PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Complete Works of Thomas Manton — Volume 19
Thomas Manton · 315,248 words · 313 reading sections
Section 241
384 SERMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. [SeR. XXI. they will learn anything, let them ask their hushands at home ;' and that they may not govern things in their houses according to passion and will, but God's word. Parents, that they may instruct their children; for they are 'to bring them up in the nurture and admoni- tion of …
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[2.] These things are most useful and profitable : John xvii. 3, ' And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.' Curious knowledge bringeth more pain than pleasure, but profitable knowledge should be most prized by us ; as to know how to be reconciled to G…
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VeR. 17.] SERBIONS UPON EPHESIANS V. 387 Men will not search when they have a mind to hate and condemn any- thing which unqnestionably concerns God's interest in the world. 4. Some think ignorance is the mother of devotion, and that men leave off to be good when they grow more knowing. Snrely that is the fanlt of the…
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5. Get a more experimental knowledge. Most of Christianity is not only to be believed, but felt : 1 John v. 10, ' He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself.' We must have not only a sight, but a taste : 1 Peter ii. 2, 3, ' As new-born babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that they may grow …
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I answer — We are to use the means, to ask, seek, and knock ; and then the rich treasures of grace will be opened to us. The apostle speaketh to children of light ; if they do not hinder their own filling by their sensuality or negligence, what can they want ? If we obstruct his motions by our carnal practices, or do n…
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Secondly, The actions, 'Being drunk with wine/ and Tilled with the Spirit.' Both must be explained. 1. The action on the one side, ' Being drunk with wine.' Two things must be spoken to — (1.) The nature of the sin; (2.) The heinousness of it. [1.] For the nature of it ; it is immoderate or inordinate drinking ; it i…
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This sin may be considered either as to the act or habit. (1st.) As to the act of drunkenness. It is possible a good man may fall into it by surprise ; as Noah, Gen. ix. 21, ' And he drank of the wine, and was drunken.' (2d.) As to the habit. It is said, ' Drunkards shall not inherit the kingdom of God,' 1 Cor. vi. 1…
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2. The action on the other side is, to be ' filled with the Spirit ; ' where we see that we should not content ourselves with a small measure of the gifts and graces of the Spirit, but endeavour to be filled with them, ever getting the habits increased : 2 Peter iii. 18, ' But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our…
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(2d) As our sanctifier. So they are filled with the Spirit who have the fruits of the Spirit in great abundance, who are filled with all ' good- ness, righteousness, and truth,' ver. 9 ; that is, that have these things in a rich and plentiful measure. More particularly — (1.) Who have a powerful and prevalent principle…
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[2.] The delight and relish of the soul is corrupted : Phil. iii. 19, ' Whose god is their belly, and whose glory is their shame, who mind earthly things ; ' Luke xii. 19, ' And I will say to my soul. Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years ; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.' No relish for higher th…
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[1.] Within there is an enmity to the divine and heavenly life: Gal. V. 17, ' For tlie flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary the one to the other, so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.' So blind are our minds, so depraved are our hearts, so strong are our lu…
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(1.) Fortitude and resolution to encounter any difficulties we meet with in our passage to heaven : 2 Cor. iv. 1 G-18, ' For this cause we VeR. 18.] SERMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. 401 faint not ; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a momen…
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2. Because of their necessity. [1.] If it be those that only profess Christianity, but are not yet really converted to God, they are in danger to be filled with a worae spirit, if not filled with the Spirit of God. Heathens, that are without the pale of grace, are under the power of the devil : Eph. ii. 2, ' Where- in…
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[1.] Take this spirit as it worketh towards God. Negatively, it is not a dastardly spirit or a spirit of fear ; the great cause of fear and bondage is taken away, which is sin, for he is reconciled to God. The next cause of fear is removed, which is the wrath of men ; he believeth God's particular providence, and that …
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(2.) If any be degenerated, it is because they are not filled with the Spirit. It is a lamentable thing that badness, and folly, and feebleness of mind should be so common among those that profess and call themselves christians. (1.) Instead of a spirit of power, how unwilling are they to strive against sin ! how unabl…
