PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Complete Works of Thomas Manton — Volume 17
Thomas Manton · 311,929 words · 307 reading sections
Section 181
That you may understand the case, you must know that the school- men and other writers of devotion usually distinguish between consid- eration, meditation, and contemplation. Consideration is a thinking of truth, and a rolling of it in the understanding and memory. Medi- tation is an enforcing of truth upon the soul by…
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SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV, C3. 295 those offices of discourse by wliich the sonl would otherwise reflect upon him. A man that desireth a precious jewel, at first he vieweth it with greediness and delight, but afterwards he layeth it up in his bosom, and wholly pleaseth himself in the possession of it ; so the soul tha…
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6. These rich experiences are very fleeting and vanishing, and but now and then bestowed. We have not such high experiences under lock and key, and at the command of our own endeavours. God gives them when he seeth fit, and when he pleaseth they pass away again. If they were constant, and God should continually pour in…
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Thus I have done with this case, in which I have been in the high mountains. I shall come to the valleys, which, as they are more easy of access, so usually they are more fruitful. What follows will be more plain. 298 SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63. SERMON V. And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the even-ti…
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Case 7. Are all bound to meditate ? are the ignorant ? are men of an unquiet nature ? are servants ? are ministers ? 1. Are the ignorant, and men of barren minds, that have not a good stock of knowledge ? I answer — Yes, they are bound to this as well as other duties, though they cannot do it well ; it is their duty t…
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SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. C3. 301 reason why many times mean christians excel those of the best gifts, because they spend their time in subtle inventions and inquiries, and whilst we strive to be more subtle they are more sincere. Oh ! con- sider the soul is diseased while it is only fed with quails and fine notions …
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(3d.) For remarkable providences, when God casteth us upon such objects as stir up special veneration and reverence, as some marvellous events, or creatures that discover his wisdom and glory, or sudden death of one near us, it is of excellent use while such experiences are warm to go home and consider of them ; as Wal…
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304 SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63. upon tlie soul. Look, as it is in going to sea, those that only mind passage do not stay upon the ocean, and therefore do not fetch up the treasures of the great deep, but those that go to fish cast out the net again and again, so must you ; you must cast in reason upon reason, enfor…
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{1st.) In colloquies with God, either by way of complaint: Lord, I am poor, and needy, and worldly. Lord, my heart is naked, and void of grace. Or else by way of request ; as the infant will show the apple or jewel, or whatever it hath received, to the parent or nurse, so the soul representeth to God whatever it hath g…
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SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIY. 63. 307 last end, but of your chief end ; what should be the great aim of your lives, even before death comes ? All religion lies in this, in fixing the aim of your life ; all the difference between men and men is in their chief good and utmost end- In the managing of this meditation, I shal…
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[2.] He was made to glorify God. The creatures do it necessarily ; we must do it voluntarily and by choice. This must be the care of our hearts — (1.) In every business ; (2.) In every enjoyment. (1.) In every business, be it never so trivial and low, even in the ordinary refreshments of nature : 1 Cor. x. 31, ' Wheth…
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Thirdly, For the arguing work. In such a meditation as this is you must dispute and argue with the soul, that you may gain it from base and inferior objects, which would divert you from looking after the great end of your conversation, which is the glorifying and enjoy- ing of God. Follow the method formerly prescribe…
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[4.] All these things which we think increase our happiness do but add to our trouble, both to our outward, inward, and eternal trouble. (1.) Many times to our outward trouble. The greater gates do but open to the greater cares, and the more any are endowed with any excellency in the world, they have proportionable so…
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4. By colloquies with God. Either by way of complaint that thou hast sinned and been ungrateful to God : Ps. Ixxiii. 22, ' So foolish was I and ignorant ; I was as a beast before thee." Lord, this hath been my brutishness, to choose outward pleasure before communion with God, and to prefer the contentments of the world…
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It is a necessary argument you see, and of much practical use, but very large, and will yiiBld great plenty of thoughts ; it will be harder to to know what we should omit in the consideration of it, than what we should pitch upon. I shall pursue it in this method — 1. I shall give you some general rules and observatio…
