A51838:722
Christs temptation and transfiguration practically explained and improved in several sermons /
Christs temptation and transfiguration practically explained and improved in several sermons / by the late Reverend Tho. Manton ...
A51838:722
Christs temptation and transfiguration practically explained and improved in several sermons / by the late Reverend Tho. Manton ...
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.
1. By the Titles given to him, he is compared with Moses, the great Law-giver among the Jews, The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a prophet from the midst of you like unto me, unto him shall ye hearken, Deut. 18. 15. He was to be like a Moses, but ⟨p. 159⟩greater than Moses; a Lawgiver as he, a man as he, one that saw God Face to Face as he, a Mediator as he, but far other in all respects; a better Law, a more glorious Person, a more blessed Mediator, working greater miracles than ever did Moses, so he is called our Rabbi or Master; Mar. 23. 8. One is your master even Christ, and ye are brethren. The supreme Authority, the original height is in Christ: We are not Leaders and Teachers, but Fellow Disciples; so Heb. 3. 1. Consider the Apostle and high priest of our profession, Jesus Christ. Again, he is called the Angel or Messenger of the Covenant, Mal. 3. 1. Christ with a great condescension took upon him the office of his Fathers Ambassador to the Church, to promote the Covenant of Reconciliation, between God and Man, and make offers of it in preaching the Gospel, and he it is that doth by this Spirit persuade the Elect, and doth make his Covenant sure to them. Once more; he is called Amen, the faithful and true witness, Rev. 3. 14. there can be no prejudice against his Testimony; he can never deceive, nor be deceived; it is so, it will be so, as he hath said, Amen is his Name.
1. By the Titles given to him, he is compared with Moses, the great Law-giver among the Iews, The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a prophet from the midst of you like unto me, unto him shall ye hearken, Deut. 18. 15. He was to be like a Moses, but ⟨p. 159⟩greater than Moses; a Lawgiver as he, a man as he, one that saw God Face to Face as he, a Mediator as he, but far other in all respects; a better Law, a more glorious Person, a more blessed Mediator, working greater miracles than ever did Moses, so he is called our Rabbi or Master; Mar. 23. 8. One is your master even Christ, and ye are brethren. The supream Authority, the original hight is in Christ: We are not Leaders and Teachers, but Fellow Disciples; so Heb. 3. 1. Consider the Apostle and high priest of our profession, Iesus Christ. Again, he is called the Angel or Messenger of the Covenant, Mal. 3. 1. Christ with a great condescension took upon him the office of his Fathers Ambassador to the Church, to promote the Covenant of Reconciliation, between God and Man, and make offers of it in preaching the Gospel, and he it is that doth by this Spirit perswade the Elect, and doth make his Covenant sure to them. Once more; he is called Amen, the faithful and true witness, Rev. 3. 14. there can be no prejudice against his Testimony; he can never deceive, nor be deceived; it is so, it will be so, as he hath said, Amen is his Name.
2. By the Properties of his Office; he hath 3 things to qualify him for this high Office.
2. By the Properties of his Office; he hath 3 things to qualifie him for this high Office.
1. Absolute supreme Authority; and therefore we must hear him and hearken to him. This is usually made the ground and reason of the Gospel invitation, to invite sinners to submit themselves to seek after God in this way. As Matth. 11. 27, 28. All things are delivered unto me of my father, and no man knoweth the son but the father, neither knoweth any man the father save the son, and he to whomsoever the son will reveal him. Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, &c. There is no true knowing of God but by Christ, and the Gospel Revelation which he hath established; therefore here must we seek rest for our souls. So Joh. 3. 35, 36. The father loveth the son, and hath put all things into his hands. He that believeth on the son hath everlasting life, and he that believeth not the son hath not seen life, but the wrath of God abideth on him. First his Mediatorial Authority is acknowledged, and then Faith and Obedience to the Gospel is called for; for to the sentence of the Son of God we must stand or fall. So when Christ instituted and sent abroad his Messengers, to invite the World to the Obedience of the Gospel, Matth. 28. 18, 19, 20. All power is given to me both in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, ⟨p. 161⟩and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. He hath absolute and supreme Authority to gather his Church, to appoint Ministers and Ordinances, to bestow the Spirit, to open and close Heaven and Hell as he pleaseth, to dispose of all affairs in the World for the furtherance of the Gospel, and to enjoin the whole World obedience to his Commands, and to embrace this Doctrine,
1. Absolute supream Authority; and therefore we must hear him and hearken to him. This is usually made the ground and reason of the Gospel invitation, to invite sinners to submit themselves to seek after God in this way. As Matth. 11. 27, 28. All things are delivered unto me of my father, and no man knoweth the son but the father, neither knoweth any man the father save the son, and he to whomsoever the son will reveal him. Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, &c. There is no true knowing of God but by Christ, and the Gospel Revelation which he hath established; therefore here must we seek rest for our souls. So
2. All manner of sufficiency and power of God to execute this Office; Joh. 3. 34. For he whom God hath sent, speaketh the words of God, for God giveth not the spirit by measure to him. The former Prophets had the Spirit in a limited measure, bestowed on them by God, for such particular purposes as best pleased him. Therefore all their prophesies begin, Thus saith the Lord, as having for every particular Message and Errand new Revelation; but on Christ the Spirit descended once for all, and commanded the belief of all and obedience to all that he should say. Therefore it is said, Col. 2. 3. In him are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. He is Ignorant of none of those things which are to be known and practised in order to our eternal salvation; they are deposited with him to be dispensed to us.
