A26793:91
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.
2. This Mercy must not be urged to exclude our Qualification: for, till we are qualified, we have no right to the good things of the Covenant. The Mercy and Favour of God is conditional, but yet free; not due by any Merit and Claim, but that of his Promise; and his Promise is made to them that are rightly qualified, the sincere Believer, the Holy, the Humble, and the Penitent; others are uncapable of Mercy. You must not think God will ⟨p. 88⟩show Mercy to Men, though they have no inherent Holiness at all. Faith and Repentance are required before we can be pardoned.
2. This Mercy must not be urged to exclude our Qualification: for, till we are qualified, we have no right to the good things of the Covenant. The Mercy and Favour of God is conditional, but yet free; not due by any Merit and Claim, but that of his Promise; and his Promise is made to them that are rightly qualified, the sincere Believer, the Holy, the Humble, and the Penitent; others are uncapable of Mercy. You must not think God will ⟨p. 88⟩shew Mercy to Men, though they have no inherent Holiness at all. Faith and Repentance are requir'd before we can be pardoned.
3. Though Mercy be our best Plea; yet you must not take it so, as if a Believer's Condition were doubtful and uncertain, and a good Christian could not know how it will fare with him. The Mercy of the Lord is the Ground of our Hope, but in conjunction with other Evidences, whereby they understand their Estate. The most serious People do consider the weight of the Matter; but Humility is not Uncertainty. They are unworthy in the broken-hearted sense of their own Defects and Failings; but God counteth them worthy, because of their Diligence and Seriousness in the Heavenly Life. Luk. 21.35. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be counted worthy. He accepteth them as worth; They shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy.