PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Complete Works of Thomas Manton — Volume 17
Thomas Manton · 311,929 words · 307 reading sections
Section 241
How shall we know when the heart is lifted up ? Pride is a capacious sin, therefore called ' pride of life,' 1 John ii. 16, because it is a sin that difi"useth itself throughout all affairs and conditions of life , children, estate, beauty, strength, parts, honours, graces. A worm may breed in manna. Paul was puff'ed u…
909 wordsSECTION 242Section 242
3. Take heed of the pride of self-dependence. Hereby the heart is taken off from God, and then the devil hath us upon the hip. He that swimmeth in a full stream is apt to be carried away with the stream. It is a hard, matter to see the nothingness of the creaiure when we enjoy the fulness of the creature. Man's thought…
1,029 wordsSECTION 243Section 243
2. The danger itself, ' Behold Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.' Where observe — [1.] The author and procurer of this trouble, the devil, called here Satan, that is an adversary. Our danger is mainly from the devil ; he hath a great hand in the troubles of God's people. He assaulteth them…
956 wordsSECTION 244Section 244
Secondly, Here is comfort propounded to sustain them under this great danger ; where observe two things — 1. The means of disappointing Satan, ' I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not.' 2. The event, delivered in the form of a direction. Peter should recover out of this lapse, and be a means to strengthen ot…
1,017 wordsSECTION 245Section 245
But observe the term, converted. Kecovery out of a sore temptation is a kind of second conversion. Grace is battered and bruised, and so many things are necessary to put us in joint again. Denial of Christ, even out of weakness, is a loss not easily recovered. First, Peter had Christ's look : Luke xxii. 61, ' And the L…
935 wordsSECTION 246Section 246
2. By persecutions or afflictions. Many of Satan's temptations are conveyed by afflictions, that he may make the people of God weary of their profession, and either quit the truth or cast off their duty to him. Thus when the apostle telleth us of the devil's unwearied malice and enmity to souls, he biddeth us ' resist …
954 wordsSECTION 247Section 247
[2.] To abate our carnal confidence. For till we have experience of the strength of sin, danger of temptations, and our own weakness, we are too confident of our own resolutions, which, because they are sincere and undissembled, we think they may be easily maintained ; therefore God, to show us ourselves, suftereth Sat…
1,254 wordsSECTION 248Section 248
4. That God doth not expose us to the fury of Satan, to be dealt with as he pleaseth, but doth bridle and restrain his rage. [1.] God is the sovereign orderer of this business of temptations. As the shaking and tossing of the saints is by his leave, so is the pro- tection of their faith from his grace. The devil is a …
935 wordsSECTION 249Section 249
SERMON UPON LUKE XXn. 31, 32. 405 enough, nor furnished with life and light. Satan's malice aimeth at the best, but he prevaileth with the presumptuously confident and fool-hardy. They know not their own weaknesses. If we slight these things, and thrust ourselves into temptations, we fall as a ready prey into the mout…
945 wordsSECTION 250Section 250
[1.] The giving of power and authority, as Saul by being anointed 408 SERMON UPON HEBREWS I. 9. was made king of Israel, 1 Sam. x. 1, and Aaron and his sons made priests, Exod. xxx. 30. So Clirist was anointed to authorise his dis- pensation, or to invest him in the authority and power of the mediatory office. [2.] …
1,256 wordsSECTION 251Section 251
2. All this while we have spoken of his personal holiness, which raaketh him acceptable to God and amiable to us, and qualifieth him for his office. Now let us see how he showeth this love to holiness and hatred to iniquity in his office as well as in his person. The general term whereby this office is expressed is med…
1,000 wordsSECTION 252Section 252
(Ist.) By way of representation. His bitter sufferings are an instance of God's great wrath against sin and sinners : for if Christ must thus be handled rather than sin shall go unpunished, it warneth us to be very cautious how we meddle with the forbidden fruit. When we remem- ber his bitter agonies, his accursed, sha…
908 wordsSECTION 253Section 253
(2c?.) External, in the course of his providence. Christ hath set up a government wherein he will favour and protect those that walk up- rightly : Ps. xi. 7, ' For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness ; his countenance doth behold the upright.' But with the disobedient ' God is angry every day,' Ps. vii. 11. Only it…
911 wordsSECTION 254Section 254
2. The privilege itself; to be anointed with the oil of gladness. It noteth his solemn exaltation and admission to the exercise of his office. By oil all agree is meant the Spirit, by which Christ was anointed : Luke iv. 18, ' The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me.' [1.] Christ was anointed at…
1,119 wordsSECTION 255Section 255
