PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Complete Works of Thomas Manton — Volume 16
Thomas Manton · 320,138 words · 314 reading sections
Section 241
1. That there are books of account kept between God and the crea- ture; which is to be understood not properly but figuratively. Not properly, as if God, who seeth all things with one infinite act of under- standing, did need books, as men for the help of their memories, or to confirm the truth and equity of his judgme…
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SERMONS UPON LUKE XII. 43. 381 misspense of time, abuse of mercies, will then occur to our view, when our whole lives shall be set in order before us : Ps. 1. 21, ' These things hast thou done, and I kept silence ; thou thoughtest that I was alto- gether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in…
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6. That we may be ready for the judgment, it concerneth us to be- gin betimes to mind this. This is the folly of men, that they put off their necessary work from time to time. The more of our lives is spent, the less is to come ; the judgment is every hour nearer. The judge is at the door ready to judge; are we ready t…
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3. It is so far required that they are not spared, but often called to suffer the greatest trials. All that belong to Christ are bound to suffer great things for him ; nay, they are to forsake all they have : Luke xiv 384 SERMONS UPON LUKE XII. 48. 33, ' So likewise, whosoever he be of j'ou that forsaketh not all tha…
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[4.] Opportunity in doing good is considered. Where opportunity is wanting, God taketh notice of affection. God considereth what is in our hearts : 1 Kings viii. 18, ' Whereas it was in thy heart to build an house unto my name, thou didst well that it was in thine heart.' He approved David's purpose, though opportunity…
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SEMOJf UPON DEUTERONOMY XXXII. 51. Beccmse ye (repassed against me among the children of Israel at the ivaters of 3Ierihali-Kadesh, in the ivilderness of Zin ; because ye sanctified me not in the midst of the children of Israel. — Deut. xxxii. 51. I SHALL give you some strictures or short notes on this scripture. The…
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SERMON UPON DEUTERONOMY XXX II. 51. 389 PC that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.' Therefore the sin was impatience mingled with diffidence, and this in the sight of all the 1. He was m a great passion, more than was usual with him at other times, as appeareth by the manner of his speaking, ' Ye rebels ; ' and also…
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(2.) He was a very meek man : Num. xii. 3, 'Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men that were upon the face of the earth.' This commendation the Spirit of God giveth to Moses, though by Moses' own pen. Now meekness is a virtue which keepeth a mean in anger and avenging ourselves when we are offended, wronged…
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(2.) It was a sudden occasional passion, or fit of impatience. But by that we may give place to Satan, and grieve the Spirit of God: Eph. iv. 26, 27, ' Let not the sun go down on your wrath, neither give place to the devil ; ' and ver. 30, ' Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God.' Therefore we should watch against the sudd…
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II. The general reasons. The sins of the professing or really godly are most provoking. 1. They sin against a nearer relation, which is more than if a stranger did these things. As David heightens the injuries done to him : Ps. Iv. 12, 13, ' It was not an enemy that reproached me, then I could have borne it ; neither …
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[2.] The other special reason is to show his love to his people ; because they are his people, he will reclaim them, and will not alto- gether lose them, whereas he lets others walk in their own ways. That sharp afEictions may proceed from love appeareth from that of the apostle : Heb. xii. 6, ' Whom the Lord loveth he…
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5. It teacheth us a lesson of prayer, We must not give over the cause as hopeless, for we have to do with a good God, who aimeth not at our ruin, but the righting of his own glory. Moses prayeth to reverse the sentence, but in this case God would not do that, to preserve the harmony of his providence ; for Moses was on…
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2. The second thing which is said is that God winked at these times. There — (1.) AVe must open the meaning ; (2.) The necessity and use of this reflection. [1.] The meaning. Certainly it is not meant of God's allowing of their idolatries ; that would entrench upon his honour, and hinder their repentance for former si…
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400 SERMON UPON ACTS XVII. 30, 31. of such weight and moment, is very dangerous : Luke xii. 47,, ' That .servant which knew his Lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes ; ' James iv. 17, ' To him that knoweth to do good, and doth it not, to him it is s…
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3. The person, ' By that man whom he hath ordained ; ' meaning thereby Ghrist. But why doth he call Christ mem, rather than God ? [1.] Partly with respect to the gentiles' incapacity to apprehend the mystery of the Trinity, or the incarnation of the Son of God ; and it concerneth us to dispense truths as people are ab…
