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 ...
Thomas Manton 1620–1677London: printed by J. D., 1693
1 v. (various pagings) · 986k words · Wing M524 · ESTC R13953
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. It showeth what they are, who wish that it may never come. Some would be glad in their Hearts to hear such News, that Christ's Coming would never be; it is their Burden and Torment to think of it; as Felix trembled when he heard of Judgment to come. These Men have the Spirit of the Devil in them; if they had the Spirit of God in them, would it be so? Surely no. A carnal Man cannot say the Lord's-Prayer, for he is afraid he shall be heard. Optas ut veniat, quem times ne adveniat? saith Austin. How canst thou say, Thy Kingdom come, when thou art afraid lest God should come?
Vse 1. It sheweth what they are, who wish that it may never come. Some would be glad in their Hearts to hear such News, that Christ's Coming would never be; it is their Burden and Torment to think of it; as Felix trembled when he heard of Judgment to come. These Men have the Spirit of the Devil in them; if they had the Spirit of God in them, would it be so? Surely no. A carnal Man cannot say the Lord's-Prayer, for he is afraid he shall be heard. Optas ut veniat, quem times ne adveniat? saith Austin. How canst thou say, Thy Kingdom come, when thou art afraid lest God should come?
Use 2. To press us to this earnest Looking. Christ looketh, he is not slack, 2 Pet. 3.9. The Lord is not slack concerning his Promise. If all things were ready, ⟨p. 137⟩he would come presently. Before he came in the Flesh, his Delights were with us, Prov. 8.31. Rejoicing in the habitable Parts of the Earth, and my Delights were with the Sons of Men. And he longeth now he is in Heaven, Rev. 22.12. Behold, I come quickly, and my Reward is with me. The Angels expect it, they would not be found Liars, they told us of it, Acts 1.11
. This same Jesus that is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come, in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven. The Saints groan. How long, O Lord! how long! Devils tremble at the thoughts of it,
. For the earnest Expectation of the Creature waiteth for the Manifestation of the Sons of God. All things by a natural Instinct are carried to their Perfection. Evil Men cannot endure to think of it; as Felix trembled at the thoughts of Judgment to come: Let not the Saints stand out, but expect it earnestly. How much was the first coming of Christ wished for and desired: Abraham rejoiced at the thoughts of it,
. For I tell you, that many Prophets and Kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. Old Simeon,
. was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel: yet then he was a Child in the Cradle, now in Glory riding on the Clouds; then he came in the Similitude of sinful Flesh,
. Unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time, without Sin, unto Salvation. This earnest looking implieth strong Faith, longing Desires, frequent Thoughts.
Vse 2. To press us to this earnest Looking. Christ looketh, he is not slack, 2 Pet. 3.9. The Lord is not slack concerning his Promise. If all things were ready, ⟨p. 137⟩he would come presently. Before he came in the Flesh, his Delights were with us, Prov. 8.31. Rejoycing in the habitable Parts of the Earth, and my Delights were with the Sons of Men. And he longeth now he is in Heaven, Rev. 22.12. Behold, I come quickly, and my Reward is with me. The Angels expect it, they would not be found Liars, they told us of it, Acts 1.11. This same Iesus that is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come, in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven. The Saints groan. How long, O Lord! how long! Devils tremble at the thoughts of it, Mat. 8.29. Art thou come hither to torment us before the time? The Creatures expect it in their kind, Rom. 8.19. For the earnest Expectation of the Creature waiteth for the Manifestation of the Sons of God. All things by a natural Instinct are carried to their Perfection. Evil Men cannot endure to think of it; as Felix trembled at the thoughts of Judgment to come: Let not the Saints stand out, but expect it earnestly. How much was the first coming of Christ wished for and desired: Abraham rejoiced at the thoughts of it, Iohn 8.56. Your Father Abraham rejoiced to see my Day, and he saw it, and was glad. Kings and Prophets desired to see these things; Luke 10.24. For I tell you, that many Prophets and Kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. Old Simeon, Luke 2.25. was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel: yet then he was a Child in the Cradle, now in Glory riding on the Clouds; then he came in the Similitude of sinful Flesh, Rom. 8.3. God sent his own Son in the likeness of Sinful Flesh; but now he shall appear without Sin, Heb. 9.28. Vnto them that look for him shall he appear the second time, without Sin, unto Salvation. This earnest looking implieth strong Faith, longing Desires, frequent Thoughts.
1. Strong Faith. Reason saith it may be, Faith saith it shall be. Divine Justice must have a solemn Triumph, Conscience is afraid of it. Our Reward may be delayed, but it cannot stand with the Justice of God, that it should be abolished and taken away. There is Confusion in the World: Dives flowed with Ease and Plenty, when Lazarus was rough-cast with Sores. We need to be awed with Shame, as well as Fear. Faith saith he will come, we have his Word for it: as unlikely things have come to pass that have been foretold. Were the old Believers deceived that expected his coming in the Flesh? That a few Fishermen should preach the Gospel to all Nations? this is already done. Christ is contracted with us now, he will come to marry us; he went not away upon Discontent: He that loved us so as to as to come from Heaven to Earth to take our Nature, will he not come in Glory? We have of his Spirit, and we enjoy his Ordinances as a Memorial till he comes, and we have many Love-tokens sent us as a Pledge that he will come.
