A51845:25
A practical exposition of the Lord's-Prayer
A practical exposition of the Lord's-Prayer by ... Thomas Manton.
London: printed by J.D., 1684
Introduction › AN INTRODUCTION TO THE EXPOSITION OF THE Lord's-Prayer.
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.
3. We must distinguish of the Ends of good Works; principal, and subordinate; adequate, and inadequate. First, the principal and primary End of good Works, must not be that we may be seen of Men, but the Glory of God; but now the subordinate, or less principal End may be to be seen of Men. Again, it must not be our adequate End, (that is) our whole and main Intention and Scope; but a collateral and Side-End it may be. It is one thing to do good Works, only that they may be seen; it is another thing to do good Works, that they may not only be seen, but also be imitated, to win others by them to give Glory to God. It is one thing to do good Works for the Glory of God, another thing to do them for the Glory of our selves: We may do good Works to be seen, in the first respect, but not in the last. We may not pray, with the Pharisees, merely to be seen of Men; yet we may let our Light shine before Men, to draw them to Duty, and give more Glory to God.
3. We must distinguish of the Ends of good Works; principal, and subordinate; adequate, and inadaequate. First, the principal and primary End of good Works, must not be that we may be seen of Men, but the Glory of God; but now the subordinate, or less principal End may be to be seen of Men. Again, it must not be our adequate End, (that is) our whole and main Intention and Scope; but a collateral and Side-End it may be. It is one thing to do good Works, only that they may be seen; it is another thing to do good Works, that they may not only be seen, but also be imitated, to win others by them to give Glory to God. It is one thing to do good Works for the Glory of God, another thing to do them for the Glory of our selves: We may do good Works to be seen, in the first respect, but not in the last. We may not pray, with the Pharisees, meerly to be seen of Men; yet we may let our Light shine before Men, to draw them to Duty, and give more Glory to God.
4. Again, There Christ speaks of the general Bent of our Conversation, and here only of particular and private Duties: It would argue too much Hypocrisy to do these in public, tho the whole Frame and Course of our Carriage before Men, must be religious in their sight. And that is agreeable to what the Apostle saith,