A51839:723
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.
2. Use of Direction to us, How to conceive of God in Prayer, as one that loveth us. We have gained a great point, when we are pe••uaded of this, and can come with this thought into his Presence; that I am praying to a God that loveth me, and will do me good. You will say, If I could come to that, I have gained a great point indeed: But what hindereth? There is, I confess, a two-fold Love; his General Love, and his Special Love. His General Love, which intendeth Benefits to us; and his Special Love, which hath already put us in possession of them. His General Love to the lost World, and his Love and Mercy to us in particular, putting ⟨p. 384⟩us in possession of the saving Benefits purchased and intended.
2. Vse of Direction to us, How to conceive of God in Prayer, as one that loveth us. We have gained a great point, when we are pe••uaded of this, and can come with this thought into his Presence; that I am praying to a God that loveth me, and will do me good. You will say, If I could come to that, I have gained a great point indeed: But what hindreth? There is, I confess, a two-fold Love; his General Love, and his Special Love. His General Love, which intendeth Benefits to us; and his Special Love, which hath already put us in possession of them. His General Love to the lost World, and his Love and Mercy to us in particular, putting ⟨p. 384⟩us in possession of the saving Benefits purchased and intended.
(1.) The General Love to the lost World, that is a great thing the Devil seeketh to hide and obscure, the wonderful Love of God revealed in our Redeemer, that we may still fly from God, as more willing to Punish than to Save; and many poor dark Creatures gratify his design. We are still seeking signs and tokens of God's Love, something to warrant us to come to God by Christ, and to persuade us that we shall be welcome if we do so; and because we cannot find any thing in our selves that he will admit us, we are troubled. But all this while we are but seeking the Sun with a Candle. What greater evidence of God's willingness to receive you, than the Death of Christ, than the Institutions of the Gospel? This is above all Evidences, that he sent his Son to die for us. This is like the Jews, who, when they had seen many Wonders wrought by Christ, would still have a new Sign; the greatest Sign is given already, Christ dying for a sinful World. Men and Angels cannot find out a Sign, Pledge, and Confirmation of the Love of God above that: Yet, if that be not enough, we have another Sign, the Promises, and Invitations of the Gospel, which show his willingness to welcome Sinners. Salvation is offered, but not to named, but described Persons. Therefore