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SERMON UPON ACTS XVIT. 30, 31. 403 of death, but raised him up and assumed him into glory, thereby visibly declaring unto the world that the judgment passed upon him was not right, but that he was indeed what he gave out himself to be, the Son of God and the judge of the world, to whom power is given over all flesh, t…
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Doct. That the great purpose and drift of the gospel where it is sent and preached is to invite men to repentance. This appeareth abundantly by the scripture, tliat repentance is one of the first and chief lessons which the gospel teacheth. When the gospel kingdom was to be erected or set up, John the Baptist crieth, …
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406 SERMON UPON ACTS XVII. 30, 31. came to recover us from the devil, the v^orld, and the flesh, unto God, that we may love him again, and be happy in his love ; so that they quite mistake the nature of our recovery who dream of a mere exemp- tion from wrath, without an healing our natures, or restoring and putting po…
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3. It is most for the comfort of the creature. There are some principles planted in the heart of man for the restraint of sin, which may be bafiled for a time, but our fears will return upon us ; and till the soul be subject to God it can never be comfortable, nor at ease within itself ; and it is in vain to think we s…
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2. The next circumstance is the person by whom the question was put. The text saitli only, ' There came one running to him.' What this one was we shall find by laying several scriptures together. (1.) This one is said to be veavio-Ko^; ' a young man,' Mat. xix. 20 ; (2.) n\ovaio<; ' a rich man,' ver. 22, ' He had great…
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5. This question was seriously put ; he did not ask it in jest, but in the greatest earnest. When men are convinced, things now begin to be real, and seem other than formerly they did ; they think, and speak, and talk like men in another world. Sin is another thing, they were wont to marvel what made men keep such ado …
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[2.] Consider how necessary it is, because the lusts of youth being boiling hot, need the correction of a more severe discipline. Young men are inclined to liberty and carnal pleasures, and are more apt to be led aside from the right way by the motions of the flesh, and are self-willed and headstrong in their passions,…
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VeR. 17.] SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. 415 US that we have lived more plentifully than others, unless we have made provision for a better life. Eich men are wont to command others, and we must command them whose office it is to come to them in a greater name. What to do ? 1 Tim. vi. 17, ' Charge them that are rich in t…
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3. Consider his humility and reverence to Christ ; he kneeled to him, in token of civil honour and reverence to him, as an eminent prophet and teacher. He was not persuaded, as we that profess ourselves christians are, of the Grodhead of Christ, only he took him for some great prophet and a man of God, therefore he com…
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Use. This may humble us, that we go not so far, and to caution us that we do not rest here. VOL. SYI. 2 D 418 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [SeR, I. First, To humble us. Alas ! most men go not so far as this young rich man, that comes thus seriously to Christ about a question of eternal life. It is a saying of Athanas…
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3. If we would not rest in a common work, then two things we must take care of, which are opposite to the double defect of this young man — brokenness of heart, and unbounded resignation of ourselves to the will of God ; bring yourselves to that, and the thing is done. (1.) Brokenness of heart. This young man hath a gr…
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(2.) That the usual bait of reigning sin is the world. The great difficulty of salvation lies in a man's addictedness to worldly things or temporal satisfactions. When these are highest in our esteem, or dearest to our hearts, it weakeneth God's interest and our care of salvation, and our sense of the world to come : 2…
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3, Our Lord would teach us by his own example to cast all the honour we receive upon God. We may own goodness in creatures, but not to the wrong of God ; at least, all must be acknowledged to be transferred by him, and we must be faithful to the supreme giver. This is a common sin, that when God doth any good by the cr…
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[2,] This is not so to be understood as if there were no distinction be- tween men, but they were all equal in sin. No ; but as Jeremiah had two baskets of tigs, some very good and some very bad, so there are two sorts of men in the world, some good, some bad ; some that walk after the spirit, and others that walk afte…
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p..] As to the unregenerate. When God looked upon his creatures as they passed his hands, he saw all was good, Gen. i. 31 ; but when he looked down from heaven upon men in their natural condition, and as they had made themselves and defiled themselves, so ' they were altogether become filthy and abominable, and there i…
