PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Complete Works of Thomas Manton — Volume 2
Thomas Manton · 293,086 words · 291 reading sections
Section 121
4. The use of these two graces discovers their nature. What is faith and repentance ? Repentance towards God is a turning from sin to God. The terminus a quo of repentance is our begun recovery from sin, and therefore called, ' Repentance from dead works,' Heb. vi. 1. The terminus ad quern, to which we return, is God, …
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III. The third thing is our recovery out of grievous lapses and falls. In them there is required a particular and express repentance ; and re- pentance and faith must be carried with respect to those four things tliat are in sin : culpa, the fault, reaius, the guilt, macula, the stain and blot, and poena, the punishmen…
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Acts III. 2(5.] the third sermox. 201 judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.' A rod dipped in guilt may smart sore upon the back of God's children, if they will play the wantons and rebels with God. Eli broke his neck, his sons were killed in battle, the ark taken. But then …
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7. That the first ministers might be a pattern of obedience, to preach where God would have them, to preach in the very face and teeth of opposition. Christ appoints their station. The Jews were like to be the most virulent enemies against the gospel, because the 1 iilers put Chri.st to death : Go, preach tlie gospel t…
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1. Man fallen, lay under the power and guilt of* sin : he was ' dead in trespasses and sins, and liable to the wrath of God,' Eph. ii. 1-3. So man was both unholy and guilty. 2. Christ came to free us from both these. The guilt: Eph. i. 7, ' In whom we have redemption through his blood, the remission of sins ; ' and t…
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[2.] We are freed from the great blemish of our natures. Sin defaced the image of God in us : Rom. iii. 23, 'All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.' We lost not only the favour of God, but the image of God ; the great excellency of our nature Avas eclipsed and defaced. Now the plaster will not be as broad…
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Acts 111. 2G.] the third sekmon. 207 to the obedience of God's will, there is peace. Pax est tranqnilUtaH ordinis, when all things keep their place, as in an accurate orderly life they do : Gal. vi. IG, ' As many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and the whole Israel of God.' There is peace…
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2. Now, to give you some reasons why this is the chief benefit, most eyed by Christ, and should be most regarded by us. [1.] Christ's undertaking was principally for the glory of God : ' All the promises are in him, yea and amen, to the glory of God ;' and it should not be a question which should have the precedence, …
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VOL. II. o 210 THE THIRD SERMO>T. [ACTS III. 2(5. calls us to excite our resolutions against sin, and strongtlicn tlieni to avoid occasions to cut otl' the })rovisions of the llesh, to make it our daily task to war and strive against it ; and none conscientiously wait upon the word but something by every attendance i…
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4. It shows the necessity and excellency of holiness. Tlie necessity of it will appear thus: — It is not only an evidence of our interest in the relative privileges, such as pardon, adoption, and the like ; not only necessary byway of gratitude for salvation received, but it is necessary tis a part of salvation itself.…
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SERMON lY Wherehy are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that hy these you might he partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. — 2 Pet. 1.4. In these words the apostle extolleth the grace of God towards us in the gospel. In them take notice of: —…
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2 Pj:t. I. 4.] THE fourth sermoiV. 215 and unmortified heart. As the corruption of sin is driven out and expelled, so the divine nature succeedeth, Intus exisiens prohihet aJienum, these things are not consistent, cannot be joined together. The corruption that is in the world and the divine nature can no more agree th…
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2. It is a divine nature ; that is, not only such as floweth from God, but may carry some resemblance with him or to him. It fioweth from God, for we are ' partakers ;' it is but a ray from his excellency, and it carrieth a likeness to him, or cometh nearer to the nature of God himself, than anything that a man is capa…
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but in point of happiness and felicity ; for God is a lioly and happy being. Here we resemble God more in lioliness and purity ; for many times the most eminent and exemjilary holiness may be accompanied with remarkable afflictions ; at least, sanctifying grace doth not exempt us from them. But there, as our holiness i…
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3. They are precious promises, worthy of our esteem ; for they are not about things that we have nothing to do with, but such wherein we are deeply and intimately concerned. In God's promises there is due provision made for the desires, necessities, and wants of mankind. Let me instance in pardon and life, the first in…
