A51839:4
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.
Reader,
Doctor Thomas Manton was not so unknown to London, nor is he so much forgotten, as that his Name or Writings should need any of my Commendations. But Booksellers expecting such an office, I have great reason to be willing to serve thee, in serving the Memorial of such a Friend. What he was I need not tell even strangers, after the Character truly given of him by his Friend and mine, in his Funeral Sermon: How sound in Judgment, against extremes in the Controversies of these Times; a great Lamenter of the scandalous and dividing Mistakes of some Self-conceite• Men: How earnestly desirous of the he•ling of our present Breaches and not unacquainted wi•h the proper Means and Terms; of which the Author of his Funeral Sermon and I had more than ordinary experience. How hard and successful a Student he was; and how frequent a•d laborious a Preacher, and how highly an• deservedly esteemed; All ⟨image 3⟩this and more, is commonly here known. The small distaste that some few had of him, I took for part of his Honour, who would not win Reputation with any, by flattering them in their mistakes, or unwarrantable ways. He used not to serve God with that which cost him nothing, nor was of their mind who cannot expect or extol God's Grace, without denying those endeavours of Man to which his necessary Grace exciteth them: He knew that without Christ we could do nothing, and yet that by Christ's strengthening us, we can do all things which God hath made necessary to be done by us. He was not of their mind that thought it Derogatory to the Honour of Christ, to praise his Works in the Souls or Lives of any of his Servants, and that it is the honour of his Grace that his justified Ones are Graceless; and that their Judg should dishonour his own Righteousness, if he make his Disciples more Righteous personally than Scribes and Pharisees, and will say to them, Well done good and faithful Servant, Thou hast been faithful over a few things — enter thou