A51846:779
A second volume of sermons preached by the late reverend and learned Thomas Manton…
A second volume of sermons preached by the late reverend and learned Thomas Manton in two parts : the first containing XXVII sermons on the twenty fifth chapter of St. Matthew, XLV on the seventeenth chapter of St. John, and XXIV on the sixth chapter of the Epistle of the Romans : Part II, containing XLV sermons on the eighth chapter of the Epistle to the Romans, and XL on the fifth chapter of the second Epistle to the Corinthians : with alphabetical tables to each chapter, of the principal matters therein contained.
London: printed by J. Astwood for Jonathan Robinson, 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.
(1.) In the Prejudice: Christ impersonateth our natural thoughts and the secret workings of our minds; we dare not say so, but many think so: as if God were an hard and morose Master, whom 'tis impossible to please. The Servant in the Parable had as little cause for his pretence, as we have for our hard thoughts of God: He knew the contrary; if he would consult his own experience, he might have found his Master to be good and kind, who had taken him into his Family, entrusted him with a Talent, waited long for his Improvement: But this is the nature of man, Self-love will rather blame God, than acknowledge our own Fault, and Sin; tax his Severity, than confess its own Negligence.
(1.) In the Prejudice: Christ impersonateth our natural thoughts and the secret workings of our minds; we dare not say so, but many think so: as if God were an hard and morose Master, whom 'tis impossible to please. The Servant in the Parable had as little cause for his pretence, as we have for our hard thoughts of God: He knew the contrary; if he would consult his own experience, he might have found his Master to be good and kind, who had taken him into his Family, intrusted him with a Talent, waited long for his Improvement: But this is the nature of man, Self-love will rather blame God, than acknowledge our own Fault, and Sin; tax his Severity, than confess its own Negligence.
(2.) In the Servants being afraid, Christ would teach us, that ill Opinions of God beget Pusillanimity and slavish fear. And
Lastly, In his Non-improvement, but rendering the Talent as he received it, That Pusillanimity or slavish fear and sloth, go together; or those that are afraid of God will never do him Hearty service.