PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Complete Works of Thomas Manton — Volume 13
Thomas Manton · 318,013 words · 312 reading sections
Section 61
VeE. 11.] SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. 95 with death. The drowning of the world, the burning of Sodom, was a sad thing, if a man had been by, and seen the poor miserable creatures running from valleys to hills, from hills to mountains, from the mountains to the tops of Irees, and still the floods increasing upon them…
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Secondly, The persons fearing, Paul and his colleagues, together with all the parties who are to be judged. That the unspeakable terror of the Lord is a rational, just and equitable ground of fear, we have seen already ; but the doubt is how this could be so to Paul and his colleagues, especially if we consider it main…
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2. Firm assent : John xvii. 8, ' They have known surely,' aXrjdo)';, indeed or in truth ; and Acts ii. 36, dacfidkco'i, assuredly, safely, without danger of error. The certainty of faith mightily enlivens our apprehensions of any truth, and makes them more forcible and operative. But usually there is a defect in our as…
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Use is, to teach us all to apply this truth. What Paul had spoken in general concerning the last judgment, he applieth to himself It is not enough to have a general knowledge of truth, but we must improve and apply them to our own use. Men of all ranks must do so. 1. It presseth preachers to persuade men. Oh, how dili…
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[3.] The false apostles are described by their hypocrisy and ambi- tion : ' They glory in appearance, and not in heart.^ For the opening of this clause, observe. First, That there were false apostles at Corinth, who sought to depreciate Paul, and to lessen the authority of his Vers. 11, 12.] sermons upon 2 corinthians…
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Doct. That then a man hath the full comfort of his sincerity, when he hath the approbation of God, and of his own conscience, and hath also a testimony in the consciences of others. First, All these had Paul. 1. The approbation of God. For he saith, ' We are made manifest unto God.' God knew both his actions and his …
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Secondly^ All these may others have — bating for the publicness of his office and the extraordinary assistance of the Holy Ghost. All ministers and all christians may have an approbation of God, and the testimony of their own consciences, and a witness in the consciences of others. 1. They may have the approbation of …
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3. We may leave a testimony in the consciences of others, if we keep up the majesty of our conversations; for such is the excellency and honour 106 SEKMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. [SeR. XIX. of religion and godliness, that when it shineth in its strength it dazzleth the eyes of beholders, even of wicked men, and maketh…
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2. The testimony of conscience must be regarded. First, because it is matter of true joy and comfort to a christian : '2 Cor. i. 12, ' This is our rejoicing, the testimony of oiu- conscience.' I prove it from the office of conscience; it is both judge, witness, and executioner. Con- science is the judgment that every m…
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(3.) The utmost end must be the glory of God and the honour of the gospel : Mat. v. 16, ' Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven ;* 1 Peter ii. 12, ' That they may by your good works which they shall Vers. 11, 12.] sermons upon 2 Corinthians v.…
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Use of all. 1. Let us study to approve ourselves to God, before whom we, and all that we do, are manifest ; sincerity beginneth there, seeketh the approbation of God : ' He is commended whom God commendeth,' 1 Cor. X. 18. Our final sentence must come out of his mouth. Next let us look to this, that we glory not in app…
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112 SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. [SeR. XX. judges of his spirit; but most simply and agreeable to the context, to speak thus largely of himself, seemed to them to be the work of a distracted, or foolish person. And so, 2 Cor. xi., ' I would to God you could bear with me ;' and vers. 16, 17, ' I say again, let no man …
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VOL. XIII. H 114 SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. [SeR. XX. distance, and men will not take a nearer view of the regularity of the ways of godliness. 3. Because they live contrary to that life which they affect, and do by their practice condemn it. This reason is given by the apostle, 1 Peter iv. 4, ' Wherein they thin…
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(2.) They that neglect their main business, and leave it undone, and run up and down, they know not why, nor wherefore, surely they act like mad and distracted, not like wise and rational men. Now, alas ! worldly and carnal men spend their time and cares for nothing, like children and boys that follow a bubble blown ou…
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(6.) In boasting of their folly and madness. Nature is much dis- torted ; man fallen is but the anagram of man in innocency ; shame is translated ; we are confident where we should be ashamed, and are ashamed where we should be confident. We should own God and religion with an holy boldness, but we conceal it, and snea…
