A51840:742
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.
there is the Arch-Angel that is to manage the Ministerial Excitation, and the mighty Power of God accompanies it to make the Dead live and awaken out of Sleep.
2. There is a Sign of the Son of Man; that is spoken of Mat. 24.30. Then shall appear the Sign of the Son of Man in Heaven; and then shall all the Tribes of the Earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the Clouds of Heaven with Power and great Glory. What it is we cannot certainly tell, until Experience manifests; sure we are it must be such a Sign, as shall make the World sensible of his Approach. Some think it shall be some strange Star, such as there was at his first Coming, the wise Men were conducted to Christ by a Star: this is but a mere Conjecture. Others suppose it shall be the Sign of the Cross which shall appear in the Heavens, because that is Christ's Badge, by which he was known here in the World. The great Subject of the Gospel is Christ crucified, therefore it is called the Word of the Cross; and so they think the Sign of the Cross shall be imprest upon the Heavens in the sight of all the World. To confirm the Conjecture, they urge the Appearance that was made to Constantine in his War against Maxentius the Tyrant and Persecutor of the Church, he saw the Sign of the Cross, say they, with this Inscription, [Greek or Hebrew], By this shalt thou Overcome. But Eusebius describes it otherwise, as an X, the first initial Letter of Christ's Name. But many of the ancient Writers went this way, they thought that this way the Scandal of Christ is best taken away; the Cross, which is now the Scandal and Offence the World takes at Christ, then shall be his Ensign and Royal Standard, which shall be imprest upon the Heavens. Look, as Kings when they make a triumphant Approach, have their Banner carried before them; so Jesus Christ shall have his Cross, which is the Sign of the Son of Man: but in such a Point I dare not thus peremptorily dogmatize. Others more probably (and to which I incline) interpret it of some forerunning Beams of Majesty and Glory, which shall darken the great Luminaries ⟨p. 140⟩