PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Complete Works of Thomas Manton — Volume 18
Thomas Manton · 303,917 words · 302 reading sections
Section 241
4. Watchfulness and heed is necessary, otherwise corruption will break out. There is a quick intercourse between the heart and the tongue. Pride will show itself in a vain ostentation of parts ; passion in some heat of words ; worldliness and sensuality will bewray them- selves, and divert us from holy conference to th…
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SERMONS UPON PROVERBS X. 20. 397 Ihonghts lodge within thee ? ' 1 Cor. iii. 20, * The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain ; ' Prov. xxii. 15, ' Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child. (3.) Stupidity : Deut. xxix. 3, 4, * The great temptations which thine eyes have seen, the signs, and those…
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(1.) That the heart of the wicked is spoken of in the softest terms. Elsewhere it is said to be ' deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked,' Jer. xvii. 9 ; set upon mischief : Ps. xxviii. 3, ' Mischief is in their hearts ; ' but here it is ' little worth.' And this teacheth us that it is not enough not to do …
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400 SERMONS UPON PROVERBS X. 20. • ment of great price,' and the righteous are called ' the excellent ones of the earth,' Ps. xvi. 3, whereas the wicked are called ' vile persons,' Ps. XV. 4 ; and Prov. xii. 26, ' The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour.' He hath an heart which others have not, and a spirit…
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(3.) NoTjfiaTa. Their contrivances and counsels are to accomplish their worldly ends : Rom. xiii. 14, ' Make no provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.' Not how to glorify God or save their souls, but how to enrich, promote, and advance themselves, and gratify their brutish lusts. Now when the hearts of m…
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SERMONS UPON PEOVERBS X. 20. 403 which pervert your hearts, and make them so bad as they are. And liow miserable a thing it is to have a drossy, unsanctified heart, even though your life should be never so blameless ? Now the Spirit of God calleth upon us to show ourselves men : Isa. xlvi. 8, ' Remember this, and show…
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SERMON UPON ACTS X. 34, 35. Tlien Peter opened Ms mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons ; hut in eveiy nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted luith him. — Acts X. 34, 35. These words are Peter's reply to Cornelius, who sent for him to hear the gospel fr…
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(2.) The godly, when convinced, ingeniously confess their errors ; as Peter doth here. Controversies would sooner be at an end if we could but learn this modesty. But men fear the disgrace of a change of mind or opinion and so are the more entangled. It is better to con- fess and give glory to God, and yield to a conqu…
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2. For the gifts of the mind; learning, secular prudence, these things may make us more serviceable in the world, but surely in them- selves they do not commend us to God. It is pity men should prostitute their great abilities to so vile an use, as only to cater for the body, or to turn and wind in the world, or else t…
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6. I shall add, where men are under one common profession, but differ in lesser things. As there were difierent parties at Corinth, but one common Christ : 1 Cor. i. 2, * All that call on the Lord Jesus Christ, both theirs and ours;' with 12lh and 13th verses. ' Is Christ divided ? ' It is the nature of man to confine …
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2. Both are taken largely ; fear for the principle of our obedience to God, and righteousness for the fruits of it, whether they belong to the first or second table. As 1 John iii. 7, ' He that doeth righteousness is righteous.' So that here Peter observeth the right order ; he begin- neth with fear as the root of all …
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[2.] Working righteousness is made the fruit of this sense of God upon our hearts. To work righteousness is to set our whole heart and soul a- work to live conformably to the law of God, or to approve ourselves to him by a constant uniform obedience. The sense is, he that under- taketh the service of the true God, as C…
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But because this prejudice is drunk in by many not ill-meaning people, let us a little dispossess them of this vain conceit. (1.) As to Christ. It is certain that a sinner can have no hope of acceptance with God but by Christ : 1 Tim. i. 15, ' Christ came to save sinners;' and Mat. i. 21, 'He shall save his people fro…
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Mark, therefore, how much is ascribed to the testimony of conscience, because of its nearness to us. It is our own hearts, a domestical tribunal, which we carry about with us in our bosoms. It is more worthy of credit than any human testimony whatsoever ; for what sliall we believe if we do not believe our own hearts, …
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3. The force of the enunciation. In general it is predicatio adjuncti de suhjecto. But what kind of adjunct is it ? It is either signi de signato, or effectus de medio requisito et necessarw. [1.] It is a sign or evidence whereby you may really know that you are accepted with God. It is a comfortable thing to know how…
