A51845:891
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
AN EXPOSITION OF THE Lord's-Prayer. › As we forgive our Debtors.
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.
2. In point of Necessity; as it should be so, so it will be so; for God's Mercy will have an Influence upon us, to make us merciful. All God's Actions to us imprint their stamp in us; his Election of us, makes us to choose him, and his ways; his Love to us, makes us love him again, who hath loved us first; so his forgiving of us, makes us to forgive our Brethren. There is an answerable Impression left upon the Soul to every act of God (why?) for a true Believer is God's Image: The new Man is created after God, Eph. 4. 24. and therefore he acts as God. Certainly, if there be such a Disposition in our Heavenly Father, it will be in us if we have an Interest in him. Look, as a Child hath Part for Part, and Limb for Limb answerable to his Father, tho not so big in Stature and Bulk; so hath a Child of God, which is created after God, he hath all the Divine Perfections in some measure in his Soul. And this Consideration is of more force, because the New-Creature cannot be maimed and defective in every Part, but is entire, lacking nothing. And therefore if God forgive others, certainly the Godly will be inclinable to forgive too.
Use. 1. Here's a ground of Trial whether we are pardoned or no. Is our revengeful Disposition (that is so natural, and so pleasing to us) mortified? That's one Trial or Evidence whether we are forgiven of God; can we freely from the Heart forgive others?
Vse. 1. Here's a ground of Tryal whether we are pardoned or no. Is our revengeful Disposition (that is so natural, and so pleasing to us) mortified? That's one Trial or Evidence whether we are forgiven of God; can we freely from the Heart forgive others?
Object. But it may be objected against this. Do you place so much in this property of forgiving others? It doth not agree only to pardoned Sinners, because we see some Carnal Men are of a weak and stupid Spirit, not sensible of Injuries: And (on the other side) many of God's Children find it hard to obtain to the perfect Oblivion of Injuries that is required of them.