A89503:203
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.
The third and next Argument is, God hath desired it: What1 doth the Lord see in our hearts that he should desire them? If a Prince should not only make love to a vile and abject ⟨p. 110⟩creature, but seek all means to gain her affection, you would count her very froward and unthankful to give him the denial. Christ doth not only oblige us, but woo us: If man were such as he should be, he would not need enforcements, because of the multitude of his obligations; and if the Lord did deal with us as we deserve, he would slight us and scorn us, rather then woo us: He doth not want lovers, there are Angels enough in Heaven, whose wills and affections cleave to him perfectly; yea God doth not need the love of any creature, all this wooing is for our sakes; Wherein can frail men be beneficial to God? What increase of happiness hath he if all men should love him? 'Tis his happiness to love himself, and he would have us to share in this happiness; therefore he threateneth, and promiseth, and beseecheth: As one that would gladly open a door, trieth key after key, till he hath tried every key in the bunch; so doth God try one method after another to work upon mans heart.
The third and next Argument is, God hath desired it: What1 doth the Lord see in our hearts that he should desire them? If a Prince should not only make love to a vile and abject ⟨p. 110⟩creature, but seek all means to gain her affection, you would count her very froward and unthankeful to give him the denyal. Christ doth not only oblige us, but woo us: If man were such as he should be, he would not need enforcements, because of the multitude of his obligations; and if the Lord did deal with us as we deserve, he would slight us and scorn us, rather then woo us: He doth not want lovers, there are Angels enough in Heaven, whose wills and affections cleave to him perfectly; yea God doth not need the love of any creature, all this wooing is for our sakes; Wherein can frail men be beneficial to God? What increase of happiness hath he if all men should love him? 'Tis his happiness to love himself, and he would have us to share in this happiness; therefore he threateneth, and promiseth, and beseecheth: As one that would gladly open a door, tryeth key after key, till he hath tryed every key in the bunch; so doth God try one method after another to work upon mans heart.