PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Complete Works of Thomas Manton — Volume 11
Thomas Manton · 316,591 words · 316 reading sections
Section 241
374 SERMONS UPON ROMANS VI. [SeR. XXIV. after. Again it is called death, because it is a misery from which there is no release ; as from the first death there is no recovery, nor returning into the present life. This second death may be considered as to the loss and pain. [1.] As to the loss, it is an eternal separat…
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[2.] His justice movetli him to punish it. As holiness belongeth to his nature, so his justice to his office : his holiness is the fundamental reason of punishing the wicked, his justice is the next cause ; his holi- ness is indeed the fundamental cause, as appeareth by the fears of sin- ners : 1 Sam. vi. 20, ' And the…
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\. VeR. 23.] SERMONS UPON ROMANS VL 377 against me wrongeth his own soul : all they that hate ine love death.' By refusing Christ and nourishing sin you nourish a serpent in your bosoms, and embrace the flames of hell-fire ; therefore betimes seek a pardon. [2.] To the penitent believers ; three things I have to pre…
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[2,] It is conveyed by his promise : 1 John ii. 25, ' And this is the promise which he hath promised us, even eternal life.' o. The parties qualified : ' Those that are sanctified.' The freedom of this gift doth not exclude qualifications. Holy men have a just title to eternal life ; but they do not deserve it ; none …
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But the wisdom and mercy of providence seem especially to have taken care the church of God on earth should be some way recompensed for the loss of so considerable a person out of it, by those so generally acceptable and useful works of his that survive him. Your honours' judicious and very complacential gust and relis…
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[2.] As pronounced and declared. So it shall be at the last day by the judge of all the earth : Acts xvii. 30, * Because he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness ;' and 2 Thes. i. 8, ' He shall come in flaming fire, taking vengeance on all them that know not God, and obey not the gospel…
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Secondly, Let us inquire how, or upon what reasons we come to have this exemption from condemnation. Tliis is— 1. Upon the account of Christ's satisfaction to God's justice. We all in our natural estate lie under the curse and wrath of God ; but 388 SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIII. [SeR. I. Christ was ' made a curse for u…
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2. That the union of every particular believer with Christ is imme- diate, person with person. The thing is plain ; for the scripture saith often that Christ is in us, and we are in Christ ; and therefore it is not said truly that we are united with the church first, and by the church with Christ. Christ, who is the he…
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I proceed to the second thing which I proposed — viz., to open to you, Secondly : How we come to be in Christ. This is by regeneration, or the converting work of his Spirit. Conversion consists of three parts : 1. There is in it a turning from the creature to God. 2. From self to Christ. 3. From sin to holiness. …
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2. Both serve to those that are influenced by them as a guiding and inciting principle. The flesh to those that are ' after the flesh,' and the spirit to those that are 'after the spirit:' Rom. viii. 5. The flesh guideth and prompteth us to those things which are good for the animal life, for things of sense are known …
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394 SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIII. [SeR. I. '■walk after the spirit ;' because they ' live in the spirit, they walk ia the spirit : ' Gal. v. 25. I come to apply this discourse. Use 1. Is information. 1. That condemnation yet remaineth upon all those that are out of Christ ; for that promise, ' there is no condemnation,…
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(1.) The covenant of grace is called the ' law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus.' A law it is, for it hath all the requisites of a law, a precept, and a sanction. They err certainly, that tell us the gospel is no law ; for if there were no law, there would be no governor, and no government, no duty, no sin, no jud…
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VeR. 2.] SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIIl. 397 raised by the sun, which where hidden in the earth before; and so sin brought forth those ill fruits, the end whereof is death. But this is not to be charged on the law of God, but the perverseness of man ; for the proper use of the law is to discover and restrain sin, and weaken…
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3. Man, being bound to obey the will of God, needeth a law from God to constitute his duty, and direct, him in it ; for without his laws, the subject cannot know what is due to his sovereign, nor can man un- derstand what his duty is to his creator. In innocency he gave him a law written upon his heart, for God made hi…
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2. In the obligation and force. There is not only direction given to us to obey the gospel, but a charge and obligation is laid upon us. The gospel is sometimes called ' The counsel of God : ' Luke vii. 30. ' They rejected the counsel of God against themselves.' Sometimes the law of God is called his counsel, as it is …
