PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Complete Works of Thomas Manton — Volume 2
Thomas Manton · 293,086 words · 291 reading sections
Section 181
(2.) The new nature is exceedingly weakened and suffers loss, if it be not cherished and obeyed. The church of Sardis is warned to prevent the dying of gracious habits. David speaketh as if the work were to begin anew, and his restoring were a second conversion : Ps. li. 10, ' Cxeate in me a clean heart, 0 Lord, and re…
982 wordsSECTION 182Section 182
(2.) When your delight in God, heaven, and holiness is still kept up: Piom. viii. .5, 'For they that are after the flesh, do mind the things of the flesh: but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.' (3.) When the heart is kept in a preparation for the duties of your heavenly calling. Job XIX. 25.] …
1,072 wordsSECTION 183Section 183
[1.] There is much comfort in this, that Christ is our kinsman, bone of our bone, and flesh of our flesh, and therefore certainly will not be strange to his own flesh. He did redeem us, not only jure proprieiat is, by virtue of his interest in us as our Creator, but jure propinquitatls, by virtue of his kindred, one of…
1,188 wordsSECTION 184Section 184
2. That he is their Redeemer is the next ground of comfort. Job doth not profess faith only in a Redeemer, but in his Redeemer : ' I know that mij Redeemer liveth ;' not by an uncharitable exclusion shutting out others, and engrossing the Redeemer to himself, but — [1.] By a fiducial application making out his own tit…
956 wordsSECTION 185Section 185
208 THE TWELFTH SERMON. [JOB XIX. 25. lie speaks of the Redeemer's life without any distinction of time — l)ast, present, or to come ; so that lie is altogether, ^vith the Father and the Spirit, from everlasting to everlasting, one living God. (2.) As man after his resurrection: Rev. i. 18, ' I am he that liveth, and …
947 wordsSECTION 186Section 186
[4.] His living is the root and cause of our life, for he having pur- chased eternal lile, not only for himself, but for all his members, ever liveth to convey it to them, and maintain it in them : John xiv. 19, 'Because I live, ye shall live also ;' John vi. 57, ' As I live by the Father, so he that believeth in me sh…
944 wordsSECTION 187Section 187
II. How this is applicable in all afflictions. That easily appears from these premises : — 1. In public troubles and difficulties. We arc amazed and per- plexed many times at the events that fall out in the world, and know not whereunto the.se things will grow. Yet this is some comfort and support to all that are conc…
1,109 wordsSECTION 188Section 188
Use of Exhortation. I. Believe it and be persuaded of this truth, that you have a Re- deemer living with God in the heavens. 1. This is a matter of mere faith, and therefore it must be soundly believed before it can have any efficacy upon us. Some points of faith are mixed, partly evident by natural reason, partly by…
957 wordsSECTION 189Section 189
304 THE TWELFTH SERMON. [JoB XIX. 25. certain, infallible truth. I put you upon this, partly because we have a great argument in the text. If Job could see it so long before it came to pass, shoultl we not now see it ? Believers of old uiake us ashamed who live in the clear sunshine of the gospel. Job lived long befor…
957 wordsSECTION 190Section 190
Secondhj, To those that question whether Christ be our Redeemer, whether they may look upon themselves as having an actual interest in the benefits of his death and intercession. I answer — This is evident : (1.) By their own act ; (2.) By God's act. 1. Their own act. General grace must some way be made par- ticular,…
904 wordsSECTION 191Section 191
1 Tim. YI. 8.] the TiimxEENTn sermon. 307 God, no fretting and tearing ourselves ; the mind is framed to tlic estate, be it never so mean. 2. Distrustful and distracting cares. Men are full of troubles, espe- cially when they are in a hazardous strait and low condition ; therefore God forbids this : Mat. vi. 25, ' Ta…
1,046 wordsSECTION 192Section 192
3. These earthly things, which are thus variously dispensed, are only useful to us during the present life in the mortal body. In lieaven we have no need of these things, and we must leave them all on this side the grave: 1 Cor. vi. 13, 'Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats ; but God shall destroy both it and t…
