A51839:828
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. Though grounds of Comfort be never so clear, yet if God concur not, we find not […] ⟨p. 438⟩[…] ⟨p. 439⟩⟨p. 440⟩the effect; therefore it is his Spirit, that can only comfort the Heart. To have God's Warrant for our comfort is much, but to have his Impression is more; both mus• concur, or the Soul will not be comforted. It falleth out many ways, sometimes out of Ignorance. When a Well of Comfort was near, poor Hagar saw it not, and was almost famished with thirst, until God opened her Eyes, and she saw a Well of Water, Gen. 21.19. We know not the grounds of our comfort. Sometimes out of Passion: Grief is obstinate, and will admit no Remedy; as Rachel would not be comforted, Jer. 31.15. They are so peevishly addicted to their Worldly Comforts, that if they be crossed in them, they will not admit of God's Comforts, though they are evident, clear, and pertinent. Sometimes out of Forgetfulness, Heb. 12.5. Ye have forgotten the Exhortation, which speaketh unto you as unto Children. And Oblivion is an Ignorance for the present. Had they remembered, they would not have fainted, and waxed weary. It is a great Work of the Spirit to bring to Remembrance, sometimes questioning their interest in Comfort; besides, that there are general Comforts, when Interest is not clear. Now the Spirit, that showeth us •he things given us of God, doth also reveal and evidence our Right to them. What is wrought in our Hearts, that is to say, by quickening ⟨p. 441⟩us to exercise Grace, he evidenceth the truth of Grace; and in our Afflictions by Patience maketh out our Comfort. Rom. 5.3, 4, 5. We glory in Tribulations, knowing that Tribulation worketh Patience; and Patience Experience; and Experience Hope: And Hope maketh not ashamed, because the Love of God is shed abroad in our Hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto us. From the whole, there can be no true solid Comfort, but what God bestoweth, his Favour, and our Interest in his Favour is manifested to us by his Spirit.