PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Complete Works of Thomas Manton — Volume 1
Thomas Manton · 332,975 words · 331 reading sections
Section 181
4. With respect to Christ himself, that he might be an exact pat- tern of obedience to God. The obedience is little worth, which is car- ried on in an even tenor, when we have no temptation to the contrary, but is cast off as soon as we are tempted to disobey : James i. 12, * Blessed is the man that endureth temptation…
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4. The hopes of success. God would set Christ before us as a pat- tern of trust and confidence, that when we address ourselves to serve God, we might not fear the temptations of Satan. We have an example of overcoming the devil in our glorious head and chief If he pleaded, John xvi. 33, ' In the world ye shall have tri…
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266 Christ's temptation. [Ser. I. by the evil tilings of this world : Job i. 11, ' Put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.' Satan's aim in bringing the saints into trouble is to draw them to fretting, murmuring, despondency, and distrust of providence, yea, to open de-…
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268 chkist's temptation. [Ser. II. were any evidences of human frailty, lest the world should be offended, And stumble thereat, he was pleased at the same time to give some notable demonstration of the divine power ; as, on the other side, when holy men are honoured by God, something falleth out to humble them : 2 Cor…
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[2.] How is this access to Christ said to be after his fasting, when, in Luke iv. 2, it is said, * Being forty days tempted of the devil, and in those days he did eat nothing; and when they were ended, he afterward hungered ' ? 270 Christ's temptation. jER.IL I answer — (1.) Some conceive that the devil tempted Chris…
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3. This temptation was cunning and plausible ; it seemed only to tend to Christ's good, his refection when hungry, and his honour and glory, that this might be a full demonstration of his being the Son of God. There is an open solicitation to evil, and a covert ; explicit and implicit ; direct and indirect. This last h…
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Thus you have the history of the first temptation. Now for the observations. Observe, first, That God may leave his children and servants to great straits ; for Christ himself was sorely an hungered : so God suffereth his people to hunger in the wilderness before he gave them manna. Therefore it is said, Ps. cii. 23, …
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Thirdly, observe. In tempting, Satan pretendeth to help the tempted Mat. IV. 2-4.] Christ's temptation. 275 party to a better condition ; as here he seemeth careful to have bread provided for Christ at his need, yea, pretendeth respect to liis glory, and to have him manifest himself to be the Son of God, by such a mi…
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SEKMON III. Tlten the devil taketh Mm up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto him, If thou he the Son of God, cast thyself down : for it is ivritten, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee ; and in their hands they shall hear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy f…
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Only, before I go off, observe that Satan did not ofier to cast him down ; that God did not suffer him to do, because he sought to bring Christ to sin. If Satan had cast him down, Christ had not sinned. [2.] The reason by which he backeth the temptation. It is taken from scripture: 'For it is written. He shall give hi…
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280 Christ's temptation. [Ser. III. in so good a design, in such an holy place, there could no ill happen to the Son of God, nor a better occasion be offered of showing himself to many, so to confirm the Jews in the truth of the oracle they had of late heard from heaven. [2.] The change of temptations. Since he will …
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[1.] By transportations, or carrying them from one place to another, which usually is not found but in those that give up themselves to his diabolical enchantments. Or, [2.] In possessions, which were frequent and rife in Christ's time : ' My daughter is sorely vexed with a devil,' Mat. xv. 22. Or, [3.] In diseases, …
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Mat. IV. '5, 6.] Christ's temptation. 283 enterprises of Satan. Some men are careless of God's interest in the world, or else heated into the activity of a bitter zeal. Some are of a scrupulous spirit, that they may make conscience of all things ; and the devil hurrieth them into a large atheistical spirit, that they …
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But whether every one hath an angel-guardian is a curious question. Sometimes one angel serveth many persons : Ps. xxxiv. 7, ' The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them ; ' and sometimes many angels are about one person : 2 King? vi. 17, ' And, behold, the mountain was full of …
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2. It should breed some confidence and comfort in Christians in their sore straits and difficulties, when all visible help seemeth to be cut off. This invisible ministry of the angels is matter of faith : 2 Kings vi. 16, 17, ' And he answered, Fear not : for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. An…
