A51845:547
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
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.
Are the Children of God always in this Frame, as to desire his Coming? Many tremble at the thoughts of it, and can have no comfort, for want of Assurance of God's Love; and many times the Saints do not feel such Inclinations, and such ardent and strong Desires.
I answer:
1. The meanest Saint hath some Inclination this way; he cannot but desire Christ should come into his Heart, and bless him, in turning him from his Sins; and that he should come to Judgment, since Comfort and Reward is more naturally embraced than Duty. Whoever is begotten to God, is begotten to a lively Hope, 1 Pet. 1. 3. his ⟨p. 238⟩Heart is carried this way, tho not with so much Strength and lively Motions as others are. Yet I grant,
2. Sometimes there may be a Drowsiness and Indisposition, when their Lamps are not burning, when they are grown careless, and fallen asleep; as the wise Virgins slept, as well as the foolish, by a sluggish Security. And the Saints may find themselves indisposed; possibly by the remission of their Watchfulness; they may contract an Indisposition, yet there is a Spirit stirring this way, which begins with the new Birth, and still continues, tho it doth not always alike put forth it self. A Wife desires her Husband's coming home, yet it may be all is not in such good Order. Now all Christians desire the coming of Christ, but they are not so watchful, therefore are not so lively. Security brings Deadness, until God awakens them by some sharp Affliction. The Needle that is touched with the Lodestone, yet may a little be discomposed and turned aside, but it settles again. This is the right Posture and Frame of a gracious Soul, to be thus earnestly bent and carried out after the coming of Christ.