997 wordsSECTION 193Section 193
310 THE THIRTEENTH SERMON. [1 TlM. VI. 8. tlmt we need, but a contented heart : let a little suffice, if God gives no more. Diseased persons need more attendance than the healthy ; the di.stempers of our souls multiply our necessities, and as we indulge them they gain upon us; therefore every one of us should bring hi…
1,148 wordsSECTION 194Section 194
10. We must be contented with a competency, but yet we ought to be fitted and prepared for eternity. If God please to give us con- veniency, it is his great mercy ; but our resolutions must be to be contented with any condition God will put us into : we except not life itself out of our resignation. The people of God a…
1,180 wordsSECTION 195Section 195
[2.] The fruits it produces. I shall name but two of many. (1.) They are not distracted with great worldly business. They esteem that to be the best way that brings them nearest to their great end, which is not to enjoy happiness in this life, but in the world to come. Those whose hearts are all for the present, they …
1,034 wordsSECTION 196Section 196
1. One is, that things are promiscuously dispensed to good and bad men ; yea, many times the good are afflicted, and the bad are advanced. To this he speaketh in the beginning of the chapter, where he showeth that all outward things are dispensed without any great difference. Josiah died in the war, and so did Ahab. Is…
900 wordsSECTION 197Section 197
4. Nor riches to men of understanding. Experience often verifieth this, that the learned are very poor, when lesser wits and mean people get great substance. We reail in scriptu'-e of a rich fool, Luke xii. 20, and a poor wise man, Eccles. ix. 15 ; and, in the general, that ' it is the blessing of tiie Lord maketh rich…
1,136 wordsSECTION 198Section 198
The true observation contained in these words is this : — That many endeavours of the creature are often frustrated of their end when there is greatest })robability of success. Here Solomon representeth men : — 1. Under several accompli.shments oi swift, wise, strong. 2. As addre.s.sing themselves to some effect to…
999 wordsSECTION 199Section 199
Now these, and many such like instances, teach us that the most casual and fortuitous things do certainly and infallibly fall out by God's providence and heavenly government. And again, that there is some occurrence which providence casteth in by the way to dis- appoint the most likely means ; and whatever gifts and qu…
922 wordsSECTION 200Section 200
VOL. II. X 322 THE FOURTEENTH SERMON. [EcCLES. IX. 11. 1. By way of comparison with God. 2. By way of exclusion of God. 3. By way of opposition to God. 1. By way of comparison with God. So God's name only is I am, and then there is none besides him. If the creatures be compared amon.i; themselves, some are good, s…
1,332 wordsSECTION 201Section 201
324 THE FOURTEENTH SEUMON. [ECCLES. IX. 11. blessing upon all the means : 1 Cor. iii. 7, * For neither is he that })lanteth anything, nor he tliat watereth ; bnt God that giveth the in- crease.' The best and wisest ministers can do nothing, either to plant or water, to convert or build up, unless God give the blessing…
923 wordsSECTION 202Section 202
2. When we have done our duty, and used such good means as God aflbrdeth, then we may quietly refer the success to God, in whose hands are all the ways of the children of men, and upon whose good pleasure the issues of all things depend, Prov. xvi, 13. IV. The wisest and best of men must not expect always to be happy,…
935 wordsSECTION 203Section 203
VII. To prevent the di.'^couragement of those that want gifts, or parts, or means. Suppose their adversaries be mighty : * It is nothing with God to help with many, or them that have no power,' 2 Chron. xiv. 11. The less in the creature the more in God : 2 Cor. xii. 9, ' His power is perfected in our weakness.' God man…
928 wordsSECTION 204Section 204
II. The carriage of the saints upon this occasion. And there we may take notice of four things : — 1. The entire affection of the disciples to Paul, who had done them good : thci/ besought him, &c. 2. Paul's entire affection to God : yet he would not he j^ersuaded. 3. Their discretion : lohen he loould not he persua…