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SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63. 317 4. None are exempted from bewailing the evil of sin. Though the children of God shall never feel it, nor have the dregs of God's dis- pleasure wrung out to them for it, yet they must bewail the evil that tliere is in sin. The death and merit of Christ doth not change the nature of si…
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II. Having premised these observations, I will give you a few argu- ments whereby you may come to understand a little of that evil that there is in sin. And they shall be drawn — (1.) From the nature of sin ; (2.) From the effects of sin ; (3.) From the circumstances and aggravations wherewith sin may be clothed. 1. F…
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between us and our carnal desires : Col. i. 21, ' You were sometime alienated, and enemies in your mind by wicked works.' In the original it is 6-)(dpov'i rfj Oiavoia iv roh epiyoa roL<i Trovrjpol^, ' by your mind in wicked works ; ' because your minds were set upon wicked works, you were vexed God should restrain your…
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(3.) Sin is a transgression of the law. Do but consider what a dis- grace sin puts upon the law that forbiddeth it ; it doth in effect condemn the law, as if it were not good and useful and righteous, as if it were an idle restraint. There is a notable expression, James iv. 11, 'He thatspeaketh evil of his brother and …
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SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63. 323 and there is no greater bondage than to be a slave to sin : 2 Peter ii. 19, ' While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption ; for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought into bondage.' What a bondage is this, to be a vassal of hell, to b…
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Then survey common experience. If all the charnels in the world were emptied upon one heap, and all the bones of all that ever died were laid together, you might say, All these were slain by sin. When- ever you see sin, you may entertain it as Elisha did Hazael, Thou art the murderer. All diseases, pestilences, wars, f…
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3. The third sort of arguments are from the aggravations of sin, that may enhance it, and show the greatness of it to your thoughts. [1.] It is natural to us. It is necessary to reflect npon this circum- stance, because it is the hardest matter in our humiliation to be suffi- ciently affected with our birth-sin. Evils…
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328 SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63. worse to sin against the light of the word, that will make sin rise high indeed. Then there is more of enmity and malice in it. When a man will break through the convictions and restraints of conscience, it is a sign a man does love sin, and sins for its own sake ; which is sensibly …
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[5.] If it be against vows and covenants, against frequent and reit- erated promises and purposes. By such sinning you break double chains — God's and your own. It is not a simple sin, but treachery ; Judah hath dealt treacherously : Jer. iii. 7, ' Her treacherous sister Judah saw it.' You commit a sin under the show o…
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[7.] If sin has been committed against a special relation, as suppose SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. G3. 331 that of a magistrate or a miuister, this doubles the oflfence. Your sins are imitated ; you should be fountains of religion and justice, and you poison the fountains. You are as the first sheet that is printed ofi…
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2. Not only men, but angels themselves are at a loss in this great mystery ; they study it as well as we, and cannot come to the bottom of it : 1 Peter i. 12, ' Which things the angels desire to look into.' The word irapaKinlrat signifies to bow down and bend the body ; it is an allusion to the cherubim, that were pict…
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[2.] Observe God's wisdom fetched a large compass and circuit ; and those things which we count the ruin of man were through the wisdom of providence his preservation. The fall of angels, the fall of man, those crooked things which seemed to be the destruction of the creature, through the overruling of God made for the…
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[6.] Observe again, God discovered this by degrees, first in types, then in truths ; first in promises, then in performances. God spake to his people formerly not so much by words as by things. We teach children to fight with puppets, and in the oriental nations it is their genius to be taken with allegories and figure…
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[2.] If we consider the creature's comfort, it was the best way to establish that. (1.) Here is excellent provision made against the infiniteness that is in sin by the infiniteness of Christ's sufferings ; for though sin be but a temporary act, yet it is infinite because of the object, being committed SERMONS UPON GE…
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(4.) That we might have a high and glorious pattern of obedience. We are referred to angels, and to Christ himself, who would leave us a more glorious example. 3. Magnify this great contrivance of your salvation by comparisons. Compare it with creation, with other deliverances, and with the works of nature. [1.] Comp…
