PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Complete Works of Thomas Manton — Volume 14
Thomas Manton · 322,013 words · 314 reading sections
Section 61
Use 2. To represent to us the necessity of being in a state of faith, or else neither person nor work can please God ; there must be a change of our state, as well as doing our duties. It is in vain to persuade people to change their actions, while their state is unchanged. If the person be not in favour, the works are…
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(1.) No man can engage God to give him converting grace ; this would tie grace to works, and then man would make himself to differ ; and our debt to grace would be taken off, and the difterence that is between us and others did arise from ourselves : this would make men sacrifice to their ow^n net. Now this is contrary…
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But I answer, it is clear that the place speaks of God's consequent love to the work of his own grace ; for it is impossible that ever a man can fear God and work righteousness until he hath some grace wrought in him ; those things are not the effect of nature, but of grace. That place only shows that Peter was convinc…
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[2.] Another reason why we press wicked men to do duty, is that they may manifest their obedience to God by meeting him in his own way. This is the way of God's working, by antecedaneous acts to fit us for grace, therefore the act must be done ; for though we have lost our power, God hath not lost his right. It is true…
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and read and meditate, we can but die ; l)ut there is some common hope ; it may be we may Kve. All God's children are thus brought in ; the soul is willing to acts of obedience, though it knows not what will come of it ; as Abraham obeyed God, not knowing whither he went. I am to do what God commands, let God do what h…
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2. The necessity of faith. There is as much necessity of faith as of Christ. What good will a deep well do us without a bucket ? and an able saviour, if we have not faith to take hold of him ? Look, as on God's part, there is need of the intervention of Christ's merit to satisfy justice ; so on man's part, that the sin…
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[2.] God puts this crown of honour upon the head of faith, because it unites us to Christ, out of whom there is no pleasing of God. This reason stands upon two propositions — there is no pleasing God out of Christ and no interest in Christ, but by faith. (1.) There is no pleasing of God out of Christ. We are all by na…
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[3.] Faith, it is the mother of obedience, therefore there is good reason to exalt it. Now holiness is eft'ectually promoted by no grace so much as by faith ; partly, because faith receives all supplies fi'om hea- ven. Faith that receiveth Christ, receiveth all his benefits and graces : Gal. iii. 14, ' That the blessin…
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Now every kind of knowledge will not serve the turn. There is a form of knowledge as well as a form of godliness : Rom. ii. 20, ' Which hast the form of knowledge, and of the truth in the law.' The apostle means a naked model of truth, to be able to teach others: but they want a new light put into their hearts by the S…
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3. There is affiance, which is an act which doth immediately respect the person of Jesus Christ. For we are not saved by giving credence to any axiom or maxim of religion, but by casting the soul upon Christ. Faith is thus described by resting upon God, 2 Chron. xiv. 11 ; by stay- ing upon God, Isa. xxvi. 3 ; by trusti…
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[3.] Though there be no certainty, yet there is an obstinate purpose to follow after Christ, It is true, the aim and end of all faith is to draw the soul to certainty and particular application, to assurance of pardon, that we may say, My God and My rock. But though the soul meets with many difficulties, yet there is a…
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VeR. 6.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. Ill I might answer generally, that the least degree of true faith begin- neth in contrition, and endeth in a care of obedience. But because there may be in the wicked some occasional doubtings, such as arise by starts out of the trouble of an evil conscience and some smooth mora- liti…
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[2.] An esteem of Christ. In faith there is not only a conviction of the understanding, but some motion of the will ; all motions of the Avill are founded in esteem. This is a low fruit of faith : 1 Peter ii. 7, ' To them that believe he is precious.' To an hungry conscience Christ is more precious than all the world b…
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YOL. XIV. H 114 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [SeR. XXIX, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord, and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.' ' I will arise and go to my father,' saith the prodigal, in Luke xv. 18 ; ' but when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on…
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116 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [SeR. XXIX. tiiere is no contrition, but a perfect oblivion of misery; the soul being full of joy, faith hath no place and use. Therefore it is in vain to boast of quiet of conscience and leaning on the Lord, as wicked men do, when the soul was never troubled. We must consider the method a…
