PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Complete Works of Thomas Manton — Volume 21
Thomas Manton · 313,086 words · 310 reading sections
Section 121
188 SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN III. [SeR. XXVII. Surely to have a merciful reconciled Father to go to, and make our moan for relief in all our distresses and wants, is a very comfortable privilege, that we cannot sufficiently value. Whosoever scorneth and slights him, a christian knoweth where he may be welcome : ' My friend…
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(2.) God's terror. God is our friend and Father in Christ ; not a terrible judge, but a reconciled Father; and his throne is not a judg- ment-seat, but a mercy-seat. He is terrible to those that lie in their sins; they look upon him as a malefactor doth upon his judge, a rigid lawgiver or severe avenger ; as a condemni…
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VeR. 21.] SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN Ilf. 191 [3.] Those that set their hearts to fulfil their covenant- vow : ver. 22, * Whatsoever we ask we receive of him, because we keep his command- ments, and do the thiogs which are pleasing in his sight.' Now those, if their hearts do not condemn them of doubling, and dealing insince…
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SERMON XXVIII. And ivhatsoever we ash, we 7'eceive of him, because ice keep Ms com- mandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. — 1 John iii. 22. In the context the apostle is speaking of the benefit of a good con- science. It is double — 1. Confidence towards God. 2. Acceptance with God ; or, if…
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2. There are promises that have universal particles annexed ; as John xiv. 13, 14, ' Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in my name, I will do it.' So John xv. 7, ' If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask wha…
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[2.] With a due reservation of and submission to his secret and decreeing will. Many things are lawful, yea, commanded, yet we must a.sk them with submission to the will of God ; that is, we must use the means, and refer the success to God. As, for instance, when parents ask the conversion of their children, and childr…
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[3.] To the manner the end also belongeth, that the prayer be directed to his glory : James iv, 3, ' Ye ask and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.' III. I shall speak of God's answer, and the success of our prayers ; and there are several distinctions and considerations. 1, Som…
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(2.) In regard of the matter. Carnal things are begged, spiritual given ; not a pompous kingdom to Israel, but the promise of the Spirit, Acts i. 6, 7. Moses would fain enter into Canaan, but God saith, Deut. iii. 27, 'Let it suffice thee; speak to me no more of this matter ; ' would fainMiave a Pisgah sight, and be ea…
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1. Because answers of prayer are notable confirmations of faith concerning the truth of God's being and promises: Ps. Ixv. 2, ' Oh, thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come ; ' Ps. xviii. 30, ' The word of the Lord is a tried word; he is a buckler to all that trust in liim;' Ps. cxxxviii. 2, * Thou hast…
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3. Smaller as well as greater duties: Mat. v. 19, 'Whosoever shall break the least of these commandments, and teach men so to do, shall be least in the kingdom of heaven.' God counteth his authority de- spised, and the commandments and obligatory power of his law to bo made void by him that shall either in doctrine or …
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Secondly, The act, ' Keep ; ' that noteth two things — (1.) The in- ward respect which we have to God's laws ; (2.) The outward action or course of life which results from this. 1. The inward respect which we have to God's laws in our memories, consciences, and afi'ections : Prov. iii. 1, ' Let thine heart keep my com…
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II. But how is this a gospel conscience ? What could the law re- quire more ? Ans. 1. We consider this with respect to fallen man, who entereth upon this course of new obedience as one delivered and recovered by Christ, and put into a capacity again to obey and please God : Luke i. 74, 75, ' That being delivered out o…
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VeR 22.] SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN III. 207 is so obvious a truth, that it needeth not much confirmation. When God came to covenant with Abraham, Gen. xvii. 1, he saith to him, * I am God all-sufficient ; walk thou before me and be thou perfect ; ' that is, upright and sincere, as the word also signifieth, and is noted in t…
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[4.] Among other rewards of love and faithful obedience, this is one, the audience and acceptance of their prayer. In his providential gov- ernment, internal or external, God doth many ways own them, by his gracious presence, counselling, directing, quickening them : John viii. 29, ' And he that sent me is with me ; th…
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SERMON XXX. And this is Ms commandment, that ive should believe in the name of his Son, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. — 1 John iii. 23. The apostle instanceth what commandments we should observe if we would keep a good conscience. Two are mentioned — faith in Christ, and an unfeigned love to the br…
