A51839:153
XVIII sermons on the second chapter of the 2d Epistle to the Thessalonians containing…
XVIII sermons on the second chapter of the 2d Epistle to the Thessalonians containing the description, rise, growth, and fall of Antichrist : with divers cautions and arguments to establish Christians against the apostasy of the Church of Rome : very necessary for these times / by that late reverend and learned divine, Thomas Manton ...XVIII sermons on the second chapter of the 2d Epistle to the Thessalonians containing the description, rise, growth, and fall of Antichrist : with divers cautions and arguments to establish Christians against the apostacy of the Church of Rome : very necessary for these times / by that late reverend and learned divine, Thomas Manton ...
London: printed by J.D. for J. Robinson, 1679
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.
But to make this more evident to you, let us consider what the Kingdom of Christ is▪ The Gospel Kingdom, is a Kingdom of Light, Life and Love. Opposite to Light, is ignorance and error; to Life a Religion that consists of shows, dead rites, and empty Ceremonies; to Love, uncharitableness, malice, and especially hatred of the power of Godliness: now where these prevail eminently, there is an opposite Kingdom set up to the Kingdom of Christ; certainly, a falling off from his Kingdom. That is to say, where in opposition to Light, error is taught, and ignorance is counted the Mother of Devotion, and people are restrained from the means of Knowledge; as if the height of Christian Faith and Obedience, did consist in an implicit believing what the Church believeth: and where instead of Life, men place their whole Religion on superficial Rites, and Ceremonies, and some trifling acts of seeming Devotion, and exterior Mortifications: and instead of love to God and Souls, all things are sacrificed to private Ambition; and forcing Consciences with the highest penalties and persecutions, to submit to their corruptions, There is a manifest subversion ⟨p. 60⟩of the interest of Christs Kingdom. In short, Gods witnesses were slain in that City, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, and our Lord was crucified, Rev. 11.8. That City which answereth to Sodom for impurity, to Egypt for Idolatry, and to Jerusalem for persecution of the Saints; there may you find the great Apostasy.
But to make this more evident to you, let us consider what the Kingdom of Christ is▪ The Gospel Kingdom, is a Kingdom of Light, Life and Love. Opposite to Light, is ignorance and errour; to Life a Religion that consists of shews, dead rites, and empty Ceremonies; to Love, uncharitableness, malice, and especially hatred of the power of Godliness: now where these prevail eminently, there is an opposite Kingdom set up to the Kingdom of Christ; certainly, a falling off from his Kingdom. That is to say, where in opposition to Light, errour is taught, and ignorance is counted the Mother of Devotion, and people are restrained from the means of Knowledge; as if the height of Christian Faith and Obedience, did consist in an implicite believing what the Church believeth: and where instead of Life, men place their whole Religion on superficial Rites, and Ceremonies, and some trifling acts of seeming Devotion, and exteriour Mortifications: and instead of love to God and Souls, all things are sacrificed to private Ambition; and forcing Consciences with the highest penalties and persecutions, to submit to their corruptions, There is a manifest subversion