PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Complete Works of Thomas Manton — Volume 1
Thomas Manton · 332,975 words · 331 reading sections
Section 121
2. Every day, because there should be family prayer ; for all that take their meat together are to come, and say to God, ' Give us this day our daily bread.' It is not said, ' Give me,' but ' Give us.* There- fore you see how little of love and fear of God is there, lyhere, week after week, they call not upon God's nam…
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2. The argument may be taken a, dispari, or a mino7^i ad mojus, from the less to the greater. If we, that have but a drop of mercy, can forgive the offences done to us, surely the infinite God, that is mercy itself, he hath more bowels and more pity : ' For his ways are above our ways, as high as the heaven is above th…
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Mat. VI, 12.] the lord's prayer. 169 Now in this petition, when we say, ' Forgive us our debts,' we do not desire to be discharged of the duty we owe to God, but to be acquitted of the guilt and punishment. The faults or sins that we are guilty of oblige us and bind us to the punishment ; and therefore sins are called…
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[4.] A day of reckoning will come, when God will put the bond in suit, and all shall be called to an account. Sometimes God reckoneth with sinners, in part, in this world, but surely in the next. Death is but the summons to come to an account with God : Lulce xvi. 2, ' Give an account of thy stewardship, for thou mayes…
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(5.) All other debts cease at death ; when a man dieth, we say his debts are paid : but here execution begins, then the law takes the sin- ner by the throat, and drags him to everlasting punishment, and doth 172 AN EXPOSITION OF [MaT. VI. 12. in efifect say, Pay me what thou owest. Death is God's arrest. As soon as t…
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[.5.] From hence in his name there is proclaimed redemption to the captives, freedom to poor prisoners that were in debt, and weak, and could not acquit themselves. And therefore the publication of the gospel is compared to the year of jubilee : Luke iv. 19, Christ came ' to preach the acceptable year of the Lord/ It r…
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Use 1. The use is, first, to show us the misery of an impenitent, Mat. VI. 12.] the lord's prayer. 175 nnpardoned sinner ; he hath a vast debt upon liim, that will surely undo him unless he doth in time get a discharge. He is bound over to suffer the wrath of God for evermore, and no hand can loose him but God's. Man…
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[1.] From the condition of God's children here in this world. The best are not so fully sanctified in this life but there is some sin found in them ; not only they who walk with no cai-e, but even they that set the most narrow watch over their ways, they are not so sanctified but they need daily to go to God. (1.) The…
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(1.) The grant of a pardon, that God would accept the satisfaction of Christ for our sins, and look upon us as righteous in him. Jesus Christ himself was to sue out the fruits of his purchase : Ps. ii, 8, ' Ask of me, and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy p…
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(3.) We beg here the sense and manifestation of pardon, though it be not the only thing we pray for. ' Forgive us our sins,' that is, let us know it. God may blot sins out of his book, when he doth not blot them out of our consciences. There is the book of conscience, and the book of God's remembrance. The book of God'…
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(2.) The actual remission of all past sins : Kom. iii. 25, ' To declare his righteousness for the remission vf sins that are past, through the lorbearance of God.' It would be a license to sin if his sins were remitted before committed. (3.) A right to the remission of daily sins, or free leave to make use of the foun…
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First, In the persons pardoning. What proportion can there be between God and man, the Creator and the creature ? God he is most free, and bound to none, of infinite dignity and perfection, Avhich can neither be increased nor lessened by any act of ours, for him or against him ; but we live in jierfect dependence upon …
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[4.] It doth not import an exact equality, but some kind of resemblance. As, it is a note of similitude, not equality, either of measure or manner ; it only implieth that there is some correspondent action, something like done on our part. So, Luke vi. 36, ' Be merciful, as your heavenly Father is merciful." As, notes …
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186 AN EXPOSITION [Mat. VI. 12. hath a man a noble and brave spirit, not when he is overcome by evil (for that argueth weakness), but when he can overcome evil. And it is God's way to shame the party that did the wrong and to overcome him too : it is the best way to get the victory over him. When David had Saul at an …
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2. In point of necessity ; as it should be so, so it will be so ; for God's mercy will have an influence upon us to make us merciful. All God's actions to us imprint their stamp in us. His election of us makes us to choose him and his ways; his love to us makes us love him again, who hath loved us first; so his forgivi…
