A51838:739
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 ...
A51838:739
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.
2. The matter which he speaketh, and we hear the Doctrine of the Gospel, it is the most sweet excellent and comfortable ⟨p. 172⟩Doctrine that can be heard, or understood by the heart of man, Prov. 8. 6. Hear saith Wisdom for I will speak of excellent things, and the opening of my lips shall be of right things. This is the brightest light that ever shone from Heaven. The profoundest Wisdom, the greatest Love, and Mercy that ever was or can be shown to sinful wretches, of the highest concernment to man, because his Everlasting state lieth upon it, a state of Everlasting woe or weal.
2. The matter which he speaketh, and we hear the Doctrine of the Gospel, it is the most sweet excellent and comfortable ⟨p. 172⟩Doctrine that can be heard, or understood by the heart of man, Prov. 8. 6. Hear saith Wisdom for I will speak of excellent things, and the opening of my lips shall be of right things. This is the brightest light that ever shone from Heaven. The profoundest Wisdom, the greatest Love, and Mercy that ever was or can be shown to sinful wretches, of the highest concernment to man, because his Everlasting state lyeth upon it, a state of Everlasting wo or weal.
Three things I shall take notice of.
1. The way of Reconciliation with God, manifested and discovered out of his intimate Love to us. Man had fallen from the Love of God to the creature, and was conscious to himself of having displeased his Maker, and so lay under the fears of his vindictive Justice. Now God by Christ declareth his Love to the offender, in the fullest and most astonishing way, Reconciling himself to him, and showeth his readiness to forgive, and save him, 1 Tim. 1. 15. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the World to save sinners, of whom I am chief, and 2 Cor. 5. 19. God was in Christ reconciling the World to himself. Oh what should be more welcome to the creature than this news, of ⟨p. 173⟩this pardoning Covenant founded in the Blood of Christ.
1. The way of Reconciliation with God, manifested and discovered out of his intimate Love to us. Man had fallen from the Love of God to the creature, and was conscious to himself of having displeased his Maker, and so lay under the fears of his vindictive Justice. Now God by Christ declareth his Love to the offender, in the fullest and most astonishing way, Reconciling himself to him, and sheweth his readiness to forgive, and save him, 1 Tim. 1. 15. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Iesus Christ came into the World to save sinners, of whom I am chief, and 2 Cor. 5. 19. God was in Christ reconciling the World to himself. Oh what should be more welcom to the creature than this news, of ⟨p. 173⟩this pardoning Covenant founded in the Blood of Christ.
2. Our duty exactly stated with convenient motives to enforce it. Not only the comfort of man is provided for, but also our subjection to God, and that upon the freest and most comfortable terms, that we should serve him in love, and glorify, and please him, that we may be happy in his love to us: for the sum of Religion is to love him, and keep his Commandments, John 14. 21, 23, He that keepeth my Commandments he it is that loveth me, and if any man love me he will keep my Words, to love him is our work, and to be beloved of him is our Happiness, and verse 24. He that loveth me not keepeth not my saying, and the word which you hear is not mine, but the Fathers which sent me. The Gospel is the very Word of God, both the Fathers and the Sons, it is an act of loving, serving, and pleasing God, for this is the Word Christ preached, that we love God, and Christ loveth us again.
2. Our duty exactly stated with convenient motives to enforce it. Not only the comfort of man is provided for, but also our subjection to God, and that upon the freest and most comfortable terms, that we should serve him in love, and glorifie, and please him, that we may be happy in his love to us: for the sum of Religion is to love him, and keep his Commandements, Iohn 14. 21, 23, He that keepeth my Commandements he it is that loveth me, and if any man love me he will keep my Words, to love him is our work, and to be beloved of him is our Happiness, and verse 24. He that loveth me not keepeth not my saying, and the word which you hear is not mine, but the Fathers which sent me. The Gospel is the very Word of God, both the Fathers and the Sons, it is an act of loving, serving, and pleasing God, for this is the Word Christ preached, that we love God, and Christ loveth us again.
3. A prospect of eternal Happiness, 2 Tim. 1. 10. He hath brought Life and Immortality to light through the Gospel, this is news, but darkly revealed before, and without this ⟨p. 174⟩man, knew not how to satisfy all his capacities and desires, but was like Leviathan in a little Pool. Nay we have not only a prospect of it, but the offer of it as a reward appointed, if we will be sincere in our Faith, Love, and Obedience, 1 John 2. 25. This is the promise that he hath promised us even eternal Life. Everlasting Joy and Blessedness is propounded to us, Oh then hear him, if this be that he speaketh of.
