A51846:931
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.) To those that are Carnal, to rouse them out of their Security. If Men did believe the Torments of Hell, they would not sin as they do. Sermons of Hell may keep many out of Hell. Ne fugiamus Sermones de Gehenna, ut Gehennam fugiamus. John startled many by pressing them to flee from Wrath to come: And 'tis God's usual course, to bring to Heaven by the Gates of Hell.
(2.) To God's Children; Partly that they may know what they have escaped, to be the more thankful to their Redeemer. We were all involved in this Condemnation; and 'tis the Lord's Mercy, that we are as Brands plucked out of the burning, Zech. 3.2. A Child of God is a Fire-brand of Hell quenched, Ephes. 2.3. 'Twas the Pity of our Lord Jesus to rescue us, 1 Thess. 1.10. 'Tis a Part of a Christians Heaven to think of Hell: The Miseries of this Life commend Heaven to us; much more the Torments of Hell. We know Good the better by the opposite Evil: As the Israelites, when they looked back, and saw the Egyptians tumbling in the Waters, it heightened the Deliverance, and made them the more sensible of their own Safety. And partly to warn them, and quicken them to their Duty: This Motive alone would beget slavish Fear, and compulsory Obedience; but mixed with others, it doth Good. We need this Discipline, as long as we are in the World: We are Flesh as well as Spirit. Adam in Innocency needed to be threatened, and told of Death. Paul saith, 1 Cor. 9.27. I keep under my Body, and bring it into subjection; lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I my self should be a Cast-away. If so sanctified a Man as Paul, much more we: And, Rom. 8.13. If ye live after the Flesh, ye shall die; but ye through the Spirit do mortify the Deeds of the Body, ye shall live. 'Tis one of the Saints Motives. And partly because they that cannot endure to hear of such Discourses, discover much of the Guilt and Security of their own Hearts: As Ahab said of Michaiah, He prophesieth nothing but Evil: So Men say of many of the Preachers of the Gospel, (that yet speak with Tenderness and Compassion) He preacheth nothing but Hell and Damnation. Presumption is a Coward, and a Run-away; but Faith meeteth its Enemy in open Field: