PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Complete Works of Thomas Manton — Volume 20
Thomas Manton · 329,200 words · 330 reading sections
Section 241
(2.) Copulatively. Though affliction be not light in itself, yet by the strong support and comfort of the Spirit, God maketh it light and easy to us. To a strong back a burden is light which crusheth the weak and faint, and causeth them to sink under it ; a man well clad may without great annoyance bear the cold of win…
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SERMON UPON 2 CORINTHIANS IV. 17. 375 future and afar off are as present : Heb. xi. 1, 'Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.' Partly because love will not count it long : Gen. xxix. 20, ' Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days for the love he …
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2. Here is ' a far more exceeding weight of glory ' opposed to ' light affliction.' Things excellent we count weighty ; small, light. What is better than that heavenly good which is offered to the faithful followers of Christ ? It is good to consider a little what it is. [1.] All evil will be then removed. There is no…
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1. Though our patience doth not merit, yet it giveth us a right, so as we may certainly expect it from the mercy of God : Mat. v. 12, ' Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven.' Our transitory light sufferings are so accepted by God that they aro sure to be rewarded by him with an eternal weig…
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In these words we have — (1.) A friendly compellation, ' Little chil- dren.' (2.) A serious exhortation, 'I write unto you.' (3.) The reason of his writing to that end and purpose, ' Because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake.' Or, if you will take notice — (1.) Of a privilege, 'Your sins are forgiven.' (2.) Th…
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3. In regard of humility, and designs, and contrivances after great- ness in the world. They that become as little children seek not after dominions, and dignities, and honours. For, Mat. xviii. 1-3, when 382 SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN II. 12-14. [SER. I. the disciples were striving who should be greatest in the kingdom of …
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[1.] Now within time the sentence may be repealed, but then it is definitive and peremptory. A man that is condemned by the law may be pardoned and absolved afterwards. Every one of us ' is condemned already,' John iii. 18 ; and we bind this condemnation upon us if we die in our infidelity and impenitency, and contempt…
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VER. 12.] SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN II. 12-14. 385 only spare us for a while, but save us for ever. A reprieve only sus- pended and deferreth execution, but a pardon wholly preventeth it. 4. The object of this pardon is the penitent believer ; and that faith is required, see Acts x. 43, 'To him gave all the prophets witnes…
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2 Peter ii. 3, and turn off grief rather than put it away. It is no profit though forgotten, if not forgiven. Not denying sin. There are books of record, Rev. xx. 12, which will be opened at the last day, and then all our sins are set in order before us. Not excusing sin, or extenuating it ; that is to aggravate our ca…
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and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ ; ' 1 Peter iii. 18, ' For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God.' Christ's business is to bring us back again to God, from whom we have strayed and fallen, to put us into a capacity of pleasing and enjoying God. Kepentance is …
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4. Because they have great encouragements : Ps. cxxx. 4, ' There is forgiveness, wherefore thou shouldst be feared.' Mercy maketh God amiable to us ; a condemning God is not so easily loved as a gracious and reconciled God. None are so encouraged to serve him as those that have found him gracious. Use. Let me now exho…
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1. Though spiritual growth be most considerable here, yet natural age is not altogether to be excluded. God hath people of all sorts and sizes, some old, some in the prime and freshness of youth, others that are but newly got out of infancy and childhood. As it is hard to find out a calling wherein there are not some o…
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VER. 13, 14.] SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN II. 12-14. 393 1 Eemember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions ; according to thy mercy remember thou me, for thy goodness' sake, 0 Lord ; ' Job xiii. 26, ' For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me possess the iniquities of my youth.' It will save us a great…
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2. It may fall out that the elder christians may be babes in Christ, and the younger christians rather fathers for their longer experience in the things of God, and for the better government of their passions. A young man may be an old disciple ; as Josiah, Samuel, and King Edward the Sixth. The Spirit of God doth wond…
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4. There is a wonderful difference between christians and them- selves at sundry times ; so that these three degrees may be coincident. The gravest father may be as weak as the youngest child, as violently tempted as the young man. The state of a godly man is» not always one and the same ; sometimes they are carried in…