3. A prospect of eternal Happiness, 2 Tim. 1. 10. He hath brought Life and Immortality to light through the Gospel, this is news, but darkly revealed before, and without this ⟨p. 174⟩man, knew not how to satisfie all his capacities and desires, but was like Leviathan in a little Pool. Nay we have not only a prospect of it, but the offer of it as a reward appointed, if we will be sincere in our Faith, Love, and Obedience, 1 Iohn 2. 25. This is the promise that he hath promised us even eternal Life. Everlasting Joy and Blessedness is propounded to us, Oh then hear him, if this be that he speaketh of.
3. The Danger of not hearing this Prophet.
1. For the present to continue to slight and contemn the Gospel, is the mark that you are in a carnal perishing condition, 2 Cor. 4. 3. If our Gospel is hid it is hid to them that are lost, John 10. 3. My Sheep hear my voice, and verse 16. Other Sheep are there which are not of this fold, and they shall hear my voice. Christs Sheep whether Jew or Gentile, they have all the same character, they all hear his voice, and verse 27. My Sheep hear my voice, and I know them and they follow me. They distinguish his voice, own his voice, obey his voice; so John 8. 47. Whosoever is of God heareth Gods Words, ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God, so that you lose all ⟨p. 175⟩this comfort, if ye do not hear the voice of Christ, and his faithful Servants.
1. For the present to continue to slight and contemn the Gosple, is the mark that you are in a carnal perishing condition, 2 Cor. 4. 3. If our Gosple is hid it is hid to them that are lost, Iohn 10. 3. My Sheep hear my voice, and verse 16. Other Sheep are there which are not of this fold, and they shall hear my voice. Christs Sheep whether Jew or Gentile, they have all the same character, they all hear his voice, and verse 27. My Sheep hear my voice, and I know them and they follow me. They distinguish his voice, own his voice, obey his voice; so Iohn 8. 47. Whosoever is of God heareth Gods Words, ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God, so that you lose all ⟨p. 175⟩this comfort, if ye do not hear the voice of Christ, and his faithful Servants.
2. For the Future, Deut. 18. 19. Whosoever will not hearken to the words which that Prophet shall speak in my name, I will require it of him, that is, he must look to answer it another day. Peter rendereth it Acts 3. 23. Whosoever will not hearken to that Prophet shall be destroyed among the people. It is not a bodily punishment but eternal torment, John 3. 36. The wrath of God abideth on him. Mark 16. 16. He that believeth not shall be damned. Thus you see how dangerous it is to refuse this Prophet.
2. For the Future, Deut. 18. 19. Whosoever will not hearken to the words which that Prophet shall speak in my name, I will require it of him, that is, he must look to answer it another day. Peter rendreth it Acts 3. 23. Whosoever will not hearken to that Prophet shall be destroyed among the people. It is not a bodily punishment but eternal torment, Iohn 3. 36. The wrath of God abideth on him. Mark 16. 16. He that believeth not shall be damned. Thus you see how dangerous it is to refuse this Prophet.
1. Of Conviction, to the carnal Christian for not submitting to Christs Authority. All Christians do it in pretence, but few that do it in reality. Doth his Word come to you, not only in Word but in Power?
1. Do you seriously come to him that you may have pardon, and life. When Christ had proved that he was the Son of God, the great Prophet of the Church, by the testimony of John, the testimony of his works, the testimony of his Father, and the testimony of the Scriptures, John 5. 40. And ye will not come unto me that ye ⟨p. 176⟩may have Life, though John, his Works, the Father, the Scriptures, will prove him to be what he was, the Messiah; the Saviour; and Redeemer of the World; yet they would not come to him, nor believe, but wilfully rejected him, and their own blessedness: What the Jews did wilfully, carnal Christians do lazily, they prize his Name and slight his Office, do not come to him to be taught, sanctified and drawn to God.
1. Do you seriously come to him that you may have pardon, and life. When Christ had proved that he was the Son of God, the great Prophet of the Church, by the testimony of Iohn, the testimony of his works, the testimony of his Father, and the testimony of the Scriptures, Iohn 5. 40. And ye will not come unto me that ye ⟨p. 176⟩may have Life, though Iohn, his Works, the Father, the Scriptures, will prove him to be what he was, the Messias; the Saviour; and Redeemer of the World; yet they would not come to him, nor believe, but wilfully rejected him, and their own blessedness: What the Jews did wilfully, carnal Christians do lazily, they prize his Name and slight his Office, do not come to him to be taught, sanctified and drawn to God.