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VeR. 18.] SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. 427 satisfaction must make them white ; they could not appear before God in their own holiness. Therefore Paul desireth, Phil. iii. 9, ' To be found in Christ, not having his own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness w…
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1. Originally. He is avTa'ya6o<;, good of liimself, and fiom no other, which no creature can be. A creature is only good by pai'ticipation and communication from God. The good he hath is from the Father of lights : James i. 17, ' Every good and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights…
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Use 4. Let us love God, and love him above all things, for he only 430 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [SeR. II. is good. Goodness is that which is amiable and desirable ; so when God is said to be good, we say he is of such an essence as is most amiable and desirable. Therefore let us love God above all things with our …
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Now this goodness of God's or his bounty, is twofold — 1. Common and general to all creatures, especially to mankind: Ps. cxlv. 9, ' The Lord is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his works;' to all things, to all persons, he bestoweth many common blessings upon them, as natural life and being, health, w…
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VeR. 19.] SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27, 433 Use 3. Honour and praise him for this in word and deed : Ps. cxviii. 1, ' O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good.' You all have tasted of the goodness of God, now what shall he done to the Lord for this ? Certainly we should be good, and do good, that we might imitate ou…
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It was necessary this man should be treated in this way, for the many errors wherewith he was tainted required it ; as (1.) To draw him again to the service of God from those traditions and human observances in which the pharisees placed most of their religion and piety; and therefore Christ mentions not ' the traditio…
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436 SERMONS UrON MARK X. 17-27. [SeR. IIL not displeasing to him ; and therefore there can be no hurt in pressing men to these, yea, by the rewards propounded in the legal covenant. Therefore Christ might say, ' If thou wilt enter into life, keep the com- mandments ; ' the old legal proposal showing how valuable they …
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2. The duty of the law is to rest contented or satisfied with our own portion, or the lot which God hath afforded us, so as not to desire to increase it, or to have anything to ourselves with the loss of another. It is notable that instead of what is here said, ' Defraud not,' it is, Mat. xix. 19, ' Thou shalt love thy…
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VeR. 19.] SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27, 439 and doth not make void God's riglit ; as a creditor doth not lose his right by the debtor's inability to pay him. If a man bind himself and his heirs to pay such a sum of money, and he will vainly spend his patrimony, and so render himself unable to pay it, he and his heirs ar…
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1. The duty is impossible. So full and exact is that righteousness that is required by the law covenant in order to life, that it is impos- sible for the fallen creature ever to perform it : Eom. viii. 3, ' What the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh.' The law proraiseth no good to sinners, but onl…
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Use 2. To awaken our consciences to consider upon what terms we stand with God, and by what covenant we can plead with him, by the covenant of works, or by the covenant of grace. If we be yet under the covenant of works, and have not got the sentence of the law repealed, 0 miserable creatures ! there is no hope : Ps. c…
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Use 3. To instruct us, if we would be prepared for Christ, what we must do ; we must study the law, the purity of it, and the binding force it hath on all under it. 444 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [SeR. IV. 1. We must be able to understand it. Christ' saith to the yonng man, ' Thou knowest the commandments ;' he appe…
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[2.] The heart can never be sincere when we can dispense with any- thing which God hath commanded ; and you cannot have the testimony of a good conscience approving your sincerity when you allow yourselves in the least failing : Ps. cxix. 6, ' Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect to all thy commandments.' I…
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VeR. 20.] SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. 447 be a great advantage to us all our life after. On the other side, the want of a good education is a great disadvantage to grace, a maim hardly cured ; it leaves a scar, and makes a man limp as long as he lives, if he doth not begin with God betimes, though afterwards he be con…
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Use. This is spoken to reprove us, because we always think it too soon to begin with God. Where is this timely care and forwardness ? Alas ! VeK. 20.] SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. 449 we cannot say, ' All these have we kept from our youth ; ' but wlien we come to look to the commands of God, we may say, ' All these ha…