2. All manner of sufficiency and power of God to execute this Office; Ioh. 3. 34. For he whom God hath sent, speaketh the words of God, for God giveth not the spirit by measure to him. The former Prophets had the Spirit in a limited measure, bestowed on them by God, for such particular purposes as best pleased him. Therefore all their prophesies begin, Thus saith the Lord, as having for every particular Message and Errand new Revelation; but on Christ the Spirit descended once for all, and commanded the belief of all and obedience to all that he should say. Therefore it is said, Col. 2. 3. In him are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. He is Ignorant of none of those things which are to be known and practised in order to our eternal salvation; they are deposited with him to be dispensed to us.
3. There is in him a powerful efficacy. As he hath absolute Authority to teach in his own name, and fullness of sufficiency to make known the Mind of God to us; so he hath power to make his Doctrine Effectual. As when he dealt with his Disciples, after he had opened the Scriptures, he opened their Understandings, Luk. 24. 25. so he opened the heart of Lydia, Acts 16. 14. He can teach so as to draw, Joh. 6. 44, 45. He can excite the drowsy Mind, change and turn the Rebellious Will, cure the distempered Affections, make us to be what he persuadeth us to be. There is no such Teacher as Christ, who doth not only give us our Lesson, but an heart to Learn; therefore to him we must submit, hear nothing against him, but all from him.
3. There is in him a powerful efficacy. As he hath absolute Authority to teach in his own name, and fulness of sufficiency to make known the Mind of God to us; so he hath power to make his Doctrine Effectual. As when he dealt with his Disciples, after he had opened the Scriptures, he opened their Understandings, Luk. 24. 25. so he opened the heart of Lydia, Acts 16. 14. He can teach so as to draw, Ioh. 6. 44, 45. He can excite the drowsie Mind, change and turn the Rebellious Will, cure the distempered Affections, make us to be what he perswadeth us to be. There is no such Teacher as Christ, who doth not only give us our Lesson, but an heart to Learn; therefore to him we must submit, hear nothing against him, but all from him.
II. About Hearing him; that must be explained also.
First, What it is to Hear. It being our great duty, and the respect bespoken for him In the hearing of words there are 3 things considerable; the sound that cometh to the Ear, the understanding of the Sense and Meaning, and the assent or consent of the Mind. Of the first, the Beasts are capable, for they have Ears to hear the sound ⟨p. 163⟩of words uttered. The second is common to all Men, for they can sense such intelligible words as they hear. The third belongeth to Disciples, who are swayed by their Masters Authority. So that, Hear him, is not to hear as Beasts, nor barely to hear as Men, but to hear as Disciples; to believe him, to obey him; to believe his Doctrines and Promises, and to obey his Precepts. For his Authority is absolute, and what he doth say, doth warrant our Faith, and command our practice and obedience. I gather this partly from the word Hear, which not only signifies Attention and Belief, but Obedience, as 1 Sam. 15. 22. To obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken then the fat of rams. Where to obey and hearken, are put as words of the same import and signification. Partly from the Matter of Christs Revelation; he hath revealed not only Doctrines to inform the Mind, but Precepts to reform the Heart and Practice. If we assent to the doctrine, but do not obey the precepts, we do not hear him. Therefore to hear him is to yield obedience to what he shall teach you; and when Christ cometh to take an account of the entertainment of the Gospel, he shall come in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of ⟨p. 164⟩our Lord Jesus Christ. Partly too from the intimate connection there is between his Prophetical and Regal Office. Christ is so a Prophet, that he is also a Sovereign; and doth not only give us Counsel and Direction, but a Law, which we are to observe under the highest penalties. If the Gospel were an arbitrary direction, which we might observe or not observe, without any great danger to our selves, surely it were folly to despise good Counsel; but it hath the force of a new Law from the great King and Law-giver of the World, therefore it must not only be believed but obeyed; Heb. 5. 8. He that is the chief prophet of the church, is also the king of saints. Partly also from the near connection that is between Faith and Obedience.