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SERMON UPON ACTS X. 34, 35. 419 SO that the sinner is left dull, senseless, past feeling : Eph, iv. 7, 8, ' Having the understanding darkened/ By horror of conscience they are made to feel God's displeasure at the courses they walk in. But when that is long despised, and men sin on still, the other and more terrible j…
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[2.] A promise grounded upon a proverb: 'And unto you that hear SERMON XJPON MARK IV. 24. 421 shall more be given.' Those that make use of what is said to them, that mark diligently, and practise accordingly, the more knowledge and grace is increased. This is built on a proverb, hahenti dahitur ; For he that hath, to…
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(2.) That we may feel the force and power of it : Acts xvi. 14, ' And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us, whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken by Paul.' Without attendancy the truth is lost, and doth us no …
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(5.) They prosper best in grace that most faithfully and diligently use the means. Here I shall prove two things — (Isi.) That we are to use the means ; for wherefore hath Christ appointed them but that we should use them ? His church is not like a statuary shop, where the image or statue doth nothing, but the carver …
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1. That diligence is the means, and God's blessing is the prime cause, of all increase ; and therefore both must be regarded, or else we profit nothing. We cannot expect God's blessing while we sit idle ; and it is a wrong to grace to trust merely to our endeavours without looking up to God. It is said, Prov. x. 4, ' H…
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3. If we faithfully and diligently use the means and common helps, it is very likely God will give special grace. Certain it is that we have means and duty appointed to us for the seeking of grace which may convert 'US, and these means we may 9,nd must use to this end. God is very angry with those that do not improve c…
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Use 1. Is information, to show us the reason why so many reap so little fruit by the hearing of the word ; either they never had solid comfort and benefit by it, or else languish and grow lazy in the pro- fession and practice of godliness. What is the reason ? They do not take heed to what they hear, seriously regard t…
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SERMON UPON HEBREWS II. 11. 431 2. The inference, or efifect thence resulting : ' For which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren.' Which words represent — (1.) The condescension of Christ, ' He is not ashamed ; ' (2.) The nature and value of the privilege, ' To call them brethren.' [1.] The condescension of …
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[2.] To give us a pledge of the tenderness of his love and com- passion towards us ; for he that is our kinsman, bone of our bone, and flesh of our flesh, will not be strange to his own flesh ; especially since he is one that is so, not by necessity of nature, but by voluntary choice and assumption. We could not have s…
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3. It stirreth us up to be serious and in good earnest in religion. God is in good earnest, for he seudeth his Son ; and shall we slight the great things he came about? 4. What an ample foundation is here for faith against the improba- bility of the blessedness offered ! [1.] It facilituteth the belief of the great p…
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Doct. 2. That Christ, having taken our nature upon him, is not ashamed to accept and acknowledge us for brethren. What cause of shame there might be in it we intimated before in the explication, notwithstanding our meanness and unworthiness, and his own glory and excellency. Divines observe, that he never giveth his d…
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[2.] It increaseth our hope of obtaining relief ; for this relation im{)lieth affection. As one brother is kindly affectioned to another, so will Christ be, and much more to us. As Tertullian, from God's taking the title of a father, tain -pater nemo ; so tarn frater nemo. Surely it somewhat allayed the fear and increa…
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[1.] In appearance only ; and so all the members of the visible church, that are in outward covenant with God, and bound to be holy, are called saints, and said to be sanctified : Exod. xxxi. 13, ' I am the Lord that doth sanctify you.' And thus apostates are said to trample the blood of the covenant underfoot wherewit…
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[2.] Because there the relation holdeth of both sides. Christ is born of a woman, and they are born of God, John i. 13 ; and he is a kins- man doubly, ratione incarnationis suce and regetierationis nostrce, as Macarius. He taketh human nature, and we partake of tbe divine nature, 2 Peter i. 4. They that have not this n…
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Doct. 4. That this sanctification which is required of us proceedeth originally from Christ. He is 6 wyidt,a)v, he that sanctifieth, and therefore said to be made unto us sanctification, 1 Cor. i. 30 ; that is, a fountain of holiness. Now Christ sanctifieth us — 1. Partly by his merit. Flee to the blood of Christ as …