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(2.) There are others who hang upon the breast, as infants that are new-born, can hardly live between one ordinance and another : 1 Peter ii. 2, ' As now-born babes desire the sincere milk of the word, that they may grow thereby.' They cry after their Father, though with a lisping and stammering tongue. They take pleas…
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Again, look after growth and strength according to your means: Mat. viii. 10, ' Christ marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel ; ' Mark vi. 6, ' And lie marvelled at their unbelief God proportioneth our trials, not according to what we have de facto, but dej…
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Now because this is a weighty point, and the joy of our faith, and the strength of our confidence, and the readiness of our obedience, and our thankfulness to God for the mystery of our redemption, and our victory over the world, and our eternal happiness and felicity doth much depend upon Christ's being the eternal So…
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VOL. xx. 2 o 402 SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN II. 12-14. [SER. III. (2.) The benefit of this meditation. (1st.) To further the joy of our faith, in that we see the infinite worth that is in his sufferings to satisfy justice and to expiate sin. He that is from the beginning, who is the eternal Son of God, he offereth to pay a…
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(6th.) To draw our hearts from all created things, and to lessen our respect to worldly vanities, that so our minds and hearts may more look after those things which are eternal and glorious. He that was before the world was will be when the world shall be no more. Christ as God is ' from everlasting to everlasting/ Ps…
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VER. 13, 14.] SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN II. 12-14. 405 strength. So we read of some that may be ' enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,' Heb. vi. 4, 5. They may ' escape the pollutions of the wo…
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III. What is herein proper to fathers, or how can this be a ground of distinction between them and others, since all christians are indis- pensably bound to know Christ ? John xvii. 3, ' And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.' And babes are said to …
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2. They do more wisely manage the affairs of the spiritual life. The scripture speaketh of being ' wise to salvation,' wise in that which is good : Rom. xvi. 19, ' But yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.' And the children of God should be 'wise in their generation,' Luke xvi. …
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410 SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN II. 12-14. [SeR. IV. that looked in a short time to appear before God and receive their wages, ' to be steadfast and unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord,' 1 Cor. xv. 58. A man may be steadfast in the main, though …
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7. They are more weaned from the delights of sense, and have long used to moderate themselves within the bounds of sobriety: Titus ii. 2, ' That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.' Old age being cold and dry, is desirous to warm and moisten itself ; and therefore need this…
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TER. 13, 14.] SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN II. 12-14. 413 of some that ' left their first love,' Eev. ii. 4 ; there was a great decay, though not an utter extinction. It is said, 2 Chron. xvii. 3, ' The Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David ; ' who in his latter time fell into scand…
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[2.] Their manifold experience should make them better. It is a miserable thing to pass under so many providences, and not to be bettered and improved by them : Deut. xxix. 2-6, ' And Moses called unto all Israel, and said unto them, Ye have seen all that the Lord did before your eyes in the land of Egypt unto Pharaoh,…
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416 SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN II. 12-14. [Ser. V. we shall be gone, but ' Christ is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever.' Though days and years are in a continual flux and motion about him, yet he is the same for ever, he is the beginning without beginning, and the end without end ; before all, after all, and in all. T…
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[2.] In that they have not so much superiority and command over their affections and passions as the fathers have; though they are not at the beck and command of every foolish and hurtful lust, yet they are often assaulted and perplexed, yea, overcome with the rebellion of their carnal affections and inordinate passion…
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Prop. 2. The middle sorts of christians or young men are most ex- posed to temptations and conflicts. The devil is an enemy to all mankind, but especially to young men. Noah, Solomon were tempted when in years ; but the young age are most assaulted. The devil layeth snares for them, partly because those are most prone…