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Doct. Tempting of God may be a usual, but yet it is a great and heinous sin. In speaking to this pinnt, I shall show : — I. What this tempting of God is. II. The heinousness of the sin. 288 Christ's temptation. [Ser. IV. I. What is this tempting of God ? And here let me speak : — 1. To the object. 2. To the act. …
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[3.] The Holy Ghost is said also to be tempted : Acts v. 9, ' How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord ? ' — namely, by their hypocrisy and dissimulation, putting it to the trial, whether he could discover them in their sin, yea or no ; they had endeavoured, as much as in them lay, to dece…
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[3.] There is a sinful tempting of God, and this is done two ways : — (1.) Generally every transgression, in a general sense, is a tempting of God: Num. xiv. 22, • They have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice.' Every eminent and notable provocation of theirs is called a tempting of God. …
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One was their setting God a task of satisfying their conceits and carnal affections: Ps. Ixxviii. 18, 'And they tempted God in their hearts, by asking meat for their lusts.' Of this sin they are guilty that snust be maintained at such a rate, must have such provision for them and theirs, or else they cannot believe his…
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Thirdly, When without call we rush into any danger, or throw ourselves into it, with an expectation God will fetch us off again. As if Christ, when nobody went about to thrust him down, should wil- fully have cast himself down. Whether the danger be certain, or inevitable, or very probable, we must not throw ourselves …
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3. It looseneth the bonds of all obedience, because we set up new laws of commerce between God and us ; for when we suspect God's fidelity to us, unless he do such things as we fancy, we suspect our fidelity to him. Therefore disobedience is made the fruit of tempting God : Ps. Ixxviii. 56, ' Yea, they tempted and prov…
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298 Christ's temptation. [Sep.. IV. Canaan ; and the apostle tells us that all the things which happened to Israel of old happened to them w? Tinrot,, as patterns of providence. A people might easily read their own doom and destiny, if they would hlow off the dust from the ancient providences of God, and observe what …
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2. Do not run into any wilful and known sin, as if you vrould try how far the patience of God will go, nor abuse his fatherly goodness by going. on still in your trespasses. When a man will try the patience of God without any regard of his threatenings, or the in- stances of his wrath, which are before his eyes, he put…
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[2.] Be firmly persuaded of God's care and providence over his people, and so careth for you in particular. This is assured to us by ])romises and by experiences. By promises : 1 Pet. v, 7, ' Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you ; ' Phil. iv. 6, 7, ' Be careful for nothing: but in everything by prayer …
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[1.] In compendio. It maybe understood of so many kingdoms as could fall under the sight of a man looking round about him from some eminent place ; as God is said to show Moses all the land of Canaan, when he did actually see only a part thereof. From that high mountain the devil gave him a view of all that was to be s…
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304 Christ's temptation. [Ser. V. (3.) Though this was a lie, yet here is the colour of the lie. God permitteth that nnen sometimes by indirect means become great in honour and dignity in this world ; all which are done by the instinct of Satan and his help. And evil men often succeed in their attempts, and. from henc…
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[3.] He doth not seek to move him by naked words, but by the sight of the thing itself. Objects move the senses, senses draw away the mind ; nor are they the porters of the soul so much as the cor- rupters : Ps. cxix. 37, ' Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity, and quicken thou me in thy way.' If we let loose our …
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Mat. IV. 8, 9,] Christ's temptation. 307 more captivated thereby. Diverse things seen in one view do more surprise us than if viewed by a leisurely contemplation. Alas ! we are sometimes overborne by the violence of a temptation, sometimes overtaken by the suddenness of it: Gal. vi. 1, ' Brethren, if one be overtaken …
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Mat. IV. 8, 9.] Christ's temptatiox. 309 care, and thoughts may be wholly taken up about things here below : Luke xii. 19, ' Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry ; ' Phil. iii. 19, 20, ' They mind earthly things ; but our conversation is in heaven.' These are per…
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(2.) The other way is, to consider what a sad bargain you make by gratifying the devil, and hearkening to his counsel : Mat. xvi. 26, ' What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?' A man never gets anything with Satan, but he shall …