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Use 1. Believe the promises, for they are most sure and certain. God's testimony of the good things he will bestow upon us cannot deceive us, or beget a vain and uncertain hope. His promise is a testimony of his will, and against his power nothing can stand. ' There sliall be a performance of those things spoken of by …
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Mark IX. 49.] the fifth sermon. 223 2. Here is also an allusion to sacrifices ; for every man that lives in the world must be a sacrifice to God. The wicked are a sacrifice to God's justice ; but the godly are a sacrifice dedicated and offered to him, that they may be capable of his mercy. The first are a sacri- fice …
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2. There is a dedication of ourselves to God, to serve, please, honour, and glorify him. [l.J The manner of dedicating ourselves to God is to be considered. It is usually dune with grief, shame, and indignation at ourselves, that God hath been so long kept out of his right, with a full purpose to re- store it to him w…
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VOL. II. P 226 THE FIFTU SERMON. [MaRK IX. 49. that that is the Lord's : your thoughts, your affections, your time, your strength, do all belong to him. (2.) Because God will one day call us to an account : Luke xix. 23, ' He will demand his own with usury.' We shall be called to a reckoning, what we have done for G…
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3. Salt makes things savoury, so grace makes us savoury ; which may be interpreted with respect either to God or man. [1.] Acceptable to God when seasoned with this salt, for God would aecept of no sacrifice without it. Not that he tasted of their meat- offerings, or did eat the fat or flesh of bulls and goats, and dr…
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Mark IX. 49.] the fifth sermon. 229 vii. 23. Corrupt nature is not a tame thing, that works not till it be irritated by the suggestions of Satan or temptations of the world, but is like a living spring, that pours out water of its own accord ; it will not let us alone. The heart of man is evil continually, and so it a…
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Now to make application. I. For the reproof of those that cannot abide to hear of mortification. The unwillingness and impatience of this doctrine may arise from several causes. 1. From sottish atheism and unbelief. They despise all sober spiritual counsel, they make no conscience of yielding obedience to God. fSolom…
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[2.] Another sort think such discourses may be well spared among a company of believers, and they need not this watchfulness and holy care, especially against grievous sins ; that they have such good com- mand of themselves that they can keep within compass well enough. It is well if you be come to this height of Chris…
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1. Consider, there are but two sorts of men in the world, and you are one of them. There is no neutral, no middle state ; there are but two principles that men are influenced by, the flesh and the spirit ; and there are but two ends men propound to themselves, either the pleasing of the flesh upon earth, or the enjoyme…
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[5.] You will see a need of denying worldly and fleshly lusts ; you will see nothing can be done in the spiritual life without mortification, that being dead to all things here below, you may be alive to God. That this must be your daily work, your necessity will sufiiciently show. Are there no rebellious desires to be…
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[L] By the kind of mercies that we affect. There are some mercies vouchsafed to the creature that lie nearer to God than others do, and do least detain us from him, as his image and favour, or his renewing and reconciling grace. When Ave love God, these are sought in the first place, as you shall see how the temper of …
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238 THE SIXTH SERMON. [2 Thes. hi. 5. remembrance of the Lord's mercies, especially of onr redemption by Clirist. To draw ni<^li to him in ordinances, there this delight is exercised again, Tliere is prayer. A gracious soul cannot be a stranger to it, because it cannot have a greater refresliing than to be alone''with…
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2. It is a transcendental love we owe to God ; we must love him above all other things. For he must be loved as our felicity and end. He must have the chiefest place in our hearts, and our principal design must be to please, serve, and glorify him. If we seek God in order to other things, we do not love him, but our ow…
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[3.] It implies there are many things would writhe, and crook, and turn our hearts another way — the devil, the world, and the flesh. The devil seeks to draw us off from God, to abate the fervour of our love towards him ; therefore we are bidden ' to flee youthful lusts,' 2 Tim. ii. 22, that we may not be taken captive…
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[2.] Tlie second reason is carnal liberty, and so we hate God as a law- giver, who would bridle our lusts. There is in the law the precept and the Ninction. The ])recept is to our purpose, the sanction will come to be considered in the next. Because of God's restraint we cannot enjoy our lusts with that freedom and sec…