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VER. 13, 14.] SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN II. 12-14. 421 to receive Christ upon the hardest terms, though reduced to rags and beggary, and the greatest extremities; and this is no more than needeth. Our religion and the apparent light of truth compelleth us to use those terms : Mat. xiii. 45, 46, ' The kingdom of heaven is li…
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2. The strength of the soul, which is the property of christians, often spoken of in scripture : Ps. cxxxviii. 3, ' And strengthen me with strength in my soul ; ' Eph. iii. 6, ' To be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man.' This is the fruit of grace, for by nature we have it not : Eom. v. 6, ' When we…
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1. The precepts and doctrines of the word abide in them : Ps. xxxvii. 31, ' The law of God is in his heart, none of his steps shall slide.' A lively active sense of his duty is kept fresh upon his heart ; and then, when they are tempted, they answer as the Rechabites, We dare not ; our father commanded us otherwise, Je…
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Prop. 5. Those that have the word of God abiding in them overcome the wicked one. Where — (1.) The adversary, ' the wicked one ; ' (2.) The victory, ' have overcome/ as a thing past. 1. The adversary, ' The wicked one.' As God is the holy One, so the devil here and elsewhere is called 'the wicked one ; ' 1 John v. 18,…
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4. The devil hath been conquered, and is conquered in part by these spiritual young men. The apostle speaketh of such as are strong, and had the word of God abiding in their hearts. They are not such weak young men as Kehoboam, whom every company and every temptation doth carry away ; but strong christians, who are vic…
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2. They differ from the young men in Christ. Before I tell you how they differ from them, I must acquaint you that there are two sorti TEE. 13, 14.] SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN II. 12-14. 429 of babes or little children. First, Some are as it were in the birth, inter regenerandum : Gal. iv. 19, 'My little children, of whom I…
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[3.] These weak christians do or should remember that God will not always bear with their weaknesses, and from time to time dispense with their follies, and wink at them. They must grow more solid and prudent, more settled into an heavenly frame and temper : 1 Thes. iv. 1, ' We beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by …
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432 SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN II. 12-14. [SeR. VI. our parents know not whether the child will be male or female, beauti- ful or deformed, cannot tell the number of the bones, muscles, veins, arteries ; this God appointeth. The soul, which was the better part of man, is of his immediate creation ; therefore he is called ' t…
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(2.) We have a blessed and excellent inheritance to look for here ; all the children are heirs and 'joint-heirs with Christ,' Eom. viii. 17, as soon as we are adopted and taken into God's family, though little of this dignity appeareth or maketh any fair show in the world: 1 John iii. 1, 2, 'Behold what manner of love …
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VER. 13, 14.] SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN II. 12-14. 435 (3.) Subjection and humble submission to his correction : Heb. xii. 5-10, ' And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him ; for whom the Lord lo…
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III. For the third consideration, how this is the constitutive differ- ence. This was spoken to before. Use 1. To inform us what care ought to be taken for the institution of little children ; for though spiritual growth be mainly intended, yet natural age is not excluded or exempted. Some little ones may have a stran…
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1. The privilege itself is to be ' called the sons of God.' Mark, not subjects or servants, but sons ; and to be called the sons of God is to be the sons of God, for that is the idiotism of the Hebrew phrase : Isa. lviii. 13, ' Thou shalt call the sabbath a delight ; ' that is, make it to be so. So in this matter it is…
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2. That this is a blessed and glorious privilege. 3. That believers ought to be excited to the earnest consideration of it. I. That there is such a relation as that of father and children be- tween God and his people. There is a relation between God and all his creatures ; for as God gave being to all, so he hath an …
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Secondly, The persons who are adopted, miserable sinners, who were strangers and enemies to God : 'Children of wrath, even as others ;' those who were born heirs of God's curse, ' dead in trespasses and sins ; ' who had cast away the mercies of our creation. Now, that strangers should not only be taken into the family,…
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Fourthly, The dignity itself nakedly considered ; it is a greater hon- our than the world can afford to us, a matter to be rather wondered at than told. Admire it we may, express it to the full we cannot. David saith, ' Seemeth it a light thing to be a king's son-in-law ? ' We may with better reason say, Is it uothing …