The Matter which we believe is of a practical concernment, and doth not require only a simple Faith, or bare belief, which were enough in points merely speculative; but a ready Obedience. It is said Rom. 16. 26. The mysteries of the gospel are made manifest to all nations for the obedience of faith. They are not matters of speculation and talk, but practice; and Blessedness is pronounced on such as hear them and keep them; Luk. 11. 28. Blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it. Many hear and talk, ⟨p. 165⟩hear and stuff their Minds with Notions, but they do not frame themselves to the practice of what they hear. Many question not Christs Authority, but yet they do not regard his Doctrine. Now Faith doth not only silence our doubts, but quicken our Affections, and enliven our Practice.
The Matter which we believe is of a practical concernment, and doth not require onely a simple Faith, or bare belief, which were enough in points merely speculative; but a ready Obedience. It is said Rom. 16. 26. The mysteries of the gospel are made manifest to all nations for the obedience of faith. They are not matters of speculation and talk, but practice; and Blessedness is pronounced on such as hear them and keep them; Luk. 11. 28. Blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it. Many hear and talk, ⟨p. 165⟩hear and stuff their Minds with Notions, but they do not frame themselves to the practice of what they hear. Many question not Christs Authority, but yet they do not regard his Doctrine. Now Faith doth not onely silence our doubts, but quicken our Affections, and enliven our Practice.
Secondly, How can we now hear Christ, since he is removed into the Heaven of Heavens, and doth not speak to us in Person.
Answ. Surely it doth not only concern the Believers of that Age, who conversed with Christ in the days of his Flesh; but it is the general duty of all Christians to hear Christ; for during the whole Gospel dispensation, God speaketh to us by his Son. Heb. 1. 2. The Revelation is settled, and not delivered by parcels, as it was to the ordinary prophets. Now we hear Christ in the Scriptures, Heb. 2. 3, 4. How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation? Which was first spoken by the Lord and afterwards confirmed to us by them that heard him. He began to speak and to declare the Gospel both before and after his Resurrection; and they that heard him were especially the Apostles, who being endued by the Holy ⟨p. 166⟩Ghost declared it first to the Jews, and then to the Gentiles to whom it was continued by divers signs and wonders, as to the Apostles, and to extraordinary Messengers. Christ saith, Luk. 10. 16. He that heareth you, heareth me, and he that despiseth you, despiseth me, and he that despiseth me, despiseth him that sent me. The despising of the Messenger, is the despising him that sendeth the Message. A mans Apostle is himself, is a Jewish Proverb. As to ordinary Ministers he saith, lo, I am with you to the end of the world, Mar. 28. 20. they are taken into part of the Apostolical Commission and Blessings; they preach in Christs Name, and we as in his stead pray you to be reconciled, 2 Cor. 5. 20. so that it is his Voice and his Message, he affordeth his Presence and Assistance unto the Worlds end. If you receive it with Faith and Obedience, you are in a Course and way which will bring you to Everlasting Blessedness: but if you stand out obstinately against his Message, you are in the way to Everlasting Misery, for refusing Gods methods for your Redemption.
Answ. Surely it doth not onely concern the Believers of that Age, who conversed with Christ in the dayes of his Flesh; but it is the general duty of all Christians to hear Christ; for during the whole Gospel dispensation, God speaketh to us by his Son.
Thirdly, The Properties of this Hearing or Submission to our Great Prophet.
1. There must be a resolute Consent or Resignation of our selves to his Teaching ⟨p. 167⟩and Instruction. All particular duties are included in the general. First, we own Christ in his Offices, before we perform the duties, which each of those offices calleth for at our hands and from us; before we depend on him as a Priest, or obey him as a King. As we receive him with thankfulness and love, as our dearest Saviour, and with Reverence, and a consent of subjection, as a sovereign Lord; so also with a consent of Resolution to follow his directions, as our Prophet and Teacher, being convinced that he is sent from God to show us the way of Life and Happiness; Joh. 6. 63. Lord to whom shall we go, thou hast the words of Eternal Life. His Doctrine showeth that there is such a thing, how it was purchased, which way it may be had, by Gods offer and the terms prescribed. Before we take any particular direction from Christ about this or that duty, we must first consent in the general, that he shall be our Teacher and Prophet. A particular consent to Christ in this Relation is as necessary as to any of the rest.
1. There must be a resolute Consent or Resignation of our selves to his Teaching ⟨p. 167⟩and Instruction. All particular duties are included in the general. First, we own Christ in his Offices, before we perform the duties, which each of those offices calleth for at our hands and from us; before we depend on him as a Priest, or obey him as a King. As we receive him with thankfulness and love, as our dearest Saviour, and with Reverence, and a consent of subjection, as a soveraign Lord; so also with a consent of Resolution to follow his directions, as our Prophet and Teacher, being convinced that he is sent from God to shew us the way of Life and Happiness; Ioh. 6. 63. Lord to whom shall we go, thou hast the words of Eternal Life. His Doctrine sheweth that there is such a thing, how it was purchased, which way it may be had, by Gods offer and the terms prescribed. Before we take any particular direction from Christ about this or that duty, we must first consent in the general, that he shall be our Teacher and Prophet. A particular consent to Christ in this Relation is as necessary as to any of the rest.
2. This Resignation of our Souls to Christ as a Teacher, as it must be resolute, so it must be unbounded and without reserves. We must submit absolutely to all that he propoundeth, though some Mysteries ⟨p. 168⟩be above our Reason, some Precepts against the Interest and Inclination of the Flesh, some Promises seem to be against Hope, or contrary to natural probabilities. There are some Mysteries in the Christian Religion, though not against Reason, yet above Natural Reason. Now we must believe them upon Christs word, Captivantes omnem intellectum in obsequium Christi, 2 Cor. 10. 5. Bringing into Captivity every thought into the obedience of Christ. All our disputings and reasonings against the Christian Doctrine, must be captivated by a submission to the Authority of our Teacher and Prophet. A Disciple is to be a Learner, not a Caviller; and some Principles are not to be chewed, but swallowed as Pills on the credit of the Physician, when it appeareth on other Grounds that Christ is the great Teacher sent from God. And as there are Mysteries above our Reason, so there be duties against the Interest and Inclination of the Flesh. Many of Christs Precepts are displeasing to Corrupt Nature; to deny our selves, to take up the Cross, to mortify our Appetites and Passions, to cut off right hands, and to pluck out right Eyes, that none shall be saved that are not Regenerate and Holy; that non-condemnation is the privilege of those that walk not after the ⟨p. 169⟩Flesh, but after the Spirit; that if we live after the Flesh, we shall dye; that we must not seek great things for our selves; that we must hate Father and Mother, and our own life, if we will be Christs Disciples: Flesh and Blood can hardly down with these things: that there shall be such an exact day of account, such eternal torments in the other World: yet if this be revealed by our great Prophet, as reason must not be heard against Christ, so the flesh must not be heard against Christ, nor the World heard against Christ; so if some of our Hopes exceed the probability of natural causes, Rom. 4. 18. he against hope believed in hope, as the Resurrection of the Body, we must believe and obey him in what he offereth and commandeth, notwithstanding the contradiction of our carnal minds, and hearts, in what is hard to be believed, and practised as well as in what is easy.
3. It must be speedy, as to the great solemn acts of submission, do not delay to hear him, Heb. 3. 7. To day if you will hear his voice harden not your hearts. Christ must not be put off with dilatory shifts, if we refuse to hear to day, Christ may refuse to speak to morrow. The Father hath his time of waiting, the Son of his Gospel-offers, the Spirit of his earnest motions: it is ⟨p. 170⟩dangerous to slip our day, therefore if you will hear him, hear him now? hear him betimes, the season falleth under the precept as well as the duty, now while it is called to day.
4. Your consent to hear him must be real, practical, and obediential, verified in the whole tenor and course of your lives and actions: for Christ will not be flattered with empty Titles, why call ye me Lord, and Master, and do not the things which I say? Luke 6. 46. if you pretend to hear his word, you must do it also, for you do not hear to please your minds with knowing, but that you may make it your serious care and business to serve, love and please God. Many study Christianity to form their opinions, rather then reform their Hearts and Practice. The great use of Knowledge, and Faith, is to behold the love of God in the face of Jesus Christ; that our own love may be quickened and increased to him again. If it serve only to regulate opinions, it is but dead speculation, not a living Faith. A naked belief is but the sight of a Feast, it is the gracious soul doth eat and digest it; when our Faith is turned into Love, and Obedience that is the true Faith.
4. Your consent to hear him must be real, practical, and obediential, verifyed in the whole tenour and course of your lives and actions: for Christ will not be flattered with empty Titles, why call ye me Lord, and Master, and do not the things which I say? Luke 6. 46. if you pretend to hear his word, you must do it also, for you do not hear to please your minds with knowing, but that you may make it your serious care and business to serve, love and please God. Many study Christianity to form their opinions, rather then reform their Hearts and Practice. The great use of Knowledge, and Faith, is to behold the love of God in the face of Jesus Christ; that our own love may be quickned and encreased to him again. If it serve onely to regulate opinions, it is but dead speculation, not a living Faith. A naked belief is but the sight of a Feast, it is the gracious soul doth eat and digest it; when our Faith is turned into Love, and Obedience that is the true Faith.
III. The reasons why this Prophet must be heard.
First, What it is to Hear. It being our great duty, and the respect bespoken for him In the hearing of words there are 3 things considerable; the sound that cometh to the Ear, the understanding of the Sense and Meaning, and the assent or consent of the Mind. Of the first, the Beasts are capable, for they have Ears to hear the sound ⟨p. 163⟩of words uttered. The second is common to all Men, for they can sense such intelligible words as they hear. The third belongeth to Disciples, who are swayed by their Masters Authority. So that, Hear him, is not to hear as Beasts, nor barely to hear as Men, but to hear as Disciples; to believe him, to obey him; to believe his Doctrines and Promises, and to obey his Precepts. For his Authority is absolute, and what he doth say, doth warrant our Faith, and command our practice and obedience. I gather this partly from the word Hear, which not only signifies Attention and Belief, but Obedience, as 1 Sam. 15. 22. To obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken then the fat of rams. Where to obey and hearken, are put as words of the same import and signification. Partly from the Matter of Christs Revelation; he hath revealed not onely Doctrines to inform the Mind, but Precepts to reform the Heart and Practice. If we assent to the doctrine, but do not obey the precepts, we do not hear him. Therefore to hear him is to yield obedience to what he shall teach you; and when Christ cometh to take an account of the entertainment of the Gospel, he shall come in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of ⟨p. 164⟩our Lord Iesus Christ. Partly too from the intimate connexion there is between his Prophetical and Regal Office. Christ is so a Prophet, that he is also a Soveraign; and doth not onely give us Counsel and Direction, but a Law, which we are to observe under the highest penalties. If the Gospel were an arbitrary direction, which we might observe or not observe, without any great danger to our selves, surely it were folly to despise good Counsel; but it hath the force of a new Law from the great King and Law-giver of the World, therefore it must not onely be believed but obeyed; Heb. 5. 8. He that is the chief prophet of the church, is also the king of saints. Partly also from the near connexion that is between Faith and Obedience.
2. This Resignation of our Souls to Christ as a Teacher, as it must be resolute, so it must be unbounded and without reserves. We must submit absolutely to all that he propoundeth, though some Mysteries ⟨p. 168⟩be above our Reason, some Precepts against the Interest and Inclination of the Flesh, some Promises seem to be against Hope, or contrary to natural probabilities. There are some Misteries in the Christian Religion, though not against Reason, yet above Natural Reason. Now we must believe them upon Christs word, Captivantes omnem intellectum in obsequium Christi, 2 Cor. 10. 5. Bringing into Captivity every thought into the obedience of Christ. All our disputings and reasonings against the Christian Doctrine, must be captivated by a submission to the Authority of our Teacher and Prophet. A Disciple is to be a Learner, not a Caviller; and some Principles are not to be chewed, but swallowed as Pills on the credit of the Physitian, when it appeareth on other Grounds that Christ is the great Teacher sent from God. And as there are Mysteries above our Reason, so there be duties against the Interest and Inclination of the Flesh. Many of Christs Precepts are displeasing to Corrupt Nature; to deny our selves, to take up the Cross, to mortifie our Appetites and Passions, to cut off right hands, and to pluck out right Eyes, that none shall be saved that are not Regenerate and Holy; that non-condemnation is the priviledge of those that walk not after the ⟨p. 169⟩Flesh, but after the Spirit; that if we live after the Flesh, we shall dye; that we must not seek great things for our selves; that we must hate Father and Mother, and our own life, if we will be Christs Disciples: Flesh and Blood can hardly down with these things: that there shall be such an exact day of account, such eternal torments in the other World: yet if this be revealed by our great Prophet, as reason must not be heard against Christ, so the flesh must not be heard against Christ, nor the World heard against Christ; so if some of our Hopes exceed the probability of natural causes, Rom. 4. 18. he against hope believed in hope, as the Resurrection of the Body, we must believe and obey him in what he offereth and commandeth, notwithstanding the contradiction of our carnal minds, and hearts, in what is hard to be believed, and practised as well as in what is easie.