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340 SICRMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. C3. how many are the crooked lanes we have passed, the uphill and down- hill we have trod, and God knew us all along, and did not only lead us in, but lead us out ; then we shall know the multitude of his thoughts, and what the great number of them is. I confess by narrow observation we…
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(1.) By working without means. God is not bound to the road of nature, or tied to the course of second causes ; he can create where he doth not find ; therefore when God is represented as an object of trust to his people this expression is used : 1 Peter iv. 19, ' Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of…
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SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV C3. 343 things.' 'This Solomon intends when he saith, Prov. xx. 12, ' The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them.' He doth not mean spiritually, but naturally ; he doth not only give the faculty, but the exercise ; as he gives the eye, so the seeing, and as he gi…
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II. That there is such a thing as providence. Heathens granted it,^ though they had but a dim sight of it ; and therefore Tully saith, Dii magna curant, parva negligunt — The gods take care of great things, but neglect little things. We count them atheists that deny a provi- dence, as well as they that denied a God. T…
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346 SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63. ■wast precious in my sight, tliou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee ; therefore I will give men for thee, and people for thy life.' All the rest of the world are but as dust and refuse, which God will give up to his justice. If justice must have an object whereon to exercis…
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8. Observe the providences of God to yourselves, in the womb and from the womb : Ps. cxsxis. 12, ' How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, 0 God ! how great is the sum of them ! ' Gen. xxxii. 10, ' With my staff I passed over this Jordan, and now I am become two bands.' Broad rivers come from a small fountain : Job…
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The duty I owe to the memory of that great person obliges me to testify to the world what I, as well as others who had the honour of knowing her, observed in her. She was one whom God had endowed with more than common gifts and graces ; one of a piercing judgment, quick apprehension, great presence of mind, useful in a…
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1. To show that the godly poor are blessed, and the unmerciful rich are in everlasting torments. Desideravit guttam, quinon dedit micam — He desired a drop of water that would not give a bit of bread. 2. The irreversible estate of the damned : ver. 26, ' Between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that they whi…
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But let us confirm it. Compare the provisions of the word with your own necessities. What ! would you have a rule ? Then see if SEEMONS UPON LUKE XVI. 30, 31. 355 you have it not in the holy scriptures : Titus ii. 11, 12, ' For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denyi…
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SERMONS UPON LUKE XVI. 30, 31. 357 courtesies of man. Well, then, if these things be so (as certainly they are so), we have more certainty by the word itself than possibly we can have by a messenger from the dead, yea, or a voice from heaven, for it hath such a signature of God upon it that we need go no further : 2 P…
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(6.) Then consider the many sensible effects of the word, as the accomplishment of prophecies, promises, threatenings, and answer of prayers. God's providence is a comment upon scripture. It is an authentic register, and infallible prognostication and calendar. We need not have one come from the dead to tell the truth …
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360 SERMONS UPON LUKE XVI. 30, 31. and that maketli them turn atheists ; or an infallible interpreter, that should solve all questions, or excuse them from the ]) lins of study and prayer, and that maketh them turn papists. Thus foolishly would we give laws to heaven, and prescribe to God how he shall reveal his mind …
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First, Let us speak of the first act, the terminus a quo, turning from sin. Supposing the judgment enlightened and the heart made tender by grace, the work doth mainly discover itself in the affections of fear, shame, grief, and indignation. True humiliation is begun in fear, con- tinued in shame, carried on by sorrow,…
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4. Indignation, which is an act of our hatred against sin, hatred quickened into a zeal against it. Indignation is the soul's expulsive faculty, when we heartily renounce it, as unsuitable to our present resolutions, professions, and hopes : Isa. xxx. 22, ' Thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth ; thou shalt s…
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SERMONS UPON LUKE XVI. 30, 31. 365 * Now, and to-day, if you will hear liis voice, harden not your hearts.' As soon as you are convinced of your sinful estate. Why not now ? Sin is such an evil that you cannot he rid of it too soon. Sin is as a poison in the bowels, a fire in a building. Now who will say, We will get …