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Fourthly, Our backwardness to obedience, and the tediousness we find in it, shows a great imperfection in our love. All goes on easily, sweetly, acceptably, where love is at the bottom. Gen. xxix. 20, Seven years to Jacob seemed as a few days, for the love that he had to Eachel ; and so love sweetens our obedience : ' …
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1. The sanctifying Spirit is given us for this end, to stir up love to God : John iv. 14, ' The water I will give him shall ^ be a well of water, always springing up unto eternal life.' It is not in the heart a dead pool, but a living spring. And the same is intimated, John vii. 38, ' He that believes in me, out of his…
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2. There is a longing or a desirous expectation : 2 Peter iii. 12, ' Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God.' It is good to observe how differently this coming of Christ is entertained in the world ; it is questioned by the atheist, it is dreaded by the wicked and impenitent, but it is longingly expe…
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2 TlIES. III. 5] THE SEVENTH SERMON". 249 [3.] There is the icorJdng paUence; which is a going on witli our self-denying obedience, how tedious soever it be to the flesh. Thus we are told, the good ground bringeth forth fruit ' with patience.' They were hasty to have present satisfaction, or else grew weary of religio…
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III. It hath a great influence upon the spiritual life, and keeps reli- gion alive in our souls. That will appear if you take cither word in the text, waiting or patience. 1. If you take the first notion, waiting or looking, as it draws off the mind from things present to things to come. [1.] Looking to the end of th…
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2r)'2 THE SEVENTH SERMOX. [2 ThES. III. 5. to loiiJ all his sincere disciples and i)cnitcnt believers into the glory and hai){)iness of the heavenly state. If you believe this, what follows ? That your conversation must be heavenly, cither you must live for lieavcn. as seeking it with all diligence, that you may at le…
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[2.] There is an utter unsuitableness of heart to them. Things present, that suit their fancies and please their senses, carry away their hearts. Ps. xlix. 18, ' Wliilst he lived he blessed his soul ; and men will praise thee when thou doest well to thyself.' Men bless themselves, and the carnal world applauds them in …
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2 ThES. III. 5.] THE aEVENTH SERMON. 255 [6.] Because our motions are too inconstant. We interrupt the course of our obedience frequently, faint in our afflictions, do not keep up the fervour of our affections, and follow after salvation with that industrious diligence. We need often the Christian watchword, ' The Lor…
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SERMON VIII. Wherein he hath abounded towards us in all icisdom and prudence. — Eph. I, 8. In the context the apostle speaks of the spiritual blessings we have by Christ : he considers them under a threefold reference : — (1.) As they were appointed and prepared for believers in God's decree of election. There was th…
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2. That this Mediator is God in our nature. Therein the wisdom of God appeared, in crossing and counter-working Satan's design. Satan's great design was double — to dislionour God, and depress the nature of man. (L) To dishonour God to man by a false represent- ation, as if he were envious of man's happiness : Gen. iii…
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1. In the privileges offered to us, which are pardon and life. In these benefits, pardon and life, there is due provision made for the desires, necessities and wants of mankind. Pardon answereth the fears of the guilty creature ; and life, those desires of happiness which are so natural to us, and therefore are the mos…
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For continuance in the new covenant, and delightful obedience unto God. The remedy is not only suited to the disease, but the duty to the reward. Our duty is to know God, and to love him • and our reward is to see him, and. be like him, 1 John iii. 2. There is a mar- vellous suitableness between the end and means, holi…
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3. In the effect itself, the new creature, which is the wisest creature on this side heaven. To evidence this to you, I shall show you that all wisdom and prudence consisteth in three things : — (1.) In fixing a light end ; (2.) In the choice of apt and proper means ; (3.) In a dex- terous effectual i)rosccution of the…
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In the history of the passion you will find that our Lord Jesus was exercised with all kind of temptations ; alfronted by men, assaulted by the powers of darkness, deserted by his own disciples — one of them denied iiim, another betrayed him, but all fied. And thus he was not only ' rejected of men,' but was stricken, …
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2. Though it were real, the desertion must be understood so as may stand with the dignity of his person and offices. Therefore — [1.] There was no separation of the Father from the Son ; this wouUl make a change in the unity of the divine essence : Jolni x. 30, ' I and my Father are one ' — 'E^irepLx'^pwi-'i. This ete…
