PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Complete Works of Thomas Manton — Volume 5
Thomas Manton · 312,097 words · 303 reading sections
Section 181
[2.] The next thing is the duration, the hlacJcness of darkness for ever. The torment prepared for the wicked is everlasting, ' their worm dieth not, and their fire is not quenched,' Mark ix. 44. This is the hell of hell, that, as the torments there are without measure, so with- out end ; vivere nolunt, mori nesciunt. …
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Ver. 14. And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, 'prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord comethioith ten thousand of his saints. The apostle urgetli another argument to imply the destruction of those seducers, and that is, the prophecy of Enoch. Whether this prophecy were written or not, the same Spirit that spa…
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Ohs. 2. Prophecy or preaching ; the word is ancient, for * Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied.' Still some have been set apart for this woi-k ; Enoch was a prophet, and Noah a preacher of right- eousness. It is sad that in the latter end of six thousand years, we should be rooting up an ancient ordinance that hat…
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^ ' Kadapdis iXKdfj.fts.' — Naz. VeR. 15.] UPON THE EPISTLE OF JUDE. 293 Ohs. 6. From that luWi ten thousand of Ms saints. When Christ Cometh to judgment, his saints come to judge the world with him. When the wicked are filled with amazement, they come in Christ's company, partly that the world may know what shall be…
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This verse is large, and full of points ; but because the doctrine of the day of judgment hath been already touched upon, and ungodli- ness opened at large, ver. 4, therefore the briefer notes will serve the turn. Ohs. 1. Christ's second coming is to judgment; so it is said in the text, ' He shall come with ten thousa…
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Ohs. 3. Again observe, when Christ hath convinced, he will con- demn, and when he hath condemned, he will execute. Conviction now maketh way many times for conversion, but then for confusion ; now God killeth, that he may make alive, but then they are presently transmitted and seijt into their everlasting estate. Let u…
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Ohs. 7. Once more from thence observe, that of all speeches men's 'hard speeches' shall be produced at the day of judgment. Now, what are these hard speeches ? I answer — Either such as have anger in them, as Solomon speaketh of the ' fro ward mouth and perverse lips,' Prov. iv. 24, when men breathe nothing but fire, a…
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[2.] Against superiors, especially because invested with magistracy 1 Dr Sibbes. 30O AN EXPOSITION, WITH NOTES, [VeR. 16. or ministry. Some men are of a yokeless, libertine spirit, will acknow- ledge no other law but their own lusts, as in the text, ' Murmurers, walking after their own lusts ;' think magistracy to b…
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Secondly, For what we have lost. We complain when God taketh away such a child, or such a comfort, or blasteth such a confidence of ours as our affections were much set upon, and in bitterness of heart speak unworthily of God and his dispensations : see 2 Sam. xviii. 33. We hate going back a degree or two, and count it…
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VeR. 16.] UPON THE EPISTLE OF JUDE. 303 I wait upon the Lord any longer?' An unsubjection of will to God will inevitably put us upon repining. [3.] Presumption of merit. Where all is of free cost there is no complaining. Men ascribe to themselves when they prescribe to God what he shall do for them, or how bless them…
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[2.] It is injurious to others; it puts us upon acts of violence and sedition ; the murmurers are called ' rebels,' Num. xvii. 10. Schism in the church and sedition in the commonwealth are but the fruits of murmuring. Men dislike their own rank and station, and then mur- mur, and tlien perturb all. ' Oh, that I were a …
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3. Nor yet a holy dislike and singularity, standing aloof from public corruptions, as Lot in Sodom, and ' Noah walked with God in his generations,' Gen. vi. 9. God's children most commonly are forced to walk in a counter motion to the times. Paul, when he had accused the times as evil, adviseth Christians to ' walk cir…
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(2.) ' There is nothing new under the sun,' Eccles. i. 7. We say, * Is there any sorrow like unto my sorrow ?' things never were as they are now. Certainly you do not rightly inquire after this matter ; the world is the world still ; men have ever had the same principles, the same corruptions, the same temptations ; th…
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1. A little is enough; too much is a snare : Luke xii. 15, 'Man's life consisteth not in the abundance of what he possesseth.' The wants of nature are very few, till lust make it ravenous ; a garment too long will soon prove a dirty rag ; the greater gates open to the greater temptations and cares ; it is a hard lesson…
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Having given you some general considerations against murmuring, I now come to particular cases. 1. Dost thou lie under deep pressing wants ? Divers have been put to great straits that have done God more glory. Musculus, a great divine, yet forced to serve a weaver for his subsistence ; Paul made tents that he might no…
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The point is, that it is an argument of ungodliness when men walk after their own lusts. The apostle, applying the prophecy of Enoch against ungodly men, bringeth this as a part of the charge, that they ' walk after their own lusts/ I shall inquire : — 1. What lusts are? 2. What it is to walk after their own lusts ? …
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314 AN EXPOSITION, WITH NOTES, [VeR. 16. suitableness of it to our hopes, 1 Peter ii. 11. We are passing on to another country, where we shall enjoy a pure and sinless estate. Let us now apply the point : — Use 1. It dissuadeth us from walking after our own lusts. You that are Christians should deny them, and not gr…
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5. Consider what lust is ; it is the disease of the soul. Natural desire is like the caIo7' vitalis — the vital heat ; but lust is like a feverish heat, that oppresseth nature. We should get rid of it as we would of a disease; the satisfaction of it is sweet to carnal nature, so is drink to a man in a fever. Who would …
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Let all this now persuade you to deny your lusts, rather than to feed and cherish them, to renounce them, and not to walk after them. There are three degrees of this denial : — (1.) They must be prevented, and kept from rising ; (2.) Suppressed and kept from growth ; (3.) We must not accomplish them, and if they gain c…
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Ohs. 3. That the piide and vanity of seducers is usually bewrayed in the fondness and affectedness of their expressions. The affected language of the Gnostics and Valentinians may be seen in Irenasus ; and how much this pattern hath been improved by men of a fanatical spirit, may be found in those that have written of …
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Ohs. 6. That seducers are apt to insinuate with great persons and men of power and interest, that having their ear and countenance, they may engage them against the truth. Having not truth of their side, they use the more craft ; as the ivy, not being able to support itself, ^ Nashati panecha, — the word signifieth, '…
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Ohs. 2. Again, we may be earnest against error when corrupt men are gotten into esteem ; but it is in love to you, if we express ourselves with some warmth and affection ; it is for God, and your souls are concerned. It is observable, John, the disciple of love, is most earnest against deceivers: ' Bid them not God-spe…
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VeR. 18.J UPON THE EPISTLE OF JUDE. 323 No other doctrine can we expect till we come to study divinity in the Lamb's face. Ohs. 6. Once more, these apostles of the Lord were Paul and Peter, 2 Tim. iii. 1-4, 2 Peter iii. 2, 3 ; from whence Jude taketh many passages. It is not unlawful to make use of the writings of o…
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These scorners are said to icalh ofter their own ungodly lusts. Walk- ing implieth their settled course and daily custom of life ; and their lusts are called imgodly lusts, partly to note the profane temper of their spirits, and partly to distinguish them from the motions and lust- ings of the new nature. The notes ar…
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Ohs. 7. It argueth a state of wickedness to walk after our own lusts ; that is, when sin and lust is our constant practice. A godly person may too often do according to his lusts, but he does not walk therein, it is not his constant road and path : Ps. Ixviii. 21, ' He will wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy …
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Obs. 2. Once more, it is little for the honour of Christ that his body is crumbled into small bits and portions. He prayed, ' Let them be one, that the world may know that thou hast sent me,' implying that our divisions and breaking into sects would breed suspicion of the gospel in the hearts of men, as if that great m…
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5. There are several sorts of separation, as these distinctions will manifest. Separation is either partial or total, negative or positive, universal or particular. For the first distinction, there is a partial separation, when we with- draw from the communion of the church in some ordinances and not in others, as in …
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1 Under this head is comprised sinful excommunication. See John ix. 34, auJ xvi. 2. VeR. 19.] UPON THE EPISTLE OF JUDE. 331 but rejoicetli in the truth.' Again, it must be with a mind to return when the evil is taken awa3^l 10. For the degrees of separation take these rules : — If a few separ- ated for a weighty cau…
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2. The soul's welfare is of chief consideration. We must take heed that the soul be not either disfitted for duty or disposed for sin. [1.] Disfitted for duty; when the soul cannot lift up itself to God and divine things, and findeth less aptitude for his service, you are inordinate : Luke xxi. 34, ' Let not your hear…
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2. Sensual men have little of the quickenings and efficacy of the Spirit ; the more they dissolve and melt away their precious liours and spirits in pleasures, the more do they grow sapless, dead, and careless, ^ ' nXeroJ' eXatov o'ivov oaTrdvrjaas.' 2 • Ebrietas loiige est a me, domine ; crapulaautem nonnunquam surr…
