PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Complete Works of Thomas Manton — Volume 2
Thomas Manton · 293,086 words · 291 reading sections
Section 61
[G.] To show us the true nature of mortification, which consists not in a bare abstinence and shameful retreat from temptations, but in a spirit fortified against them ; not in a monkish discontent with the world, but a holy contempt of it when we most freely use it ; and in bridling and governing the appetite and desi…
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3. The main oljservation is this, — That a free life, guided by a holy wisdom, is the most sanctified life, and bringeth most honour to God, and is most useful to others. Hero I shall show you : — 1. Wherein lieth this free life, guided by holy wisdom. 2. How it is the most sanctified life. 1. Wherein lieth this fr…
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I now proceed to the last clause : But loisdom is justified of her children. We have observed : — 1. The different form and course of life wherein John and Jesus appeared. 2. Their censures of both. 3. The receiving of the gospel by the unprejudiced. In this last observe : — [1.] The exceptive particle, hut. Thoug…
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[1.] As to the way of entering into covenant with God, there is required : — (1.) True repentance and faith : ' Kepentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ,' Acts xx. 21. Repentance respects God as our end, and faith respects Christ as Mediator, as the only way of returning to God, from whom we have str…
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(3.) As to our end. We must live in the nope of the coming of Chri.st and our everlasting glory : Titus ii. 13, ' Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious ai)i)earing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ , ' and Jude, ver. 21, * Keep yourselves in the love of God. looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus…
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Tldrdly, How and why it must be justified by the sincere professors of the gospel. 1. How? I answer — Three ways : — [1.] It must he approved and received by themselves. It is wis- dom's children that can only justify wisdom ; they that have entertained it, felt the power and force of it in their own hearts ; yea, t…
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[3.] This profession must be honoured, and recommended to others, by a holy conversation. But now, what kind of conversation honoureth religion ? (1.) Such as is carried on with diligence and seriousness. As Noah, Heb. xi. 7, ' By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an …
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I now come to show you — 2. Why. [1.] Because of the charge that is put upon us to testify for God, and justify his ways: Isa. xliii. 10, 'Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord.' They that are most acquainted with God can most witness for him. So wisdom's children can most justify her. They are acquainted with her prom…
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[4.] If we do not justify religion, we justify the world. It must needs be so, for these two are opposites, the carnal world and wisdom : Mat. XI. 18, 19.] of her children. Ill the carnal world must be condemned, and religion justified, or reli- gion will be condemned and the world justified. Some condemn the world :…
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The use that we may make is double : — 1. To the enemies of wisdom. Judge not of a holy life, and those that profess it, at a distance and by liearsay, but try. We are not afraid to come to the bar with our enemies : John vii. 24, ' Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.' If men would not be …
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2. Here is a resolution professed : ' Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.' Where take notice — [1.] Of the ready forwardness of the scribe. He was not called by Christ, but offered himself of his own accord. [2.] Observe the largeness of the offer, and unboundedness of it, ' whithersoever ; ' as indeed…
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IIG xnn FAiTiiruL FOLLo^VERS OF CHRIST [Luke IX. 57-62. comparison of working out our salvation with fear and trembling. This Spirit hclpeth us to overcome the world, and grow dead to the world, that we may be alive to God ; to look for no great things here, but in the world to come. This Spirit is that which we shoul…
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118 THE FAITHFUL FOLLOWEUS OF CHRIST [LUKE IX. 57-r2. for no great matters here. A\'e must exi)ect persecutions, crosses, losses, wants, defamation, injuries; and we must get that furniture of heart and mind ^Yluch may support and comfort us in such a day of trial. 2. It informeth us ^vhat fools they are that take u[…
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3. That Christ cannot but take it ill that we are so delicate and tender of our interests, and so impatient under the cross, when he endured so willingly such great things for our sakes. We cannot lose for him so much as he hath done for us ; and if he had been unwilling to suffer for us, what had been our state and co…
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1. Let this, then, enforce the former lesson, and teach us contempt of the world, and the riches and greatness thereof. It is some argu- ment that the vilest are capable thereof, as well as the most generous and best deserving, and oftener it happeneth to be so. But this is the argument of arguments, — That the Lord Je…