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Ans. 1. By disclaiming and renouncing them who adopt fooleries into their religion, and betray it to the scorn of all considering men. In this class and rank I put the Papists and the Quakers. The first, by a pageantry of many ridiculous ceremonies, have so disguised the christian religion, that it is made contemptible…
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Use 3. Is caution to carnal men. Let them forbear the censures of the godly, and study their own case. We charge them with madness and folly, not to upbraid them, but to convince them ; not out of malice, as they do, but compassion, that they may repent, and grow wise to salvation. Repentance is called fie-dvoia, a ret…
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[5.] When he is ever getting more fitness for heaven, and clearer evidences for heaven. Providing for the time to come is wisdom, Luke xvi. When he would die wisely, his heart is more taken up about his everlasting estate, what he shall do when his soul is turned out of doors. Thus have I showed you how carnal men may …
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VeR. 13.] SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. 123 church. In vain therefore do men think they seek the glory of God, if they do not seek the church's welfare : the lessening, troubling, dis- ordering of the kingdom of God is the crossing his glory. If we would aim at God's glory, we must seek the good of his people, and to …
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[2.] In all momentous actions 1 must actually intend the glory of God. In lesser things the general frame and bent of my heart to please God in all things sufficeth. There are certain actions of moment, and such as we make a business of, we need there exj)licitly to call in the help of Christ, and expressly to aim at t…
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8. The end is either ultimate or subordinate. The ultimate end is that which terminateth the action, and wherein our thoughts rest ; the subordinate end is that which we aim at, but yet look further ; as 126 SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. [SeR. XXI. here the ultimate end is God's glory, the suhordinate end was their p…
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128 SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. [Ser. XXL have faculties suited to this purpose ; we have an understanding that we may know him. Surely such an understanding nature, such an immortal soul, was never made for corruptible things. God was pleased to stamp man with the character of his own image ; he beareth his supersc…
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VOL. XIII. I 130 SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. [SeR. XXI. 2 Cor. i. 20, ' For all the promises of God in liim are yea, and in him amen, to the glory of Grod by us ; ' and Heb. xiii. 17, ' Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves, for they watch for your souls, as they that must give an account.' T…
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132 SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. [SeR. XXII. and no other cause ; and therefore in whatever we dehberately purpose and resolve upon, the glory of God must have the casting voice : 2 Cor. i. 17, ' The things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh ? ' that is, am I swayed by carnal motives ? A christian sh…
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4. How comfortable it will be at death, when you have minded your business, and seriously made it your work to live to God ; and can say as our Lord, John xvii. 4, ' Father, I have glorified thee upon earth ; I have finished the work thou hast given me to do.' Oh ! the comfort of a well-spent life to a dying christian …
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Means. 1. Kouse up thyself, and consider often the end for which you were created, and sent into the world. Our Lord saith, John xviii. 37, ' For this cause was I born, and for this end sent into the world, that I might bear witness to the truth.' So should every one consider for what errand God sent him into the world…
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4. The new nature is requisite, that we may in all things mind God's glory. It is more easy to convince us of our obligations to live unto God, than to get a heart and a disposition to live to God. The new creature, which is created after God, ever bendeth and tendeth towards him. As the flower of the sun doth follow t…
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2. If tender of receiving honour from men, to God's wrong. The apostles did not set up a trade for themselves : Acts xiv, 15, ' They rent their clothes, and said, What do ye do ? we are but men of like passions.' So Acts iii. 12, ' Why gaze ye upon us, as if by our power and holiness we had made this man to walk.' Hero…
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In the context the apostle is rendering the reason of his fidelity in the ministry, which exposed him to hard labour, and sundry calami- ties. His three grand inducements were — First, the hope of a blessed immortality; secondly, the terror of the judgment; thirdly, the love of Christ. This threefold cord is not easily…
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2. Strictly, it is taken for our complacency and delight in God. Divines distinguish of a twofold love ; a love of benevolence and a love of complacency. The love of benevolence is the desiring of the felicity of another ; the love of complacency is the well-pleasedness of VkE. 14.] SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. 141 …