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Ohs. 2. To grow in faith is a means to persevere in faith. Man is of an active nature ; either he groweth better or worse. We shall not keep what we have received if we do not labour to increase in it, as a house begun to be built goeth to decay, and droppeth down more and more, if we do not go on to finish it. Do we g…
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VeR. 20.] UPON THE EPISTLE OF JUDE. 337 Now the censers were to be kindled with holy fire before the smoke went up ; the coal wherewith we are kindled must be taken from the altar, not from a common hearth, and then our prayer goeth up as incense : God's course is to ' prepare the heart,' and then to grant the request…
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[2.] There is the gracious assistance of the Holy Ghost. Now, this is eitlier habitual or actual. (1.) Habitual grace is necessary to prayer : Zech, xii. 10, ' I will pour upon them a spirit of grace and supplication.' Where there is grace there will be supplication. As soon as we are new born we fall a-crying ; ' Beh…
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Secondly, With confidence. When w^e come in a childlike manner, and call God Father , Eom. viii. 16, ' We have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.' Usually, we do not mind this part of the Spirit's help in prayer ; we look to gifts and enlarge- ments, but not to this childlike confidence, tha…
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Ohs. 1. In perseverance there is a concurrence of our care and dili- gence: Phil. ii. 12, 13, 'Work out your own salvation Avith fear and trembling,' &c. The main work is God's : ' He that hath begun a good work must perfect it,' Phil. i. 6 ; and the same Jesus that is ' author ' is also ' finisher,' Heb. xii. 2. The d…
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YeR. 21.] UrON THE EPISTLE OF JUDE. 343 with a rusty blade, followeth Clirist into the high priest's hall, who more secure than Peter ? But all this confidence failed, though it met with but a weak trial, the soft words of a damsel's question ; such feathers are we when the blast of a temptation is let loose upon us. …
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Ohs. 3. The next point is more particular and express. That of all graces, love needeth keeping. Why ? (1.)' Because of all graces it is most decaying. Mat. xxiv. 12, Rev. ii. 4. Flame is soon spent, graces that act most strongly require most influence, as being most subject to abatement ; we sooner lose our aft'ection…
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346 AX ExrosiTiON, with notes, [Ver. 21. worship is performed perfunctorily, and in a careless, stupid manner ; sin confessed without remorse and sense of the wrong done to God ; prayer made for spiritual blessings without desire of obtaining ; wrath deprecated without any fear of the danger ; intercession for others …
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Ohs. 4. The next note is from the coupling of these two : ' The love of God,' and 'looking for the mercy of Christ unto eternal life.' Thence observe, that love to God will put us upon looking for Christ's second coming, when this mercy is to be dispensed to us. See the like connection elsewhere, 2 Thes. iii. 5, ' The …
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To exhort those that love God to look earnestly for the coming of Christ. To this end : — 1. Consider our relations to him ; he is our master, we are his servants, and good servants will wait for their master's coming, Mat. xxiv. 45. Here we have our meals, but then our wages. It is but VeR. 21.] UPON THE EPISTLE OF …
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Thus negatively I have shown you what it is not, but now positively ; it is an earnest, well-grounded expectation of blessedness to come. It bewrayeth itself — [1.] By frequent and serious thoughts. Thoughts are the spies and messengers of hope ; it sendeth them into the promised land to bring the soul tidings from th…
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[3.] It maketh us upright and sincere ; looking asquint on secular rewards is the cause of all our declinings : Mat. vi. 2, [xiadov a-nk-yovai, 352 AX EXPOSITION, WITH NOTES, \YeR. 21. ' they have their reward.' i Hired servants do not look for the inheri- tance, and therefore must have pay in hand ; if they may have…
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2. Apply it. It is a poor, comfortless meditation to think of a blessed hope and the certainty of it, unless we have an interest in these things. A hungry man taketh little pleasure in gazing upon a feast, when he tastes not of it. The reprobate hereafter are lookers-on ; and David speaketh of a ' table spread for him …
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^ Qu. 'nothing' ? — Ed. VeR. 21.] UPON THE EPISTLE OF JUDE. 355 claim in point of confidence, unless we mean to compliment with God. Well, then— 1. Let this encourage us to wait with hope, notwithstanding in- firmities as as well afflictions. What a good master do we serve ! He hath provided comforts not only agains…
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4. It is eternal life. This life is but a flower that is soon withered, a vapour that is soon blown over ; but this is for ever and ever, as eternity increaseth the torment of the wicked, so the blessedness of the godly. Well, then, let this press you to keep yourselves in the love of God till this happy estate come ab…
