A51840:130
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.
Use 1. Is to persuade us, if Grace be the cause of all the Good we enjoy, not to wrong Grace; Why? for this is to close and stop up the Fountain, yea, to make Grace our Enemy; and if Grace be our Enemy, who shall plead for us? Angry Justice must needs take up the Quarrel of abused Grace, and then there's no help; nay, Grace it self would complain of the Wrong received to God, and will solicit our Judgment and Vengeance; the Advocate will become an Accuser. But how do we wrong Grace? I answer, Five ways.
Vse 1. Is to preswade us, if Grace be the cause of all the Good we enjoy, not to wrong Grace; Why? for this is to close and stop up the Fountain, yea, to make Grace our Enemy; and if Grace be our Enemy, who shall plead for us? Angry Justice must needs take up the Quarrel of abused Grace, and then there's no help; nay, Grace it self would complain of the Wrong received to God, and will sollicit our Judgment and Vengeance; the Advocate will become an Accuser. But how do we wrong Grace? I answer, Five ways.
(1.) By neglecting the Offers of Grace. Such make God speak in vain, and to spend his best Arguments to no purpose. 2 Cor. 6.1. We then as workers together with him, beseech you also, that ye receive not the Grace of God in vain: By the Grace of God is there meant the Offers of Grace in the Gospel. Now we receive it in vain, when all the Wooings and Pleadings of Grace do not move us to bethink our selves, and look after our Salvation. It is a great Affront you put upon God, to despise him when he speaks in the still Voice. Look, as when David had sent a courteous Message to Nabal, and he returns a churlish Answer, it put him into a Fury, 1 Sam. 25.34. Surely there had not been left by the morning Light, any that pisseth against the Wall. So how angry will the Lord be against those that despise his Grace, and all the renewed Offers and Messages of Love, and prefer the Profits and Pleasures of the World before him. It may be you do not return a rough and churlish Answer, and are not Scorners and Opposers of the Word; but you slight God's sweetest Message, when he comes in the sweetest and mildest way. The Complaint in the Gospel was,