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2. The rea.sons of Chri.st's refusal. Christ would show hereby — (1.) That all human offices and duties must give })lace to the duty we owe to God. Duty to parents must be observed, but duty to God nmst be pre- ferred before that or anything Avhatsoever. A truth justified by Christ's own example. He began betimes, at t…
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3. The usual excuses wliich sinners may, and usually do allege, are these four: — The difficulty of religion, the danger that attendeth it, want of time, and that they have no power or strength to do good. [1.] For the first. It is troublesome and tedious to flesh and blood to be held to so much duty, and to wean our …
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[4.] I have no power or strength to do good. And what will you have us do ■? This is the excuse of the idle and naughty servant : Mat. xxv. 24, ' I knew that thou wert a hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed.' God sets you about work, but giveth you no strength, is your e…
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[4.] It appeareth from the nature of the work. To follow Christ is not to give to him as much as the flesh can spare, but wholly to devote yourselves to his service, to sell all for the pearl of great price. Mat. xiii. 46. And you are obliged to walk so, that all may give way to the glory of God, and the service of you…
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2. The work goeth on the more kindly when we speedily ooey the sanctifying motions of the Spirit, and the present influence and impul- sion of his grace. You have not such an advantage of a warm con- viction afterward : when the waters are stirred then Ave must put in for a cure, John v. 4. To adjourn and ])ut it off, …
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3. Another cause is averseness of heart ; they have no mind to these things: Kom. viii. 7, ' The carnal mind is enmity against God.' The heart is inclined to w^orldly vanities, set against God and godliness. Now let us consider the heinousness of this sin. It is ingratitude and unthankfulness for God's eternal love: Ps…
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132 EVIL OF LOOKING BACK. [LUKE IX. 57-62. [3.] Tliose that followed Christ on these extraordinary calls -were to leave all things they had, without any further care about them : Mat. xix. 21, 'Sell all that thou hast, and follow me, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven.' So Mat. iv. 19, 20, ' He saitli unto them, F…
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(2.) With respect to vivification, or progress in the duties of the holy and heavenly life. So the apostle telleth us, Phil. iii. 13, ' But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,' &c. Farther pro- gress in holiness is the one thing that we s…
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(2.) You will be inconstant in it, and apt to be ensnared again, when you meet with occasions and temptations that suit with your heart's lusts. As the Israelites were drawn out of Egypt against their wills, the flesh-pots of Egypt were still in their minds, and, there- fore, were ready to make themselves a captain and…
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[4.] With respect to the disproportion that is between the things that temi)t us to look back, and those things that are set before us. (1.) The things that tempt us to look back are the pleasures of sin and the profits of the world. Both are but a temi)orary enjoyment : Heb. xi. 25, ' The pleasures of sin, which are …
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[2.] Entirely trust yourself, and all your concernments, in the hand of God. Christ expected from all tho.se whom he called in an extra- ordinary manner, that they should leave all without any thought or solicitude about it, trusting in him not only for their eternal reward, but for their provision and protection by th…
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What you have wrought : 2 John 8, ' Look to yourselves, that ye lose not the things which ye have wrought, but that ye receive a full reward.' You forfeit the reward of your good beginnings. A partial reward they may have in this life, while they continue their well-doing (for no man is a loser by God), but not a compl…
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2. That nothing will make us hazard all things for the purchas- ing or acquiring the salvation of the soul, but only faith. The flesh is importunate to be pleased. Sense saith to us, Favour thyself, that is, spare the flesh ; but faith saith, Save thy soul. Faith, which apprehendeth things future and invisible, will te…
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To make good this descri])tion to you, let me observe: — 1. That faith looketh mainly to heaven, or the saving of the soul, as the prime benefit offered to us by Jesus Christ. For all attend to this: 1 Tim. i. IG, 'For a pattern to them who should hereafter be- HeB. X. 39.'] THE EXCELLENCY OF SAVING FAITH. 1-13 liev…
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Now for the second : Hath not tliis God revealed himself gracious in Christ ? Nature declareth there is a God, and scripture that there is a Christ, As there is one God, the first cause of all, infinitely powerful, wise, and good, therefore it is but reasonable that he should be served, and according to his own will. B…
