A51840:1194
A fourth volume containing one hundred and fifty sermons on several texts of Scripture…
A fourth volume containing one hundred and fifty sermons on several texts of Scripture in two parts : part the first containing LXXIV sermons : part the second containing LXXVI sermons : with an alphabetical table to the whole / by ... Thomas Manton ...
London: printed by J. D., 1693
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.
4. When they are got into their City of Refuge, they stay there; having once taken hold of Christ, they will not quit their hold-fast for all the World. Many times the Children of God have that which Divines call a Negative Adherence, that is, they do not stick to other things, tho they dare not apply Christ to their Souls, tho they have but a Twilight, and make but a blind Adventure, they dare not say Christ is theirs, yet they will not let go that kind of loose Hope for all the World. Much more when it comes to some Positive Adherence, tho not a full Assurance, that is, when they are resolved to cast their Souls on Christ, to see what God will do with them: as Joab when he took hold of the Horns of the Altar, he said, If I die, I'll die here, 1 Kings 2.30. So, whatever Discouragements they meet with, their Hearts hold Christ fast, and will not let him go.
4. When they are got into their City of Refuge, they stay there; having once taken hold of Christ, they will not quit their hold-fast for all the World. Many times the Children of God have that which Divines call a Negative Adherence, that is, they do not stick to other things, tho they dare not apply Christ to their Souls, tho they have but a Twilight, and make but a blind Adventure, they dare not say Christ is theirs, yet they will not let go that kind of loose Hope for all the World. Much more when it comes to some Positive Adherence, tho not a full Assurance, that is, when they are resolved to cast their Souls on Christ, to see what God will do with them: as Ioab when he took hold of the Horns of the Altar, he said, If I die, I'll die here, 1 Kings 2.30. So, whatever Discouragements they meet with, their Hearts hold Christ fast, and will not let him go.
II. For the second Branch, To lay hold upon the Hope that is set before us, and you must repeat the word flying or running again. Here is another Metaphor implied: the Apostle having spoken of flying, alludeth not only to the City of Refuge, but to that speed and haste Men make in a Race to take hold of the Prize; for he speaks of laying hold of a Hope set before them, (the word [Greek or Hebrew] signifies to seize upon it) and ver. 20. of a Fore-runner that is entered before us.