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7. One of the means is prayer. Christ hath taught us to pray for the Spirit, Luke xi. 1-13. None so fatherly as God ; no gift so neces- sary as the Spirit. When you pray for the Spirit, you pray as children that ask bread. A wanton child, that would tread his bread under his feet, may be denied ; but a hungry child wil…
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[1.] The outward part ; there we have — (1.) The subject matter, 'psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs.' (2.) The actions con- versant about it — (1st.) Speaking ; (2d.) Singing. [2.] The inward part, ' Making melody in your hearts to the Lord.' Doct. That singing of psalms is an ordinance of God's worship under the…
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(3.) To direct the intention to a spiritual end, that we may not rest iu the works wrought, nor in the carnal delight of the action. That also is God's work : 2 Thes. iii. 5, ' The Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.' This showeth our need of his grace, so that there i…
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412 SERMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. [SeR. XXI Y. contented with the old psalms, added new of their own suitable to the present occasion. Now we are acquainted Avith greater and more wonderful grace h}^ Christ, some new hymns seem necessary in the praise of our Kedeemer. If you reply that the state of the church is differen…
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Fourthly, I observe, that it is a duty required not only to be per- formed by us alone, but in the assemblies of the faithful. We may sing by ourselves with great comfort: James v. 13, ' Is any merry? let him sing psalms.' As Jerome saith. The christian weaver at his loom may sing David's psalms. We may sing to ourselv…
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[2.] In the old testament it is often called for, and sorted with duties that are of perpetual and immutable obligation. When sacrifice is rejected, prayer and praise is still reserved as the worship which God will still keep up in tlie church : Ps. 1. 13-15, ' Will I cat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats…
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Use 1. Let us make conscience of this duty, not only of the matter, but the manner of it, that it may not be carried on in a dead-hearted fashion, or as a cursory exercise. To thi's end I shall press two things — (1.) Keep up a delight in God ; (2.) Be filled with the Spirit. 1. Keep up a holy delight in God, for sing…
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1. I shall open this duty as it is here set forth. 2. How necessary and becoming christians this is. I. To open the duty. Here is — First, The substance, or act of it, ' Giving thanks.' Praise relateth to God's excellencies, thanksgiving to God's benefits. There is a two- fold thanksgiving — (1.) By way of celebratio…
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Secondly, The circumstances of the duty. 1. Of time, ' Always.' But how is this possible, that we should be without intermission in the actual exercise of this duty ? [1.] We must always have a heart prepared and disposed to give thanks ; for the words arise from the heart if we be serious ; therefore the heart must…
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[2.] This universal particle comprehendeth all kinds of mercies, spiritual and temporal mercies. (1.) Common and temporal mercies. These should not be lost in the throng, for he that is not faithful in a little will not be faithful in much. As he that doth not make conscience of small sins will fall into VeR. 20.] SE…
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(.5.) Our personal mercies, and other men's mercies. No question but we are to give thanks for our own personal mercies, as being most nearly concerned in them. We are also to give thanks for others : 2 Cor. i. 11, ' You also helping together by prayer for us ; that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many pe…
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3. The object to whom this religious worship is to be tendered, ' To •God and the Father ; ' so Col. iii, 17, 'And whatsoever ye do in word 424 SERMONS UPON EPHESIANS T. [SeR. XXV. or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God, and the Father by him.' God is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, …
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II. How necessary, profitable, and becoming christians this duty is* 1. How necessary a duty it is appeareth — [1.] By the light of nature and God's express will in his word. It is evident by the light of nature. Ingratitude is counted an unnatural sin: 2 Tim. iii. 2, 3, ' Disobedient to parents, unthankful, unho^)^ …
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YeR. 21.] SERMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. 427 [3.] It preventeth distrust and carking cares : Phil. iv. 6, ' Be care- ful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God." Acknow- ledge what Grod hath done for you already, and you will the less doubt of …
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I answer — Certainly Christianity doth not abolish civil distinctions ; therefore — [1.] Some think this exhortation only concerneth inferiors, pressing them to yield obedience to whom it is due, in subordination to God, as the wife to the husband, the children to the parents, servants to their masters. [2.] Others b…
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2. There is political or civil power, principally greatness and authority in the civil state. This is the Lord's ordinance, and must be submitted to for God's sake : 1 Peter ii. 13, 14, * Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake ; whether it be to the king as supreme ; or unto governors, as unto …
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[4.] As to equals, there is a submitting ourselves one to another': Bom. xii. 10, ' Be kindly afi'ectioned one to another, with brotherly love, in honour preferring one another ; ' Phil. ii. 3, ' Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.' We …
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[3.] The fear of God is necessary, and a great help to this duty. (1.) Partly to tame that natural fierceness that is in the heart of man, that we may not refuse the yoke ; as Nabal was ' such a son of Belial, that a man could not speak to him,' 1 Sam. xxv. 17. Some are so harsh and churlish, that they will not admit …
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3. Now I shall give you the reasons of this duty. [1.] To prevent contempt. Human nature is incapable of bearing it. Whatsoever rank we are in, we should not despise others, but acknowledge the gifts of God in them. Therefore, to prevent this con- tempt and disrespect that is usually in men's hearts towards inferiors …
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[5.] We have one Lord to whom we must be accountable : Job xxxi. 14, ' What then shall I do when God riseth up ? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him ? ' There is a religious account besides a natural. Though some are set higher than others, yet God is infinitely high above them all : Eccles. v. 8, ' For he th…
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438 SERMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. [SeB. XXVII. XI. 3, ' I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ, and tlie head of the woman is the man, and the head of Christ is God ; ' that is to say, Christ in respect of his office of mediator, is under God, but above all men ; so the man being under Christ, is above…
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2. Obedience ; that is showed in many things. [1.] In studying to please rather than to be pleased ; for the apostle telleth us that ' she that is married careth for the things of this world, that she may please her husband,' 1 Cor. vii. 34 ; that is, counts it part of her calling to take her part and care of domestic…
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VeR. 22.] SERMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. 44rl became a snare to him. Well, then, this is her office and duty of Kervice still, which by God she is deputed unto. She is to be a help before him, that is, to minister unto him ; as when they sought a wife for David : 1 Kings i. 2, ' One that may stand before the king.' Now thi…
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3. The natural imperfection of the woman. The apostle calleth her * the weaker vessel, ' 1 Peter iii. 7. Abilities of mind are not ordinarily so strong in her as in the man ; and they have fewer opportunities than man hath for perfecting their natural parts ; and they are not so able to provide for themselves, modesty…
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[1.] On the wife's part; no privilege of birth, parts, breeding, can exempt her from it. If she be a wife, whatever she be, she must be in subjection to her own husband. We cannot dispense with God's ordinance. She still ought to look upon her husband as one placed by God in a degree of superiority above her ; and the …
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[3.] Affectation of vanity ; for a vain woman will never attend to these household duties which belong to conjugal subjection, but will either be gadding abroad to see and to be seen, affecting great pomp of living, as costly array, vanity of fashions, and other things than will stand with the profit of the family. The…
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VeR. 23.] SERMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. 447" governor, as well as Christ, an anointed saviour ; not only a saviour to bless, but a lord to rule and command. As he saveth his people from sin and misery, so he will also govern them. And on the other side, Christ's dominion over the church doth tend unto, and is exer- cised …
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2. I come now to handle these titles severally, and I begin with that of a head, and observe — Doct. That Jesus Christ is the church's head. I. So it is said, Bph. i. 21, ' He is head over all things to the church.' He is over all things, but head to the church ; the sovereign of the world, but in special relation to…
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VOL. XIX. 2 F 450 SERMONS UrON EPHESIANS V. [SeH. XXVIII.. [2.] Saving grace or spiritual life, and all those saving benefits which are given to the regenerate or real LeHevers by the Spirit : 1 John iii. 24, ' And hereby we know that he abidetli in us by the Spirit given- unto us.' They have life, and growth, and st…
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Use 2. Let us make conscience of those duties which this relation bindeth us unto ; for if Christ be our head, we must subject ourselves to him, and live by his laws. We preach him a lord : 2 Cor. iv. 5, 'For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord.' And our business is to cry up Christ's lordship and sovere…