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VOL, XI. 2 c 402 SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIII. [SeR. II. it ?' And eminently dispensing his blessing where the gospel is favoured and obeyed, and prospereth, as lie blessed the 'house of Obed-edoni for the ark's sake; ' but more fully at the day of judgment the wicked have their full punishment : 2 Thes. i. 8 ; ' Coming …
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4. Do not so put all upon Christ as to exempt yourselves from the jurisdiction of God; no, Christ 'redeemed us to God,' Kev. i. 9. To him we were first lost ; to him we must be recovered, that he may not lose the glory of his creation in Christ. We are not without law : 1 Cor. ix. 21, not avofMoi, without the law to Go…
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VeR. 2.] SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIII. 405 the Spirit at first, wlien all is against it. Now tlie scripture is copious ia asserting the supply of the Spirit of Christ, as necessary to do and sufier the will of God : Eph. iii. 16, ' Strengthened with all might in the inner man, from the Spirit :' 1 Pet. iv. 14, ' The Spiri…
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VkR. 2.] SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIII. 407 here: Eph. ii. 8, and the full fruition of him hereafter: 2 Cor. v. 1. The last property is heavenliness : Phil. iii. 20, but ' Our conversations are in heaven, from whence we look for a Saviour.' This the Spirit worketh in us by hope, which fortifieth us against all the terrors …
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[1.] He is the head of the renewed state. Christ was filled with the Spirit to this end, to be the head, or quickening spirit to his mys- tical body : 1 Cor. xv. 45, ' The first Adam was made a living soul, the second a quickening spirit ;' not only as he giveth us the life of glory, but the life of grace also : so Eph…
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[1.] From the institution of God. God delighteth to bless his own means ; and the great institution of God for the benefit of mankind is the gospel, which being a supernatural doctrine, needed to be attested from heaven, that the truth of it might be known by the mighty power that doth accompany it. Therefore this new …
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VeR. 2.] SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIII. 411 Use 1 is, to convince the rabble of carnal christians, liow little they have gained by that Christianity they have. Alas ! in what a case are those poor souls who have not the Spirit of Cln-ist: Rom. viii. 9, 'If any man hath not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.' They do …
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SERMON IIL Hath made me free from the laio of sin and death. — Eom. viii. 2. We now come to the second point. Doct. 2 — That the new covenant giveth liberty to all that are under it, from the slavery of sin, and the condemning power of the law. Let me explain this point : and here I shall show you, — 1. That liberty…
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414 SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIII. [SeR. III. ample doth strengthen and increase it : Eph. ii. 3, ' Among whom we also had our conversations in times past in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath even as others : ' and Isa. vi. 5, ' I am a man of uncle…
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(3.) Let us consider the purity and holiness of God, which inclinetli him to hate evil and love that which is good. The first we are most concerned to prove : Ps. v. 5, ' The foolish shall not stand in thy sight, thou hatest all the workers of iniquity.' But the other is true also, ' The upright are his delight : ' Pro…
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VeR. 2.] SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIII. 417 it there were not eternity in the case ; therefore this death is the more terrible, that men might abhor tJie pleasures of sin. Well, then, this is the condition of all men once, to be under sin, and under the sentence of this death, which is a wof'ul bondage. Secondly. Our libe…
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3. This liberty is assured and established by the covenant. The conscience of sin, and the fears of condemnation, are not easily done away ; and we are so wedded to our lusts, that the power of reigning^ sin is not easily broken ; therefore we had need of a sure firm covenant to ratify these privileges to us, because o…
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Use 2. Let us examine whether we have received this regenerating grace, to free us from the reign of sin. Some are free in show, but others are ' free indeed : ' John viii. 36. Some have the outward badges of liberty, are christians in name, receive sacraments, and enjoy the ordinances, but not the grace in and by the …
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3. The law coming first into consideration, as our remedy, its impossibility to justify and give life, needs to be sufficiently demon- strated ; for till we are dead to the law, we shall but carelessly seek after the grace of God in Jesus Christ ; therefore doth the scripture travail so much in this point, and showeth …
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[2.] It cannot give us sanctification. It calleth for duty, and puts in mind of it, but giveth no strength to perform it ; for, being corrupted within, we are little wrought upon by a law without, to which our hearts stand in such enmity and contrariety. But let me prove it by two arguments. VeR. 3.] SERMONS UPON ROMA…