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[2.] As he dealeth with us by promise. Everything we hope to get by sin is a kind of promise or offer of the devil to us ; as suppose by unconscionable dealing in our calling. Here consider two things : — (1.) The falsity of the devil's promises. (2.) The truth and stability of God's promises. (1st.) The falsity of …
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314 Christ's temptation. [Ser. VI. of blasphemy and downright sin, not to parley with the devil, but to defy him. 2, By way of confutation : ' For it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve/ Where observe : — [1.] Christ answereth to the main point, not to by-matters. He doth n…
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[5,] In this place quoted by our Saviour there is employed a dis- tinction of inward and outward worship. Feci?' is for inward worship, serve is for outward worship, and the profession of the same. Fear in Moses is expounded luorship by Christ ; so Mat. xv. 9, compared with Isa. xxix. 13, 'In vain do they worship me, t…
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2. The kinds of it. Now worship is of two kinds — civil and religious. Keligious worship is a special duty due to God, and com- manded in the first table. Civil honour and worship is commanded in the second table. They are expressed by ' godliness and right- eousness,' 1 Tim. vi. 11 ; and 'godliness and honesty,' 1 Tim…
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III. That both worship and service is due to God : ' Him shalt thou worship, and him shalt thou serve.' The worship of God is both in- ternal and external : the internal consisteth in that love and reverence which we owe to him; the external, in those offices and duties by which our honour and respect to God is signifi…
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3. To give religious worship to the creatures, it is without com- mand, without promise, and without examples, and therefore without any faith in the worshipper, or acceptance of God. Where is there any command or direction, or approved example, of this in scrip- ture ? God will accept only what he commanded, and witho…
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3. Use is to exhort us to worship and serve the Lord our God, and him only. [1.] Let us worship him. Worship hath its rise and foundation in the heart of the worshipper, and especially religious worship, which is given to the all-knowing God. Therefore there must we begin; we must have high thoughts, and an high estee…
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Mat. IV. 11.] Christ's temptation. 323 like worship and service done to an all-seeing Spirit ? His attributes : Greatness, goodness, holiness — (1.) His greatness and glorious majesty : Heb. xii. 28, ' Let us serve him acceptably, with reverence and godly fear.' Then is there a stamp of God's majesty on the duty. (2…
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[2.] Why they came not before the devil was departed ? I answer : — (1.) Partly to show that Christ had no help but his own when he grappled with Satan. When the temptations were ended, then the good angels came, lest the victory should seem to be gotten by their help and assistance. They were admitted to the triumph,…
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326 Christ's temptation. [Ser. VII. There are alternative changes and vicissitudes in their condition upon earth ; sometimes they are vexed with the coming of the tempter, and then encouraged and cheered by the presence of angels ; after storms come days of joy and gladness, — ' the devil departeth, and the angels cam…
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[2.] With respect to spiritual strength, the best are subject to great infirmities, wliich oft betray us to sin, if our vexations be great and long : Ps. cxxv. 3, ' The rod of the wicked shall not rest on the lot of the righteous, lest the righteous put forth their hands to iniquity.' The oppressions of wicked men shal…
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Mat. IV. 11.] Christ's temptation. 329 17, ' Our God, whom we serve, is able to deliver us,' and what thea can let ? 2. Patience: we must be contented, with the Son of God, to tarry his leisure, and undergo our course of trial, as Christ patiently con- tinued, till enough was done to instruct the Church : Isa. xxviii…
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[2.] It must be a thorough resistance of all sin, ' take the little foxes,' dash ' Babylon's brats against the stones.' Lesser sticks set the great ones on fire. The devil cannot hope to prevail for great things presently. At first it is, ' Hath God said ? ' and then, ' Ye shall not Mat. IV. 11.] Christ's temptation. …
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[2.] A fervent love, arising out of the sense of our obligations to God, that we do with all readiness of mind set ourselves to do his will, levelling and directing our actions to his glory. ' Love is strong as death, and many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it,' Cant. viii. 6, 7. This love will…
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Boot 4. That God maketh use of the ministry of angels in sup- porting and comforting his afflicted servants. 334 Christ's temptation. [Ser, VII. He did so to Christ, he doth so to the people of Christ. Partly for the defence and comfort of the godly : Ps. xxxiv. 7, ' The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them t…
