A26793:104
A funeral sermon preached upon the death of the Reverend and Excellent Divine Dr.…
A funeral sermon preached upon the death of the Reverend and Excellent Divine Dr. Thomas Manton, who deceased Octob. 18, 1677 by William Bates ... ; to which is now added, the last public sermon Dr. Manton preached.A funeral sermon preached upon the death of the Reverend and Excellent Divine Dr. Thomas Manton, who deceas'd Octob. 18, 1677 by William Bates ... ; to which is now added, the last publick sermon Dr. Manton preached.
London: printed by J.D. for Brabazon Aylmer, 1678
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
4. His Infinite Knowledge, by which he takes notice of all that we do. We may be blinded with Partiality and Self-love, but the Holy and All-seeing God knows many Faults, which Men either cannot or will not see; 1 Cor. 4.9. I know nothing of my self, yet am I not hereby justified. Some of God's People have attained to new Covenant-Righteousness, yet they dare not venture their Eternal Estate upon that alone. Suppose our Hearts condemn us in part, we know somewhat by our selves, yet God knoweth more. 1 John 3.20. For if our Hearts condemn us, God is greater than our Hearts, and knows all thins. Things appear otherwise to the Holy God, than they do to us. Luk. 16.15. And he said unto them, Ye are they who justify your selves ⟨p. 97⟩before Men, but God knoweth their Hearts, for that which is highly esteemed among Men, is an Abomination in the sight of God. God many times detests that which is highly valued and cried up in the World. So Prov. 16.2. All the ways of Man are clean in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the Spirits. We look to the Bulk and Matter of the Action, but God looks to the Mind and Spirit with which it is performed. We look to the Action slightly, so as to overlook the Evil that is in it through partiality and indulgence to our selves; but God exactly weighs things, and puts them into the Balance of the Sanctuary: Therefore we see a necessity, that when we come into the presence of the Righteous and Impartial Judg of Heaven and Earth, we should make Mercy our Plea; though we be conscious of no Defect and Disobedience, saw nothing, or knew nothing amiss by our selves, yet God knows Failings, sees Errors. Job 9.22. If I were perfect, yet do I not know my own Soul. That is, ⟨p. 98⟩I would not go by the inward sense and feeling of my Conscience, but give up the Cause to God, that he might justly condemn me: for no Man sees exactly the depth of his own Heart; therefore I would not argue my Right, but crave Mercy: So that you see it is Mercy that must stand us in most stead.