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[2.] That in the same nature he might suffer the penalty and curse of the law, as well as fulfil the duty of it : and so make satisfaction for our sins, whicli, as God, he could not do. We read ' He was made a curse for us : ' Gal. iii. 13 ; and Phil. iii. 8, he was ' obedient to the death, even the death of the cross.…
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(1.) His own holy nature is a pledge of the work of grace, and the sanctification of the Spirit whereby we are fitted and prepared for God. For the same holy S[)irit that could sanctify the substance that was taken from the virgin, so that that holy thing that was born of her might be called the Son of God. can also sa…
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1. Sin was the meritorious cause why the beast was slain. The beasts obeyed the law of their creation, but man had sinned against God : Lev. v. 6. ' He shall bring his trespass offering unto the Lord, for his sin which he hath sinned, and the priest shall make atonement for him concerning his sin.' Here was no other re…
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2. What is the sense of those words, ' in the flesh ' ? Is it meant of the flesh of Christ, or our flesh ? Both make a good sense ; I prefer the latter. First, he condemned sin in the flesh, or by the crucified body of Christ, exacting from him the punishment due to sin. Secondly, VeR. 3.] SERMONS UPON EOMANS VIII. 42…
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2. It must be meant then of sanctification, that by the merit of Christ's death we are freed not only from the guilt, but tyranny of sin, that we might obtain grace to obey the law, or live holily ; which will appear by the answering of two questions : — [1.] What is meant by BiKaico/jua rov vo/mov, or the righteousne…
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2. I prove it by reasons taken from the scripture. It must needs be so — • [1.] Because the plaster else would not be as broad as the sore ; nor our reparation by Christ be correspondent to our loss by Adam. We lost not only the favour of God, but the image of God : and therefore till the image of God be restored in u…
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1. Christ came not to dissolve our obligation to God, but to promote it rather. Certainly not to dissolve it to free us from obedience to the law ; for that is impossible that a creature should be sui Juris, or without law ; for that were to make it supreme, and independent, and so to establish our rebellion, rather th…
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VeR. 4.] SEEMONS UPON EOMANS VIII. 435 unto the world ? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words, and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our ahode with him.' As we increase in holiness and obedience, we increase in the favour of God. Use 1 is Information. It …
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5. This fulfilling of the righteousness of the law is wrought in us by the Spirit, as the fruit of Christ's purchase ; this real, solid righteousness is wrought in our hearts by the operation of the Spirit ; for those that have it are described to be, ' those that walk after the Spirit, and not after the flesh.' Theref…
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Use 4 is to put us upon trial and self-reflection. Is the righteous- ness of the law fulfilled in us ? 1. We begin to fulfil it when we set ourselves to obey the will of God, taking his law for our rule and his promises for our encourage- ment. This resolution is the fruit of regenerating grace if it be sincere ; and …
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4. As they are under different assisting powers, so they are under a distinct covenant. The carnal are under the covenant of works, the duty of which is to them impossible, and the penalty intolerable. They are under the condemning power of the law : Rom. viii. 6, ' To be carnally minded is death ; it maketh them liabl…
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[1.] Things apparently evil, as all vices and sins : Gal. v. 19, 20, 'Epja (TapKo<; j>dvepa — ' The works of the flesh are manifest, which are these, adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witch- craft, hatred, variance, emulation, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkennes…
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[3.] Such things as the Spirit urgeth and inclineth unto ; and these are communion with God here, and the full enjoyment of God hereafter. The great impression which the Spirit leaveth upon the soul is a tendency towards God ; for his office is to bring us to God, into com- munion with him here. God, as a Judge, by the…
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(1.) Partly, because all minding the flesh is not sinful, but an over- minding the flesh. The body hath its necessities, and they must be cared for. Yea, take the flesh for sensitive appetite, to please it with lawful satisfactions is no sin ; for it is a faculty put into us by God, and in due subordination to religion…
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[3.] Some things more immediately tend to the pleasing of the flesh ; others more remotely. Immediately, as bodily pleasures, and therefore our inclinations to them are called fleshly lusts, as distinguished from worldly lusts, Tit. ii. 12 ; or from the lusts of the eye, and pride of life, 1 John ii. 16 ; and these are…
