A second volume of sermons preached by the late reverend and learned Thomas Manton…

OUR blessed Lord calling the Multitude to some account of their so free, and frequent motions in going to hear the first Gospel Preacher, John the Baptist, doth it in these terms; Matth. 11.7, 8. What went you out into the Wilderness to see? A Reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft Raiment? They that wear soft Clothing are in Kings houses. But what went ye out for to see? A Prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a Prophet. V. 11. Verily I say unto you, that amongst them that are born of Women, there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding, he that is least in the Kingdom of God, is greater than he. Teaching us several things by that speech, relating to the Religious action of hearing the Word, and to a true Gospel Minister. With reference to the former, (1.) That he that goeth out to hear, ought in the first place to propound to himself a due End. (2.) That men may propose to themselves in such motions very false and undue Ends, such as going to see Reeds shaken with the wind, men clothed with soft Raiment, &c. (3.) That the true End men should propose to themselves, should be, not to hear a Philosopher, or an Orator, but a Prophet, which term signifieth a Person revealing the Will of God; (for the signification of that term is not to be restrained to one only from God revealing things to come, but publishing the Divine Will, whether relating to future things, or things before revealed; which is evident not only from the application of it to the Baptist, but to any that will consider, that Predictions of future Contingencies was the least part of any of the ancient Prophets work.) This is that true and more special End which every good man ought to propound to himself, when he goeth to hear as a Religious action, whose Object is not a mere sound, which is the Object of hearing considered as a natural Act, but of the joyful Sound. Nor can there lye any Obligation upon any, religiously to hear any thing but the will of God, which a Discourse doth not cease to be, by the addition of mans words for the Explanation or Application of any part of the divine Will, by such as God hath betrusted with that Employment, more than an Ambassadors message ceaseth to be his Masters will, because delivered in his own words, though to the Sense of his Instructions.

OVR blessed Lord calling the Multitude to some account of their so free, and frequent motions in going to hear the first Gospel Preacher, John the Baptist, doth it in these terms;