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358 AN EXPOSITION, WITH NOTES, [VeR. 22, 23. shoulders rejoicing,' Luke xv. Many well-meaning men may err ; be not too severe with them, lest prejudice make them obstinate, and so from ' erring brethren,' they become heretical. i [2.] Those that slip of infirmity. Members must be ' set in joint' tenderly, Gal. vi. 1.…
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^ Tacitus saith that he did servili animo excrcere imperium per libldincm el scevitiam, 2 Theod. Ub. iii. 15. 360 AN EXPOSITION, WITH NOTES, [VeR. 22, 23. which separation was a solemn profession how much the church did detest the wickedness. Ohs. 1. There is a time wlien we may use severity ; ' others save with fea…
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Well, then, so far it is good ; but now the servility, that is sinful. The servility is seen partly in the disingenuity of it, when our own smart and torture is more feared than the displeasing of God, as a slave careth not how his master's goods go to wreck, so he may avoid stripes. Partly because it is accompanied wi…
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^ ' These are spota in your love feasts,' ver. 12 VeR. 24.] UPON THE EPISTLE OF JUDE. 363 the hand of a man ; take away tlie hnnd, and the staff falleth to the ground ; or rather, as a little infant in the nurse's hand, Hosea xi. 3 ; if we are left to our own feet w^e shall soon fall and get a knock ; created grace w…
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2. By Christ's messengers; they have a charge, and when they have done their work they present us to God : 2 Cor. xi. 2, ' That I may present you a chaste virgin to Christ.' It is sweet when ministers can say, Here are the fruits of my labours, the pledges of my faithful- ness. 3. This presentation is applied to Chris…
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(3.) It is an act of his love and recompense to the fiiithful ; they have owned him in the world, and Christ will own them before God, men, and angels ; there is no saint so mean but Christ will own him: Luke xii. 8, ' The Son of man shall confess him,' &c. Father, this is one of mine. As for his enemies, Christ will s…
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Ohs. 6. The last particle in tlie words is that, loitli exceeding joy. From thence note the day of Christ to the godly is a joyful day. When others howl, you shall triumph ; when others are dejected, antl 'call upon the mountains to cover them,' Rev. vi. 16, you shall 'lift up the head, for your redemption draweth nigh…
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Ver. 25.] uroN the epistle of jude. 369 an instrument as in the making and framing of it. The upper heavens fitted to be the everlasting mansion of the saints, the middle heaven to give us light and heat and influence, the air, the lower heaven for breath, the earth for habitation, the seas for navigation, the herbs a…
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Use 1. Well, then, let us often admire the wisdom of God ; look up to the heavens, and what do you find there ? The work of a wise God, Jer. x. 12. Look to the structure of all things round about you, and what offereth itself to your thoughts ? ' By his wisdom he hath established the world.' Look within you, and you ca…
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372 AN EXPOSITION, WITH NOTES, [VeR. 25. what is foreseen. He goetli not upon probability and conjecture, but certain foreknowledge. Man can attend but upon one care at once ; various thoughts scatter the mind, and weaken it ; but God in one moment of understanding seeth all things, and wisely disposeth of all things.…
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3. More deeply esteemed, that God may be more in request, more in the hearts of men and angels. God's children do not count it enough that God is glorified by themselves, but they desire also that God may be glorified by others. As fire turneth all things near it into its own nature, so is grace diffusive. Good men are…
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VeR. 25.] UPON THE EPISTLE OF JUDE. 375 dead and gone ? Gen. xviii. 19. As a merchant, hast thou promoted religion with thy traffic ? Deut. xxxiii. 18, 19. As a magistrate, dost thou take care to secure the interest of Christ to posterity, that the succession of churches may not be cut off ? Ministers, have you been w…
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1 That is, "haply."— Ed. 380 THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY. much of child and self in them as to mind church-peace only as a taking theme, and speak for it rather from their brain than their heart ; others may (like him in Daniel) deal deceitfully, and press a league that they may become strong with a small people, mind mod…
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[3.] The next privilege is the unity of the churches : in the words of the text, The Lord shall be one, and his name one. By this view we have found the words to be the third privilege of the glorious evening. Observe in them : — (1.) The time, in that day. (2.) The blessing, which is unity. The Lord shall he one, a…
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2. The next is there shall he one Lord. Hitherto there have been divers lords. The heathens had their several deities, the Turks their Mahomet, the Jews their imaginary Messiah, the Papists their lord the Pope. Many nations do not as yet call Christ Lord : ' Other lords have dominion over them,' Isa. xxvi. 13. But then…
1,133 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.