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Doct. That faith in Christ and brotherly love are things intimately conjoined, and must always go together. 1. I shall speak of the nature of these two graces or duties apart. 2. Show how intimately they are and must be conjoined ; and there speak — (1.) Of the inseparable connection between faith and love ; (2.) The…
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4. That this grace of recovery and restoration is revealed and declared to us in the word ; for the gospel word is both the means and the matter of our faith. It is the means : ' For how sliall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?' Eom. x. 17. And Christ prayeth, John xvii. 20, ' Neither pray I for these al…
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VeR. 23.] SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN III. 215 ing of it at least in our esteem, as a tiling unworthy to come in com- petition with Christ or tlie benefits offered by him, or to obstruct the duty we owe to him. [2.] A devoting and giving up ourselves to the conduct of his word nnd iSpirit. Certainly all those that believe in…
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II. How these are conjoined, faith in Christ, and love to the brethren. And here, first, Of the connection, secondly. Of the order. First, The connection. There is another sum and abridgment of the commandments given by Christ : Mat. xxii. 36, 37, ' Master, which is the great commandment in the law ? Jesus said unto h…
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1 Qu. ' limbs ' ? — Ed. 218 SERMONS uroN 1 JOHN HI. [Ser. XXX. believe in Christ, it is ratified in the gospel court if we refuse the remedy. Now Christ is come into the workl, sufficiently revealed to he Lord and Saviour by the gospel, confirmed by miracles ; there- fore, this is a business of greater necessity than…
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Doct. A near, intimate, and constant conjunction with Christ is the privilege of those who make conscience of keeping the commandments. First, What is this near, intimate and constant conjunction with Christ? It is expressed here by a mutual inhabitation. 1. Dwelling noteth nearness and intimacy ; it is not dwelling …
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VeR. 24.] SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN III. 221 minded his own disciples of the danger of apostasy, and the dreadful wrath following upon it, to make them afraid of defection ? For this is one means which God useth to contain and keep the elect within the bounds of their duty ; and therefore they must not be smoothed up with p…
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7. Though Christ do familiarly communicate himself to all believers, so as to dwell in them by his gracious presence, yet not to all alike, but to some in a'larger measure and proportion than to others, as he worketh more or more effectually on them than he doth on others. We all receive of his fulness, John i. 16, but…
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presence, and which should afterward be excited in them by the Holy Ghost. Secondly, Why it is a privilege proper to them that keep his com- mandments, for the clause is exclusive of others. 1. Because this is God's instituted order. Now all God's institutions carry a condecency to his nature. God is holy, and requir…
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Use 1. Is information. 1. That they do in vain boast of communion with God who do not keep his commandments. It was a cheat usually among the heathens to pretend secrecy with their gods, and human nature is the same still : many usurp this high honour of communion with God, but no fruit of it appeareth. Now Christ abh…
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Use 2. Is to persuade us to keep his commandments. I shall press this — (1.) From the excellency of the privilege; (2.) The necessity of obedience. VeR. 24.] SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN III. 227 1. The excellency of the privilege; this deservetli our choicest en- deavours. [1.] Consider what an obliging act of condescension…
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2. Because this is the great fruit of God's love, and reward of our obedience : John xiv. 23, ' If any man love me, and keep my command- ments, my Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our abode with him.' ' We,' that is, all the persons of the blessed Trinity ; not the Father and the Son only, but th…
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3. Because it was the first witness of the truth of the gospel, and therefore tiie best pledge we can have of the love of God in our hearts; for believers are confirmed the same way which the gospel is confirmed ; 230 SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN III. [SeR. XXXII. tliat which confirmeth Christianity confirmeth the christian, …
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(2.) Because it is a privilege into which we are admitted after a breach. Persons that have been at variance will not easily believe one another, and trust one another, unless their reconciliation be sealed by some remarkable good turn and visible testimony of love. A great ofiender was never reconciled to Augustus unl…
