fathers of old dwelt in tents ; we nev…
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[1.] For taking them away in evil times. It standeth with his good- ness, that they may not feel the smart of them : Isa. Ivii. 1, ' The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart, yea, the merciful man is taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.' AVhen corn is gather…
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This point will serve to open two cases : — ■ Case 1. Whether men confessing Christ may make away them- selves to avoid the cruel torments of their persecutors, and they know not certainly what their strength may be able to sustain ? This was a great case in the primitive times, and it may be still of use. Euse- bius …
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[2.] In deep sorrow; as Job iii. 11, 'Why died I not from the womb ? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly ?' and Job vi. 8, 9, ' Oh that I might htive my request, and that God would grant me the thing that I long for ! even that it would please God to destroy me, that he would let loose his hand…
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Use 1. It teacheth us how to pray to God. Our prayers should be VeK. 15.] SEKMONS UPON JOHN XVII. 395 to be delivered not from the world so much as from the evil of the world, from sins rather than afflictions. The saints seek grace rather than deliverance in their afflictions, direction as well as protection, that t…
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VeR. 15.] SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. 397 men let loose themselves to a carnal liberty at such a time. Satan, to be sure to be welcome, bringeth his dish with him, a bait for every humour : 1 Tim. iv. 5, * The creatures must be sanctified by the word of God and by prayer.' We must not only ask God's leave, but his blessin…
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Use. 1 . Caution. Take heed ; the world is a dangerous place, even to a disciple of Christ ; and therefore you have need ' to use it as if you used it not.' The heart is soon tainted, and that insensibly. There are two remedies that you should constantly use — watching and prayer ; they are prescribed by our Saviour : …
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400 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [SeR. XXIV, into gross sins, we must watch against these distempers, lessening of our care of and delight in heavenly things. 2. Pray. God is the best guardian and keeper ; he must watch over our watching : Ps. cxli. 3, ' Set a watch, 0 Lord, before my lips, and keep the door of my mouth.'…
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2. From our weakness. We cannot keep ourselves. We are so weak, we are apt to consent to lusts, or to faint under afflictions. We can no more stand against Satan than a lamb can against a wolf. The world hath a treacherous party in our own hearts. The best things are most dependent — a sheep, not a wolf ; a vine, not a…
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[2.] From the evil thing, that is, the evil of persecution ; keep them VeR. 16.] SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. 403 from being destroyed till they have accomplished their ministry. Ob- serve, God keepeth his saints temporally, till their work is ended, by a special providence. He delivers them from diseases and from the fur…
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4. Our wills are slow and averse. It is not enough for a slow and dull servant to hear the commands of his master, but they must be often told him. We must be urged again and again, as Christ doth Peter. The heart is averse and deceitful ; we give a slight answer to the first demand, Will you do this lor God ? 2 Peter …
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1. That it be in matters mainly necessary. There are some stand- ing dishes at Christ's table. 2. That it be with variety of enforcement, to avoid tediousness, Koiva Kaivoi^. There are several notions to help us ; every time we should have new thoughts, adoro loilenitudinem sacrce scripturce, that all be sub- jected t…
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3. Because of the unsuitableness of it to the divine nature. It is most unsuitable to the new nature : 1 John v. 4, ' Whatsoever is bom of God overcometh the world.' It is unsuitable to our hopes. God hatli provided heaven on purpose to draw us off from the world. God is most liberal in this world to the worst ; as Jud…
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(2.) Be not of a worldly spirit when thou hast the world. A godly man may be a rich man ; but take heed of trust, immoderate delight, and pride in them. Do not trust in them, for they are vain ; nor de- light in them, for they are snares ; nor be proud of them, they do not make us better; we do not value a horse by the…
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2. It will be your comfort. It is a sweet comfort in all conditions to remember the similitude of condition between Christ and us : ' Shall the disciple be above the lord?' What more honourable tlian to carry the cross after Jesus Christ? Christ hath worn this garment: Col. i. 24, ' "Who now rejoice in my sufferings fo…
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(2.) Purged by degrees, and made free from sin; this is to be sanctified, to be purged from the corruption of sin and the world. We are not only accounted holy, but we are made holy, and that can- not be till we are purged, because we come into the world polluted with the stain of sin : 1 Cor. vi. 11, ' Such were some …
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414 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [SeR. XXVI, with God ; there must he an eschewins: what God forhiddeth, and a jiractising what God commandeth. Tims are we ohliged from our approver, our principles, our encouragements, our rule. Use. Let it press us not to rest in abstaining from sin. Men are not vicious, but they are not…
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1. We cannot ourselves. We could defile ourselves, but we cannot cleanse ourselves ; as little children defile themselves, but the nurse must make them clean. A sheep can wander of itself, but it is brought home upon the shepherd's shoulders. Domine, errare per me potui, redire non potui. God, that gave us his image at…
