PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Complete Works of Thomas Manton — Volume 3
Thomas Manton · 314,970 words · 315 reading sections
Section 241
2. Cliri.st looketh for the donation, and the accomplishment of God's terms u])on it. As for help and a.ssistance : Isa. 1. 9, 'Behold, the Lord will help me.' So Isa. xlix. 5, ' And my God shall be my strength.' It is spoken of Christ in many places. And Isa. xlix. 7, ' Thus saith the Lord, the Kedeemer of Israel, and…
1,035 wordsSECTION 242Section 242
Second reason, That Christ might be inaugurated into his office with the more solemnity, and greater endearment to the creatures. That which is done by a covenant is done more solemnly and surely ; you have not only a decree and purpose, and promise and types, but the discovery of a covenant : Ps. ex. 4, ' The Lord hat…
938 wordsSECTION 243Section 243
[1.] It occasioned God and Christ to become both believers, and to trust one another ; and Christ is a believer to this day : Heb. x. 13, ' From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.' God promised Christ, and Christ promised God, and they took each other's word for the salvation of all the world.…
950 wordsSECTION 244Section 244
2. If there were a covenant made with Christ, oh, then, get an interest in him, and be united to him, that so you may come within the compass of his care and commission. Everything belongeth to you according to your interest in Christ : 2 Cor. i. 20, ' The ])romises are in him yea, and in him amen.' Still a man's hope …
1,025 wordsSECTION 245Section 245
3. To love God. You have the greatest experience of the love of the Godhead that po.ssibly you could have, that there should be a covenant between the persons of tlie Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, that they would nnituaily engage one another for your good. It is the highest endearment you could hav…
1,007 wordsSECTION 246Section 246
[2.] To magnify his justice and displeasure against sin : Eom. iii. 25, ' God set out Christ to declare his righteousness in the remission of sin.' God would have us be reconciled, not only by way of entrea- ties, but satisfaction. You can as well stand before the seat of judg- ment as the throne of grace, if God forgi…
958 wordsSECTION 247Section 247
2. Because the Lord Christ did so much to purchase them and gain us for his seed. [1.] He died for them. Christ, like Rachel, dieth, that_ he may bring forth. Perit ditm parit — he perisheth that he may bring forth. You are Benonis, the children of his sorrows : John xii. 24, ' Except a corn of wheat fall into the gro…
964 wordsSECTION 248Section 248
2. There are some that are yet worse, by the virulence and bitterness, and rage of heart against the ways of God ; they are possessed with an opposite seed — the seed of the serpent : Gen. iii. 15, ' I will put enmity between thy seed and her seed.' There is a seed that is full of envy and enmity against the people and…
1,088 wordsSECTION 249Section 249
[2.] It engageth Christ's care of you. He shall see his seed ; and ISA. LIII. 10.] THE FIFTY-THIRD CHAPTER OF ISAIAH. 393 you are his seed, and therefore he will look after you. He watcheth these great births, that they may not miscarry ; and is as it were bound that we may lack nothing. All his care is about his see…
957 wordsSECTION 250Section 250
Secondly, He shall see his seed, notetli the increase that is implied in the phrase seed put indefinitely : it is put for a multitude, such a seed as is worth looking after. Observe then — Second observation. That Jesus Christ hath a plenteous seed and numerous offspring. In the exposition I showed you it is plural, '…
953 wordsSECTION 251Section 251
Because, after suffering, Christ was to return to the glory of his God- head : Luke xxiv. 26, ' Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory ? ' He was to put off meanness and death ; these things could have no more dominion over him. He returned to all the otlier glories, and therefore t…
951 wordsSECTION 252Section 252
4. It is comfort in the loss of outward enjoyments. Alas! their nature is vanishing, even the most glorious of all the creatures. The heavens shall be like a scorched scroll : Ps. cii. 26, ' They shall perish, but thou shalt endure ; yea, all of them shall wax old as doth a gar- ment, as a vesture shalt thou change the…