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But here are certain cases that would come into debate. First Case. Whether it be consistent with this temper, forgiving of others, to seek reparation of wrongs in a way of justice, and pursue men at law for offences they have committed against us ? Ans. Yes. For, 1. Certainly one law doth not cross another. By the …
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1. Pardoning of sin in the court of heaven, it belongeth to God peculiarly : Dan. ix. 9, ' To the Lord our God belong mercies and for- givenesses,' &c. It is God alone can do it, for two reasons : — [1.] He is the wronged party. [2.] He is the supreme judge. (1.) He is the wronged party, against whom the offence is …
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[1.] Because of his authority. [2.] Because of his power. (1.) Because of his authority. Conscience is God's deputy, and till God be pacified, conscience is not pacified upon sound and solid terms. Therefore it is said, where conscience doth its office, 1 John iii. 20, 21, * If our hearts condemn us, God is greater t…
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3. Have it you under his seal ? 2 Cor. i. 22, ' Who hath also sealed us, and given us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.' Have you the impress of God upon you, God's seal, his image? Doth the Spirit of promise assure your hearts before God, that you can live in the strength of this comfort and go about duties che…
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2. A conscience inferreth a law. 3. A law inferreth a sanction. 4. A sanction inferreth a judgment. 5. A judgment inferreth a condemnation to the fallen creature. 6. There is no avoiding this condemnation, unless God set up a chancery, or another court of grace. 7. If God set up another court, our plea must be gra…
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[3.] It is full; because where God forgiveth the sin, he also forgiveth the punishment. It will not stand with God's mercy to forgive the debt, and yet to require the payment. It is a mocking to say, I for- give you the debt, and yet cast the man into prison ; and to pardon the malefactoi', and yet leave him liable to …
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(4.) We have a right to heaven, which is the great ground of hope : Rom. V. 10, ' For ii, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.' Mat. VI. 13.] the lord's prayer. 199 Thirdly, The terms upon which it is dispensed are faitli …
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2, As man tempts God, so is man himself tempted. Now man is either tempted : — First, By God. Secondly, By Satan. Thirdly, By his own heart. First, Man is tempted by God : Gen. xxii. 1, ' And it came to pass, after these things, that God did tempt Abraham.' How is God said to tempt man ? When he trieth what is in u…
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(3.) God tries us, by permitting the temptations of Satan and his instruments ; for surely these things do not befall us without a pro- vidence. Job xii. 16, ' The deceived and the deceiver are his,' his creatures ; and nothing can be done or suffered in this kind without God's providence. See it in Christ's instance, …
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(3.) God tempts no man, as temptation is taken properly for a so- licitation to sin : James i. 13, ' Let no man say, when he is temjoted, I am tempted of God : for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man.' Mark, the apostle proves it, that in this sense God cannot tempt, because of the unchangeable…
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them, hilt /all into them. We are not to draw them upon om'selves. Afflictions are not to be sought and desired, but improved. Chris- tians, we never know when it is well with us : sometimes we question God's love, because we have no afflictions and trials ; anon we are questioning his love, because we have nothing but…
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[3.] He doth it by internal suggestion : 1 Chron. xxi. 1, ' And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel ; ' that is, by internal suggestion. John xiii. 2, ' The devil put it into the heart of Judas to betray him.' He haunts and pesters the hearts of men by vain thoughts and carnal imagination…
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208 AN EXPOSITION OF [Mat. VI. 13. about the revengeful, to awaken their rage. But all this, however it be (it is the opinion of some), should make us watchful over our own desires and inclinations, for that is it the devil makes use of to set upon us. (3.) The sin of the devil tempting must be distinguished from our…
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[2.] That without the flesh, the world and the devil can have no power over us. A man cannot be compelled to sin against his own consent ; he may be compelled to suffer temptation, but he is a sinner by his own choice. The world would not hurt us were it not for lust in the heart : 2 Pet. i. 4, ' Escaping the corruptio…
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[6.] That there is no avoiding either of these snares and temptations as long as any carnal affection remaineth uumortified. For until a man be dead to worldly comforts, and hardened a2:ainst worldly sorrows, he doth but lie naked and open to Satan : 1 Tim. vi. 9, ' He that will be rich, falls into temptation and a sua…
