A51839:856
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.) In the Doctrine of Faith. It is a great advantage in the Spiritual Life, to have a sound Judgment: Some Men are never well grounded in the Truth, and in the nature and reasons of that Religion which they do profess, and then are always left to a wandering uncertainty, because they resolve not upon Evidence: as Men ordinarily abide not in the place to which they are driven by a Tempest, or the current of the Tides, rather than by aim and choice, though they take shelter there for the present. 1 Thess. 5.21. Prove all things, hold fast that which is good. Certainly Religion in the general must be taken up by Choice, and not by Chance; not because ⟨p. 458⟩we know no other, but because we know no better: As Jer. 6.16. Stand ye in the Ways and see, and ask for the old Paths, where is the good Way, and walk therein. And the same is true of particular Opinions and Controversies about Religion, till we have [Greek or Hebrew], our own steadfastness, 2 Pet. 3.17. We stand by the steadfastness of others, when we profess the Truth, merely because of Company; and when the Chain •s broken, we all fall to pieces. Now we ought to be well settled, left we appear to the World with a various Face, which breedeth Atheism in others, and Shame to our selves. It is possible in particular things, future Light may disprove present Practice; but then we must be able to give a very sufficient account of it. Luther, when he was charged with Apostasy, Consitetu• se esse Apostatam, sed beatum & sanctum, qui sidem Diabolo datam non servavit. While we cry up Constancy, we must not cherish stubborn Prejudice, which shuts the Door upon Truth: However▪ to avoid the opinion of Lightness, before Religious Persons profess any thing, their warrant need to be very clear, both for the World's sake and their own, that they may not make needless Troubles, and afterwards change their Mind to the scandalizing of others: And their own sake [Greek or Hebrew], James 1.8