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Manton, Thomas, 1620-1677. |
The complete works of Thomas
Manton
"V
THE
WORKS OF THOMAS MANTON, D.D.
VOL. V.
COUNCIL OF PUBLICATION.
W. LINDSAY ALEXANDER, D.D., Professor of Theology, Congregational Union, Edinburgh.
JAMES BEGG, D.D., Minister of Newington Free Church, Edinburgh.
THOMAS J. CRAWFORD, D.D., S.T.P., Professor of Divinity, University, Edinburgh.
D. T. K. DRUMMOND, M.A., Minister of St Thomas's Episcopal Church, Edinburgh.
WILLIAM H. GOOLD, D.D., Professor of Biblical Literature and Church History, Reformed Presbyterian Church, Edinburgh.
ANDREW THOMSON, D.D., Minister of Broughton Place United Presby. terian Church, Edinburgh.
General ^liDitor. REV. THOMAS SMITH, D.D., Edinburgh.
THE COMPLETE WORKS
OP
THOMAS MANTON. D.D,
VOLUME V.
CONTAINING
A PRACTICAL COMMENTARY ; OR, AN EXPOSITION, WITH NOTES, ON THE EPISTLE OF JUDE.
MEAT OUT OF THE EATER.
ENGLAND'S SPIRITUAL LANGUISHING, ITS CAUSES AND CURE.
SERMONS AT MORNING EXERCISE.
PREFACE TO SMECTYMNUUS REDIVIVUS.
LONDON:
JAMES NISBET & CO., 21 BERNERS STREET.
1871.
CONTENTS.
A Practical Commentaey; or, an Exposition with Notes, on THE Epistle of Jude : —
The Epistle Dedicatory To the Eeader Exposition
jyiEAT out of the EaTER .
England's Spiritual Languishing
Sermons at the Morning Exercise : —
How we may Cure Distractions in Holy Duties How Ought we to Improve our Baptism ? . Man's Impotency to Help himself out of his ^Misery The Scripture Sufficient without Unwritten Traditions
Editorial Note on Smectymnuus Redivivus .
3
6 9-376
377 411
441 459 473 485
501
A PRACTICAL COMMENTARY,
AN EXPOSITION WITH NOTES
EPISTLE OF JUDE.
VOL. r.
THE EPISTLE DEDICATOEY.
To the Religious and Honourable Lady, Letitia Popham, wife to Colonel Alexandek I^opham.
Madam, — It is a lovely conjunction when goodness and greatness meet together. Persons of estate and respect in the world have more tempta- tions and hindrances than others, but greater obligations to own God. The great landlord of the world expecteth a rent from every country cottage, but a large revenue from great houses. Now usually it falleth out so that they that hold the greatest farms pay the least rent.i Never is the Lord more neglected and dishonoured than in great men's houses, in the very face of all his bounty. If religion chance to get in there, it is soon worn out again. Though vices live long in a family, and run in a blood from father to son, yet it is a rare case to see strictness of religion carried on for three or four descents. It was the honour of Abraham's house that from father to son for a long while they were ' heirs of the same promise,' Heb. xi. 9 ; but where is there such a succession to be found in the houses of our gentry ? The father, perchance, professeth godliness (for ov ttoWoI, saith the apostle, 1 Cor. i. 26, ' not many noble,' &c., there are afeio — he doth not say there are none), and a carnal son cometh and turneth all out of doors, as if he were ashamed of his father's God. The causes of this mischief may be supposed to be these : — (1.) Plenty ill governed disposeth to vice and sin, as a rank soil is apt to breed weeds. (2.) Brave spirits (as the world counteth them) think strictness inglorious,''^ and the power of religion a base thing, that taketh off from their grandeur and esteem. A loose owning of Christianity is honourable, since the kings of the earth have counted it one of the fairest flowers of their crowns to be styled the ' Catholic King,' the ' most Christian King.' the ' Defender of the Faith,' &c. But a true submission to the power of it is made a scorn, as being contrary to that liberty of fashions, vanity of compliment, and some Gentile customs, which, in a fond compliance with the humour of the age, they are loath to part with. It were a rude zeal to deny them honest civilities, but certain customs and modes there are inconsistent with the severity of religion, which,
^ ' Qui majores terras possident, minores census solvunt.' — Parisienis. * ' Coguntur esse mali ne viles habeantur.' — Salvian.
4 THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY,
rather than men will part with, they will even break with God him- self. (3.) The marriage of children into carnal families, wherein they consult rather with the greatness of their house than the continuing of Christ's interest in their line and posterity. How careful are they that they should match in their own rank for blood and estate ! Should they not be as careful for religion also ? But even good people give a suspicion sometimes that they do not believe what they do profess. That this is the ready way to undo all that hath been set on foot for God, is evident by scripture and experience. See Gen. vi. 1-3 ; Ps. cvi. 38 ; Neh. xiii. 25, 26. In scripture, we read of Jehoram, who is said to ' walk in the way of the kings of Israel, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife,' 2 Kings viii. 18 ; and in ecclesiastical history, of Valens the emperor, who, by marrying with an Arian lady, was him- self ensnared in that wicked opinion.
All this is spoken, madam, to quicken you to the greater care in your relations, that you may settle a standing interest for Jesus Christ so hopefully already begun in your house and family. It will not be pleasing to you that I should imblish upon the house-top what God hath done for you, or enabled you to do for him. Go on still, and be faithful. There are few that I know in the world who have more cause to honour God than you have.