A51846:785
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.) But there is besides this, a slavish fear, which doth not further, but extremely hinder our work. For though we are to fear God, yet we are not to be afraid of God; This is that which the Apostle calleth, [Greek or Hebrew], opposite to the Spirit of Adoption, Rom. 8.15. and a cowardly fearful Spirit, opposite to that Spirit of Power and Love, and of a sound Mind, which is the principle of all faithful Service to God. They that are under the Spirit of bondage, serve not God as Children serve a Father, but as Slaves serve an hard and cruel Master. Fear is the inseparable Companion of this Spirit, which must needs be a great hinderance to our Duty; because it begets hatred to God, and the torment it bringeth to our selves: As it breedeth Hatred to God; Oderunt quem metuunt, quem odimus periisse cupimus; when we only dread God for his Vengeance, we keep off from him, as a dissolute servant hateth that Master who would scourge him for his Debaucheries: The Nature of this fear is to drive us from God. Gen. 3.7, 10. I was afraid. So because of the Torment it bringeth to us. Eph. 4.18. For the legal Spirit, 'tis called a Spirit of bondage, Rom. 8.15. It hath fear and torment in it, and is an Enemy to us, for it banisheth all those sweet Principles which should enliven our Service; as Love to God, and Delight in our work; which doth enliven and inspire every thing that we do with an earnest Spirit; But where Love is wanting, and all the Comfort that should accompany our duties, 'tis lost; either a man doth nothing, or all that he doth, is in a compulsory manner, by mere force; and so our hands must needs be weakened in Gods Service, if we be not totally discouraged: For often it endeth in a Despair of pleasing, or being accepted with God. There is a lazy sottish Despair, as well as a raging tormenting Despair: Jer. 18.12. There is no hope, we will walk in the Imagination of our own Hearts; Cast off all care of the Souls Welfare. This was the fear of the slothful Servant in the Text, and such a fear have many others in the bosom of their hearts, by which they can never do any thing effectually in the business of Religion, by reason of their-strong Prejudices, occasioned by their own tormenting fear.