A51838:771
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 ...
A51838:771
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. I will prove that God is a great God, and of glorious Majesty. ⟨p. 186⟩2. Give you the Reasons why we are not able to bear the extraordinary manifestations thereof in this state of frailty.
1. That God is a God of great Majesty, and ought to be reverenced by all that have to do with him. The point being a matter of sense, and evident by natural light, needeth not to be proved so much as improved.
1. Scripture representeth him as such Dan. 9. 4. He is called the great and dreadful God, so Deut. 7. 21. A Mighty God and terrible, and Nahum 1. 5. A great and terrible God is he, and again Job 37. 22. With God is terrible Majesty.
2. This eminently shineth forth both in his Works of Creation and Providence. 1. Creation, in the stupendous Fabric of the Heavens, Jer. 32. 17, 18, 19. Ah Lord God, behold thou hast made the Heaven, and the Earth by thy great power and outstretched arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee, &c. In that mighty Collection of Waters in the Sea, we cannot look upon that vast expansion of the Firmament, that huge body of Waters in the Sea without some religious horror, what is the God that made all this, Jer. 5. 22. Fear ye not me, saith the Lord? will ye not tremble at my presence? which have placed the Sand for a bound to the Sea, by a perpetual ⟨p. 187⟩decree that it cannot pass it, and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it. 2. Providence, whether in his way of Mercy or Judgment. Mercy; what a Majestic description of God is there, Ps. 50. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. yet there his presence in his Church is described. The drift of the Psalm is, to set forth Gods Power and Majesty when he comes to call the Gentiles, and to set up the Evangelical way of his Worship, when the light of the Gospel shall shine forth from Zion, Psalm 5. 5. by terrible things in Righteousness wilt thou answer us, Oh God, thou God of our Salvation. Though God is a God of Salvation, yet the way of his delivering them carrieth Majesty and Terror with it. So his Works of Judgment, Psal. 119. 120. My flesh trembleth for fear of thee, and I am afraid of thy Judgments, when the wicked of the Earth are put away like dross. A Lyon trembleth to see a Dog beaten before him, and it is imputed as a fault to the wicked, that they do not take notice of it, Isa. 26. 10. They will not behold the Majesty of God.
2. This eminently shineth forth both in his Works of Creation and Providence. 1. Creation, in the stupendious Fabrick of the Heavens, Ier. 32. 17, 18, 19. Ah Lord God, behold thou hast made the Heaven, and the Earth by thy great power and outstretched arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee, &c. In that mighty Collection of Waters in the Sea, we cannot look upon that vast expansion of the Firmament, that huge body of Waters in the Sea without some religious horrour, what is the God that made all this,
3. His Greatness and Majesty is such, that we cannot comprehend it, Job 36. 26. Behold God is great and we know him not, nor can the number of his years be searched out. ⟨p. 188⟩The Greatness of God cannot be known, but only by way of Negation, that he hath none of those infirmities, which may lessen his being in our thoughts, or by way of comparison, that he is above all, God is greater then man, Jer. 36. 12.
3. His Greatness and Majesty is such, that we cannot comprehend it, Iob 36. 26. Behold God is great and we know him not, nor can the number of his years be searched out. ⟨p. 188⟩The Greatness of God cannot be known, but only by way of Negation, that he hath none of those infirmities, which may lessen his being in our thoughts, or by way of comparison, that he is above all, God is greater then man, Ier. 36. 12.
4. So great that he is fain to put a covering on, to interpose the Clouds between us and him, for we are not able to bear his glorious and majestic presence, Joh 26. 9. He holdeth back the face of his Throne, and spreadeth his Cloud upon it. What would become of us, if he should discover all his Glory: this is his condescension to the lower World, to appear under a veil, and cover his Throne with Clouds.
4. So great that he is fain to put a covering on, to enterpose the Clouds between us and him, for we are not able to bear his glorious and majestick presence, Ioh 26. 9. He holdeth back the face of his Throne, and spreadeth his Cloud upon it. What would become of us, if he should discover all his Glory: this is his condescension to the lower World, to appear under a vail, and cover his Throne with Clouds.