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(4.) Constantly. This is that which is mainly to be observed, the constancy of our operations, as to things of the flesh and of the spirit. (1st.) For thoughts. What thoughts have you of God and Christ and the world to come ? You mind the world's days, weeks, months, years, it cannot be denied ; but if you can never f…
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SEKMON VII. They that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh ; and they that are after the spirit, the things of the spirit. — Rom. viii. 5. I PROCEED now to the application of the former discourse : Use I. To put us upon serious self-reflection, of what sort are we ? after the flesh, or after the spir…
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(3.) Because God's dear children write bitter things against them- selves, either out of weaknessof judgment, or consciousness of too much prevalency of corrupt affections, and tenderness of God's honour, and trouble for their own imperfections, it will be necessary further to state- the point. There is to the very las…
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Motives : — 1. Consider your engagement, as you are Christ's : Gal. v. 24, ' They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts thereof.' Every man is engaged by his profession and covenant, sealed in baptism, so to do ; which should be a very moving argument to press us to do things cross a…
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5. Consider how ill Christ will take it, and what just cause you give him to withdraw, when you prize the things of the flesh before him and the comforts of the Spirit. Must not the Lord Jesus take it exceeding unkindly, that after all his love, and the discoveries of his grace, you should study to please his competito…
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r VeU. 5.] SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIIL 455 are now so pleasing to the senses will one day gnaw and sting the conscience ; when God, whom thou now forgettest, shall, whether thou wilt or no, drag thee forth to judgment, and thou shalt in vain 'call upon the rocks and mountains to cover thee/ 8. Consider how contrary it …
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[2.] As to evil motions. Prevent them, and suppress them. (1.) Prevent them : 1 Peter i. 11, * Abstain from fleshly lusts that war against your souls.' Which implies not only an abstinence from the outward act, but that you weaken the power and root of sin, that it do not so easily bud forth ; those impetus primo prtm…
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458 SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIII. [SeR. VII, will never thoroughly engage yourselves to God. Determine not only that you must, but you will walk in the way which God hath set forth for you. All will choose happiness before misery, but they are out in the means ; they do not choose the good of holiness before the pleasures…
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In this Scripture there are two ways and two ends, both opposite and contrary to each other : — 1. The two ways ; the carnal minding, and the spiritual minding — (ppomjfza aapKO'i, (f^povrj/xa rnv irveufMaro^. 2. The two ends ; death and life and peace. Doct. That the carnal mind tendeth and bringeth a man to death,…
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(2.) Musings, admiring their excellency and blessing, and applauding themselves in what they have, and hope for in the world : Dan. iv. 30, ' Is not this great Babel that I have built for the house of the kingdom, by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty ? ' and Ps. cxliv. 15, ' Happy is the people th…
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VeR. 6.] SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIII. 463 show their causes. If the drift and bent of our lives be not for God and salvation, and our great business in the world be not the pleasing of God and the saving of our own souls, and this be not chiefly minded and attended more than all the pleasures, honours, and profits of the…
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4. Some things more immediately tend to the pleasing of the flesh, as bodily pleasures ; and therefore the inclinations to them are called the 'lusts of the flesh:' 1 John ii. 16. Other things more remotely, as they lay in provisions for that end, as the honours and profits of the world. Now, though a man be not volupt…
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As no part is free from sin, so none shall be from punishment ; in the first death, the pain may lie in one place, head or heart, but here all over ; the agonies of the first death are soon over, but the agonies and pains of the second death endure for ever. The first death, the more it prevaileth, the more we are past…
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1. With respect to God's justice. God, who is the most righteous governor of the world, will make a just difference between the lighteous and the wicked by rewards and punishment. It belongeth to his general justice ttt bonis bene sit, et malis male — that it should be well with them that do well, and ill with them tha…
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2. To what end do you live ? That you may please, glorify, and enjoy God, or live after the flesh ? You were made by God, and for God, that you might have fellowship and communion with him here and hereafter : Ps. Ixxiii. 25, * Whom have I in heaven but thee ? and there is none upon earth I desire in comparison of thee…
907 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.