A51839:870
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.
5. With respect to the Degree, it is such a strengthening of the Soul, as doth prevent not only our Fall, but our shaking. Before falling away, or our being drawn to Apostasy, there may be a shaking, a doubtfulness, and wavering of mind with respect to the Truth, and much inconstancy and unevenness ⟨p. 469⟩of Life with respect to practice. Now Christians, as they must not draw back to Perdition, so they must not be always fluctuating and unfixed, either in Matters of Opinion, but settled in the Truth; or in matters of Practice, there must be a strength and stability of holy Inclinations, and Resolutions for God and the World to come, still kept up, or else there will be no evenness or uniformity in the course of our Lives; and though we avoid Apostasy, yet we cannot avoid Scandal; though there be no falling back▪ there is a stepping out into By-Paths: 1 Cor. 15.58. Be steadfast and unmoveable, always abounding in the Work of the Lord. And Ephes. 3.17. That ye being rooted and grounded in Love, &c. And Col. 1.23. If ye continue in the Faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the Hope of the Gospel. If we do not look to the Degree, our weakness and instability groweth upon us: As in matters of Opinion, some have an unsettled Head of a vertiginous Spirit, Ephes. 4.14. carried about with every wind of Doctrine: They never were well grounded in the Truth, nor took up the ways they are engaged in upon sufficient Evidence; and therefore by their own weakness, and the cunning and diligence of the Seducers, are drawn into Error. Light Chaff is blown up and down by every Wind, when solid Grain hitcheth in, and ⟨p. 470⟩resteth in the Floor where it is winnowed. An half light maketh us uncertain in our Course. For Matter of Practice, if we allow our selves in our first Decl•nings, the Evil will grow upon us, when the Judgment reasoneth more remissly against Sin than it did before, and the Will doth oppose it with less resolution, or with greater faintness and indifferency, or when Opposition doth more discourage us. No, there must be a resolved conquest of Temptations that wold pervert you, this will only serve our turn.