A89503:104
A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude
A practical commentary, or An exposition with notes on the Epistle of Jude. Delivered (for the most part) in sundry weekly lectures at Stoke-Newington in Middlesex. By Thomas Manton, B.D. and minister of Covent-Garden.
London: printed by J.M. for Luke Fawn, 1658
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.
Again observe, That though the work of grace be immediately 1wrought by another person, yet our thoughts in believing must not stay till we ascend and come up to God the Father. You shall see the Scripture carrieth out our acts of faith to him every where: Rom. 4. 24. If we believe in him, who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; that is, in God the Father. So John 12. 44. He that believeth in me, believeth not in me, but in him that sent me: that [not] is not negative, but corrective; not only in me, but his thoughts must ascend to the Father also, who manifesteth himself in me. So John 14. 1. Ye believe in God, believe also in me. Both expressions may be imperative: Besides believing in Christ, we must also believe, in God, as the first Fountain and Author of grace. Now the Reasons are, 1. Because all grace beginneth with the Father; the first in order of being, is first in order of working; 'Tis the Father that floweth out to us in Christ and by the Spirit: What ever Christ hath and is, he hath from him as the original Author; 1 Cor. 1. 30. Of him Jesus Christ is made to us Sanctification. The high Priest went into the Sanctuary before he blessed the people; so doth Jesus Christ sanctify you in the Father and from the Father: as Mediator certainly he is to be considered as Gods Servant and Instrument. Well then, Reason is in its progress, till it climb up to the first cause of a thing; so should Faith; do not leave till you come to the Father, who is the highest Fountain of grace. 2. Because what ever is done to you by Christ, is done with a respect to his Fathers love: John 17. 2. Thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him: So see verse 6. I have manifested thy Name unto them, thine they were, and them thou gavest me: That was the ground of Christs respect, the Fathers ⟨p. 50⟩donation, or the charge he received from him: and therefore you must look upon the Fathers love as well as Christs care; for in all his respects to us he still acknowledgeth his obedience to the Father; and indeed it giveth us a double ground of hope: