A51839:611
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.
V. Prop. That now when they are long since gone to God, and we cannot receive from them the Doctrine of Life by word of Mouth, we must stick to the Scriptures, or written Word. 1. Because we are taught ⟨p. 331⟩to do so by Christ and his Apostles. Christ always appealeth to the Writings of the Old Testament, both against Traditions, which he condemneth, Matth. 15.2. and against pretended Revelations; Luke 16.31. If they hear not Moses and the Prophets, neither will be persuaded to repent, if one should come from the Dead. And the Apostles still have recourse to this Proof, Acts 26.22. Witnessing no other things than the Prophets and Moses did say should come to pass. And when they pleaded they were Eye and Ear-witnesses, and so their Testimony was valuable; yet they say ye have [Greek or Hebrew], a surer Word of Prophecy, whereunto ye shall do well to take heed, 2 Pet. 1.19. Now how can we do better than to imitate these great Examples? 2. Because those things were written for our sakes. 1 John 1.4. These things write we unto you, that your Joy may be full. The Apostles being to leave the World, did know the slipperiness of Man's Memory, and the danger of corrupting Christian Doctrine, if there were not a sure authentic Record left; therefore they wrote, and so fully, that nothing is wanting to complete our Joy and Happiness. 3. Because the Scriptures are perfect. The perfection of Scripture is known by its End, and intended Use, which is to give us a knowledge of those things which concern our Faith, Duty, and Happiness. ⟨p. 332⟩1. Our Faith in Christ. If there be enough written for that end, we need not unwritten Traditions, to complete our Rule. Now St. John telleth us, he might have written more things; But these things are written that ye might believe in the Son of God, and have Life through his Name,