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VOL. II. K ^ 146 THE EXCELLENCY OF SAVING FAITH. [HeB. X. 39. will towards tlicm as o-ood and satisfying ; for it notetli a quiet repose of the heart on tlie lidelity and mercy of God in Christ, that he will give this blessedness, if we do in the first place seek after it. The more we cherish this confidence, the mo…
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148 THE EXCELLENCY OF SAVING FAITH. [HeB. X. 39. Heb. xi. 20, ' By faith they passed througli the Ecd Sea, as by dry land.' God coinniands Moses, when in straits, to strike the sea with his rod, and Israel to pass forward, and expect the salvation of God. promising to deliver thcni. They did so, and the sea was divide…
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150 THE EXCELLENCY OF SAVING FAITIL [HeB. X. 39. Tliercfore, wlien your resolutions are assaulted by temptations of any considerable strength, do you acquit yourself with good fidelity ? Can you trust God when he trieth your trust in some necessary point of confession, which may expose you to some loss, shame, and haz…
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3. The respect between faith and salvation. It is Te\o<;, the end ; or the word signifieth the fruit and the reward. As reko^ is taken for an end and scope, the scripture favouretli that notion : Kara aKoitov SioiKco, 1 press towards the mark or scope, Phil. iii. 14. And 2 Cor. iv. 18, aKoirovvTe^, the salvation of our…
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I answer — [1.] It doth not merit this reward, for it is not a reward of due debt by virtue of any intrinsic righteousness in us, or any- thing that we can do and suffer, but of mere grace and favour : Eph. ii. 8, ' For by grace ye are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.' The apostl…
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(2.) There is a consent in faith, whether you apply it to the word or Christ. If Christ be propounded as the object of it, it is called a receiving: John i. 12, 'But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God.' So the word: Acts ii. 41, 1 Pet. I. 9.] the excellency of saving faith. 155 '…
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[3.] The prime benefits which faith respectetfi I make to be two — reconciliation with God, and the everlasting fruition of him in glory. (1.) Reconciliation is necessarily eyed and regarded by the guilty soul. First, Because there hath been a breach by which we have lost God's favour and happiness. We have to do wit…
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(1.) To forsake all things in this world. As soon as we address ourselves seriously to believe, we turn our backs upon them — namely, upon the pleasures, and honours, and profits of this world. We for- sake them in vow and resolution when we are converted and begin to believe, for conversion is a turning from the creat…
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Secondly, This forsaking cannot be without faith ; because the flesh is importunate to be pleased with present satisfactions, and loth to jiart wqth things which we see and love for that God and glory which we never saw, to quit what is present for what is future, and with patience to be expected. The flesh is for jile…
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(2.) Consider the profit. Whatever a believer loseth by the way, he is sure to have it at the end of his journey : Mat. xix. 28, ' Jesua said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that ye which have followed me in tlio regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thr…
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I. For the first, they take one another out of God's hands two ■ways. 1. When his directions are observed, 2. When his providence is owned and acknowledged. 1. When his directions in his word are observed; and so — [1.] As to the choice of parties. When a man seeketh out a help- meet for himself, he should in the fi…
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Gen. II. 22.] a wedding sekmon. 165 fore men, but before God ; not by virtue of their laws, but his f^rant. By a providential right, all wicked men possess all outward things, which they enjoy as the fruits and gifts of his common bounty, it is their portion, Ps. xvii. 14. Whatever falleth to their share in the course…
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II. Why is this so necessary a duty ? It doth in a great measure appear from what is said already. But farther — 1. It will be a great engagement upon us to give God all the glory of the comfort we have in such a relation, when you do more sensibly and explicitly take one another out of God's hands. We are apt to look…
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168 A WEDDING SERMON. [GeN. II. 22. uncomfortable that take ns out of the way of our duty ; and God hath undertaken only to keep us in all our ways, but not out of our duty, Fs. xei. 11. The promises are not to foster men in their running after folly, but to encourage them in their several callings and state of life w…
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1. His leave. God is the absolute Lord of all things, both in heaven and earth, and whatsoever is possessed by any creature is by his indulgence. Whatever store and plenty we have by us, our Saviour teacheth us to beg our allowance, or leave to use so much as is necessary for us, or the portion of every day : ' Give us…