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5. The scripture layeth down powerful arguments to quicken us to repentance, which have a marvellous tendency and influence that way. I shall single out three — The death of Christ, the day of judgment, and the torments of hell. First, The death of Christ. A serious consideration of the death of Christ will further hu…
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Object. But many think this lesseneth sorrow. Chi-ist hath endured so much, what need they be troubled ? A71S. (1.) These know not what faith and love meaneth. Can a man love Christ, and not mourn for that which was the cause of his sufferings ? Thou art the man that laid all this upon Christ. (2.) 368 SERMONS UPON L…
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Thirdly, The consideration of hell, or the dreadful punishment of sin ; for this is the matter in this text. This is useful to think of hell that we may shun it. Presumption is a coward : Mat. iii. 7, 8, ' 0 gener- ation of vipers ! who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come ? Bring forth therefore fruits meet …
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SERMONS UPON LUKE XVI. 30, 31. 371 been credited ; but you have a more sure word of prophecy ; we tell you the same from God's word, and yet we are not regarded, as the Israelites did not believe the spies. 2. Urge thy heart with it ; recollect yourselves : Rom. viii. 31, ' What shall we then say to these things ? ' …
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2. 'In every good work.' Not in one, but all. Many will do some good, but are defective in other things, and usually in those which are most necessary. They cull out the easiest and cheapest parts of reli- gion, such as do not contradict their lusts and interests. We can never have sound peace till we regard all : Ps. …
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376 SERMON UPON HEBREWS XIII. 20, 21. perfection calletli for: 1 Thes. iv. 1, 'Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus Clivist, that as you have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please Grod, so ye would abound more and more.' II. The words which express the necessary conc…
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5. We must improve our talents, lest we be accounted evil and sloth- ful servants, that receive grace in vain : 2 Cor. vi. 1, ' We beseech you that you receive not the grace of God in vain,' Doct. 2. That the continued sanctification and perfecting of man once regenerate cometh from God as the God of peace. This is t…
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SERMON UPON HEBREWS XIII. 20, 21, 379 Eom. iv. 25, as having perfectly done his work. As the Father delivered him to death, so he brought him back again from the dead. The apostle lays a great weight upon this : Eom. viii. 34, ' Tea, rather, that is risen from the dead.' There is some special thing in Christ's resurre…
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V. The reasons why all increase of grace comes from God as the God of peace. 1, From the giver. God will not set us up with a new stock of grace till satisfaction be made for the breach of his law. We must not look upon him as 'pars qfensa, the offended party, but as rector mundi, the governor of the w^orld. Private p…
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3. What ground of thankfulness to Christ — [1.] That he hath made our peace with God at so dear a rate. All your repentings, if you had wept out your eyes for sin, would not have made your peace with God, nor have satisfied his justice, nor procured pardon and life for you. Now God is appeased, Christ having ' slain t…
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[1.] Whether the pride of arrogancy or self-ascription, or taking God's part to himself, as if the blessings were merited by him ; a disease incident to the creature when exalted : Deut. ix. 4, ' Speak not thou in thine heart after that the Lord thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness …
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2. That it is a sign we are unthankful for mercies when our hearts are lifted up under the enjoyment of mercies. 3. Pride and unthanld'ulness is a sad intimation of approaching wrath and destruction. VOL. XYII. 2 B 386 SERMON UPON A DAY OF PUBLIC THANKSGIVING. 4. When a ruler's heart is lifted up, and doth not than…
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* Let the people praise thee, 0 God, let all the people praise thee ; then shall the earth yield her increase.' There is a KVKXoyevveai,';, a circular generation, between vapours and showers. Vapours cause showers, and showers cause vapours. The course of mercy is stopped when God is not praised. Where do husbandmen be…
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[4.] Obedience. You should walk the more humbly and strictly with God. David was at a loss : ' What shall I render ? ' This was one of his resolutions : Ps. cxvi. 9, ' I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.' This is your duty, to bind yourselves to a more humble and holy walking with God. This is a good…
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2. Those that do not render aught at all. They are crying for mercy, but think not of returning thanks to God, but, when they have what they would have, turn the back upon God, not the face : Jer. ii. 27, ' In the time of their trouble they will say, Arise and save us ; ' then their face is to God. There was a law in E…
946 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.