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3. Therefore let us use means to persist in holiness, to increase in holiness, especially prayer, which is the breath which God hath ap- pointed to keep in tlie flame. Again, For the persons once more : they were to preach the word ; as a preparative, he pra}eth for sanctification. VeK. 17.] SERMOXS UPON JOHN XVII. 4…
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Before I come to the observations I must clear up the latter part of the text, ' Thy word is truth.' Why is this added ? I answer — Either by way of explication, or by way of argument and reason. 1. By way of explication. Christ would pray intelligibly ; some might ask, as Pilate did, ' What is truth ? ' John xviii. 3…
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^ Qu. 'Spiritual uncleanness ends in bodily' ? — Ed, 420 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [SeR. XXVI. creeping tilings. ^Vhcrefore God also gave tlieni ii]) to uncleanness, throngli the lusts of their own hearts to dishonour their own bodies between themselves.' Partly by a natural efficacy ; the spirit is em- based by error,…
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6. This must not only be represented in the power and demonstra- tion of the Spirit, but received and applied by faith. Sanctification is sometimes ascribed to the gospel, and sometimes to faith, which receiveth the gospel : Acts xv. 9, ' Purifying their hearts by faith.' Our hearts are purified by the word of truth : …
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Secondly, It is more suitable to man's nature. The word is more morally accommodated to work upon the heart of man than any other instrument, means, or doctrine in the world. 1. The precepts of it. It is the copy of God's holiness, the light by which we see everything in its own colours. The light of nature is ep'yov …
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6. The word presseth all this with such a majesty and power, that it astonisheth the conscience, and maketh the hearts and souls of men to quake within them. Felix trembled at the mention of judgment to come. There is so much of God in the word, that if it dotii not renew men, it doth restrain them, maketh them tremble…
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4. They that are above scriptures have no true holiness. God sanc- tifieth by the truth. It is strange how charity overreacheth to saint antiscripturists and men above ordinances ; whereas it is the true ground and reason of sanctification. As Bernard saith of some, that whilst they plead for the salvation of heathens,…
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First, What necessity there is of God's word, or some outward sig- nification of his will. An absolute necessity of an outward rule there is not. God might immediately reveal himself to the heart of man ; he who made the heart can stamp it with the full knowledge of his will. But the written word is best for God's hono…
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[2.] To satisfy the desires of nature. There are two things that render us unsatisfied with the light of nature — an insatiable desire of knowledge in the soul, and a trouble of heart about misery, sm, and death. (1.) An insatiable desire of more knowledge, and full satisfaction concerning God and the way to enjoy him…
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1. To Adam. His bible was his heart ; the law was written there, and God preached to him immediately, and by oracle gave him all extraordinary commands, and the book of the creatures for his con- templation ; not so much to better his knowledge, as to increase his reverence. 2. To the world. To heathens God gave the b…
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[2.] Afterwards there was both word and writing. God's word was necessary for the further revealing and clearing up of the doctrine of salvation, which was revealed by pieces. And writing was necessary, partly because in process of time precepts were multiplied, and it was needful for men's memories that they should be…
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2. Because it giveth an additional confirmation, and greater certainty to the people of God. Foundation-stones can never be laid with exact- ness and care enough. For if you mark it, you will find all doubting in your belief, all disproportion in your practice, ariseth from this, because the supreme truth is not settle…
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1. Because all external arguments, without the light of the Spirit, work but a human faith. He that inspired the scriptures must open our eyes to know them, and incline our hearts to believe them; other- wise we shall look upon them but as a traditional report ; Isa. liii. 1, ' Lord, who hath believed our report ? ' Th…
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VeR. 17.] SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. 437 Use 2, Here is advice to the people of God. 1. Prize this way of dispensation ; bless God that the rule of faith is put into a settled course, the greatest gift, next the Lord Jesus Christ, that the world ever had. The scriptures are God's charter given to man, the evidence of hi…
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1. That God hath owned the scriptures for his word. 2. The church hath owned them as God's word. 3. The malignant world in their way hath owned them ; that is, upon that respect they have opposed them. First, God hath owned them several ways. By the wonderful suc- cess of that religion which the scriptures establish…
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Again, look upon the persons that were to manage it, the contempt- ibleness of the instruments which God used in promoting the word ; a few fishermen, destitute of all worldly props and aids, of no power, wealth, wisdom, authority, and other such advantages as were wont to beget a repute in the world ; yet they preache…
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What use shall we make of this, of God's owning the word by success ? Besides satisfaction in the matter in hand, and admiration of providence, we may make this use of it, to bewail our own blind- ness and hardness, that the word which hath prevailed over the world doth not prevail over our hearts : Col. i. 6, ' Which …
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Object. 1- Ay ! but we have none now. Ans. It is not necessary, because the same doctrine and rule is continued to us without change. That which is extraordinary must be proved by extraordinary means. Miracles wrought where there is no necessity are liable to suspicion. When Christ's doctrine was new, and the calling …