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(2.) When men tempt themselves, or provoke Satan to tempt them. As those which ' make provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof,' Rom. xiii. 14 ; that cater for their lusts, and contrive how to feed them, and how to cherish those inordinate affections in their hearts ; that run into the devil's quarters, tha…
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3. Temptations, as they serve to prove, so also to humble us, that we may never be proud of what we have, or conceited of what we have not. As Paul, that he might not be exalted above measure, he was buffeted with a messenger of Satan : 2 Cor. xii. 7. Poor bladders we are, soon blown up and swollen into vanity and vain…
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216 AN EXPOSITION OF [Mat. VL 13. far more concerned than we, and hath a greater interest than we can have. What is our interest, and tlie interest of onr families and our children, to the great interest of God, the safety of his children, the safety of his glory, and cause of his church ? Be not troubled about events…
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[4.] Consider the comforts of the tempted. Abundantly hath God provided for his servants in their conflicts. (1.) Jesus Christ, our general, the captain of our salvation, in whose quarrel we are engaged, hath overcome all our enemies, we are interested in his victory : John xvi. 33, ' In the world ye shall have tribul…
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Secondly, Let us be provided and prepared against temptations. And to this end I shall — First, Give some directions how to resist temptations in general. Secondly, What to do in a special hour of temptation which comes upon the world : — When there are terrors without, and we know not what evil may be a-coming, and…
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Mat. VI. 13.] the lord's prayer. 221 darts ; none defensive. We have not only the sword of the Spirit, which is an offensive weapon, but the shiekl of faith, that is a de- fensive piece of armour ; therefore your safety lieth in resisting. Now, tliis resistance must be : — (1.) Not faint and cold, but strong and veh…
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(3.) It must not be temporary, for a while, but perpetual. It con- cerns us not only to stand out against the first assault of Satan, but a long siege. Satan, what he cannot gain by argument, seeks to procure by importunity. But ' resist him.' saith the apostle, ' steadfastly in the faith,' 1 Pet. v. 9. As his instrume…
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[2.] In an hour of temptation, we should be more solicitous about duties than events, and about sins than dangers. As to events, God is concerned as well as you, and he will order them for his own glory. It should be your great care that you may be kept blameless to his heavenly kingdom : 2 Tim. iv. 17, 18, ' The Lord,…
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Doct. 2. That if we would not be overcome by the evil of tempta- tions, we should earnestly deal with God about them. For so doth our Lord direct us here (' Lead us not into temptation') to come to God himself. There are two reasons I shall consider of in this discourse : — First, We cannot be tempted without the v/i…
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Secondly, God alone can give strength to resist and overcome the temptation ; and therefore we should deal with him very earnestly about it : Eom. xvi. 20, ' The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.' It is God that treads down Satan, but under your feet. We fight it out, but the author of the victor…
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But let us see what are the pieces of the spiritual armour. The apostle begins with ' the girdle of truth,' by which is meant, not truth of doctrine (for that is the sword of the Spirit), but sincerity, or an honest intention ; when a man endeavoureth to be both to God and man what he seems to be. Now, it is the Lord t…
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[1.] We ought to come to him as renouncing our strength, and waiting for his grace as able to help us. That address Jehoshaphat made in a temporal case is good also in a spiritual : 2 Chron. xx. 12, ' Lord, we have no might ; our eyes are unto thee.' There is a renouncing of their own strength, and a dependence upon Go…
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[2.] Find out and remove the cause of sin, when God lets loose Satan upon us. Paul discerned it presently — as usually God's rod brings light along with it — when he was buffeted with a messenger of Satan ; it was that he might not be ' exalted above measure,' 2 Cor. xii. 7. Now that which hath provoked God to exercise…
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[1.] It doth endamage our inward man, and hindereth and diminish- etli our comfortable communion with God. Other things may harm the man, but they do not touch the Christian ; and therefore saith the apostle, 2 Cor. iv. 16, ' For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed…
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Mat. VI. 13.] the lord's prayer. 235 ignorant : 2 Pet. iii. 5. The more willing-ly we commit sin, still the more we are under the power of the devil. Well, then, if any have need to say, ' Deliver us from evil,' certainly unrenewed carnal men have need to go to God, and say, ' Lord, pluck us out of evil ;' as the same…
