A51839:781
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. God would not invite and raise an Hope to disappoint it. For surely the Lord will not deceive his Creature, that dependeth upon his Word; and therefore we are allowed to challenge him, Psalm. 119.49. Remember thy Word unto thy Servant, on which thou hast caused me to hope. The words contain a double Argument; the Promise was of God's making, and the Hope of his operation, it is thy Word, and thou hast caused me to hope, ⟨p. 414⟩his Grant in the New Covenant, and his Influence by the Spirit; we have a strong Tie upon him, as he giveth us the Promise, which is a ground of Hope; surely we may put his Bonds in suit, Chirographa tua tibi injiciebat, Domine; but when his Spirit hath caused us to hope, it is not with a purpose to defeat it; and therefore we may expect necessary Blessings, such as are support and establishment in Holiness. Sometimes God promiseth, that we may believe, and then promiseth again because we do believe, and trust in him; Isa. 26.3. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee. Actual Hope and Trust giveth a fresh Claim, or new Interest; for God will not fail a trusting Soul, as a generous Man will not fail his Friend if he rely on him. We count this to be the strongest Bond we can lay upon another, to be mindful of us, and faithful to us, I wholly trust upon you. Now much more will God do so, when he hath sent his Work before him, he will bring this Reward with him, when he hath invited Hope by his Promise, and caused Hope by his Spirit, he will give the Mercy you hope for, for he hath prepared you for it by his preventing Grace. I remember the Prophet telleth God, Jer. 20.7. O Lord! thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived; words that seem to intrench upon the Honour of God. Some interpret ⟨p. 415⟩them, as if they were spoken by the Prophet in a Passion; others soften them by another rendering, Thou hast persuaded me, and I was persuaded, that is, to undertake the Prophetical Office, to which I was nothing forward of my self, and have found it more troublesome than I expected. But why may not the words be spoken as a supposition, If I be deceived, thou hast deceived me? God had told him, that he would make him as a Brazen Wall, and had raised a Faith and Hope in him, that he would bear him out in his Work, and so it signifies no more, but I cannot be deceived.