A51838:778
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 ...
A51838:778
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.
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 ⟨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.
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
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.
1. Because of his Glory, which would consume and swallow us up. This was a Voice from the excellent Glory, 2 Pet. 1. 17. Now if this excellent Glory by the Veil of the Firmament were not obscured, man were not able to bear it, Job 37. 20. If man speak, he shall be swallowed up. 1 Tim. 6. 16. He dwelleth in light which no man can approach unto, whom no man hath seen, nor can see, till we are received to Heaven. Thus it is, his Glory would kill us, his Voice confound us. There is a mighty disproportion between Mortal Creatures, and the infinite Majesty of God; the brightness of his Glory soon burdeneth, and over-burdeneth the infirmity of the best Creatures.
1. Because of his Glory, which would consume and swallow us up. This was a Voice from the excellent Glory, 2 Pet. 1. 17. Now if this excellent Glory by the Vail of the Firmament were not obscured, man were not able to bear it, Iob 37. 20. If man speak, he shall be swallowed up. 1 Tim. 6. 16. He dwelleth in light which no man can approach unto, whom no man hath seen, nor can see, till we are received to Heaven. Thus it is, his Glory would kill us, his Voice confound us. There is a mighty disproportion between Mortal Creatures, and the infinite Majesty of God; the brightness of his Glory soon burdeneth, and over-burdeneth the infirmity of the best Creatures.
2. Because of our Weakness.
1. Natural: We faint when we meet with any thing extraordinary, and therefore no wonder if we are astonished with the near approach of the Excellent Majesty of God, and made unfit for any action of Body or Mind. If we cannot look on the Sun, how can we see God? our Felicity in Heaven would be our Misery on Earth: This Wine is too strong for old Bottles.
2. Sinful Infirmity, consciousness of guilt is in it also, and our disconformity to God through sin, Isa. 6. 5, 6. Woe is me, I am for undone, I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips, and mine eyes have seen the king, the Lord of hosts. So Peter, Luk. 5. 8. Depart from me, for I am a sinful man; this raiseth a fear in us upon every eminent approach or discovery of Gods Glory. Before the Fall, God and Adam were Friends; he would have endured God to speak to him; yet after the fall the appearance of God became terrible. When he heareth his voice, he is afraid and hideth himself, and something of this fear sticketh to the best of his People, and when God is eminently near it is discovered. For persons that have sin in them, to be near to so Holy and Glorious a Majesty, that is a part of the reason of this Fear and Trouble. Well then, both these causes go together, the Representation of the Majesty of God, and the sense of our own frailty and weakness.
2. Sinful Infirmity, consciousness of guilt is in it also, and our disconformity to God through sin, Isa. 6. 5, 6. Wo is me, I am for undone, I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips, and mine eyes have seen the king, the Lord of hosts. So Peter, Luk. 5. 8. Depart from me, for I am a sinful man; this raiseth a fear in us upon every eminent approach or discovery of Gods Glory. Before the Fall, God and Adam were Friends; he would have endured God to speak to him; yet after the fall the appearance of God became terrible. When he heareth his voice, he is afraid and hideth himself, and something of this fear sticketh to the best of his People, and when God is eminently near it is discovered. For persons that have sin in them, to be near to so Holy and Glorious a Majesty, that is a part of the reason of this Fear and Trouble. Well then, both these causes go together, the Representation of the Majesty of God, and the sense of our own frailty and weakness.
Is to press us to two things; I. To press us to an holy Awe and Reverence, when we come near to God. II. To take heed that our fear of God do not degenerate into a slavish fear.
First, To press us to an holy Awe and Reverence of God, when we draw nigh unto him. Surely we should in all our Worship have such thoughts of God, as may leave a stamp of Humility, and some Impressions of the Majesty and Excellency of God upon us; and we should fall upon our faces, though not in a way of Consternation, yet in a way of Adoration. And because usually we bewray much slightness and Irreverence in our converses with God and Approaches to him, I shall press it a little.