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As to inward evils, so we go to God for wisdom and strength ; for Satan assaults us both ways, by wiles and darts : when he comes in a way of violence, he comes with fiery darts ; but when he doth lie in ambush, there he hath his wiles to entice us with a seeming good. We— (1.) Beg wisdom, that you may espy the wiles …
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But the other condition is not without its snares neither. In adversity we are apt to be impatient, as well as in prosperity to be forgetful of God ; and therefore we had need learn how to go up hill and down hill, to ' know how to abound, and how to be abased,' Phil. iv. 12. Look, as the wind doth rise from all corner…
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Well, then, we had need go to God : Lord, ' Deliver us from evil' Where we beg : — (1.) That God would weaken the strength of inbred corruption, that we may not be foiled by it. Paul groans sadly, Piom. vii. 24, ' 0 wretched man that I am ! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?' It is a question, but it i…
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Mat. YI. 13.] the lord's prater. 241 And in this sense God's power is more glorified than in keeping the angels ; for the angels are out of gun-shot and harm's way, and not liable to temptations. But to preserve a poor weak creature in the midst of temptation, oh, how is the power of Grod 'made perfect in weakness ! '…
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2. It directith us : — [1.] How to pray to God against sin rather than irouble. This is indeed to be delivered from evil : 2 Tim. iv. 18, Paul reckoned upon that, ' He will deliver me from every evil work.' When afflicted, you should rather desire to have the affliction sanctified than removed ; you will be most caref…
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The reasons why we are to mingle praises and thanksgivings with our requests are these : — [1.] Because this compile th more with the great end of worship ; which is not so much the relief of man as the honour of God ; there- fore we should not only intend the supply of our necessities, for that is but a brutish cry, …
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Secondly, It is not only a doxology, but a full one, and very expres- sive of the excellency of God. From whence note : — Doct. The saints are not niggardly and sparing in praising of God ; 246 AN EXPOSITION OF [Mat, VI, 13. kiugdom, power, and glory, and all that iy excellent, they ascribe to him. A gracious heart…
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But more particularly : — [1.] There is confidence established by that, that his is the king- dom, God's kingdom is either universal, over all men or things ; or particular and special, wdiich notes his relation to the saints, to those which have given up themselves to his government, to be guided by him to everlastin…
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[2.] Thine is the power. This also is an argument of confidence, that God hath not only a kingdom, but power to back it. Titles without power make authority ridiculous, and beget scorn, not rever- ence and respect. But now God's kingdom is accompanied with power and all-sufiiciency. He hath right to command all, and no…
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[4.] The duration, for ever. AH excellencies which are in God, they are eternally in God. God is an infinite, simple, independent being, the cause of all things, but caused by none ; therefore he was from everlasting, and will be to everlasting : Ps. xc. 2, ' Before the moun- tains were brought forth, or ever thou hads…
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[3.] It directs us as to the manner of praying : with reverence, wilh sclf-abhorrency, and with submission. 252 AN EXPOSITION OF [Mat. VI. 13. (1.) With reverence, for he is a great, powerful, and glorious king : ' Thine is the kingdom, power, and glory.' Oh, shall we serve God then in a slight and careless fashion ?…
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Foi' ever. Amen. All this is sealed up to us in the last word, Amen; which may signify, either so be it, so let it be, or so it shall be. The word Amen sometimes is taken nominally : Rev. iii. 14, ' Thus saith the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the beginning of the creation of God.' Sometimes it is taken adverb…
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3. The time, then. 4. The place, the ivilderness. From the whole observe : — Doct. The Lord Jesus Christ was pleased to submit himself to an extraordinary combat with the tempter, for our good. 1. I shall explain the nature and circumstances of this extraordinary combat. 2. The reasons why Christ submitted to it. …
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3. The time. [1.] Presently after his baptism. Now the baptism of Christ agreeth with ours as to the general nature of it. Baptism is our initiation into the service of God, or our solemn consecration of our- selves to him ; and it doth not only imply work, but fight : Kom. vi. 13, ' Neither yield ye your members as i…
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(3.) That no place is privileged from temptations, unless we leave our hearts behind us. David, walking on the terrace or house-top, was ensnared by Bathsheba's beauty: 2 Sam. xi. 2-4. Lot, that was chaste in Sodom, yet committed incest in the mountain, where there were none but his own family : Gen. xix. 30, 31, &c. W…
955 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.