2. Do you respect the Word of the Gospel, entertain it with Reverence, and Delight; as the Voice of the great Prophet? Do you meditate on it, digest it as the seed of the new Life, as the rule of your actions, as the Charter of your Hopes? A good man is described to be one that delighteth in the Law of the Lord, and meditateth therein day and night, Psal. 1. 2. and again Psal. 119. 97. Oh how I love thy Law, it is my Meditation all the day long. But alas few are of this temper, Hos. 8. 12. I have written to them the great things of thy Law, but they were counted as a strange thing, they contemned the Word of God, as if its directions were of little importance, or did not concern them. Most men live like strangers to the Word of God, little conversant ⟨p. 177⟩in it, as if there were no great hazard in breaking it.
3. Do you mingle it with Faith in the hearing, that it may profit you, Heb. 4. 2. and feel the power of it for your good, but rather you shun it, run from it, John 3. 20. They that do evil hate the light, and will not come to the light, least their deeds should be reproved. The Word is a torment, rather then a comfort to you, you are afraid it will be found too true.
3. Do you mingle it with Faith in the hearing, that it may profit you, Heb. 4. 2. and feel the power of it for your good, but rather you shun it, run from it, Iohn 3. 20. They that do evil hate the light, and will not come to the light, least their deeds should be reproved. The Word is a torment, rather then a comfort to you, you are afraid it will be found too true.
4. Do you receive it as the Word of God, 1 Thess. 2. 13. It may be you do not contradict the divine Authority in the Scriptures, but do you soundly believe them, and know the certainty of those things wherein you are instructed, Luke 1. 4. Have you done any thing to prove the supreme Truth, that Jesus is a Teacher sent from God? Most mens Faith is so weak and slight, because it is taken hand over head, there is no deepness of Earth, Mark 13. 6. You have some light sense of Religion, but slight impressions are soon defaced, and truths easily taken up are as soon quitted, the more we search into the grounds of things the more we believe, Acts 17. 11. ⟨p. 178⟩The Bereans searched the Scriptures, whether those things were so or no.
4. Do you receive it as the Word of God, 1 Thess. 2. 13. It may be you do not contradict the divine Authority in the Scriptures, but do you soundly believe them, and know the certainty of those things wherein you are instructed, Luke 1. 4. Have you done any thing to prove the supream Truth, that Jesus is a Teacher sent from God? Most mens Faith is so weak and slight, because it is taken hand over head, there is no deepness of Earth, Mark 13. 6. You have some light sense of Religion, but slight impressions are soon defaced, and truths easily taken up are as soon quitted, the more we search into the grounds of things the more we believe, Acts 17. 11. ⟨p. 178⟩The Bereans searched the Scriptures, whether those things were so or no.
5. Doth it come to you as the Mediators Word, not in Word only but in Power, 1 Thess. 1. 5. There is a convincing power in the Word, Acts 2. 37. When they heard these things, they were pricked in the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the Apostles, Men and Brethren what shall we do? Many have not felt this power, but they fear it, John 3. 20. Every one that doth evil hateth the light, neither cometh he to the light, least his deeds should be reproved. A converting power, when it becometh the seed of a new Life, 1 Pet. 1. 23. Being born again not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God which liveth and abideth for ever. A comforting power, giving the heirs of promise strong consolation, Heb. 6. 18. Do you find any thing of this in your hearts, is it ingrafted in your souls, James 1. 21. Receive with meekness the ingrafted Word which is able to save your Souls.
5. Doth it come to you as the Mediators Word, not in Word only but in Power, 1 Thess. 1. 5. There is a convincing power in the Word, Acts 2. 37. When they heard these things, they were pricked in the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the Apostles, Men and Brethren what shall we do? Many have not felt this power, but they fear it, Iohn 3. 20. Every one that doth evil hateth the light, neither commeth he to the light, least his deeds should be reproved. A converting power, when it becometh the seed of a new Life, 1 Pet. 1. 23. Being born again not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God which liveth and abideth for ever. A comforting power, giving the heirs of promise strong consolation,
6. Do you hear him universally? it is said of the great Prophet, Acts 3. 22. him shall ye hear in all things that he shall say unto you. ⟨p. 179⟩Many will hear him in the offers of pardon, but not in the precepts of duty, you must take his whole Covenant, the Promises for your Happiness, the duty for your work.