A89503:77
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.
1. New Principles, Duty swayeth the conscience, and love inclineth the heart: 1 Tim. 1. 5. The end of the Commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and good conscience, and faith unfeigned: No act is gracious, and an act of pure obedience, unless it have these qualifications. It is not the matter that maketh the work good, but the principles: all that we do must come from a principle of faith, love, and obedience; obedience respects the Command, love the kindness and merit of the Lawgiver, and faith his bounty and reward: the first swayeth the Conscience▪ the second inclineth the heart, and the third giveth encouragement: This is to do duties with a Gospel frame of spirit: obedience takes notice of the Laws of God, love of the kindness of God, and faith of the rewards of God; and so obedience showeth us the matter of the duty, and faith the encouragement: so that what ever is done as an act of the new nature or sanctified estate, it is an act of obedience out of gratitude upon the encouragement of our glorious hopes and advantages in Christ: As if it be asked, Why do I do it? *God hath commanded it▪ Why with such strength of affection and earnestness? †God hath deserved it, because of his love and bounty in Christ: Conscience is sensible of the obligation, and love and hope sweetens the duty. There is a natural conscience of good and evil, which is known by legal aims and carnal motives: what is done out of natural conscience, is not done out of obedience and thankfulness▪ but out of bondage, and with a servile frame of spirit; like fruits that are ripened by art and force, not naturally nor kindly.
1. New Principles, Duty swayeth the conscience, and love inclineth the heart: 1 Tim. 1. 5. The end of the Commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and good conscience, and faith unfeigned: No act is gracious, and an act of pure obedience, unless it have these qualifications. It is not the matter that maketh the work good, but the principles: all that we do must come from a principle of faith, love, and obedience; obedience respects the Command, love the kindness and merit of the Lawgiver, and faith his bounty and reward: the first swayeth the Conscience the second inclineth the heart, and the third giveth encouragement: This is to do duties with a Gospel frame of spirit: obedience takes notice of the Laws of God, love of the kindness of God, and faith of the rewards of God; and so obedience sheweth us the matter of the duty, and faith the encouragement: so that what ever is done as an act of the new nature or sanctified estate, it is an act of obedience out of gratitude upon the encouragement of our glorious hopes and advantages in Christ: As if it be asked, Why do I do it?