922 wordsSECTION 205Section 205
I answer — There is a twofold heart — a heart that is hard against God, and soft for God ; and a heart that is hard for God, and soft against God. The first, w^hen it is bold in sinning, but fearful and soft in troubles. As Deut. xx. 8, ' The fearful and the soft-hearted.' ^ But now the heart which is hard for God, and…
1,296 wordsSECTION 206Section 206
3. Our purposes and desires must be so moderated that we may be forearmed for all events : 2 Sam. xv. 25, 26, ' If I shall find fiivour in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me again, and show me both it and his habitation : but if he say thus, I have no delight in thee ; let him do with me as seemeth good unto him.' …
1,005 wordsSECTION 207Section 207
Object. You will say, Christ desires it to paiss: Mat. xxvi. 39, ' Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.' How could Christ make an offer of pra5'ers rei)ugnant to God's will and purpose ? He knew it was the will of his Father that he should suffer many things, and be slain, and had rebuked Peter resisti…
946 wordsSECTION 208Section 208
The next shall be the great doctor of the Gentiles, St Paul : 2 Cor. xii. 7-9, ' And for this I besought the Lord thrice ;' he knocked thrice at the throne of grace, as Christ prayed thrice, and Elijah prayed thrice for rain. Well, but the Lord made him no answer, ' But my grace is Acts XXI. 14.] the fifteenth sermon.…
1,136 wordsSECTION 209Section 209
II. What are the grounds of this submission ? For patience is wise and considerate, and proceeds upon solid reasons, as impatience is rash and unreasonable. 1. They see God in his providence: Ps. xxxix. 9, ' I was dumb, and opened not my mouth, because thou didst it.' That is the first ])rincif)le of submission; surel…
928 wordsSECTION 210Section 210
[±] God doth it too with great faithfulness ; they look on all afflic- tions as federal dispensations, as appendages of the covenant of grace : Ps. cxix. 75, ' In very faithfulness thou hast afflicted me.' Mark, he doth not say, nohcithstanding thy faithfulness, but in faithfulness he performs his covenant. When he thr…
1,135 wordsSECTION 211Section 211
In our darkest condition God seeth us, wdien we do not see him : Ps. Ixxiii. 22, 23, and Job xxiii. 9, 10, ' I looked on the left hand where he doth work, but I cannot behold him : he hideth himself on the right hand that I cannot see him. But he knoweth the way that I take : when he hath tried me, I shall come forth, …
954 wordsSECTION 212Section 212
[3.] If there were any other cause, it must be either the merit of Clirist, or some worthiness on our part. (1.) The merit of Christ was not the first cause of God's love, but the manifestation, fruit, and effect of it. The text telleth, he first ' loved the world,' and then ' gave his only-begotten Son.' It is said, …
919 wordsSECTION 213Section 213
John III. 16.] the sixteenth sermon. 343 hath suffered for our sakes. God said to Abraliam, Gen. xxii. 12, ' Now I know that thou fearest God, since thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from me.' God was not ignorant before, but the meaning is, this is an apparent proof and instance of it. So now we may kno…
954 wordsSECTION 214Section 214
Docf. The greatest manifestation of God's love to the sons of men is the giving his onl3'-begotten Son to be their Redeemer and Saviour. There is a twofold giving of Christ : — 1. He is given /or us. 2. He is given to us. 1. He was given for us when he was sent into the world to be- come bone of our bone and flesh …
941 wordsSECTION 215Section 215
4. It makes our obedience more ready, for Jesus Christ came to 34G THE SIXTEENTH SERMON. [JOHN III. IG. live by tlie ?.ime law that we were bound to: Gal. iv. 4, 'When the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law.' Yea, to obey God at the dearest rates : Heb. v. 8, 9, ' Th…
918 wordsSECTION 216Section 216
3. Tiiere is no obtaining of what we should desire and pursue after as our proper happiness, but only by Christ. Man was made for God, and cannot be happy without him, and he is most completely happy in the full enjoyment of him. Now there is no coming to that blessed state but by Christ : John xiv. 6, Ho is the way to…