[2.] Others are admitted to be partakers of this grace in a lower degree, called * his fellows.' They are also dignified and graced by God above the rest of the world, but not as Christ was. Two things I will observe here — (1.) They must be his consorts and fellows. Sometimes they are called ' his brethren,' Heb. ii.…
1,061 wordsSECTION 256Section 256
I have not done with the argument yet. We have no communion with Christ, yea, we renounce it, if we continue to be so unlike him : 1 John i. 6-8, ' If we say we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth ; but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, then have we fellowshij) one…
916 wordsSECTION 257Section 257
3. An account of his manners, where you have a brief description of a christian conversation, ' Herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence both towards God and towards men.' My business is not to discuss all these branches of Christianity apart, and in their full latitude, but to give you …
1,114 wordsSECTION 258Section 258
2. The extent 'All things.' A believer receiveth all truths which are of divine revelation, whether precepts, promises, threatenings, doctrines, or histories. But then we must distinguish of an implicit or explicit faith. With the latter we can only believe those things which we know ; what we know not we cannot believ…
1,036 wordsSECTION 259Section 259
Secoyidlij, The apostle asserts his hope, ' And have hope towai-ds God, which they themselves allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.' 1. Mark that he propoundeth his hope as the immediate efiect and product of faith ; for when I believe, then I must look and long, and prepa…
1,131 wordsSECTION 260Section 260
SERMONS UPON ACTS XXIV. 11-16. 425 Secondly, The integrity of his obedience, set forth in all the neces- sary requisites. 1. There is sincerity asserted. For his conscience was in it, and a good conscience, ^ow conscience is that faculty which is apt to take God's part, and is the judgment a man maketh upon his actio…
933 wordsSECTION 261Section 261
[1.] Our chief care should be that we do not make a breach upon our love to God. Conscience standeth always in dread of God's eye and presence, to whom it is most accountable : Acts xxiii. 1, ' I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day ; ' O ' grieve not the Spirit ! ' Eph. iv. 30. Offend not the pu…
980 wordsSECTION 262Section 262
3. It is for the honour of Christ, as well as our own comfort and safety. Obedience maketh faith visible and sensible : 2 Thes. i. 11, 12, ' And fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him.' An holy convers…
1,011 wordsSECTION 263Section 263
(2.) There is a defect in the actions themselves. (1st) In the root ; there is not a clear fountain or principle of grace in their hearts ; and then, ' Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean ? ' Job xiv. 4 ; a clear stream out of a dirty puddle ? How can he perform a good action which is naturally corrupt ? Wit…
988 wordsSECTION 264Section 264
SERMONS UPON ACTS XXIV. 14-16. 431 [3.] It is the end of bis renewing grace. He hath altered the con- stitutiou of our hearts, that we may hve unto God : 2 Cor. v. 17, ' Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature : old things are passed away ; behold, all things are become new.' We are renewed in heart, t…
966 wordsSECTION 265Section 265
(2.) It is for the glory of his judicial proceedings. Self-accusers and self-condemners have no reason to quarrel with God and impeach his justice. Man hath principles and sentiments graven upon his heart, which justify all God's dealings with him : Luke xix. 22, ' Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked …
977 wordsSECTION 266Section 266
3. Conscience is easily offended, but not easily appeased ; as the eye ' is easily offended v,'ith the least dust or mote, which soon gets in, but VOL. XVII. 2 E 434 SERMONS UPON ACTS XXIV. 14-16. is not easily gotten out. But then to appease it costs a great deal of trouble. Therefore, if we would, as Paul, keep a …
1,015 wordsSECTION 267Section 267
6. If there be a crack and a flaw in your conscience, all your trading with heaven is at a stand ; there cannot be any serious dealing with God, nor holy boldness in prayer: 1 John iii. 31, 'If our hearts condemn us not, then have we confidence towards God/ Wlien you have sinned away your peace, a strangeness and dista…
1,041 wordsSECTION 268Section 268
SERMONS UPON ACTS XXIY. 14-16. 437 better than thou wert before ? And he saith of himself, Quoiidie aipud. me causam dico, iotinn diem mecirni scndor, dicta et facta mea reme- tior ; that he scanned all his actions and speeches in the day. Shall heathens be more serious, and shall christians, vrho are acquainted with …
1,144 wordsSECTION 269Section 269
[3.] A man may act against conscience. (I.) So he may do good. As a papist communicating with the reformed churches in the word, and prayer, and sacraments, he doth that which is good, but he doth it against his conscience, because he thinks it is not lawful to have communion with heretics. To this head belongeth thos…
951 wordsSECTION 270Section 270
[1.] As an accuser, hearken to its voice ; what doth it say to you, good or evil ? Job xxvii. 6, ' My heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.' If it speak not to you, you must speak to it. God com- plaineth, Jer. viii. 6, ' I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright ; no man repented him of his wickedness,…
