PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Complete Works of Thomas Manton — Volume 3
Thomas Manton · 314,970 words · 315 reading sections
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^3 ■n J '4 '1 HI J [THOMAS BAKER. SoHcj Square, LONDON. PRINCETON, N. J. shr/r BX «915 .M3 1870 V.3 Manton, Thomas, 1620-1677. The complete works of Thomas Manton THE WORKS OF THOMAS MANTON, D.D. VOL. III. COUNCIL OF PUBLICATION. W. LINDSAY ALEXANDER, D.D., Professor of Theology, Congregational Union, Edi…
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But he hath finished hia course, and is gone before us, and hath left here a dark, self-distracting world, and a church of such as Christ will perfect; but, alas! yet lamentably imperfect, as their errors, divisions, contentions, and scandals have these thirteen hundred years too publicly declared. Children of tlie lig…
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C THE FIRST SERMON. [2 ThES. II. 1, 2. expect him, and lave, and look, and lon^ for tliis day, that it may go well with you, and Christ appear to your glory, so be not troubled. Doct. 1. That the coming of Christ to the judgment is a truth well known, firmly believed, and earnestly desired by all true Christians. Do…
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3. That it is earnestly desired by all true Christians. That is of chief respect here ; for the apostle conjureth them by all that is dear and sacred in their most holy faith ; and upon this I will mainly spend the first part of this discourse. I shall prove it by these two choice pieces of scripture, which describe th…
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2 ThES. II. 1, 2.] THE FIRST SERMON. 9 if they might have the liberty to choose, they would never look nor long for the day of assizes ; but the Spirit in the bride is another thing, it giveth us other inclinations : the sooner Christ cometh the better ; they can never be soon enough taken up to him, nor he come to th…
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3. The church doth really and heartily desire Christ's coming, though they tremble at some circumstances of his coming : there is a degree of bondage that hindereth much of our confidence and boldness: 1 John iv. 17, 18, ' Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as he …
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Gen. xvii. 7. ' I will establish my covenant between me and thee, and thy seed after thee, in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed ai'ter thee.' Good and bad is the next distinction, — both sorts come to receive their sentence ; only the one come to the judgment of cond…
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2. See you be of the number. When some are admitted, others are thrust out : Luke xiii. 28, ' There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and ye yourselves thrust out ;' the wicked shall not stand in this congregation. Oh, it…
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[3.] Nor by letter as from us. This may be understood — (1.) Either of some passage in the former epistle ; for the apostle saith there, 1 Thes. iv. 17, ' Then we which are alive and remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air ;' and because he joins himself with them, they …
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[3.] The apostle might speak so, as comparing time with eternity : Ps. xc. 4, ' A thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday, when it is past, and as a watch in the night ;' 2 Peter iii. 8, ' One day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.' The longest time to eternity is but as a d…
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Use 1. Let us not fix times. Many of the ancients were too bold this way, and avc are apt to it. Lactantius peremptorily said, the world would endure but two hundred years after his time. So many will fix the time of the calling of the Jews, and the destruction of Antichrist without evident grounds and reasons. What Go…
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DocL 2. That Christians should be so established, and have such constancy of mind, that they should not be easily shaken and moved fi'om the faith. 1. Let us see how this is pressed. Sometimes it is pressed from the encouragement of your great hope : 1 Cor. xv. 58, ' Be stedfast, and unmoveable, always abounding in th…
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3. The opposite to this is levity and inconstancy of mipd, that soon quitteth truth without difficulty, or without much hesitancy and resistance yields to the temptation. The scripture often taketh notice of this sudden embracing of error : Gal. i. G, ' I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into…
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Bocf. That a Christian should be so persuaded in religion that neither spirit, nor word, nor writing, should be able to shake or unsettle his mind. 1 shall show you : — 1. What ways or what means God hath appointed whereby a man may settle his choice as to opinions in religion. 2. That the word of God will sufficient…
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[4.] The word being thus stated and put into a sure record, it is intelligible enough, in all necessary matters at least ; for if God should speak or write darkly to his people, especially in necessary things, it is because he could not or would not speak otherwise. The former is direct blasphemy : Exod. iv. 11, ' Who …