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[2.] He giveth us an allowance of such temporal things, of outward mercies, as are convenient for us : Mat. vi. 25, 30, ' Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink ; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on : is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment ? If God so clothe …
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III. That believers ought to be excited to the earnest consideration of it. 1. To quicken our thankfulness, which is the chief motive and principle of gospel-obedience. There is a slackness and slowness of heart in holy things ; there are sundry methods, and ways, and means to work upon us, but they may all be reduced…
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Use 1. And indeed the use that I shall make of it is to persuade you to put in for a share in this blessed privilege. To direct you in this, let me tell you — 1. That this new relation dependeth on the new birth, and that none are adopted but those that are regenerated and renewed to the image and likeness of God ; al…
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VER. 1, 2.] SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN III. 449 5. You must submit to bear tbe world's hatred, if God see fit: Eev. iv. 29, ' They loved not their lives to the death ; ' Heb. ii. 10, ' For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the Captain of our salvation …
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First, Of the concession ; and there the first granted truth is — 1. "that the children of God are obnoxious to the contempt and hatred of the world, ' The world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.' By ' the world ' is meant unbelievers, or the multitude of those that are without Christ. They know us not so as to…
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452 SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN III. [SEE. II. dition of peace and rest. He loveth us, and we are precious in his sight : Isa. xliii. 3, 4, ' For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel : I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee ; since thou wast precious in my sight, and thou hast been honourable, and I …
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(1.) Because if God be not known nor honoured in the world, nor Christ, nor the Spirit, why should we take it unkindly ? We cannot in reason expect better entertainment in the world than Christ found in the world : John xv. 20, ' Kemember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than the lord : if they…
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VEK. 1, 2.] SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN III. 455 coverings of smaller value, as the ark had of badgers' skins. There may be little splendour to the eye, yet much beauty within ; even the beauty of our God may be upon them. The people of God are not to be judged by their outside, but by this inward glory. The world will not be…
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(4.) There is another veil. Christians quench the vigour, and obscure the glory of this life by their infirmities ; they have too much of Adam, and too little of Jesus, and so the spiritual life is carried on darkly and in a riddle ; the good herbs and flowers are hidden in neglected gardens by the plenty of weeds. Chr…
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4. God hath chosen this way as most fit to advance his glory ; he will give us little in hand, that he may daily hear from us, and we may seek our supplies from him ; for the spirit of adoption was given us that we may cry, ' Abba, Father.' And also that his power may be perfect in our weakness. By infirmities, weaknes…
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Use 5. Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment, John vii. 24. Do not judge the people of God by their out- side or worldly privileges : Moses could see an excellency in the people of God in their afflicted condition, Heb. xi. 25. Do not misjudge yourselves : I am a poor, afflicted, contemptible …
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(2.) They shall see him with shame and terror, looking upon him as to receive their just punishment: 1 John ii. 28, 'And now, little children, abide in him, that when he shall appear we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.' Our vision shall be joyful and familiar ; but the wicked are not ab…
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[3.] The conjunction is more intimate between the object and faculty. Here the conjunction is by faith and imperfect love, there by clear vision and perfect love : ' He that is joined to the Lord by faith and love is one spirit.' Oh, but what a conjunction will this be, when we shall be joined to the Lord by clear imme…
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464 SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN III. [SEE. III. He will set tlie world a-wondering at the honour he will confer upon those that have honoured him in the world; they shall see him in full glory, sitting upon his throne of judgment, and afterwards at the right hand of his Father for evermore. So that we have honour conferred up…
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Thirdly, The third thing is satisfaction, not mentioned in the text, but implied and supplied from a parallel place ; for we having the sight and presence of God, must needs be ravished with it : Ps. xvi. 11, 'In thy presence,' or face, 'is fulness of joy, and at thy right hand are pleasures for evermore.' The fruition…
969 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.