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Use 2. Exhortation to press us to faith. It is the commandment which we must teach : 1 John iii. 23, ' This is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his son Jesus Christ ; ' and it is the work which you must practise : John vi. 29, ' This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent ; '…
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YeR. 6.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI, 119 turned into fruition. You are in the suburbs of heaven as soon as you close with Christ ; it putteth you above the clouds, and in the midst of glory to come. All the blessings of the covenant are made over to faith. It is God's acquittance which he showeth to Christ ; as when men …
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(3.) Aggravate thy sins from the consideration of God's love. Two things very much humble the soul, light and love. So it was in Saul's case: 1 Sam. xxiv. 16, 17, 'And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. And he said to David, Tliou art more righteous than I ; for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded ihee …
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122 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XL [SeR. XXIX. have to fly to his mercy. Use a point of gospel logic, and make advan- tage of the temptation. Satan saith, Thou art a grievous sinner, and conscience can witness the accusation ; though you take the principle, yet beware of the devil's inferences ; the principle may be true, ye…
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Thirdly, To regulate faith, that you may not deceive yourselves with a vain confidence. It is needful to deny ourselves, our interests, or our lusts. Something is to be for.-?aken. Put cases — Are you come up to God's terms? — AVhat lusts or interests do you stick at? as Christ trieth the young man, Mat. xix. 20, ' If …
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VeR. G.] sermons upon HEBREWS XI. 125 tenor and rigour of his justice, that we may open our case to God ; oh, let us make use of our liberty I Must believe that he is, &c. As if the apostle had said, At least, there must be this faith ; he must be persuaded first of the truth of God's being ; secondly, of the certain…
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VkR. 6.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. 127 3. I would handle this argument — That there is a God, because it is good to detain the heart a little in the view of this truth, and to revive it in our souls. There is a double reading of that place : Ps. x. 4, ' God is not in all his thoughts ; ' or else, all his thoughts are t…
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'VeR. 6.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XT. 129 is a hidden fear in their heart, and they are haunted with these pangs of conscience, and are sensible of an avenger and a judge. And this proves pUiinly that there is a God ; as they say things written with the juice of a lemon appear not till the paper he brought to the fire, t…
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This was that which puzzled the heathens to find out TrpoiTov alnov — the first cause of the world, and all the order that is therein. Plutarch disputes it, which could be first, the ^<^g before the hen, or the hen before the &^% ; the acorn before the oak, or the oak before the acorn. Such an uncertainty will there be…
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[4.] As creation, so also providence discovers a God. All natural ^ See this head of the Creation more fully handled in the third verse. 132 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [SeR. XXX. things work for an end, and therefore they are governed by the counsel of some wise ruler ; for all things that work for an end, it must eit…
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SERMON XXXI. For lie that cometli to God must believe that he is, and that he is a reioarder of those that diligently seek him. — Heb. xi. 6. I NOW come to the improvement of this great truth. Use 1, If there be a God, let us charge this truth then upon our hearts, that we may check those private whispers and suspic…
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VeK. 6.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. 135 guilty before the great God, that all the memorials of God should be defaced. 2. Some live it down. It is possible there may be some atheists for a while in opinion ; but they are but few, if any — that are directly and purely so ; but there are more in affection, and most in con…
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2. The denying of particular providence, and exempting of human actions from God's predetermination and dominion. Many think that the world is but as a great clock, which is set right at first by God, afterwards it is left to its own motion. The heathens had such a sense of God that they counted them atheists that deni…
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138 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [SeR. XXXI. beyond the word, it leads to atheism. Fundamental truths sliould be sure: Deut. xii. 30, 'We should not enquire after their gods.' The Wigelians, who are the same with our familists, expect secidum Spiritus sancti — the age of the Holy Ghost ; for they imagine G-od the Father h…
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Use 4. If he that cometh to God must believe that God is. It directs lis what to do in fierce and boisterous temptations. It is not good to leave the dispute then, in a time of temptation, to the uncertain tra- verses and debates of reason : foundation-stones must not be loosened. When our hearts are under the cloud of…