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3. To preserve his people from many dangers and casualties, which fall not within the foresight of man, God employeth ' the watchers,' as they are called in the Book of Daniel, chap. iv. 13, 17, for he is tender of his people, and doth all things by proper means. Now the angels having a larger foresight than we, they a…
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Luke IX. 28. I MEAN to handle the transfiguration of Christ, which was : — 1. A solemn confirmation of his person and office. 2. A pledge of that glorious estate which is reserved for us in heaven. 1. It was a confirmation of his person and office, as appeareth Mat. xvii. 5, ' This is my beloved Son, in whom I am w…
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[2.] Secrecy was necessary to his transfiguration, for Christ was about a business which he would not have presently to come abroad, and therefore it was to be confined to the knowledge of a few, who were to be called up from the rest into an high mountain : ver. 9, Jesus ' charged them that they should tell the vision…
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Mat. XVII. 1.] Christ's transfiguration. 3 II such as may be helps to iis in godliness, and may promote our mutual good, temporal and spiritual. So did Christ, who had twelve dis- ciples, single out three of them for greatest intimacy ; and so did Peter, who, though he had eleven colleagues, and held concord with all,…
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(3.) Because our love to God should put us upon loving his people and making them our intimates ; for religion influenceth all things — our relations, common employments, friendship, and converse : 1 tJohn V. 1, ' Every one that loveth him that begat, loveth him also that is begotten of him.^ The new nature incliueth t…
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[3.] Though we owe this religious friendship to all that fear God, yet some few may be chosen for our intimacy and spiritual solace. We owe it in some respects to all that fear God, and must dispense the general acts of friendship to them : Acts iv. 32, ' The multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one…
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[.5.] When friends be thus chosen, there must be a faithful discharge of the duties of friendship, both in counsels and reproofs ; for the godly use this friendship chiefly for spiritual ends. (1.) In counsel, for Solomon telleth us, Prov. xxii. 9, 'As oint- ment and perfume rejoice the heart, so doth the sweetness of…
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[2.] While he prayed he was transfigured, Luke ix. 29 ; which teacheth us two things : — (1.) That we have the highest communications from God in prayer, for then Christ's shape was altered. By prayer the soul hath the most familiar converse M-ith God that possibly it can have, and also by the means of this duty God h…
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[2.] This must be also considered, that the eminent and extraordi- nary passions and affections in the soul do discover themselves in the body, especially in the face ; for it is said of Stephen, that when he was heightened into a great zeal for Christ, Acts vi. 15, that ' All that sat in the council, looking stedfastl…
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(3.) In fervent prayer we have a double advantage — we get a sight of God, and exercise strong love to God ; and both conduce to make us like God. 350 Christ's transfiguration. [Ser. II. (1st.) We get a sight of God, for in it (if it be seriously performed) we turn our back upon all other things, that we may look to …
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(3.) The third agent in prayer is the Holy Spirit. He is sometimes said to pray in us, Rom. viii. 26 ; sometimes we are said to pray in him, Jude 20. The divine Spirit exciteth those graces in us which incline us to God ; he raiseth our minds in the vision and sight of God. ' In thy light shall we see light,' Ps. xxxvi…
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But what if I have not those strong and earnest desires ? I answer, Yet keep not off from prayer : for, [1.] Good desires must be asked of God, for it is said, he prepareth the heart. [2.] Such desires as we have must be expressed, and that is the way Mat. XVII. 2.] Christ's transfiguration. 3.53 to increase them, …
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I shall open : — First, The nature of this transfiguration. Secondly, The ends of it. First, The nature of this transfiguration. It was a glorious altera- tion in the appearance and qualities of his body, not a substantial alteration in the substance of it. It was not a change wrought in the essential form and subst…
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[2.] His office : the great prophet of the church, ' Hear ye him.' A greater prophet than Moses. Moses saw the face of God, but he was in the bosom of God. Moses, his face shone, but not as Christ's, for it could be hidden by a veil ; Christ darts his glory through his garments. Moses, his shining was terrible ; Christ…
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Use 1. Be transformed that you may be transfigured : ' Be ye trans- formed by the renewing of your minds,' Rom. xii. 2. The change must begin in the soul (2 Cor. iii. 18), and thence it is conveyed to the body. The lustre of grace maketh way for the splendour of glory: Prov. iv. 18, ' The path of the just is as the shi…
1,007 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.