A51839:784
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.
3. They that have received good Hope through Grace, have God's Nature and Promise to rest upon; His Nature, as he is a gracious God; and his Promise, as he is a faithful God.
(1.) His Nature, as he is a God merciful and gracious. That former Experience doth fully manifest, he is sufficiently inclined to do us good, and therefore will not fail us in our Necessities: He hath ever born us good Will, never discovered any backwardness to help us, thought of us before the World was, sent his Son to die for us before we were born, or had a being in the World; called us when we were unworthy; warned us of our Danger when we did not fear it; offered Happiness to us when we had no thought of it; And lest we should turn our backs upon it, followed us with an earnest and unceasing importunity, till we came to anxious Thoughts about Christ, and began to make it our Business to seek after it; by the secret drawings ⟨p. 418⟩of his Spirit, inclined us to choose him for our Portion, and to rejoice in the Hopes offered. How many Contradictions and strugglings of Heart were we conscious to, ere we were brought to this? Ever since he hath bin tender of us in the whole conduct of his Providence, afflicted us when we needed it, delivered us when we were ready to sink; hath pardoned our Failings, visited us in Ordinances, supported us in Doubts, helped us in Temptations, and is still mindful of us at every turn, as if he would not lose us; and shall not we hope in him to the last? We may reason as they, Judges 13.23. If the Lord had a mind to destroy us, he would not have received a Sacrifice at our hands. And so if God had no mind to save us, he would not use such Methods of Grace about us.
(1.) His Nature, as he is a God merciful and gracious. That former Experience doth fully manifest, he is sufficiently inclined to do us good, and therefore will not fail us in our Necessities: He hath ever born us good Will, never discovered any backwardness to help us, thought of us before the World was, sent his Son to die for us before we were born, or had a being in the World; called us when we were unworthy; warned us of our Danger when we did not fear it; offered Happiness to us when we had no thought of it; And lest we should turn our backs upon it, followed us with an earnest and uncessant importunity, till we came to anxious Thoughts about Christ, and began to make it our Business to seek after it; by the secret drawings