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2. There are certain particular seasons when we are most in danger of atheism ; usually when the soul is under a passion and pet against providence, and we cavil at God and repine at his dispen- sations ; for all grievances breed passions, and passions exceedingly cloud the soul, and then we are in danger. There are se…
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SEEMON XXXII. For he ilicd comeili to God, must believe that he is, and that he is a reiuarder of those that diligently seeJc him. — Heb. xi. 6. Use 6. Here is a direction to us in our addresses to God. Fix our thoughts on the consideration of his being — ' He that cometh to God, must believe that God is ' — say, I d…
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[1.] For the necessity of it; it is not a curious business, as those requests, Exod. xxxiii. 18, ' Lord, show me thy glory ;' and John xiv. 8, ' Show us the Father, and it sufficeth us ; ' but it is necessary, for with- out it our services are profane, customary, irreligious. John iv. 22, ' Ye worship ye know not what …
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Secondly, You must conceive of him aright, and according as he hath revealed himself ; lest in worshipping God you worship an idol. It is a high contempt of his majesty if we do not conceive of him accor- ding to his excellent glory. Now for the conceiving of him aright^ which was the difficulty propounded, take these …
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2. ^Ye must conceive of God according to his praises in tlie word. Hereafter we shall see him as he is, which is our happiness in heaven ; now we can only see him as he is pleased to reveal himself to us. This Avay is most easy and of greatest profit and safety ; for though these representations are imperfect notions a…
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1. The considerations that are like to keep the spirit aweful. [1.] Consider his wonderful purity and holiness. There is no attribute that drives a creature to astonishment and self-abhorrency so much as God's holiness. We dread him for his wrath, power, and justice ; but all these are rooted in his holiness : 1 Sam. …
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150 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [SeR. XXXII. ing iniquity, and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty ; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generations.' There is more of mercy ; and God begins with mercy, because…
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Fifthly, Frame fit notions concerning the trinity, that there are three persons in one godhead. Now to direct jon, herein take these rules — 1. This mystery is to be believed, not disputed, and committed to the anxious traverses of our own reason. Silence reason, by what is revealed ; anxious inquiries do but distract…
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SERMON XXXIII. And that he is a rewardei' of them that diligently seek him. — Heb. xi. G. Two principles are necessary to be firmly believed of all that would entertain communion with God — God's being, and God's bounty ; God's being ' That he is,' and God's bounty — ' That he is a rewarder of them that diligently s…
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YeR. 6.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XL 1.55 that God doth not mind the affairs of the world, will destroy all worship of God and respect to him. If there be no providence, then no worship, no prayer, no praise. The two fii'st motives that ordinarily induce men to worship are fear and hope ; fear that God will avenge their m…
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2. Among the recompenses of God, that which comes from grace is only mentioned. The great God in recompenses is not only a rewarder of them that seek him, but a revenger of them that hate him ; but his vengeance and punishment is not propounded as so necessary to our first faith, to him that comes to God so much as his…
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l.'^S SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [SeK. XXXIII. is for cliilclren. But briefly: the recompenses of God's justice and mercy are called rewards, partly to note the persons to whom it is given ; a reward is not given but to those that labour. Heaven is not for idlers and loiterers ; it is a reward, it is given after labour …
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IGO SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [SeR. XXXIII. God, I say, certainly he hath some notable worthy blessing to bestow upon us. There was price enough laid down, the blood of God ; God would not be at such expense for nothing. What will not that pur- chase for us ? In short, godliness must have a better recompense than is to…
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[3.] It implies a seeking of him in Christ. For without a mediator guilty creatures cannot enjoy God. We cannot immediately converse with God, there must be a mediator between God and us : John xiv. 6, ' I am the way, the truth, and the life ; no man cometh to the Father but by me.' There is no getting to God but by Cl…
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VeR. 6.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. 163 that we might seek after him. God needed not seek the creaxures, he nad ha]')piness enough in himself ; but we needed such a creator. He that hides himself from the sun impairs not the light thereof. We derogate nothing from God, but it is a loss of benefit to us that we seek him …