1,101 wordsSECTION 271Section 271
3. The gospel state hath its ebbs and flows in several ages. Some- times there is a notable vigour and power of godliness, at other times a great increase of wickedness, and men do so far corrupt their way, that we are forced to put another sense upon words, or expect a better time when the prophecy shall be more amply…
924 wordsSECTION 272Section 272
4. As it is a progressive holiness, so it is also a diffusive holiness, that spreadeth itself throughout all actions, civil and sacred ; in things which belong to peace and war. (1.) In things civil and sacred, all the pots of the Lord's house, and all the pots in Jerusalem. (2.) In things of war and peace, for here ar…
932 wordsSECTION 273Section 273
[3.] From this dedication there results a relation of the persons so dedicated to God, so that from that time forth they are not their own, but the Lord's : Ezek. xvi. 8, ' Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love, and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness,…
1,219 wordsSECTION 274Section 274
SERMON UPON ZECHARIAH XIV. 20, 21. 447 though there be a mixture of principles and of operations, yet there is not a mixture of interests ; there is hut one chief good ; their great design is to please God in all things. [2.] As a person is holy hy his principle, so an action is holy by the rule, when it agreeth with…
1,083 wordsSECTION 275Section 275
3. Because of our pattern and example, Jesus Christ, who was exact in all his actions. He declared himself to be the Son of God, useful in all his converses, still aiming at the honour of his father : John viii. 60, ' I seek not mine own glory ; there is one that seeketh and judgeth.' He was careful to please him in al…
909 wordsSECTION 276Section 276
2. Be sure to exercise your general calling in your particular ; your general calling is to be a christian, your particular calling is that way of life to which God hath designed you by your abilities and education for the common good. Now the one falleth into the other. I am to guide myself in my calling by the genera…
933 wordsSECTION 277Section 277
The former part of this chapter is spent in a discourse with Nicodemus. (1.) About regeneration. That great pharisee needed to be catechised and taught the plainest principles of Christianity. (2.) About salva- tion by Christ, the great secret which our Lord brought out of his Father's bosom. He instructed him in two t…
906 wordsSECTION 278Section 278
Doct. That we ought to consider salvation by Christ as prefigured and represented by the history of the brazen serpent. ' As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.' And Christ here propoundeth it to Nicodemus. 1. It is useful to consider the types, partly to confirm o…
941 wordsSECTION 279Section 279
But again to the history. These serpents which God sent are called ' fiery serpents,' partly for their colour, being of a shining glistering skin ; the word in the original is serapliim-hurners, a name given to the angels : Isa. vi. 2, ' Above it stood the seraphims,' which angels are called elsewhere ' flames of fire,…
1,022 wordsSECTION 280Section 280
[2.] This sting is deadly. As the biting of the fiery serpents could not be cured, but was present death till God found out a remedy, so this sting of sin is deadly : Kom. v. 12, ' By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned ; ' Gen. ii. 17, ' In t…
1,143 wordsSECTION 281Section 281
(3.) The brazen serpent had the shape and figure of the serpent, but not the sting and the poison. Figuram habuit, non naturam ; it had the figure, not the nature of a serpent. Let us pause upon this a little. God would cure the bite of a serpent by a serpent ; a serpent stung, and a serpent healed : ' God sending his …
938 wordsSECTION 282Section 282
[2.] The superexcellency of Christ above this and all the shadows and types of him. The type doth express the thing signified, but yet the truth doth much exceed the shadow. The brazen serpent was but 'a sign of salvation ; ' so called in the Book of Wisdom, chap. xvi. 6. But Christ ' is the author of salvation,' Heb. …
1,071 wordsSECTION 283Section 283
(2.) To lapsed believers. The serpents were left to sting the Israelites while they were in that place, only the brazen serpent was lifted up. God did not presently take away the serpents, only he gave a remedy for such as were bitten. Sin is not abolished, but whilst we are in this station the remedy is still offered …
1,127 wordsSECTION 284Section 284
-464 SERMON UPON JOHN III. 14, 15. ' There shall be a root of Jesse which shall stand for an ensign of the people ; to it shall the gentiles seek ; ' Isa, xlix. 22, ' Behold, I will lift up my hand to the gentiles, and set up my standard to the people ; and they shall bring thy sons in their arras, and thy daughters s…
1,356 wordsSECTION 285Section 285
466 SERMON UPON JOHN III. 14, 15. Now he is evidently set forth to you, your business is to behold him. And that this look may be serious, remember — 1. This is supposed, that you come hither as stun<jj with sin, and that your hearts are deeply affected with your malady. Alas ! other- wise here is no work to do. If m…
1,007 wordsSECTION 286Section 286