942 wordsSECTION 253Section 253
[2.] He is able and mighty, so as he must needs eiFectuate the will of God : Ps. Ixxxix. 19, ' I have laid help upon one that is mighty.' It is an able Christ that the work is committed to, that can break through discouragements, overcome difficulties, remove lets. Alas ! there is no mountain that is anything before th…
918 wordsSECTION 254Section 254
''2. It shall j/rosjier. It ^ijoeth in the way of a promise ; it is part of God's covenant with Christ to relieve your souls from doubts and fears ; you may go and urge it to him — Lord, was it not thy covenant that thy pleasure sliould prosper in the hands of Christ? This is thy j)lcasure. Christ urgeth this covenant,…
940 wordsSECTION 255Section 255
[2.] To the execution of God's decree. Wlien sinners are brought to accept of mercy, I count my blood well shed, my bitter agonies well recompensed : here is wages enough for all my toil. There is joy in heaven, in Christ's heart, when a sinner is converted. I begin with the first ; the travail of his soul. The word f…
964 wordsSECTION 256Section 256
But how could he be forsaken, who was God-man in the same person ? A71S. As the personal union gave way to the death of the body, so it gave way to the troubles of the soul. Christ, by virtue of the eternal covenant, was to yield up the whole human nature, both body and soul, to suffer according to the will of God. No…
956 wordsSECTION 257Section 257
Hence learn : — 1. The heinousness of sin. You see it is no easy matter to recon- cile sinners to God. It cost Christ a life of sorrows, and afterwards a painful, shameful, and an accursed death ; the loss of actual comfort, and a terrible feeling, or an amazing sense of the wrath of God. We jest and sport away our so…
927 wordsSECTION 258Section 258
406 A PRACTICAL EXPOSITION UPON [IsA. LIII. 11. persecuted me, they will persecute you also,' John xv.20. He stooped to more than ever we were or sliall be put to. But, in particular, we should be as willinj^ to suffer for his sake as he for ours. He left the bosom of his Father to suffer for you, and will not 3'ou le…
907 wordsSECTION 259Section 259
But briefly to show why Christ cannot miscarry in his ends from the eternal covenant : Isa. liii. 10, 'When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed.' Look to the undertaking of the Father and the Son, and the salvation of the elect is secured ; both are intimated in that phrase of being give…
918 wordsSECTION 260Section 260
Docl. That Jesus Christ taketh an infinite contentment and satis- faction in the salvation of sinners. I shall give you — (1.) Evidences of it; (2.) The reasons of it. 1. For the evidences : — [1.] Christ pleased and entertained himself in the thought of it be- fore the world was: Prov. viii. 31, 'Rejoicing in the h…
1,003 wordsSECTION 261Section 261
[2.] It is not only that complacency which he taketh in the holiness of his people. In the holiness of his people there is amor bcnevoleniue, a good-will and happiness to the unconverted ; and there is amorplacenlicc, his delight in them as they are holy, because of the suitableness of their nature : Isa. Ixii. 4, 5, '…
919 wordsSECTION 262Section 262
(2.) They are his own, his interest is concerned in them: John xvii. 6, ' I have manifested thy name unto the men thou gavest me out of the world : thine they were, and thou gavest them me.' He hath not only undertaken a charge concerning them, but received them as a reward at the hands of God : John xiii. 1, ' Having …
904 wordsSECTION 263Section 263
unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.' Pray come ; he chideth earnestly for not coming : John v. 40, * Ye will not come unto me, that you may have life.' But he never chid you for coming. It is hard to distinguish whether Christ be more willing to take tlie soul, or the soul to take …
919 wordsSECTION 264Section 264
2. To all. If Jesus Christ seek you, that are not worth the having, oh, what should you do to serve him, who is all desire, as the spouse calletli him, Cant. i. 16, enough to invite me and others ! [1.] Desire him : Ps. Ixxiii. 25, ' Whom have I in heaven but thee ? and there is none on earth that I desire besides the…
