A51846:896
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.
Object. But may not we enlarge this a little further? Arminius gathereth from hence, that the works of the unregenerate, done by the mere strength of nature, are so accepted with God, that by them he is moved and induced to give them supernatural Grace: And many others that will not speak so grossly, think that if we improve the gifts of Nature, we shall have common Grace, and if we improve common Grace, we shall have special and saving Grace: And ought we not, and can we not use these common Gifts and Graces to this end and purpose, that we may obtain Conversion and Faith in Christ; such as the use of Reason, the freeing of the mind from brutish Passions and Affections, good Education, the Examples of others, the powerful Preaching of the Gospel, and common Illumination, and the Knowledge of the Truth gained thereby?
Object. But may not we enlarge this a little further? Arminius gathereth from hence, that the works of the unregenerate, done by the meer strength of nature, are so accepted with God, that by them he is moved and induced to give them supernatural Grace: And many others that will not speak so grosly, think that if we improve the gifts of Nature, we shall have common Grace, and if we improve common Grace, we shall have special and saving Grace: And ought we not, and can we not use these common Gifts and Graces to this end and purpose, that we may obtain Conversion and Faith in Christ; such as the use of Reason, the freeing of the mind from bruitish Passions and Affections, good Education, the Examples of others, the powerful Preaching of the Gospel, and common Illumination, and the Knowledge of the Truth gained thereby?
Answ. 1. Those that have Common Grace ought and are bound to use it for the obtaining of more Grace; there is no doubt of that, for therefore they are accused, that They have ears and hear not, eyes and see not; and God findeth fault with his People, That they will not frame their doings to turn to the Lord, Hosea 5.4. So much as put themselves in a posture; they are threatened, That it shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah than for them: And that the Ninevites shall rise in Judgment against them, and Condemn them: They are reproved for Being idle and slothful Servants, and hiding their Talents in a Napkin: Certainly they that are lifted up to Heaven in Ordinances, that receive so much Grace from God, and yet turn it into Wantonness, and do not Know, nor Worship, nor Seek after God, they aggravate their own Condemnation; their destruction is of themselves, they shut themselves out of the Kingdom of God, reject the Counsels of God against themselves: In short, they put away the Word of God from them, and judge themselves unworthy of Eternal Life: The Scripture every where speaketh at this rate, concerning the Folly and Negligence of men.