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2. So for threatenings ; God governeth the world by this rule. Threatenings have been accomplished : Hosea vii. 12, ' I will chastise them, as their congregation hath heard.' A man might have the history of the Jews, from time to time, out of the threatenings of Moses and prophetical predictions, and extract the life o…
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Look to the promises. 1. Seek after them more, and mind them more. Sure your neglect saith you do not count them true : 1 John v. 10, ' He that belie veth on the Son of God, hath the witness in himself ; he that believeth not God, hath made him a liar, because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.' If …
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3. Those that have felt no experience of this power have a secret fear of it : John iii. 20, ' Every one that doeth evil hatetli the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.' Con- science is afraid of the majesty of God shining forth in the scriptures. Men dare not pause upon, and consider…
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4. It is a transforming light : 2 Cor. iii, 18, ' We all, with open face, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of our God.' A man that looketh upon the gospel in the light of parts and external tradition hath a model of truth in his br…
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SERMON XXIX. Se-nctify them tJirough thy truth : thy luord is truth. — John XVII. 17. Secondly, The church hath owned the word. You see how God hath owned it ; he saith it is my word. Let us see how the church hath owned it. Here I shall show three things : — 1. What is the church's duty to the word. 2. What credit…
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452 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVIT. [SeR. XXIX. thousands, even to an incredible number, could not be without some divine power and force upon their souls. That all this should be done by persons otherwise of a delicate, tender sense, and a meek and flexible spirit ! what should move them to it but the power of the truth ? Th…
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[2.] Tlie simplicity of the style. Though it be full of majesty and authority, yet the naked truth is represented in a plain manner, to the capacity of the meanest : Ps. xix. 7, ' The law of the Lord is perfect, 454 . SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [Ser. XXIX converting the soul ; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making w…
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456 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [Ser. XXIX. Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort ; ' Eph. i. 3, ' Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath l)lessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ/ So for the mystery of redemption ; first it was revealed to Adam to be by ' the …
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[2.] The promises of the word, they hold forth the highest happiness that man is capable of. Philosophy was to seek of a fit reward and encouragement of virtue ; the chief good is only revealed in tlie scrip- tures. Men are at a puzzle and loss till they take this light along with them : Ps. iv. 6, ' There are many tha…
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[5.] The prophecies of the word ; future contingencies are in it fore- told many years before the event : Isa. xli. 22, 23, ' Let them show the former things, what they are, that we may consider them, and know VeR. 17.] SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. 459 the latter end of them, or declare us things for to come. Show the thi…
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4. Beg the light of the Spirit. What will your arguings reprove ? David saith, Ps. xxxvi. 9, ' In thy light we shall see light.' We shall never else have any certainty : 1 Cor. ii. 14, ' The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them, because t…
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1. The mission of Christ. 2. The mission of the apostles. Together with the comparison between them both ; as thou hast sent me into the world, even so, &c. First, The mission of Christ, ' Thou hast sent me into the world.' Here you may consider— (1.) Who sends ; (2.) The nature of this 462 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. […
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[1.] The designation of the person. This was an act of divine and voluntary dispensation, according to which the second person in the Trinity, the Son of God, not the Father, nor the Holy Ghost, was sent to take our nature, and the office of a redeemer upon himself. In this choosing of Christ was the original and first…
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VeR. 18.] SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. 465 priest had the names of the twelve tribes upon his shoulders and upon his breast, Exod. xxviii. 12-29, — upon his shoulders, to represent them to God, and upon his breast, to show how dear they were to himself, — so Jesus Christ hath, as it were, the names of all those for whom he…
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(2.) And then he had fit endowments ; he came to be loaded with graces and blessings, and with all kind of qualities to do men good : John X. 36, 'Him hath the Father sanctified, and sent into the world;' that is God's sending, his anointing of Christ as our head, ' with the oil of gladness above his fellows.' As the h…
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came to deal with God and with men : to deal with God, and so is a high priest, to pacify God, to offer such a sacrifice as might satisfy God ; and he came to deal with men, and so he is an apostle, to open the everlasting gospel, to bring it out of the bosom of God to our hearts. His kingly office was but little exerc…
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3. It showeth us the love of God ; he would not intrust an angel nor archangel with our salvation, but sent his Son : 1 John iv. 10, ' Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.' There is nothing too near nor too dear for us. It will take the more …
1,016 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.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.