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4. It is a Spirit of power, enabling us to vanquish temptations that arise either from the terrors and delights of sense, by propounding the blessedness of the other and better world : 2 Tim. i. 7, ' For God hath not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love, and of a sound mind.' 5. It is a Spirit of adopti…
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1. The Spirit leadeth us to an holy life and perfect obedience to God. His first work is to renew the soul to the image of God, and change us into the likeness of Christ, 2 Cor. iii. 18. That is the impression of this seal, left on the hearts of those where he cometh, and by which God's children are distinguished from …
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4. The Spirit leadeth us to a heavenly life, as the flesh did to things 286 SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN III. [SuR. XXXII. grateful to present sense ; he discovereth those things to us : Eph. i. 17, 18, ' That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the k…
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Uses. Now this is — 1. An argument to confirm us in the divine authority of the word, because it worketh such terrors and asonies in men's hearts. What VeR. 37.] SERMONS UPON ACTS 11. 37, 33. 239 but the word of God can cite men's consciences before his tribunal, who alone giveth laws to the conscience, and appallet…
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Use. All this is spoken that you may not grow weary of a sound and searching ministry. Many think they trouble the world, and drive men to despair. Indeed God's witnesses do torment the dwellers upon Ver. 37.] SERMONS upo]sr acts II. 37, 38. 241 earth, Kev. xi. 10 ; they trouble their carnal rest, and will not let me…
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Fifthly, This grievous sin was wrong done to Christ Jesus, ' Whom ye have crucified.' Now they find the nails pricking in their hearts as so many sharp daggers ; and having formerly pierced Christ, are now pierced themselves : ' Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their hearts.' Note from hence, that sin wil…
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244 SERMONS UPON ACTS II. 37, 38. [SeR. I. 2. As a preparation and step towards grace. Doct. That the work of regeneration beginneth in a lively and smart sense of our sin and misery. Because this is the main point, I shall show you — (1.) What is this pricking of heart ; (2.) That this is the way God taketh to brin…
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in. Why? 1. To make us serious. A true sense of sin and misery maketh a soul active and inquisitive about a remedy ; as a man sensible of his wounds will not rest till he hath found a plaster. The prodigal when bitten with hunger came to himself, and then thought of returning to his father. We never make it our chief …
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SEKMON II. Now wh&n they lieard this, they loere pricked in their hearts, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall lue do t — Acts ii. 37. Use 1. If it be so that this is the method of God in conversion, let us not hinder nor smother so good a work ; for so far as this is cherish…
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VER. 37.] SERMONS UPON ACTS II. 37, 38. 249 sin, why is hell and everlasting woe threatened to his creature, the work of his own hands ? We cannot without horror think of the howling of a dog in a fiery furnace for half-an-hour. If God make so little reckon- ing of sin, why was Jesus Christ so troubled and exceedingly…
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3. Do not smother it when God beginneth it. Oh, it is dangerous to stifle convictions or lose the benefit of them ; for either afterwards conscience is more stupified or terrified. First, More stupified. No iron is so hard as that which hath been oft heated and oft quenched ; so no heart so hard as that which hath outw…
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brethren.' [2.] Their solemn question, ' What shall we do ? ' From the whole I shall make these observations — 252 SERMONS UPON ACTS II, 37, 38. [SeR. II, 1. The change that is wrought upon a sinner when Grod hath liim under this preparative trouble; it doth not amount to a full con- version, yet it inferreth a chan…
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2. I observe again, that they took some course for their comfort and relief : ' They said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles. Men and brethren, what shall we do ? ' Felix trembled, but it was but a super- ficial work, and came to nothing, Acts xxiv. 25 ; it was soon over ; he delayeth and adjourneth the considerat…
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Reasons — (1.) Because the men are altered ; (2.) Because their work is altered. 1. The men are altered, both in their judgments and affections. [1.] In their judgments. The pride of their carnal reason is sub- dued ; or rather, their reason is set free from the captivity of brutish passions. Now they know what sin i…
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VeR. 37.] SERMONS UPON ACTS II. 37, 38. 257 no thought for the body.' A man's main care is to save the soul. Christ, to divert them, puts them upon that : Mat. vi. 33, ' But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.' These worldly questions perplex men's hea…
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2. This question argueth some kind of hope that there may be relief for them ; for they do not give over the business as desperate, as if nothing could be done, but inquire, ' What shall we do ? ' Is there no remedy for such vile wretches as we are ? They presume there is some course to be taken. There is a kind of twi…