In which words take notice of two things — 1. The duty to which we are exhorted, ' Eejoice.' 2. The constancy and perpetuity of it, in the word. ' Evermore.* Delight and pleasure are greedily sought after ; in Christianity it is not only part of our wages, but much of our very work. Doct. That God's children should …
1,024 wordsSECTION 287Section 287
SEEMONS UPOX I THESSALONIANS V. 16. 471 them, then surely we are much more to love God, not only because of his benefits, but because of his holiness. Yea, if we are to love the law of God, and to delight in it, as it is pure : Ps. cxix. 140, ' Thy word is very pure, therefore thy servant lovetli it ; ' then surely we…
1,195 wordsSECTION 288Section 288
II. How this must be constant and perpetual, ' Kejoice evermore.' 1. In all estates and conditions ; this joy must not be infringed. God's children have or may have cause of rejoicing in God, whatever their outward condition be ; and therefore they should make conscience of it, whether their affairs be adverse or pros…
835 wordsSECTION 289Section 289
a gospel, or new covenant, that bringeth glad tidings to sinners : Luke ii. 10, 11, ' Fear not, for behold, I bring you glad tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the •city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.' The world being fallen under God's wrath and deserved…
947 wordsSECTION 290Section 290
(1.) Eejoice evermore so as ' to pray without ceasing.' They that delight in God will be often with him, and can come cheerfully, and unbosom themselves to him, as a man would to his friend. They are not dragged into his presence as into the presence of a judge, but they come freely to him as children to their father. …
950 wordsSECTION 291Section 291
[2.] The Son is also matter of rejoicing to us, as our Redeemer and Saviour. You are to consider what the Lord Jesus hath done to deliver you from sin, and the bitter curse of the law, and the fears of death, and the flames of hell. The eternal Son of God came to heal our wounds : Isa. liii. 5, ' By his stripes we are …
982 wordsSECTION 292Section 292
[3.] Love to God also causeth us to rejoice in him, for it showeth itself in a complacency and well-pleasedness of mind in God as our chief good : Ps. xvi. 5, 6, ' The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup ; thou maintainest my lot : the lines are fallen to me in pleasant places.' Certainly they do not …
1,068 wordsSECTION 293Section 293
480 SERMONS UPON I THESSALONIANS V. 16. rejoicinjif in God in those calamities which come from God's immediate hand : Hab. iii. 17, 18, ' Although the fig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines, the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat, the flocks shall be cut off fro…
920 wordsSECTION 294Section 294
Ans. 1. Mourning for sin is necessary to cure our vain rejoicing, or delight in carnal vanities ; and at our entrance into Christianity this is a duty highly incumbent upon us, because of sin and the curse which we naturally lie under. Certainly while we are out of Christ we have nothing to comfort us, nothing to answe…
996 wordsSECTION 295Section 295
[2.] That mourning for sin containeth in itself the matter of joy is evident, because a poor christian is glad when his heart can melt for ain. A day of serious and sound humiliation is more to him than all carnal pleasures whatsoever ; he would not exchange the comfort that he find^th in his penitent tears for all the…
923 wordsSECTION 296Section 296
2. The utility of it, both with respect to our spiritual benefit and profit, and our acceptance with God. [1.] With respect to the temper and frame of our own hearts, or our spiritual benefit. There are two parts of regeneration, mortifica- tion and vivification ; and this rejoicing evermore promoteth both of them. (…
1,084 wordsSECTION 297Section 297
(2.) It is most pleasing to God, the life that he is best pleased withal God, that loveth a cheerful giver, loveth a cheerful sufierer, a cheerful practiser of godliness. Men love a thing done cheerfully, because it 486 SERMONS UPON I THESSALONIANS V. 16. betokeneth love in tlie party that doeth it. Surely this rejoi…
973 wordsSECTION 298Section 298
2. Act it continually. Partly for that the grounds of rejoicing are everlasting, an eternal God, an unchangeable covenant, Jesus Christ, the same yesterday and to-day and for ever ; a kingdom that cannot be shaken, an infinite and eternal weight of glory. jS'ow these things should ever be thought of by us, that we may …
1,025 wordsSECTION 299Section 299
SERMO^-S UPOX I THESSALOXIAXS Y. 16. 48 9 bopeless ; you may have comfort upon God's terms, mournincr for sin that sin may be made bitter to you, and you may not hazSrd your peace for trifles another time; and putting yom- business into the bands of your Eedeemer, the advocate must make your peace for vou ' T nu'- : …
987 wordsSECTION 300Section 300
4. There is ordinary and extraordinary prayer. Ordinary prayer is performed upon ordinary causes, such as daily necessities : Ps. Iv. 17, ' Evening, and morning, and noon, will I pray, and cry aloud, and he shall hear my voice.' Extraordinary prayer is upon special weighty occasions, which requireth more than ordinary …
1,030 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.