A51839:622
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.
1. Because Scripture it self is a Tradition, as we proved before, and is conveyed to us by the most credible means, which we have no reason to doubt of. The Scriptures of the Old Testament were preserved by the Jews, to whom were committed the Oracles of God, Rom. 3.2. Protestants received all the Books which they admitted into their Canon. And for the Books of the New Testament, the Christian Church hath received them, as the Writings of those whose names they •ear. And by the constant Universal Tradition of the Church they are transmitted to us; and we have no more reason to doubt of them, than we do of Statutes and Laws made by Kings and Parliaments, who lived long before we had a being. Yea, we may be much more confident, as the Matter is of greater weight and consequence, and these Writings have the signature and stamp of God's Spirit on them, and have bin blessed by God, to the converting and sanctifying ⟨p. 343⟩of many Souls: And have bin delivered down to us by a succession of Believers unto this very day: And by them Christianity hath bin preserved in the World, notwithstanding the wickedness of it, and hath held up head against all the encounter of Time. The persecutions of Adverse Powers have not suppressed it, nor the disputes of Enemies silenced the profession of it; but still from Age to Age God's Truth is received and transmitted to Posterity.
2. Because the truth of Christianity depending upon Matter of Fact, chiefly Christ's rising from the Dead, it can only be proved by a Testimony; which in so extraordinary a case, must be made valuable, and authorized to the World by the Miracles accompanying it. Now the notice of these things is brought to us by Tradition, which being unquestionable, giveth us as good ground of Faith, as it did to them that lived in the Apostles Time, and heard their Doctrine, and saw their Miracles. God's wonderful Works were never intended for the benefit of that Age only in which they were done; but for the benefit also of those that should hear of them, by any credible means whatsoever,