914 wordsSECTION 217Section 217
4. The benefits are negatively and positively exi^ressed ; negatively, they ' shall not perish ; ])Ositively, but ' have everlasting life.' [1.] The negative expression is mentioned, ])artly because of our former deserts ; we incurred the sentence of eternal death, which is taken off from penitent believers ; they sli…
917 wordsSECTION 218Section 218
[2] Cordial. Many seem verily to be persuaded that Jesus is the Son of God, but are no way affected with this mystery of grace, nor changed. The devils may give a bare assent to this great gospel truth. Compare Mark v. 7 with Mat. xvi. IG, the confession of the devil with the profession of Peter. The devil owned Jesus …
1,016 wordsSECTION 219Section 219
[1.] That this trust respects all Christ's offices, which are, prophet, priest, and king. You trust him as a prophet when you give up yourselves as his disciples to the conduct of his word and Spirit, being persuaded that he will infallibly teach you the way to true happiness : John vi. 68, 69, ' Lord, to whom shall we…
945 wordsSECTION 220Section 220
III. Why is faith required, that we may receive benefit by Christ ? For these reasons : — (1.) In respect of God ; (2.) In respect of Christ ; (3.) In respect of the creature ; (4.) In respect of our comforts. 1. In respect of God, that our hearts may be possessed with a full apprehension of his grace, who in the new…
995 wordsSECTION 221Section 221
[2.] Till we believe in Christ, we can have no comfort or use of all his offices. How can we learn of him the way of salvation, till we believe him to be the ])rophet sent of God to teach the world the way to true happiness ? Mat. xvii. 5, ' This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well jileased ; hoar ye liim.' How can we…
1,027 wordsSECTION 222Section 222
2. They do great reverence to his name and memory, profess themselves Christians, and abhor Turks and inlidels. No; this will not do neither. Many prize Christ's name that neglect his office ; honouring the physician without taking his remedies never brought health. They have learned to speak well of Christ by rote aft…
900 wordsSECTION 223Section 223
2. The manner of proposal : / have set he/ore thee. 3. A duty infeiTod or attention excited : see. 1. The matter propounded, a double pair or conjugation: 'Life and G:ood. death and evil.' Life as tlie end, good as the means lead- ing to life; or else, life, that is, the enjoyment of God; and good, the felicity follo…
908 wordsSECTION 224Section 224
[1.] The wisdom of God, which doth all things according to weight, measure, and number, cannot permit the disjunction of these two things, so closely united together as sin and punishment, grace and. happiness, but there will be an appearance of deformity and irregularity. For if there be such a thing as good and evil,…
940 wordsSECTION 225Section 225
DeUT. XXX. 15.] THE SEVENTEENTH SERMON. 3G1 and hateth the evil, he will express this in answerable effects, good with life, and evil with death. In short, the diflercnce between good and evil is not more naturally known, than it is naturally known that the one is to be punished, the other rewarded : whether we consi…
1,061 wordsSECTION 226Section 226
3. The certainty of both these, life and death, hell and heaven, as the fruits of good and evil. [1.] Reason showeth it certainly that there is eternal life and death, or a state of torment and bliss after this life. All men are persuaded that there is a God, and very few have doubted but that he is a rewarder of virt…
933 wordsSECTION 227Section 227
3G 4 THE SEVEN'TEENTH SERMON. [DeUT. XXX. 15, man as to Lis soul is immortal, and tliere is no chanj^e of estate in the other world after our trial is over, and tliinf^s of religion become mere matter of sense. Certainly one that hath lived holily, and is translated to glory, there is no reason that he should afterwar…
983 wordsSECTION 228Section 228
4. So as will become compassioners of precious and immortal souls, for whom Christ died, souls that must live for ever in heaven or heU. Oh, mind them of their duty, warn them of their danger ; they are ready to tumble into the flames of hell every moment, therefore with all earnestness set life and death before them. …
900 wordsSECTION 229Section 229