But though we do not know his full Majesty, yet there is enough discovered both to Faith, Reason and Sense, that God is great and glorious, both in himself and in all his Works. Scripture declareth it to Faith, and Reason will soon subscribe to so evident a Truth, that he that made and sustaineth all things, must needs be a great God. What other conceptions can we form of him, when we look to the Heaven, and this Earth which he sustaineth by his great Power, and he declareth himself to Sense by his daily Providence to be a God of great Majesty.
But though we do not know his full Majesty, yet there is enough discovered both to Faith, Reason and Sense, that God is great and glorious, both in himself and in all his Works. Scripture declareth it to Faith, and Reason will soon subscribe to so evident a Truth, that he that made and sustaineth all things, must needs be a great God. What other conceptions can we form of him, when we look to the Heaven, and this Earth which he sustaineth by his great Power, and he declareth himself to Sense by his dayly Providence to be a God of great Majesty.
The proof of it needeth not so much to be spoke to as the improvement of it, which we are called upon for every where.
1. It is a Mercy that being so great, he taketh notice of us, Psal. 8. 3, 4. When I consider thy Heavens, the work of thy Fingers, the Moon and Stars which thou hast ordained, what is man that thou art mindful of him, and the Son of Man that thou visitest him. When we consider how the Majesty of God shineth forth in the heavenly Bodies, and those many glorious Creatures God hath made besides us: we may wonder that God should esteem of man, and take care of man; and be so solicitous about mans welfare, who was formed at first out of so vile materials, as the dust of the Earth, and is still of so very frail, infirm and mortal condition, and hath carried himself so unthankfully to God, that he should take care of him above his whole Creation, Psalm 113. 6, 7. The Lord our God dwelleth on high, who humbleth himself to behold the things in Heaven and Earth. That the great God of such glorious Majesty should take notice of Worms, and behold us not only by visiting, over-seeing, and governing the affairs of this lower World, but should condescend to this low estate of ours, in taking our flesh; whose Excellency ⟨p. 190⟩and Majesty is so great, that he might despise the Angels, of whom he hath no need: but to stoop so low towards men is matter of wonder, praise, and adoration.
1. It is a Mercy that being so great, he taketh notice of us, Psal. 8. 3, 4. When I consider thy Heavens, the work of thy Fingers, the Moon and Stars which thou hast ordained, what is man that thou art mindful of him, and the Son of Man that thou visitest him. When we consider how the Majesty of God shineth forth in the heavenly Bodies, and those many glorious Creatures God hath made besides us: we may wonder that God should esteem of man, and take care of man; and be so solicitous about mans welfare, who was formed at first out of so vile materials, as the dust of the Earth, and is still of so very frail, infirm and mortal condition, and hath carryed himself so unthankfully to God, that he should take care of him above his whole Creation, Psalm 113. 6, 7. The Lord our God dwelleth on high, who humbleth himself to behold the things in Heaven and Earth. That the great God of such glorious Majesty should take notice of Worms, and behold us not only by visiting, over-seeing, and governing the affairs of this lower World, but should condescend to this low estate of ours, in taking our flesh; whose Excellency
2. We should be humble in our conversing with him, considering what he is, and we are, Job 42. 5, 6. I have heard of thee with the hearing of the ear, now mine eye seeth thee, therefore I abhor my self in dust and ashes. This should keep his children in a holy awe. Oh how low should we lye before this great God, Gen. 18. 27. Who am I that am but dust and ashes, that I should speak unto God.
2. We should be humble in our conversing with him, considering what he is, and we are, Iob 42. 5, 6. I have heard of thee with the hearing of the ear, now mine eye seeth thee, therefore I abhor my self in dust and ashes. This should keep his children in a holy awe. Oh how low should we lye before this great God, Gen. 18. 27. Who am I that am but dust and ashes, that I should speak unto God.