1,044 wordsSECTION 265Section 265
[1.] Because the first radical act of faith is knowledge. There are 41G A TRACTICAL EXPOSITION UPON [ISA. LIII. 11. three radical acts of fuitli — knowledge, assent, and affiance. The first is knowledge ; by that God begetteth persuasion and confidence in the spirit. God dealeth in the new creation, and framing of th…
1,104 wordsSECTION 266Section 266
2. Here it is fully and amply done ; the gospel holdeth out a clear way : and that it may appear to you, I shall show you what the way is, and prove that it must needs be a sure way. [1.] What the gospel doth. (1.) It discovereth perfect righteousness. The drift of the gospel is to discover this righteousness — activ…
957 wordsSECTION 267Section 267
[2.] Such as requireth the whole man, so as the soul must be exactly perfect in all the actings of it, or else it could not be accepted with God : De.ut. vi. 5, ' Thou shalt love the Lord with all thy heart, and all thy soul, and all thy might.' A little failing in the intenseness of the spirit might make you to miscar…
900 wordsSECTION 268Section 268
1 . The gospel holdeth out a way how poor sinners may be accepted with God, a way wherein God will look after sinners : 2 Sam. xix. 28, as Mephibosheth said to David, ' For all of my father's house were but as dead men before my lord the king ; yet didst thou set thy ser- vant among them that eat at thine own table.' A…
953 wordsSECTION 269Section 269
3. Because there are some objects of faith that are inter cognosci- 422 A PRACTICAL EXPOSITION UPON [ISA. LIII. 11. hilia, amonj:^ those things that are only to be known and apprehended by us according to the reveUition of God. I say, all that faith hath to do about them, is to understand and apprehend the truth of t…
951 wordsSECTION 270Section 270
[2.] Because all the great opposition against faith is from thence, (1.) There is great opposition against the working of faith in the soul. Mark a few places, and you will easily perceive it : 2 Cor. iv. 4, ' In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them who believe not, lest the light of the glorious …
995 wordsSECTION 271Section 271
ISA. LIII. 11.] THE FIFTY-THIRD CHAPTER OF ISAIAH. 425 (1st.) It is considerate ; it looketh to the grounds and to the nature of things. False apprehensions of Christ, they are hasty and surrepti- tious. Men have knowledge of the gospel, but they are loth to ponder and weigh the business of it in their thoughts. We ma…
1,270 wordsSECTION 272Section 272
(4thly.) It is affective ; that is, it is such a knowledge as, besides the representation of the object, leaveth an impression upon the affections, and btirreth up desires and delights : as Frov. ii. 10, ' When wisdom ISA. LIII. 11.] THE riFTY-THIRD CHAPTER OF ISAIAH. 427 entereth upon thy heart.' The heart, in the s…
921 wordsSECTION 273Section 273
Use 1. Serveth for information, to show us the misery of those that are without knowledge. Without knowledge, without faith ; and without faith, without God, without a promise. It was a great reproach that Nahash would lay upon Israel, that he would put out their light eyes : 1 Sam. xi. 12. And the great design the god…
1,001 wordsSECTION 274Section 274
2. Ignorance that ariseth from negligence ; that is, when men have means and do not improve them. This is sad, and increaseth the sin, when you have the gospel, and do not suffer it to shine in upon your souls : John xv. 22, ' If I had not spoken unto them, they had not had sin ;' that is, not so much sin. The great ag…
1,023 wordsSECTION 275Section 275
[3.] Those that have knowledge of Christ, but abuse their knowledge to countenance their lusts, and to defend their sins. Oh, this is sad ! The Gnostics were so called from their knowledge, and yet were the impurest heretics. These are those who, as the apostle saith. Gal. v. 13, ' Use their liberty as an occasion to t…
1,039 wordsSECTION 276Section 276
ISA. LIU. 11.] THE FIFTY- THIRD CHAPTER OF ISAIAH. 433 mineral, yet yours is a better knowledge : 1 Cor. i. 20, ' Where is the wise ? where is the scribe ? where is the disputer of this world ? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of the world ? ' The great prejudice against divine knowledge is, because men do not kno…