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260 SEBMONS UPON ACTS II. ^7, 38. [SeR. III. science tlien there is hopes of them ; then they are serious, and mind things. 4. It expresseth their resignation. They do not stand hacking and dodging, but with readiness of mind offer themselves to be directed by the apostles : ' Men and brethren, what shall we do ? ' A…
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Use 2. To direct you how to further, and also how to judge of, your progress in the work of conversion. 1. When you begin to mind necessary things : Mat. vi. 20, 21, 'But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through and steal ; for where yo…
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VeR. 38.] SERMONS UPON ACTS II. 37, 33. 263 this is evangelical, wrought by a sense of God's love. A malefactor ought not only to be sorry for his crime while he is in suspense, and knoweth not how his prince will deal with him, but after he is par- doned is still to be ashamed and grieved for his offence. Their forme…
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2. MezafxkXeia, an after-caie, when the soul cometh to grief, and shame, and sorrow, and hatred of sin : 2 Cor. vii. 10, 'For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of ; but the sorrow of the world worketh death.' Godly sorrow is of great use in repent- ance, to alienate and turn away the soul …
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2(JG SEllMONS UPON ACTS II. 37, 38. [SeR. IV. 2. Because the saints have found it an effectual course, and mar- vellously successful. God taught David by his own experience that the exercise of repentance was the right way to seek relief, after his spirits had been wasted and his flesh almost dried up : ' I acknowledg…
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Use 2. Is to persuade you to this work upon the necessity of this course. It is not only necessary necessitate prcecepti, but medii. It is 268 SERMONS UPON ACTS II. 37, 38. [SeR. IV. an irlvRome duty, but necessary. Till ye are brought to repentance, ye never had, nor can have, pardon of sins, and so no true peace of…
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Well, then, let me press you to — (1.) A daily repentance for daily sins ; (2.) A solemn repentance on the occasion of special duties. (1.) To a daily repentance for daily sins. As we pray for daily bread, so for daily pardon ; we need one as much as the other. We daily heap up new sins, and we must daily sue out our …
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3. Our proneness to sin : Ps. xl. 12, ' For innumerable evils have compassed me about ; mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up ; they are more than the hairs of my head ; therefore my heart faileth me.' 4. The strictness of the last day's account. A long process : 1 Cor. iv. 5, ' Who…
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2. He is our advocate, ' We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.' There are several terms by which Christ's plead- ing his merit for us, and going between us and God, are set forth, and they have all their proper use. We shall compare them with this term of an advocate. The general word is ' me…
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[3.] There is a holy, reverent, though inconceivable adoration of the sovereign majesty of God, whereby the Mediator, now at the Father's right hand, doth in all his appearing for us, as being the head of the VOL. XX r. s 274 SERMONS UPON ACTS 11. 37, 38. [SeR. V. body, adore the sovereignty, goodness, and wisdom of…
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Again, none else is able to satisfy God and pacify conscience. [1.] Not to satisfy God. Sin being committed against an infinite majesty, the suffering by which he is expiated must be of an infinite value ; and therefore it is impossible that any or all the angels, though holy and just, should propitiate God for our si…
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Veu. 38.] SERMONS UPON ACTS 11. 37, 38, 277 [3.] None so willing to relieve a poor afflicted creature as Christ : Heb. ii. 17, ' Wherefore iu all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and a faithful high priest iu things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the s…
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2. When you are confessing your sins, depend upon him as your advocate, as one that died for your sins, and is ready to appear before God, to plead for you, and put all your debts upon his score. Let us be sure to arraign and accuse ourselves : we must confess our sins, 1 John i. 9, and then Christ will plead for the p…
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Boot. That baptism hath an especial use and respect unto this benefit of obtaining remission of sins in the name of Christ. To evidence this unto you, I must take it for granted for the present that baptism belongeth to the gospel or the new covenant ; or, if you will have it confirmed, that place doth it fully which …
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5. The privileges are two — pardon and life. These are the great blessings ottered in the new covenant; you have both together. Acts xxvi. 18, ' To turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God ; that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance among them which are sanctified by fa…
1,110 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.