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I answer — The comfort of our condition doth not depend on outward provisions so much as in God's promises ; therefore, tliough you have little, be content. If God denieth the creature, he will vouchsafe his own presence ; and what need we care for the want of a candle when we have the sun ? Once more, the connection …
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2. I observe, that it is a capacious promise, applicable to several purposes. To Joshua, to embolden him against dangers; to Jacob, to make him patient under crosses; to Solomon, to quicken him against coldness in God's service ; to Israel, to hearten them against enemies ; to all believers, to support them under famil…
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Object. But his people complain of being forsaken : Isa. xlix. 14, 'But Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.' Yea, Christ himself cried out, * My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me ? ' Mat. xxvii. 46. Ans. 1. Many times the saints complain without a cause. Sense maketh lies of God :…
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[2.] How ready he is to help in an extremity : Ps. xciv. 18, 19, ' When I said, My foot slippeth ; thy mercy, 0 Lord, held me up : in the multitude of my thoughts within me, thy comforts delight my soul.' When we are at the brink of danger, and full of perplexities and dark thoughts, then doth help appear. [3.] To qui…
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(2.) That the presence of God may be continued with us, though we be cast into deep afflictions : ' As persecuted, but not forsaken,' 2 Cor. iv. 9. He is miserable indeed who is forsaken of God, bu^not he who is persecuted by man. Ccelestis ira quospremit miser os facit humana nulhs — God's anger makes those miserable …
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[2.] Improve this point to moderate and allay your distrustful and distracting cares ; and so cometli in the apostle's exhortation, * Be con- tent with such things as you have.' Content is a quiet temper of mind, relying on God's merciful providence and gracious promises for such things as are necessary for us during o…
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In the text there is a double exhortation — 1. To keep ourselves awake : ' But let us who are of the day be sober.' The word is vqi^oifiev ; it signifieth both sobriety and watchfulness. The 454 SERMON UPON I THESSALONIANS V. 8. meaning is, take heed we be not lulled asleep by worldly desires, cares, and pleasures. …
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2. That they are not prepared till they are endowed with faith, hope, and love. To evidence this, I shall show — (1.) Their nature ; (2.) Their mutual respect to one another. (3.) Their use in the spiritual conflict. I. Their nature. 1. Faith, which is a firm and cordial assent to the doctrine of the gospel, of such …
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(1.) Desire is the pursuit of the soul after God, that we may get nearer to him. It is expressed usually by seeking after God ; and when God is sought after in the first place, then are we said to love God ; as Prov. viii. 17, ' I love them that love me, and they that seek SERMON UPON 1 THESSALONIANS V. 8. 457" me ea…
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[2. J The respect to the object. It is a certain and earnest expec- tation. (1.) It is certain, because our hopes are built upon the promises of God, which infer not only a possibility, or probability, but certainty of the things promised, if we be duly qualified. There is a twofold certainty — conditional and actual.…
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2. These graces restrain and subdue those corrupt inclinations which 460 SEKMON UPON 1 THESSALONIANS V. 8. are yet in the heart, and would be a great impediment to us if they be not more and more overcome ; such as ungodliness and worldly lusts, atheism, or a denial of God's being, and unbelief or distrust of his pro…
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5. We are not prepared for death and judgment without faith, hope, and love ; but either of these days will be terrible to us [1.] Death. Take either grace, faith, hope, or love. Faith ;^first wo live by faith, and afterwards we die by faith : Heb. xi. 13, ' These 462 SERMON UPON 1 THESSALONIANS V. 8. all died in fa…
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2. Wait on all opportunities of profiting, and use the known means of grace more conscionably. These graces indeed are not acquired, but infused ; they are God's gifts. As for faith : Eph, ii. 8, ' For by grace ye are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves ; it is tlie gift of God.' So for love : 1 John iv. 7,…
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Secondly, The art and contrivance of this short saying, whereby this truth may the better be insinuated into our minds; and here, (1.) I shall take notice that here are two different persons spoken of, the backslider in heart, and the good man. (2.) That both desire to be filled or satisfied. (3.) That the one taketh h…
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2. He doth not only cleave to God, but chooseth that way which God hath prescribed men to walk in, whether the way of faith in Christ ; as John xvii. 3, ' This is life eternal, to know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent ; ' or the way of new obedience ; as Eccles. xii. 13, ' Let us hear the co…
