A89499:39
Englands spiritual languishing; with the causes and cureEnglands spirituall languishing; with the causes and cure
Englands spiritual languishing; with the causes and cure: discovered in a sermon preached before the Honourable House of Commons, on their solemn day of fast, at Margarets Westminster, June 28. 1648. / By Thomas Manton, minister of Stoke-Newington.Englands spirituall languishing; with the causes and cure: discovered in a sermon preached before the Honorable House of Commons, on their solemn day of fast, at Margarets Westminster, June 28. 1648. / By Thomas Manton, minister of Stoke-Newington.
London: printed by R. Cotes for John Clarke, 1648
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Reasons. Reasons,
Because by this means you take away that which will be the cause of ruin, God delighteth to make the outward estate to carry proportion with the inward, as we decay in godliness, so our outward happiness languisheth, and the hand of mercy is slackened; How easily may a wise Christian read his guilt in his condition, and from his outward decays understand his inward? and truly 'tis so in Common-wealths too, their fate followeth the state of Religion, God meeteth to us in our own measure, instances want not, Ye have forsaken me, and therefore I have left you, 2 Chron. 12.5. Rulers rebel against God, and their people rebel against them, therefore is there a tumult among thy people, Hos. 14.10. Friends are alienated and estranged from them, because their hearts are first estranged from God, there are confusions in the Church, and then what followeth? distractions in the State(a). 'Twas grave advice which the English Divines gave the Dutch Magistrate in the Synod of Dort: that they should take heed, lest by their connivance at Church disorders which they could help, they did not draw on State-tumults and factions which when they would they could not help. Truly this is Gods course to retaliate with the creature; and (as I said before) to make their outward condition answer their inward. Religion is as it were the Soul of the ⟨p. 9⟩Common-wealth, now the state of the body dependeth much upon the good temper of the soul, it being linked to it by the affections, as so many pins and nails; a troubled soul discomposeth the body, but a cheerful mind cureth it: so Religion and godliness, as it thriveth, maketh us thrive, God challengeth his people to avouch one instance when ever they lost by it. Jer. 2.5. What iniquity have your fathers found in me? and Verse 13. O ye Generation, have I been a Wilderness or a land of darkness to you? Did ever godliness do you hurt? If you can, do but produce one experience. If you will believe Polycarp upon his own trial, and let me tell you he was an old Mnason, and had much trial of God; he'll inform you,