A51846:786
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.
(2.) That this fear is begotten in us by a false opinion of God, that rendereth him dreadful, rigorous, and terrible to the Soul. The Servant in the Text doth ⟨p. 111⟩not only say, I was afraid, but giveth a reason of it: I knew that thou wert an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sowed, and gathering where thou hast not strawed. A parabolical speech, to set forth a cruel Tyrant, that doth exact upon those that are under him without Mercy and Reason. Our Affections follow our Apprehensions, and we either love or fear according to the inward notions that we have of God in our minds. They that know thy name will trust in thee, Psal. 9.10. If we had righter notions of God, we would love him more, and trust him more: But when we conceive amiss of him, accordingly we are affected to him: And therefore we should take heed what Picture we draw of God in our minds; for if we have only such apprehensions as render him grievous and burdensome to us, these thoughts will leaven our Hearts, and make us either neglect his Service, or do it by constraint, in a very awkward and uncomfortable manner. If the Devil can bring you to have a base opinion of God, as cruel and tyrannical, and once possess you with sour thoughts, and fretful Jealousies, or harsh surmises of his Government, it will turn all your love and obedience into hatred and slavish fear. Therefore those that consider, that Love is the great principle of Obedience, should also consider that there is nothing so necessary to breed love, as good thoughts of God, and a due sense of his goodness in Christ; come to this once, and then all that he requireth and doth, will be acceptable to us: His Laws will not be grievous, nor his Providences seem burdensome to you, nor his Judgments intolerable. How can you love him, till you represent him as an Object of Love; one upon whom you may cheerfully depend for Life and Defence; and from whom you may comfortably expect the Rewards of Obedience? Therefore take heed of painting out God in your thoughts as an hard Master. The Apostle telleth us, Heb. 11.6. He that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek him. As soon as we apprehend his Being, we should also pitch upon his Bounty and Goodness. First, That he is, and then, That he is a Rewarder.