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(4.) Because if any such be pretended, it must be tried by the word : Isa. viii. 20, ' To the law and to the testimony ; if they speak not according to this word, it is because they have no light in them ; ' so 1 John iv. 1, 'Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God, because many f…
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2 TlIES. II. 3,] THE THIRD SERMON. 27 foretold that r/ye? uTroarrjcrovrai, * Some shall fall away or depart from the faith,' 1 Tim. iv. 1. Lastly, because those who are most concerned to maintain the notion of the civil apostasy from the Roman empire are most notorious in this defection. It is true the Roman empire lo…
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But to make this mope evident to you, let us consider what the kingdom of Christ is. The gospel kingdom is a kingdom of light, life, and love. Opposite to light is ignorance and error ; to lite, a religion that consists of shows, dead rites, and empty ceremonies ; to love, uncharitableness, malice, and especially Jiatr…
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so THE THIRD SERMON. [2 TilES. II. 3. believers from reading the scripture?, wlien they arc so cxpres.^ly enjoined to do it ? John v. SI), and Ps. i. 2, ' But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate day and night.' That deny one part of the Lord's Supper to his disciples, notwith- standi…
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2. The names or titles given to him ; they are two : — (1.) ' The man of sin,' wherein he is compared and likened to Antiochus ; (2.) ' The son of perdition,' wherein he is compared and likened to Judas. [1.] For the first, the Jews called Antiochus 'theman of sin:' 1 Macch. ii. 48, * They gave not the power to the si…
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(1.) Judas was not a stranger, but a pretended friend and apostle : 2 ThES. II. 3.] THE THIRD SERMON. 33 Acts i. 17, ' He was numbered with ns, and obtained part of this ministry.* Turks and infidels are enemies to Christ, but Antichrist seeketh to un- dermine him, under a pretence of friendship ; dvTLXpt(rTo<; is on…
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(1.) Coldness in duties, when the will and affections grow more re- miss, and the worship of God, which keejieth up the remembrance of him, is either omitted or performed perfunctorily, and in a careless and stupid manner : Jer. ii. 32, ' My people have forgotten me days without 2 ThES. II. 3.] THE THIRD SERMON. 35 n…
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3. The man of sin is also the son of perdition — (1.) Actively. False religions strangely efFerate the mind: Jude 11, 'These go in the way of Cain ;' and Hosea v. 2, ' Revolters are profound to make slaughter.' Men think no cruelty nor dishonesty unlawful which serveth to pro- mote the interests of their sect, and lose…
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38 THE FOURTH SERMON. [2 ThES. II. 4. great exercise autlioiity upon tliem ; but it shall not be so among you : but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister.' Among Christ's servants, he that is chief must be chief in service, even as a servant unto all : Luke xxii. 26, 'He that is chief, as he that…
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[2.] The other notion is, rj a-elSaa/xa ; we render it, ' or is worshipped.' The Greek word is, whatever is held in the highest degree of reverence, whatever is august or illustrious ; as the emperors of Rome were called "Xe^acTTol : Acts xxv. 21, Paul ' appealed to be referred to the hearing of Augustus ;' it is tov X…
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Secondly, He doth usurp the thing implied by the titles — the autho- rity over the church, which is only due to God incarnate. Supreme authority may be considered, either as to the claim, right, property, and pre-eminence which belong to it, or to the exercise. 1. The claim and right pretended. He sitteth as God in th…
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[2.] And sJioiving himself that he is God : that is meant, not of what he professeth in words, but what he doth in deed. It is not said that he saith he is God, but uTroSetKvvvra, he showeth himself, or sets forth himself as God. The reason of the thing showeth it : — (1.) Anticln-ist gets power by seduction, or the de…
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44 THE FOURTH SERMON. [2 ThES. IL 4. of the churcli or Pope to raake new articles of faith ; another, that the best penitence of all is the new life. QuifacH Deos cUvosque Deo major est. The Pope doth canonise saints, and his decrees must be received as oracles, &c. The first 7(se is to give us a clear discovery wher…
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The second use is to show us how things should be carried in the true and reformed Christianity. 1. With such meekness, modesty, and mortification, that our reli- gion may be known to be established by a crucified Lord, whose doctrine and example do visibly and eminently hold forth the contempt of the world. The pride…
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2. It is necessary to fortify and forewarn the people of God against a double temptation. (1.) Against scandal ; (2.) Against perse- cutions. [1.] Against scandal. It is a dangerous temptation to atheism to see Christianity so corrupted and debauched by a vile submission to serve worldly ends, and turned into the page…
