A51839:407
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.
It is not strong, and in such a prevalent degree, as to control other affections: it is but a passion, a pleasure, and a delight they take on for a time, not the effect of solid judgment and resolution: A joy easily controlled and overcome with other delights; therefore Christ requireth a denial of all things, for a close adherence to him and his Doctrine. And hath told us, Matth. 10.37. He that loveth Father and Mother more than me, is not worthy of me, and Luke 14.26. Cannot be my Disciple. This is a love to which all other loves must give way, and be subordinate. Many love the truth a little, but love other things more, will be at no cost for it. Solomon giveth advice, Prov. 23.23. Buy the truth and sell it not. In lesser points we must do nothing against the truth, for though the matter contended for be never so small, yet sincerity is a great point; but in the greater truths we should purchase the knowledge of them at any rate, and be faithful to Christ what ever it cost us. 4. This slight love may arise from Worldly ⟨p. 194⟩respects. Now in the Text, it is said, they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved. It should arise upon eternal reasons and considerations of the other World which only produce abiding affections; Heb. 10.39. We are not of them that draw back to perdition, but of them that believe to the saving of the Soul. In closing with Christianity, that must be fixed as our scope, not to spare •he flesh, but to save the Soul: and to save the Soul with the loss of other things, and that will make us true to Christ. But there are many foreign reasons for which men may s•ew some love to Religion. As first, Policy▪ as Jeh• took up Jonadab into the Chariot with him, 2 Kings 10.15. there is his complement to him: Jonadab was a good man, and this honoured him before the people, to see Jehu and Jonadab so well acquainted. Sometimes respect to others upon whom we depend: many seem to be good because they dare not displease others that have authority over them, or an interest in them: as Joash was religious all the days of Jehoiada, for he stood in awe of him,