927 wordsSECTION 277Section 277
Bf/ Ids knoidedge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. I shall now apply this first circumstance, the instrument, specified in that word hy his knowledge, to the act in the other word, justify. For the word of the instrument, knowledge, we showed you it im- porteth faith — an ef…
946 wordsSECTION 278Section 278
4. Because God would bring us back again in the same way that we went off and departed from him, that so the return might be the 436 A PRACTICAL EXPOSITION UPON [IsA. LIII. 11. more satisfactory, that we might see tlio defects of nature repaired and made up in Christ. We went off by unbelief. Eve distrusted the truth…
1,026 wordsSECTION 279Section 279
[3.] There is a seeking of Christ, as the spouse sought her be- loved. Cant. iii. 1-3. This is usually expressed by coming, which is one of the lowest degrees of faith, whilst the soul is in the way, and in the pursuit of Christ, but hath not fully closed with him : John vi. 35, ' He that cometh to me shall never hunge…
921 wordsSECTION 280Section 280
2. The effects that concern otlier gracious constitutions: so justify- ing and saving faith hath four efiects : — ISA. LIII. 11.] THE FIFTY-THIRD CHAPTER OF ISAIAH. 439 [1.] It humble th and melteth for sin. The passover is to be eaten with sour herbs. A man cannot look upon Christ but with a bitter remembrance of hi…
954 wordsSECTION 281Section 281
[1.] Because faith is always said to justify as complicated with its object, from whom it receiveth all its virtue. [2.] Because the righteousness of faith is always contradistinct and opposed to that which is in ourselves : Rom. x. 3, * For they, being ignorant of God's righteousness, they go about to establish their…
963 wordsSECTION 282Section 282
442 A PRACTICAL EXPOSITION UPON [ISA. LIII. 11. By Ms knowledge shall mjj righteous servant justify many ; for he shall hear their iniquities. I am now come to the next circumstance in the order of the words, and that is the efficient cause in justification, wliicli is Jesus Christ, expressed here by God's ' ri^^hteo…
1,291 wordsSECTION 283Section 283
444 A PRACTICAL EXPOSITION UPON [IsA. LIII. 11. 53, 54, ' Thinkest thoii that I cannot now pray unto my Father, and lie shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels ? But how, then, shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?' Well, then, you find a great deal of matter to be offered to your…
1,087 wordsSECTION 284Section 284
[2,] His passive obedience. And it is that sacrifice and offering of himself that Christ made for the sins of the world, bearing our curse and punishment, and so satisfying for our transgression : 1 Tim. ii, 5, 6, ' The man Christ Jesus gave himself a ransom for all,' He suffered so long till he had satisfied God's jus…
979 wordsSECTION 285Section 285
2. Affirmatively. So Christ is said to justify two ways : — [1.] By meriting that righteousness which will serve for justifica- tion. His obeying and suflering have procured such a righteousness as will stand us in stead, for Christ's righteousness is ours. We have share in whatever he had, for he was our surety ; as …
950 wordsSECTION 286Section 286
[3.] In the very passive obedience of Christ, the active part is the chief ; for the sufferings of Christ do not sim])ly justify us. but as they are the sufferings of Christ, voluntarily yielding up himself in obed- ience to his Father's will. For Christ was to be considered as the sac- rifice or the priest : as a sacr…
1,051 wordsSECTION 287Section 287
5. Seek it in Christ's way ; then you are like to obtain it, at least you shall be sure not to deceive yourselves. Many conceit themselves to be in a good estate, and that Christ is theirs, and all his righteous- ness theirs, when they never sought it in his way ; you must therefore look to this. This way of Christ res…
943 wordsSECTION 288Section 288
I shall here handle two questions, and so despatch this use : — First, What it is to believe in Christ as God's righteous servant ? It is not only to believe in the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; not only to have distinct and explicit thoughts of the Trinity ; but to believe in Christ as Mediator. You have a willing God…
901 wordsSECTION 289Section 289