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Secondly, I come to consider the time of his appearing, and there to observe three things : — I. That Antichrist was not then revealed because there was an im- pediment hindering his revelation: 'and now ye know what withholdeth 2 ThES. II. 5-7.] THE FIFTH SERMON. 49 that he might be revealed in his tinie,' that is,…
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Here two things must be explained : — 1. What is the mystery of iniquity. 2. How it began to work in the ai)ostle s days. 1. What is the mystery of iniquity ? I answer — The design of usurp- ing Christ's kingdom, and his dignities and prerogatives over the church, to countenance the kingdom of sin and darkness, unde…
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(2.) The Avay it took to obtain these ends, how God may be satisfied, man renewed and changed, God pacified by the sacrifice, merit, and intercession of Christ Jesus, Avho came in our flesh and nature, not only to acquaint us Avitli the Avill of God and the unseen things of another Avorld, but to suffer an accursed dea…
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(4.) Where there is a lessening of the merits of Christ and hissatis- fiiction, as if it were not sufHcient for the expiation of sin without penal satisfactions of our own, there is the mystery of iniquity: ' For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified,' Heb. X. 14. (5.) Where the new natur…
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2 Cor. vi. IG. The worship of angels, interdiction of certain meats, then will-worship, and shows of himu'lity : Col. ii. 10, ' Let no man judge you in meat and drink, or in respect of an holiday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbatli-da3-s ;' and ver. 18, ' Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humilit…
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SER^ilON VI. And (hen sliall tJiat loicl-ed he revecded, lohom the Lord shcdl consume with the breath of his mouth, and dcstro// luith the hrigldness of his comiiuj. — 2 Tiies. II. 8. These words contain both the rise and ruin of Antichrist, his revela- tion and destructiun. 1. As to his revelation, there are two th…
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[2.] God's discovery of him to the world; that is, when Antichrist was not only extant, but impleaded as such ; and this also was by degrees, God raising up in every age witnesses against the tyranny and usurpa- tions of Rome, as the place, and the Pope, the person, as, considered in his succession, claiming the same p…
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II. ]\Iore particularly the ruin of Antichrist is set forth : — 1. Partly by the manner of his fall. It is represented both as begun and finished: he shall be consumed, he shall be destrot/ed ; tiie one notetli a lingering dehiy, the other an utter perdition, that he •shall be finally rooted out. First, Conmmed : to …
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[1.] Observe this consumption, how it is accomplished. If we find Antichrist risen, discovered, and consumed, why should we be in doubt any longer ? The pomp and height was much about 1500 years after Christ ; what a consumption hath happened since, by the reviving re- ligion and learning, the Christian Avorld should w…
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3. Be fortified and established : — [1.] By knowledge. If we have not thiov aTr]pty/Liov, a stedfastness of our own, we shall fall, 2 Peter iii. 17 ; in a time of long peace, arms hang up a-rusting ; and so we are not prepared to resist temptations. [2.] By grace : ' It is good the heart should be established by grac…
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Use 1. We learn hence not to be discouraged in our greatest ex- tremities, when all temporal hopes seem to fail, and we have nothing 2 ThES. II. 8.] THE SIXTH SERMON. 65 left us but the word of our testimony. Let us not distrust our spiritual weapons, for they are mighty through God to bring down all the strong- hold…
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2. The instrumental means. [1.] By pretence of miracles : * With all power, and signs, and lying wonders.' These three words signify the same thing, and are often joined when true miracles are spoken of ; as 2 Cor. xii. 12, ' Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all ])laces, in signs, and wonders, a…
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3. That which is ascribed to Satan is idolatry. This was his first and great endeavour in the world, to bring man to worship other gods rather than the true, or the true God by an idol. So he prevailed among the heathen ; they thought their images did ropresent their gods, and that their gods dwelt in them, as our soul…
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70 THE SEVENTH SERMON. [2 ThES. II. 9, 10. Satan, but with him who, with the loss of Christianity, exalteth him- Peh", and allecteth an ambitious tyranny and domineering over the Christian world, both princes, pastors, and people ; and to uphold the tyranny, careth not what havoc he maketh of the church ; and the whol…
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1. The general nature of them. 2. Their author. 3. Their use. 1. Their general nature and kinds: extraordinary works. Some are either besides nature, when the course of nature is changed, as the standing still of the sun in Joshua's days, the going back of the shadow on Ahaz's dial in Hezekiah's time ; above nature,…