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[2.] The special object of this love is God as revealed in Christ. Partly, because thereby God, who is otherwise terrible to the guilty soul, is thereljy made amiable and a fit object for our love. And therefore in studying Christ, it should be our principal end to see the goodness, love, and amiableness of God in him.…
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144 SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. [SeR. XXIII. had no reason to love us at so dear a rate : but we have all the reason in the world to love God and serve him. Therefore if he hath pre- vented us with his love, the thankful soul will think of a return and recompense, such as creatures can make to God. God's love of bou…
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7. It dilateth and enlargeth the heart, and so it is liberal to the thing loved. ' I will praise him yet more and more ;' ' I will not serve the Lord with that which cost me nothing.' Other things will not go to the charge of obedience to God. It will be at some cost for God and Christ, and maketh us obey God against o…
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Tliirdly, Whence love to Christ cometh to have such a force upon us ; or, which is all one, how so forcible a love is wrought in us ? I answer, (1.) Partly by the worth of the object ; and (2.) Partly by the manner how it is considered by us and applied to us. 1. From the worth of the object. [1.] When we consider wh…
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(3.) Eternal life and glory : 1 John iii. 1, 2, ' Behold what manner of love the Father hath showed us, that we should be called the sons of God. It doth not appear what we shall be ; but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.' This is the end of all ; for this Christ di…
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I HAVE chosen this scripture to speak of the love of gratitude, or that thankful return of love which we make to God, because of his great love to us in Christ. Before I go on further in this discourse, I shall handle some cases of conscience. First, About the reason and cause of our love ; whether God be only to be l…
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3. Some love God because he is good in himself. Not only that he may be good to us, or because he hath been good to us, but because he is good in himself. God's essential goodness, which is the perfection of his nature, his infinite and eternal being, and his moral goodness, which is the perfection of his will, or his …
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[2.] When we have a carnal notion of the true rewards of godliness. Carnal men look upon heaven as a place of ease and pleasure. When Christ had spoken of the bread that will make men live for ever : John vi. 34, they cried out, ' Evermore give us of this bread of life.' They thought no more tlian of an everlasting con…
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Arts. 1. A particular persuasion of God's love to us is very com- fortable. Things that do most concern us do most affect us ; as a man is more pleased with legacies bequeathed to him by name, than left indefinitely to those who can make friends. If I can discern my name in God's testament, it is unquestionably more sa…
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156 SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V, [SeR. XXIV. and the love of God shed abroad in your hearts, the most effectual means to keep these objects close to tlie heart ; and then doubts will vanish. 4. The mercies of daily providence declare much of the goodness of God to you, and to make him more amiable. Christians are mu…
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3. Love is not to be measured so much by the lively act, or the sensitive stirring of the affection, as the solid esteem, and the settled constitution. A thing may be loved intensively, as to the sensitive discovery of the affection, or appreciated by our deliberate choice, and constant care to please God. Partly, beca…
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VeR. 14.] SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. 159 SEKMON XXV. For the love of Christ constraineth us, hecause ive thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead. — 2 Cor. v. 14. The fourth case of conscience is about the decay of love. The heart is not so deeply affected as it was wont to be with the love of God…
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Secondly, That we may understand this disease the better, let us consider what is not it. 1. Not every lighter distemper, which the gracious heart observeth and rectifieth. There are failings and infirmities during the present state, and nothing is so uncertain as to judge of ourselves by particular actions ; in every…
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VOL. XIII. L 162 SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V, [SeR, XXV. [3.] Though we should not lightly judge ourselves guilty of a decay of love, yet we should not lightly acquit ourselves of it. For it is a great evil, and a common evil, and many that are surprised with it are little sensible of it. (1.) It is a great evil. P…
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[4.J The decay "of love is seen in two things ; the remission of degrees, or the intermission of acts. (1.) The remission of degrees of our love to Christ, or to God in Christ. To understand this we must know what is the essential disposition of love. It is an esteeming, valuing, and prizing God above all things, whic…
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1 Qu. 'degree'?— Ed. VeR. 14.] SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. 165 Secondly, As love implieth a desire of nearer communion with him' so we will be often in his company in duties. Frequency and fervency of converse with God in prayer, and other holy duties, is an effect of love. There cannot a day pass, but they will fi…
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(2.) It Cometh from a cursed satiety and fulness. Our affections are deadened to things to which we are accustomed, and we are soon cloyed with the best things. The Israelites cried out. Nothing but this manna ! ' A full stomach loatheth a honey-comb.' When first acquainted with the things of the Spirit, communion with…
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1G8 SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. [SeR. XXV; forth to God, or it will look out to worldly things. If our love ceaseth, concupiscence ceaseth not ; and within a while the world will become superior in the heart, and mammon be placed in God's room and stead — be respected as our end and happiness — for man cannot live, …
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SEEMON XXVI. For the love of Christ consiraineth us, because ice tJiiis Judge, that if one died for all, then icere all dead. — 2 Cor. v. 14. We come now to the fifth case of conscience, about loving God with all the heart, a thing otten required in scripture. The original place is, Deut. vi. 5, ' And thou shalt love…
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VeR. 14.] SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. 171 or doth infer truth of God's image, or a single-hearted disposition to love and serve God to the uttermost of our power. Let me prove both these: — [1.] That the rule is as strict as ever : that is necessary ; partly, with respect to the lawgiver, for no imperfect thing mus…
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3. We are sc) far obliged as in some measure to get ground upon them, for a christian is to grow in grace. There are some sins which are not so easily or altogether avoidable by the ordinary assistances of grace vouchsafed, as sins of ignorance, sudden surreption, and daily incursion ; and there are other sins which ma…
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2. Yet it is our duty to try seriously the sincerity and soundness of ■our respects to Christ ; partly, because the heart is very deceitful, and we must search warily. Christ putteth Peter to the question thrice : John xxi. 15-19, ' Lovest thou me ?' It is some conviction to a liar to make him repeat his tale. A deceit…
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[3.] It must be pleasant : 1 John v. 3, ' For this is the love of God, that we keep his commamdments, and his commandments are not grievous ; ' and Ps. cxii. 1, ' Blessed is the man that delighteth greatly in his commandments.' When we cheerfully practise all that he requireth of us, love sweeteneth all things ; it is …
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[1.] A knowledge of our necessity, and the excellency and worth of Christ and his beneficialness to us: John iv. 10, ' If thou knewest the gift.' We love little, because we know little ; saints and angels, who know him most, love him best ; in heaven there is complete love because there is perfect knowledge ; that the …
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VOL. XIII. M 178 SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. [Seu. XXVI. That he might seek a godly seed.' God in the beginning made but one man for one woman, and one woman for one man, yet he could, if he would, have created more persons at once ; it was not out of defect of power, but wise choice, that their affections might be…
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SERMON XXVII. For we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead. — 2 Cor. v. 14. In the words observe two things: the force and operation of love ; the reason of it ; ' For we thus judge,' &c. In which two things, — 1. The instance of Christ's love to us ; one died for all. 2. The means of improving …
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VeK. 14.] SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. ISl thosetwo men were all maukiud in representation. Well then, we see Christ, sustained our persons, and stood in our place and room as mediator. We must look upon him as a father carrying all his children on his back, or lapped up in his garment, through a deep river, through …
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2. The time of continuance. The damned must bear the wrath of God to all eternity, because they can never satisfy the justice of God, and therefore they must lie by it world without end ; as one that payeth a thousand pounds by a shilling or a penny a-week, is a long time in paying the debt ; whereas a rich and able ma…
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2. That he would take one for all. Justice would not let go the sinner without a ransom, but it is the wonderful grace of God that he would take satisfaction from one man in the name of all those for whom he offered to satisfy, that God would accept of Christ ; Heb. ii. 9, it is said that ' by the grace of God he shoul…
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1. From the end of Christ's death, which was to sanctify us : Eph. V. 25-27, ' Christ loved the church and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it by the washing of water through the word ; that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that i…
1,035 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.