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Veu. 23.] SERMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. 453 thus a pli3'sician saveth a man, not by preventing the disease, but by curing it, when otherwise it woukl be mortal ; or as a shepherd saveth a sheep that snatcheth it out of the mouth of the wolf or lion. As a prince that rescueth his captive subjects, and saveth them out of th…
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Hitherto we have spoken of salvation begun ; the consummate and complete salvation is that in heaven, which is the chief good of the creature, and the mark we are to aim at ; that which is always in the eye and hope of the godly ; yea, which convinced men do so anxiously inquire after : ' What sliall I do to be saved ?…
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2. By his merit, because he procureth to us the favour of God, and a right to all those blessings which are bestowed on the children of God. Christ's death is to be considered not only as a satisfaction for the breach of the old covenant, but as a merit by which the blessings of the new are procured for us, Heb. ix. 1,…
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4. Leave not this way till you have the evidence in yourselves : 1 John V. 8, 10, ' There are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood ; and these three agree in one. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself.' Oh, then, give yourselves to Christ, that you may be …
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Secondly, The nature of this subjection. It consisteth of two things — (1.) Our willing and hearty consent to become subjects to Christ ; (2.) Our actual obedience to his commands. 1. Our willing and hearty consent to become subjects to Christ. This is the same with our being christians, when we yield up ourselves to …
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YeR. 24.] SERMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. 461 sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.' Christ was made a sin-offering and we a thank-offering. Our constant obedience is a thankful return of God's love : 1 John iv. 19, ' We love him, because he first loved us ; ' 2 Cor. v. 14, 15, ' For the love…
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II. I shall give the reasons of it ; though they be evident already in stating the nature of this subjection, yet I shall add more. 1. Because obedience is the best impression or stamp of our religion upon us. In the christian religion Christ is set forth, not only as our lord and ruler, of sovereign authority, but al…
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(2.) Take it for actual obedience ; without it naked faith is of little use to seal and confirm our great privileges to us. Therefore, saith the apostle, * Can faith save him ? ' James ii. 14 ; that is, naked faith, destitute of obedience. Therefore when the scripture saith, ' Believe, and thou shalt be saved,' the mea…
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Use 2. To persuade the people of God to live in a more perfect and exact obedience to his will. 1. It is more perfidious for you to disobey him, that have given up yourselves by a serious covenant made with God, renouncing sin, and VOL. XIX. ' Q"' ' ^"^^'^"'^ ' ■-^"- 2 G 466 SERMONS uroN EPHESiANS V. [Ser. XXIX. de…
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2. If the husband, by being the head of the wife, bear Christ's image, then this image must not be defaced nor despised. [1.] Not be defaced by the husband by impertinent commands. If they would have that submission and respect from inferiors, they must carry their government prudently and lovingly. Then it is most a …
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2. It is alone, which in some respects exceedeth that we owe to our parents and other near relations : Gen. ii. 24, ' Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife.' The bond of natural affection, which bindeth fast parents and children, is wonderful strong and near ; it is an adam…
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VeR. 25.J SERMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. 471 God, the beauty of God himself, for God is glorious in holiness, Exod. XV. 11. Nor did he want love, for then he was in the exercise of" the highest act and fervency of it: John xiii. 1, ' Having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end ; ' Rom. v. 8, ' …
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3. In providing all things necessary for them that conduce to health, food and raiment, and that according to the decency and decorum of their estate ; for herein they imitate the care and providence of Christ, who hatli provided all things for his spouse ; food for their souls, gar- ments of salvation to cover their n…
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[4.] The truest friendship and love is inter honos, between tho.se that are good. So John is especially called the disciple whom Jesus loved, that is, above all the rest : John xiii. 23-25, ' Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he sho…
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Use 2. To persuade to this love. Directions — 1. Choose one that is amiable, evils are best prevented by a prudent choice, and errors in the first concoction are hardly mended in the ^^econd. Now the motive of our choice should not be only riches and beauty, for these are fading things, and what is fading cannot be th…
903 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.