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2 TriES. II. 9, 10.] THE SEVENTH SERMON. 73 such thing could be alleged, or was pretended, therefore these were sufficient. 2. After the faith of Christ was sufficiently confirraed, miracles ceased ; and it was fit they should cease, for God doth nothing un- necessarily. The Christian doctrine is the same that it was…
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6. There are seven points in Popery which they seek to confirm by miracles ; and which, being senseless in themselves, do most scan- dalise Protestants. [1.] Pilgrimages. They show the shrine, and also the chamber of the house of the blessed Virgin; how the Virgin at Loretto was trans- ported out of Galilee into Ualma…
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2 ThES. II. 10.] THE EIGHTH SERMON. 77 Lamb ; ' that is, all those that give up themselves as servants and soldiers to the antichristian estate, and obstinately adhere to and pro- mote that profession, they shall taste of the Mediator's vengeance, which will be very sore and severe : Luke xix. 27, ' These mine ene- mi…
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2 ThES. II. 10.] THE EIGHTH SERMON. 79 yet therefore it followeth not that all the Samaritans were damned. Some among them, though tainted with the errors of their country, might have such knowledge of the law of God, and love to him, as might be effectual to salvation. (5.) We must distinguish between papists so livi…
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2 ThES. II. 10.] THE EIGHTH SERMON. gX are revealed and represented to our faith, not to please our minds by knowini^ them, but to quicken our love. Faith alone is but as sight, and faith with love is as ta.ste. Now, it is more easy to dispute a man out of his belief that only seeth, than it is him that tasteth, and k…
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adherence to liiin and his doctrine, and hath told ns, Mat. x. 37, ' He that loveth lather and mother more than me, is not worthy of me,' and Luke xiv. 2G, ' Ciinnot be my disciple.' This is a love to which all other loves must give way and be subordinate. Many love the truth a little, but love other things more, will …
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84 THE EIGHTH SERMON. [2 TheS. II. 10. gospel is refused, and God sendeth popish seducers as a just judgment ; men only prize tlie light as it may serve tlieir turn. (2.) The neglect and contempt of the truth is so heinous a sin that it deserveth the greatest punishment : Heb. ii. 3, ' How shall wc escape if we neglec…
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1. As to the author : Trepuyp-ei avroh 6 0eo?. Here a difficulty ariseth; for God is not, and cannot be, the author of sin. He that is essentially good cannot be the cause of evil ; and he that is idtor pec- cati, the avenger of sin, cannot be auctor p>eccati, the author of it. If he should cause man to sin, how will h…
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2 ThES. II. 11, 12.] THE NmTlI SERMON. 87 Hardness of heart, in that famous instance, Exod. iv. 21, ' I will harden- Pharaoh's heart.' God doth not make them that see, blind, nor thera that are soft, hard ; but leavetli them to their own prejudice, obstinacy^, and unpersuadableness, and that when highly provoked. The …
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(3.) There is an active providence which raiseth such instruments and i)ropoundeth such objects as, meeting with a naughty heart, do sore blind it. (1.) For instruments : Job xii. 16, ' The deceived and the deceiver are his.' Take it in worldly, or take it in religious, mat- ters, man's deceiving others, or being decei…
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90 THE NINTH SERMON. [2 ThES. II. 11, 12. are imperfect, yea, polluted; and oiir Lord himself hath told us that 'when ye have done all, say ye, We are unprofitable servants,' Luke xvii. 10. But what Avill not men believe that can believe these things ? There are other absurdities as gross as these, but this sutiiceth …
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3. The issue and effect ; that they should believe a lie. Two things must be explained : — (1.) The object ; (2.) The act. [1.] The object : a lie ; that is, either — (1.) False doctrines : 1 Tim. iv. 2, ' Speaking lies in hypocrisy,' wdien palpable errors are taken for truths. A man given over by God to delusion will…
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2 ThES. II. 11, 12.] THE NINTH SERMON. 93 yet who more obstinate against him that was born there? They expected a temporal Messiah, and therefore could not see what they saw. What was apparent to children was a riddle to the rabbis. So they expect some open enemy of the church to attack it by power and force, little d…
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2. The justice and equity of it, which is two ways expressed : — [1.] Negatively : they believed not the truth ; tliat is, received not the gospel in the simplicity of it, as revealed by Christ and his apostles, and recorded in the scriptures, but wilfully, and for their interest's Bake, gave up themselves to these co…
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96 THE TENTH SERMON. [2 ThES. II. 12. 2 Peter ii. 1, ' Some shall bring in damnable heresies.' Now, this may be either froiu the matter or manner of holding them : — [1.] From the matter, if destructive of the way of salvation by Christ. tSome are utterly inconsistent with salvation and eternal life, as errors in the…
920 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.