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In short (that I may gather up the discourse), here was wanting Josiah's tenderness, who rent his clothes, and the other man's humility, and Paul's self-denial ; therefore certainly his answer shows that he was not truly acquainted either with the law or with himself. So that the note which 1 shall prosecute will be th…
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452 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [SeR. IV. There were moralities among the heathens far more exact than are to be found among many christians. As dogs excel man in acuteness of smell and sense, it is their perfection, so do many heathens excel abun- dance that go for christians, in temperance, justice, meekness, and a …
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5. Another sottish maxim is, that petty sins are not to be stood upon. They shall do well enough if they never sin more nor worse ; as the omission of good duties in their closets or families, lesser Oaths, vain speeches, idle sport ; whereas Christ saith, ' By thy words thou shalt l)e justified, and by thy words thou …
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1. They cannot endure to be searched by the word : John iii, 20, 'Every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh he to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.' Men will stand out as long as they can, in defence of their own righteousness, and are loath to be convinced and discovered to themselves, and…
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SEEMON V. Then Jesus, heliolding him, loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lachest ; go thy way, sell ivhatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shall have treasure in heaven ; and come, take up the cross, andfoUoiu me. — Mark x. 21. In this verse is contained the fourth and last part of the confer…
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(2.) A love of pity, pitying him who had done so mucli to so little purpose, who lost the benefit of all he did by a vain opinion of his own righteousness. As we pity moderate papists, sober Turks, or infidels, so Jesus Christ might love him with a love of pity. Well, then, it was a love of human affection, as one man …
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[2.] The increase of one sin may cause others to decrease, as a wen that grows big and monstrous defrauds other parts of their nourishment. Though all sin be kindly to a natural heart, yet some sins are more apt to take the throne, and other lusts are starved to feed that. As for instance, he that is covetous, by the f…
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VeR. 21.] SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27, 461 drink, whore, and play away their consciences. There are none but have a conscience till they get the victory of it, and smother it, and outgrow the feelings and checks of it, and lose all sense : Eph. iv. 19, 'Who being past feeling, have given themselves over to lasciviousne…
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JDoct. 2. That in some respect Christ loves those that are orderly and civil, and do but outwardly carry themselves according to God's commands. I shall give the reasons, and then apply it. 1. The thing is good in itself, though the resting in it makes it useless as to the salvation of the person that goes no further…
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[2.] We must not so take this as that he doth love good qualities so as to make them equal with christian virtues or the graces of the Spirit. Morality is good, but we must not lift it up beyond its place. There is something better, and that is grace, ' those things which do accom- pany salvation,' Heb. vi. 9. I observ…
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[2.] We learn by Christ's example to honour others for their common gifts. Some respect is due to them that have any good in them. We are bidden, 1 Peter ii. 17, ' To honour all men,' How so? All are par- takers of some excellency from God. How vile soever they be in other respects, they have something of the image of …
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[5.] It invites us to go so far, for Jesus loved this young man; est idiquid pi'odire tenus. What was in this young man ? Here is his care to seek after eternal life, his reverent esteem of Christ's person, his outward conformity to the laws of God, his abstaining from all gross sins from his youth. Oh ! these are amia…
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1. Because it would have been tedious to convince him of all his defects, and therefore Christ would take the more compendious way, and insist but upon one thing, which was enough to show that he was not perfect, as he vainly dreamed. If a man brag that he is able to pay a hundred pounds, you convince him of his penury…
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VeR. 21.] SEIIMONS UPON MAIIK X. 17-27. 471 then, a precept, it is not a general precepi, binding all christians, for then it could not be omitted or neglected by us without sin, or without a great contempt of Christ's authority. Yea, many would sin if they should sell all, neglect their families, and cast themselves …
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Doct. That we ought upon God's call to be ready to forsake all that we have in the world. Here I shall — (1.) Consider when God calls us to forsake all ; (2.) Why we ought to do so. First, When God calls us to forsake all that we have ; such a parti- cular precept or command we cannot now expect. Now Christ is ascend…
969 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.