APPLICATION. Use of exhortation. 1. Suffer us to discharge our duty in this kind : Ileb. xiii. 22, ' I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exJiortation.' It is but a small request we have to you, that you will but suffer us to take pains to save your souls. It is irksome to carnal men to have their sluggishness…
919 wordsSECTION 230Section 230
(3.) If nature be not so clear, scripture is full and positive. If we do indeed believe the scripture, as we profess to do, certainly we can- not so "-rossly go against the whole current and drift of it. That scrip- ture which you profess to be the book of God, and take for the rule of your lives and expectations ; tha…
966 wordsSECTION 231Section 231
SERMON XVIII. Therefore all things ivhatsoever ye luould that men should do to you, do ye even so to them ; for this is the laio and the prophets. — Mat. VII. 12. It is a general complaint of the world that Christians are defective in the duties of the second table. Some hypocrites may be so, to mask over a dishonest…
1,080 wordsSECTION 232Section 232
To impress the rule upon you, I shall give four considerations in the negative sense.. 1. That in the duties of the second table we have more light than we have in the first ; for when Christ sets forth the sum of both the tables, IMat. xsii.. 36, 37, he tells us that we must ' love God with all our hearts, our souls,…
1,012 wordsSECTION 233Section 233
Mat. VIL 12.] the eighteenth sermon. 373 law and against experience. You complain to God in the bitterness of your soul, when ye are under these oppressions; so will they com- plain against you : therefore it is more evil in you. The — 3. Observation is this : That this rule is spiritual, and concerneth the inward ma…
933 wordsSECTION 234Section 234
First, In giving : ' What yon would men should do to you, do you the same to them.' Be as ready to do good as to receive good. _ A man is never in a right frame of spirit until he takes as much delight in doing others good as he would take in having good done to himself; nay, more; for our Lord tells us that ' it is a …
932 wordsSECTION 235Section 235
The apostle argueth from another argument, Col. iii. 13 ; and Eph. iv. 32, ' Forgive others, as God hath for Christ's sake forgiven us.' There is no man can wrong us as much as we trespass against God ; and though we are but as the drop of the bucket, and the small dust of the balance, yet our great and many sins are f…
1,011 wordsSECTION 236Section 236
Having thus explained the law, let me vindicate this rule. 1. It seems not to be so perfect a rule. Because many desire and wish much evil to themselves, should they desire evil to others ? As he that would be drunk, should he make another drunk ? and he that commits filthiness, should he entice others ? Ans. The mean…
989 wordsSECTION 237Section 237
2. The possible equality of all men as to condition, and as to state of life : they are equal by nature, and it is possible they may be in the same state of life. You stand to-day, another is fallen ; you are liable to the same corruption and the same calamities. To the same cor- ruption: Gal. vi. 1. ' If any one be fa…
1,002 wordsSECTION 238Section 238
1. That God is the judge of human actions; he will take cogni- sance of this, whether you do to others as they do to you, and you shall hear of it in your dealing Avith God ; that is the first and lowest thing ; and remember, you have to do with God as much as they have to do with you. He shows this to bridle the exces…
1,149 wordsSECTION 239Section 239
382 THE EIGHTEENTH SERMON. [MaT. VII. 12. and ten persons upon one stone.' What tlicn ? ver. 23, ' Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem ; and the men of IShechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech, that the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal mi;:jht come, and thei…
913 wordsSECTION 240Section 240
Secondly, It informs us how much mankind is degenerated, and how few true Christians are in the world. Witness our injustice to the names, persons, and estates of others. We are very critical in determin- ing our own rights and proportions, and what others owe to us. Surely we have all reason to allow others what they …
934 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.