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Secondly, Positively. 1. God's desertion of us, or any creature, may be understood with a respect to his communicating himself to us. We have a twofold apprehension of God, as a holy and happy being ; and when he doth communicate himself to any reasonable creature, it is either in a way of holiness or in a way of happ…
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(3.) It would follow that every holy man that is persecuted and left to the will of his enemies, might be said to be forsaken of God, which is contrary to Paul's holy boasting : 2 Cor. iv. 9, ' Persecuted, but not forsaken.' Therefore there was something more than to be left to the will of his enemies. (4.) This deser…
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[3.] Partly because he knew how to value tlie comfort of the union, having a pure understanding and heavenly affections. God's children count one day in his presence better than a thousand, Ps. Ixxxiv. 10; one glimi)se of his love more than all the world, Ps. iv. 7. If they have anything of the love of God shed abroad …
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2. It carries a full respect to the punishment appointed for sin. Certain we are that he ' bore the curse of the law,' Gal. iii. 13. Now the curse of the law, actively taken, is nothing but the sentence of the law, or rather of God the judge, condemning the transgressors of it to such punishment as the law appointed ; …
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VOL. II. s 274 THE NINTH SERMON. [MaT. XXVII. 4G. By a wonderful exchange he taketh our evil things upon himself, that he might bestow his good things upon us, and took from us misery that he might convey to us felicity. APPLICATION. First, by way of information. 1. How different are they from the spirit of Christ…
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BocL One great sin wherein the corruption of human nature be- wrayeth itself is detraction, or depriving others of a good repute. Here I shall show : — I. What is detraction. II. The heinousness of the sin. I. What it is. (1.) The nature of it. (2.) The kinds of it.^ First, The nature of it in general. It is an unj…
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[3.] It comes through rashness and unruliness of tongue: some men never learned to bridle their tongues, and the apostle James telleth us that 'therefore their religion is vain,' James i. 26. Till we make conscience of these evils, as well as others, we content ourselves with a partial obedience, and therefore cannot b…
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Secondly, The kinds of it are two in the text — whispering and backbiting. 1. Whi.spering, which is privy defamation of our brother, to bring him into disfavour and disresjjcct with those that formerly had a better opinion of him. Herein whispering differeth from backbiting, because the whisperer stingeth secretly, bu…
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"2. If it be made to such as have power to redress the fault, by the most discreet and gentle means, before it break out any further. So it is said. Gen. xxxvii. 2, Joseph ' brought unto his father their evil report;' that is, their infamous carriage, which caused evil report of them ; which is set down, not to note hi…
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[4.] When neither denying, nor lessening, nor depraving, but when we have just occasion to speak of a man's due commendation, we enviously suppress it. Envy is a natural sin : James iv. 5, ' The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy.' And it bewrayeth itself by a dislike of other men's just praise. This is a sin o…
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[3.] From the end of it. If it be done with a direct intention of hurting another's fame, it is worse than if out of a rash levity and loquacity. Some men have no direct intention of mischief, but are given to tattling. It is a great sin in them, and an unprofitable mis- pense of time ; but it is a greater in those tha…
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2. For the consequent fruit of it : ' and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.' Here two things must be explained : — "1.1 The lust of the flesh. 2.] Fulfil. ^1.] For 'the lust of the flesh.' By it is meant the inordinate motions of corrupt nature. The flesh doth not consider what is right and good, but what is…
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(2.) It prepares us for heaven ; thither is the tendency of the new nature, 2 Peter i. 4 ; 1 John v. 4, ' Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world : ' it moveth us to mind, love, and seek after lieavenly things. This grace came from heaven, and there it is per- fected. 2. There is another principle of corrupted …
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[2.] For vcUe, to be willing. The force of the new creature lieth in the love of God, fc>r we are never converted to God till he hath our liearts, till we love him with all our soul, with all our might and strength, and hate what is contrary to him : Ps. xcvii. 10, ' Ye that love the Lord, hate evil.' Now, surely they …
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3. That since there is a liberty, we must be careful to live'accord- ing to the operation and influence of the better principle ; for it lieth upon us as our duty, though we have the power from above. There is a double argument implied in the text : the one is, a heneficio ; the other, aperiailo — the profit, the dange…
981 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.