cherishing of presumption, and so turn Aaron's rod into a serpent, but that you may be helped in the great work of believing. I go on in the text to the next circumstance, and that is the object or subject of justification, that is many. He shall 'justify many.' 1. It is put here exclusively, to shut out the universa…
1,227 wordsSECTION 290Section 290
2, It teachelh you not to flatter yourselves with the universality of grace and mercy. Many live and die, and rot in their sins, and think Christ will save them, and mercy will save them. You see Ciirist will not save all, and God gave him no conmiission to justify all: Deut, xxix. J 9, 20, ' When he heareth the words …
953 wordsSECTION 291Section 291
At this time, I shall insist upon the conquest, which, as I have observed, is last in nature and time, yet first in the order of the words. I shall pitch upon that now ; and my first endeavour shall be to open it to you; for indeed, though most interpretations in their result and effect come to the same thing, yet I fi…
1,008 wordsSECTION 292Section 292
4.58 A PRACTICAL EXrOSITION UPON [IsA. LIII. 12. he ascended, what is it hut that he also descended first into the lower ])arts of the eartli ? ' It not only necessarily implieth and presnpposetli it, hut was caused hy it, and merited hy it. So Rev. v. 9, ' Thou art worthy to take the hook, and to open the seals there…
1,123 wordsSECTION 293Section 293
[2.] This should be so far from being a discouragement, that it is a ground of hope. Usually we get great advantage by our sufferings. Consider the conflict of Christ upon the cross, his cross was his triumph ; like Sampson, he destroyed more enemies at his death than in all his life ; his cross was his chariot of triu…
900 wordsSECTION 294Section 294
ISA. LIII. 12.] THE FIFTY-THIRD CHAPTER OF ISAIAH. 461 2. It teacheth us to glorify the Fatlier in our thoughts, expressions, and affections, for the honour that he hath put upon Jesus Christ. The person that is most in our eye usually intercepts all the love and praise of the creature. Though you can never enough hon…
933 wordsSECTION 295Section 295
First, The adversaries ; they are mighty. They are always expressed by such notions as do im])ly great strength and power : Col. ii. 15, it is said, * He spoiled principalities and powers.' The evil angels, by reason of their power and prevalency in and with the world, are expressed by that name, ' principalities and p…
949 wordsSECTION 296Section 296
4. The flesh. Corruption is a bosom-enemy, that insinuates with us, and worketh upon us in our most pleasing desires : Rom. viii. 7, ' The carnal mind is enmity to God ;' and Gal. v. 17, ' The flesh lusteth against the spirit.' It is a great trouble to a gracious heart. Though it be flesh, as dear to us as our own skin…
904 wordsSECTION 297Section 297
Secondly, Let us look to the means. The weapons of this warfare are not carnal ; that is, there is little pomp and appearance in them. Look upon them, and the matter will be the more wonderful. 1. As to his death. His very conflict was his triumph. The Lamb overcometh, and Christ conquered Satan, and sin, and the law,…
1,161 wordsSECTION 298Section 298
ISA. LIII. 12.] THE FIFTY-THIRD CHAPTER OF ISAIAH. 467 salem there shall be written, holiness to the Lord.' All this is done so clearly to the eye of faith, that they do even see Christ triumphing : Isa. Ixiii. 1, 'Who is tliis that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrali ? this that is glorious in his appar…
1,088 wordsSECTION 299Section 299
5. If we do find and feel no benefit by the conquest of Christ, it is through our own corruptions. God hath not left us for the present with- out some sense of it. You will have some rule over your hearts and spirits, more grace to resist Satan, more comfort against the fear of death, and less trouble about the difficu…
936 wordsSECTION 300Section 300
^ Qu. 'amazeth' ? — Ed. 470 A PRACTICAL EXIOSITION UPON [ISA. LIII. 12. ns up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus/ Conquerors enter after the spoil into the secure possession of their kingdoms ; so did Jesus Christ, and so shall we. 5. Great comfort accrueth and redoundeth to us by …
1,120 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.