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First, ' The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways ; ' that is, such as suit with his own carnal heart. 1. Naturally a man is addicted to carnal things more than spiritual, and to worldly vanity rather than heavenly enjoyments, to the creature rather than to God, Why ? [1.] Because they are in part ne…
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470 SERMON UPON PROVERBS XIV. 14. 2. By his Spirit. When David speaketh of choosing God for his portion, he presently addeth, Ps. xvi. 7, * I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel ; ' we had else been as witless fools as others, rejoicing in the creature apart from God in the midst of soul-dangers. Without th…
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[2.] In the world to come. The errors of men's choice are not well seen in this life, but afterwards all will be manifested. What will they think of their foolish and vain course when they are cast into hell ? They have enough then indeed of sin, when their worldly por- tion is taken from them, and the heavenly blessed…
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SERMON UPON PROVERBS XIV. 14. 475 15, * As for me, I will behold tliy face in righteousness ; I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.' Therefore, when God will graciously recompense our goodness, it is enough ; we shall have a full sufficiency in the reward. V. That, rightly understood, every one is fi…
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1. A note of demonstration or ostension, as pointing at him with the finger, ' Behold.' 2. The person demonstrated, set forth here under the notion of ' the Lamb of God/ 3. His work and office, from whence the title is given him, * Which taketh away the sin of the world.' The text is full of matter ; every word and …
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SERMONS UPON JOHN I. 29. 477 luost frequent and constant use of the lamb was in the daily sacrifice : Exod. xxix. 38, 39, ' Now this is that thou shalt ofi'er upon the altar, two lambs of the first year, day by day continually ; the one lamb thou shalt ofi'er in the morning, and the other lamb thou shalt ofi'er at eve…
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' Nudatus tegmine vitse Pellibus ut tegeretur homo suspenditur Agnus.' — Teetul. But I must more expressly make good the resemblance between Christ and the paschal lamb. [1.] The lamb was taken from among the rest of the flock: Exod. xii. 5, ' Ye shall take it out from the sheep or from the goats.' So Christ from his…
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3. The fruits and benefits of this sacrifice. [1.] By the sprinkling the blood olE the lamb, he that destroyed the first-born of the Egyptians could not touch them, Heb. xi. 28. This secured them against the destroying angel ; to teach us that the justice of God doth only spare them whose consciences are sprinkled wit…
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How shall we be partakers of those good things which come to ug from the Lamb of God, Two things were required of these Israelites — that they should sprinkle the blood of this lamb upon the lintel and the two side-posts, and than eat his flesh in an holy and religious manner ; and if any of the Israelites had neglecte…
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484 SERMONS UPON JOHN L 29. our misery giveth Christ a relish. God casts us into sufferings, or puts us under a cloud, that we may not be gospel-glutted, or cloyed with doctrines of grace. He must be eaten with unleavened bread, simple plain bread without mixture: 1 Cor. v. 7, 8, 'Purge out therefore the old leaven, t…
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Use 1. To press you to behold the Lamb of God ; behold him as a sacrifice for sin, whose blood applied doth quiet the conscience and turn away the curse. These words present the more glorious spectacle and object, not to your sight, but to your faith ; not to your senses, but to your most serious and intimate considera…
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SERMONS UPON JOHN I. 29. 487 even as a man sick of a mortal disease, and almost at his last gasp, hath need of a physician. In the corruption of nature all are involved : Eom. iii. 23, ' All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God ; ' and so by consequence all are under the wrath of God : Eph. ii. 3, 'We are b…
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3. None can take off this burden of sin but Jesus Christ ; this is a work proper to the Lamb of God. None else could preserve the honour of God's justice, which was necessary before we could be intrusted with a new stock of grace : Eom. iii. 24, 25, ' Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is …
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5. Christ, having borne the burden and weight of our sins, hath undertaken to take away all that may be called sin ; he hath taken away the guilt, and he hath taken away the stain, the obligation to punishment, and the power of corruption ; or, in short, he hath pro- cured both justification and sanctification for us. …
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[3.] As a king ; so he taketh away sin by his Spirit. So backward are our minds, so bad our hearts, so strong our lusts, so manifold our temptations, that bare teaching will not serve the turn without a spirit of light, life, and love, to open our eyes, and change our hearts, and incline us, and bring us back again to …
991 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.