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1. Negatively. Let not God be a loser ; he never intended to give you gifts to his own wrong. Gen. II. 22] a wedding sermon. 171 Now that will be : — [1.] If he be not the only one, and the lovel}^ one of your souLs. God must not have an imap^e of jealousy set up; he must still be owned as the chiefcst good. A wife …
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The main design of them is to represent the inseparable connection between Christian duties and privileges, wherein the essence of our religion consists. The gospel is not a naked, unconditionate offer of pardon and eternal life in flivour of sinners, but upon most convenient terms, for the glory of God and the good of…
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In the words you have : — 1. An emphatical setting forth of a great and blessed privilege; that is, pardon of sin. 2. A description of the persons who shall enjoy it : in ichose spirit tltere is no guile. The privilege is that I shall confine my thoughts to ; it is set forth in three expressions : forgiving transgre…
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[2.] A conscience implies a law, by which good and evil are distin- guished ; for if we make conscience of anything, it must be by virtue of some law or obligation from God, who is our maker and governor, and unto whom we are accountable, and whose authority giveth a force and warrant to the warnings and checks of cons…
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Ps. XXXII. 1, 2.] THE FIRST SERMON. 181 part evident in nature ; for the apostles did slide in the Christian doctrine mostly by this means into the hearts of those to whom they preached : Acts xxiv. 25, ' He reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come.' The particularity of it belongs to the gospel rev…
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(2dly.) His justice obligeth him to punish sin, that the law might not seem to be made in vain. It concerns the universal judge to maintain the reputation of his justice in reference to men, and to appear to them still as a righteous God : Gen. xviii. 25, ' Shall not the judge of all the earth do right ? ' and Rom. iii…
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184 THE FIRST SERMON. [Ps. XXXII. 1, 2. confess their sins with brokennness of heart, and that it may be just with God to condemn them for ever. (2.) We must thankfully accept the Lord's grace, that offers pardon to us. For since God is pleased to try us a second time, and set us lip with a new stock of grace, and th…
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[3.] It is a debt that binds the soul to everlasting punishment ; and if it be not pardoned, the judge will give us over to the jailer, and the jailer cast us into ])rison, ' till we have paid the uttermost farthing,' Luke xii. 59. To have so vast a debt lying upon us, what a misery is that ! Augustus bought that man's…
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Ps. XXXII. 1, 2.] THE FIRST SERMON. 18? of tlie new life ; and remission of sins, as the foundation of all our future mercies. There are two chief blessings offered in the new covenant, pardon and life, reconciliation with God, and the everlasting fruition of him in glory ; and the one makes way for the other : Acts x…
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The second use is to quicken us to put in for a share in this blessed privilege. I have spent my time in presenting to you what a blessed thing it is to have our sins pardoned- Christians, a man that flows in wealth and honour, till he be pardoned, is not a happy man. A man that lives afflicted, contemned, not taken no…
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1. Till you are pardoned you are never blessed; there is an obstacle and impediment in the way hinders your blessedness. What though you flow in wealth, ease, and j)lenty ; yet as long as this black storm hangs over your head, and you know not how soon it will droj) upon you, you cannot be accounted ha])py men. Do you …
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[2.] If we consider the good depending on it. You are not capable of enjoying God, and being happy for evermore, till his wrath be ap- peased, and your sins forgiven ; but when that is once done, then you may have sure hope of being admitted into his presence : Rom. v. 10, 102 THE SECOND SERMON. [Ps. XXXII. 1, 2. ' I…
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1. It is for the glory of God and the comfort of the creature that there should be a stated course of applying the privileges of the gospel, or of entering into God's peace. [1.] It is certainly for the glory of God. It is not meet that pardon and life should be prostituted to every one that will hastily challenge the…
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In short, repentance without faith would degenerate into the horror of the damned, and our sorrow for sin would be tormenting rather curing to us. And then faith would be a licentious and presumptuous , confidence without repentance : unless it be accompanied with this hearty consent of living in the love, obedience, a…
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3. That these graces having their peculiar reference, are required in order to pardon, for distinct reasons and ends. First, Repentance is required for these reasons : — [L] Because otherwise God cannot have his end in pardon, which is to recover the lost creation, that we may again live in his love and obedience. Su…
951 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.