A51840:578
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.
TITUS II.13. Looking for that blessed Hope, &c.
I Observed, (1.) The Teacher, The Grace of God. (2.) The Lesson, the whole Duty of our Heavenly Calling, To deny Ungodliness, and Worldly Lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly, &c. (3.) I come to the third general Branch, The Encouragements to Learning; here are two, Eternal Life, and Christ's Death. There are two great Principles of Obedience, Gratitude and Hope: Gratitude or Thankfulness, because of the Obligation that is left upon us from Christ's Death; and then Hope, because of the glorious Reward that is set before us. So that whether we look backward or forward, we meet with Obligations to Obedience: Backward, there is an excellent Merit, ver. 14. Who gave himself for us, to redeem us from all Iniquity, &c. Forward, there is a glorious Hope, Looking for that blessed Hope, &c. There is nothing lost by God's Service: the Lord might deal with us out of Sovereignty, and rule us with a Rod of Iron, but he is pleased to draw us with the Cords of a Man, and with Bands of Love, Hos. 11.3. to indent with us, and propound Rewards, as if we were altogether free before the Contract. Men do not use to covenant with their Slaves; we are bound to serve him whether there had been any Reward or no; but the Lord will not leave us without an Encouragement. We are apt to have hard Thoughts of God, and to think him harsh and austere, requiring Work, but not giving Wages. But consider, we have the highest Motives, as well as the noblest Work; we are not only to live soberly, righteously and godly in the present World, but to look to the blessed Hope. Life and Immortality is brought to light by the Gospel. There is no such Encouragement to virtuous living any where as in the Gospel. Lactantius saith of the Heathens, Virtutis vim non sentiunt, cujus premium ignorant; They do not feel the force and transforming Power of Virtue, because they are ignorant of the Reward of Virtue. The Heathens had no such Encouragement as Immortality and Eternal Life, and the happy Enjoyment of God and Christ for evermore.