3. That we must not please our selves with the performance of ordinary service to him, but we should raise it to an eminent degree of Worship and Adoration, Psal. 48. 1. Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the City of our God, and Psalm 145. 3. Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised. Alas the best we do is much beneath God. what low thoughts had Solomon of his stately Temple, 2 Chr. 2. 6. Who is able to build thee an house, seeing the Heaven of Heavens is not able to contain him, who am I that I should build him an house? Thus should we see, that our best resolutions and performances come much short of the excellency and greatness of God. All formality and ⟨p. 191⟩lifeless service proceedeth from hence, that we have not due and raised thoughts of his Majesty and Being, Mal. 1. 14. I am a great King, saith the Lord of Hosts. The greatness of God calleth for other service then usually we give to him: he gets nothing from us that is perfect. But surely we should not put him off with our refuse, but spend the best of our strength, time, parts, and affections, in his service. Superficial dealing in it argueth mean thoughts of God, it is a lessening of his Majesty.
3. That we must not please our selves with the performance of ordinary service to him, but we should raise it to an eminent degree of Worship and Adoration, Psal. 48. 1. Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the City of our God, and Psalm 145. 3. Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised. Alass the best we do is much beneath God. what low thoughts had Solomon of his stately Temple, 2 Chr. 2. 6. Who is able to build thee an house, seeing the Heaven of Heavens is not able to contain him, who am I that I should build him an house? Thus should we see, that our best resolutions and performances come much short of the excellency and greatness of God. All formality and
4. We serve a great Master, and so may expect great things from him. He discovereth himself unto his people according to the greatness and Majesty of his Being, Ps. 126. 2, 3. The Lord hath done great things for them, yea the Lord hath done great things for us whereof we are glad. Kings or Princes do not give pence or brass Farthings, but bestow Gifts becoming their Magnificence. The Heathens were forced to acknowledge it, and the people of God do willing acknowledge it, so Joel 2. 21. Fear not, O Land, be glad and rejoice, for the Lord will do great things. Be the Mercies never so rare, the way never so difficult, God is able to accomplish them.
4. We serve a great Master, and so may expect great things from him. He discovereth himself unto his people according to the greatness and Majesty of his Being, Ps. 126. 2, 3. The Lord hath done great things for them, yea the Lord hath done great things for us whereof we are glad. Kings or Princes do not give pence or brass Farthings, but bestow Gifts becomming their Magnificence. The Heathens were forced to acknowledg it, and the people of God do willing acknowledg it, so Ioel 2. 21. Fear not, O Land, be glad and rejoyce, for the Lord will do great things. Be the Mercies never so rare, the way never so difficult, God is able to accomplish them.
5. This should banish the fear of man, as to any danger can come from them to us, or to any attempts against God, Matth. ⟨p. 192⟩10. 28. Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the Soul, but rather fear him who is able to destroy both body and Soul in Hell fire; they may threaten great things to us, but God threateneth greater. See Exod. 18. 11. Now I know that God is greater then all Gods, for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly God was above them. There is a greater being we have to depend upon.
5. This should banish the fear of man, as to any danger can come from them to us, or to any attempts against God, Matth. ⟨p. 192⟩10. 28. Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the Soul, but rather fear him who is able to destroy both body and Soul in Hell fire; they may threaten great things to us, but God threatneth greater. See Exod. 18. 11. Now I know that God is greater then all Gods, for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly God was above them. There is a greater being we have to depend upon.
6. Because God is of such Majesty and Greatness, we should quarrel at none of his dealings, for he is too high to be questioned by the Creature, and his Counsels are carried on in such a way as we cannot judg of them, no more then a Worm can judge of the affairs of a man; he is great in Counsel, and wonderful in working.
6. Because God is of such Majesty and Greatness, we should quarrel at none of his dealings, for he is too high to be questioned by the Creature, and his Counsels are carryed on in such a way as we cannot judg of them, no more then a Worm can judge of the affairs of a man; he is great in Counsel, and wonderful in working.
7. This should keep his children in an holy awe, Heb. 12. 28, 29. Let us have Grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with Reverence and Godly Fear, for our God is a consuming fire. When we come in the Holy Assemblies, Gen. 28. 17. How dreadful is this place. In our general course we must not slight his frowns, nor despise his favours, all comes from a great God, nor behave our selves irreverently in his presence, but still walk as those that have to do with a great and glorious God.
II. That in this present state we are not able to bear any extraordinary manifestation of his Greatness and Majesty.