1. Strong Faith. Reason saith it may be, Faith saith it shall be. Divine Justice must have a solemn Triumph, Conscience is afraid of it. Our Reward may be delayed, but it cannot stand with the Justice of God, that it should be abolished and taken away. There is Confusion in the World: Dives flowed with Ease and Plenty, when Lazarus was rough-cast with Sores. We need to be awed with Shame, as well as Fear. Faith saith he will come, we have his Word for it: as unlikely things have come to pass that have been foretold. Were the old Believers deceived that expected his coming in the Flesh? That a few Fishermen should preach the Gospel to all Nations? this is already done. Christ is contracted with us now, he will come to marry us; he went not away upon Discontent: He that loved us so as to as to come from Heaven to Earth to take our Nature, will he not come in Glory? We have of his Spirit, and we enjoy his Ordinances as a Memorial till he comes, and we have many Love-tokens sent us as a Pledg that he will come.
2. Longing Desires. Our Hearts should even spring and leap within us when we hear of Christ's coming. Thus the Believers of the Old Testament, how did they rejoice to hear of a Messiah to come? John 8.56. Your Father Abraham rejoiced to see my Day, and he saw it, and was glad. Abraham rejoiced to think that a Son should come of his Loins, in whom all the World should be blessed: Heb. 11.13. These all died in Faith, not having received the Promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them. How did the Patriarchs hug the Promises, O sweet Promise! this will yield a Messiah, a Christ to the World.
2. Longing Desires. Our Hearts should even spring and leap within us when we hear of Christ's coming. Thus the Believers of the Old Testament, how did they rejoice to hear of a Messiah to come? Iohn 8.56. Your Father Abraham rejoiced to see my Day, and he saw it, and was glad. Abraham rejoiced to think that a Son should come of his Loins, in whom all the World should be blessed: Heb. 11.13. These all died in Faith, not having received the Promises, but having seen them afar off, and were perswaded of them, and embraced them. How did the Patriarchs hug the Promises, O sweet Promise! this will yield a Messiah, a Christ to the World.
3. There should be frequent Thoughts of his coming, as if you always heard the Trumpet. Every time thou lookest to Heaven, think, I have a Christ there, a rich Jewel kept safe; and when ever you see the Clouds, think of Christ's coming and going: These Clouds were Chariots by which Christ went triumphing into Heaven, and in like manner he will come again; Dan. 6.10. Daniel went into his House, and his Windows being opened towards Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his Knees three times a day, and prayed and gave Thanks unto his God. Daniel had reason to look towards the Temple, tho ruined, because of the Promise of God to his People that prayed towards the Temple; so now and then we should look up to Heaven, there is Christ above within the Heavens. We are called often to lift up our Hearts to God, and our Eyes to Heaven, from whence we look for a Saviour; there's our Treasure and our Jesus.
Use 3. Of Trial. It is good to see how we stand affected towards this Appearing. Nothing can content true Christians in the World; Do we look beyond it? Whither is the bent of our Hearts? how is it with them?
Vse 3. Of Trial. It is good to see how we stand affected towards this Appearing. Nothing can content true Christians in the World; Do we look beyond it? Whither is the bent of our Hearts? how is it with them?
1. If there were this Looking, there would be Preparing. A Man that expecteth the coming of a King to his House, he will furnish his House accordingly, and make all things ready. Surely you look for no Body, when you do not suit and prepare your selves to entertain them: When the House is sluttish, and the Kitchen cold, do you look for great Guests? What are we to do to prepare our selves for Christ's coming?
1. If there were this Looking, there would be Preparing. A Man that expecteth the coming of a King to his House, he will furnish his House accordingly, and make all things ready. Surely you look for no Body, when you do not sute and prepare your selves to entertain them: When the House is sluttish, and the Kitchin cold, do you look for great Guests? What are we to do to prepare our selves for Christ's coming?
(1.) Judg your selves. 2 Cor. 13.5. Examine your selves, whether ye be in the Faith; prove your own selves: Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except you be Reprobates. By judging your selves, God's Act is anticipated.
(1.) Judg your selves. 2 Cor. 13.5. Examine your selves, whether ye be in the Faith; prove your own selves: Know ye not your own selves, how that Iesus Christ is in you, except you be Reprobates. By judging your selves, God's Act is anticipated.
(2.) Get into Christ. Rom. 8.1. There is no Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. They that are in Christ, need not fear God's Judgment; you may set Christ's Righteousness against Christ's Judgment. Guilty Felons desire not the Judge's Presence. Art thou in the Case wherein thou wouldst be found of him? 2 Pet. 3.14. Be diligent, that you may be found of him in Peace, without Spot, and blameless.
(2.) Get into Christ. Rom. 8.1. There is no Condemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus. They that are in Christ, need not fear God's Judgment; you may set Christ's Righteousness against Christ's Judgment. Guilty Felons desire not the Judge's Presence. Art thou in the Case wherein thou wouldst be found of him? 2 Pet. 3.14. Be diligent, that you may be found of him in Peace, without Spot, and blameless.
(3.) Walk strictly. We are between the two Comings of Christ, his first and his second Coming; let us live Soberly, Righteously and Godly. When a Man is providing Matter of Condemnation for himself, can he be said to look for Christ's Coming?
2. How do you entertain Christ for the present in your Hearts, and in his Ordinances? Can a Man slight Ordinances, and expect Christ's second Coming? A Woman that never careth to hear from her Husband, cannot be said to desire his Coming: So if Christ has often knocked at the Door of our Hearts, and we will not give him entrance, how can we be said to look for his Appearing?