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Secondly, I come to the nature of this faith. You have seen the thing that is to be believed ; but how is it to be believed ? 1. It must be a firm and certain persuasion. The reward is sure on God's part. Men may be ignorant, forgetful, unthankful, as Pharaoh's butler forgat Joseph, Gen. xl. 23; but the Lord is righte…
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2. To keep the heart sincere and upright. Oh, there is nothing makes the heart so sincere as to make God our paymaster, and to look for our reward from him only. Carnal affections will draw us to seek praise and honour of men, some present profit, some reward here : Mat. vi. 2, ' They have their reward,' and give God a…
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[3.] That this reward is so freely dispensed, and upon terms of grace — ^aptcr/za — ' The grace of God is eternal life,' Eom. vi. 23. Such are the riches of his grace to lost sinners, that we can hardly believe, especially with application, what is told us of this readiness of God to do good to the creature, and to rew…
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2. There are others that do not seek him diligently, and with their whole hearts. Oh, to what a sorry use do the most of us put our lives ! We are hunting after the profits of the world and the pleasures of our senses, but we do not inquire after God. Most of us have cause to blush and to be ashamed, — How little is ou…
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[5.] It is the end of the Spirit's motion: Ps. xxvii. 8, 'When thou saidst, Seek ye my face ; my heart said unto thee. Thy face, Lord, will I seek.' God speaks to us by the injection of holy thoughts and the inspiration of his grace, and we should, like a quick echo, take hold of this. [6.] Let me jDress you, because …
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172 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [SeR. XXXIV. seeking after him, that we should look back upon the time already spent out of communion with God as very long, too long for the good of our souls. It should be a grief of heart to us to think of pleasing the flesh, or living in a state of estrangement any longer. Otherwise, w…
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1. The ground of his faith — Xoah being icarned of God. 2. The strength of it, intimated in the object — of things not seen as yet, or of things that by no means could be seen. 3. The consequents and the fruits of his faith, and they are four — (1.) He was moved with fear, or out of a religious respect to God (so th…
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YeK. 7.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. 175 mine enemies that would not tliat I should reign over them, bring hither and slay them before me,' — Christ will see execution done himself in his own person ; but it shall be done in the sight of the godlj'. The wicked are first punished in the sight of the godly, before the godl…
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VeU. 7.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. 177 wherein few, that is, eight souls, were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us.' Look, as those eight souls that were in the ark were saved, the ark being borne up by the water ; so God hath appointed the water of baptism, and other means, to …
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To apply this hint. Use 1, Take notice of the rich mercy and patience of God, and aggravate it by his great hatred of sin. Though God hates sin exceed- ingly, yet how long doth he bear with sinners? how long doth he protract his wrath ? and how many courses doth he take to reclaim you from the evil of your ways ? You …
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Use 2. It presseth us, if we would know the secret of the Lord, be holy. Grace opens the eyes, and a man discerns things more clearly. A holy man hath a greater insight into truth than a carnal man, for lusts are the clouds of the mind. He that is encumbered with lusts is blind : 2 Peter i. 9, 'He that lacketh these th…
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terms and conditions. Look, as tlie devil comes and indents with Christ r Mat. iv. 3, ' If thou he the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread ; ' he would have him do a miracle, else he would not believe him. And the Jews would indent with Christ : Mat. xxvii, 40, ' If thou be Christ, come down from the cr…
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Here is an objection. It is said : Acts ii. 17, ' It shall come to pass, that in the last days I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh : and 3^our sons and daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams,' &c ; so that it seems God would still continue the dispens…
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2. Because faith is but a loose presumption, if it be not carried out to the threatenings as well as the promises. In all right belief there is mixture. Men that look altogether to be honeyed and oiled with grace, to be fed with the promises and feasted with love, they mistake the nature of God and the state of his eco…
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[2.] The consideration of the threatening will be an advantage to us to make us vigilant and watchful ; when we see the danger we shall not be so secure. This is the argument by which Christ himself would convert Paul : Acts ix. 5, * It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.' It is a metaphor taken from a husband…
926 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.