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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A51839	XVIII sermons on the second chapter of the 2d Epistle to the Thessalonians containing the description, rise, growth, and fall of Antichrist : with divers cautions and arguments to establish Christians against the apostacy of the Church of Rome : very necessary for these times / by that late reverend and learned divine, Thomas Manton ...	Manton, Thomas, 1620-1677.	1679 (1679)	Wing M522; ESTC R7577	216,743	470

owned as Apostolical Tradition but what is delivered as such by their Authority which is to leave the Church to the tyranny and usurpation of a corrupt Faction to declare for Apostolica● Tradition any thing which serveth their end and Interest and for which no true historical Evidence is produced Now the unjust and fraudulent practices which they have used to promote this usurpation over the Churches of Christ render them false Men most unfit to be trusted in this kind Partly with respect to the Manner they will have these things to be received pari reverentia pietatis affectu with the same reverence and pious affection with which we receive the Holy Scriptures and so Man's Post is set by God's and unproved Traditions equall'd with Doctrines of Faith Their Opinion is bad enough but their Practice is worse for there they shew they value these things more than the Scriptures As Superstition always aboundeth in its own things Did ever any of their Doctors say the same things of Traditions which they take the boldness to say of Scripture Did they ever call them Pen and Inkhorn or Parchment Divinity a nose of Wax a dumb Rule an obscure and ambiguous Doctrine These Blasphemies they vent boldly against the Scriptures but did they ever spake these of Traditions And again common People are a thousand times better instructed in their Tradition than in the Doctrine of Salvation They skill more of Lent and Ember-weeks c. than they truly understand the Doctrine of Man's Misery and Remedy And call you this Reverence and pious Affection to the Scriptures and Traditions Partly because they would never give us a Catalogue of unwritten Traditions necessary to be observed by all Christians It may be lest they should amaze the People with the multitude of them or else that the People may not know how many of their Doctrines are destitute of Scripture proof and so they plainly be discovered to be Imposers on the belief of the Christian World 6. Though we blame this in Papists yet we reject not all Traditions 1. Because Scripture it self is a Tradition as we proved before and is conveyed to us by the most credible means which we have no reason to doubt of The Scriptures of the Old Testament were preserved by the Jews to whom were committed the Oracles of God Rom. 3.2 Protestants received all the Books which they admitted into their Canon And for the Books of the New Testament the Christian Church hath received them as the Writings of those whose names they ●ear And by the constant Universal Tradition of the Church they are transmitted to us and we have no more reason to doubt of them than we do of Statutes and Laws made by Kings and Parliaments who lived long before we had a being Yea we may be much more confident as the Matter is of greater weight and consequence and these Writings have the signature and stamp of God's Spirit on them and have bin blessed by God to the converting and sanctifying of many Souls And have bin delivered down to us by a succession of Believers unto this very day And by them Christianity hath bin preserved in the World notwithstanding the wickedness of it and hath held up head against all the encounter of Time The persecutions of Adverse Powers have not suppressed it nor the disputes of Enemies silenced the profession of it but still from Age to Age God's Truth is received and transmitted to Posterity 2. Because the truth of Christianity depending upon Matter of Fact chiefly Christ's rising from the Dead it can only be proved by a Testimony which in so extraordinary a case must be made valuable and authorized to the World by the Miracles accompanying it Now the notice of these things is brought to us by Tradition which being unquestionable giveth us as good ground of Faith as it did to them that lived in the Apostles Time and heard their Doctrine and saw their Miracles God's wonderful Works were never intended for the benefit of that Age only in which they were done but for the benefit also of those that should hear of them by any credible means whatsoever Psal. 145.4 Ioel 1.3 Psal. 78.3 4 5 6 7. these things were told them that they might set their hope in God c. 3. Because there are some Doctrines drawn by just consequence from Scripture but are the more confirmed to us when they are backed with constant Church usage and practice as Baptism of Infants Lord's Day singing of Psalms in our Public Worship c. 4. Because there are certain words which are not found in Scripture indeed yet agreeable thereto and are very useful to discover the frauds of Heretics as Trinity Divine Providence consubstantial procession of the Holy Ghost Satisfaction c. 5. We reject not all Church-History or the Records of Ancient Writers concerning the Providences of God in their Days in owning the Gospel which make much for our instruction in Manners and help to incourage us to put our trust in God 6. There are certain Usages and innocent Customs or Circumstances common to Sacred and other Actions which we despise not but acknowledg and receive as far as their own variable Nature and Condition requireth not rejecting them because anciently practised nor regarding them when the general Law of Edification requireth the omission of them But that wh●ch we detest is that the Traditions of Men should be made equal in dignity and authority with the express Revelation of God Yea that manifest Corruptions and Usurpations as making Rome the Mistress of other Churches and superinducing the Pope as the Head of the Universal Visible Church and the Vicar of Christ without his leave and appointment and such-like other Point should be obtruded upon the World as Apostolical Traditions and to be received with like religious reverence as we do Articles of Faith set down in Scripture This is that we cannot sufficiently abhor as apparently false and destructive to Christianity SERMON XIV 2 Thess. 2.16 17. Now our Lord Iesus Christ himself and God even our Father which hath loved us and given us everlasting Consolation and good hope through Grace comfort your Hearts and stablish you in every good Word and Work The Apostle 1. Giveth thanks for their Election and Vocation Ver. 13 14. 2. Exhorteth them to stick fast to the Truths delivered by Epistles or word of Mouth Ver. 15. 3. Prayeth for them in the words now read So that is the third means of confirming their Faith in the Truth of the Gospel Prayer to God for them Now in a Prayer all things are plain we must put off our Shoes when we draw nigh to God appear before the Lord with naked and bare Feet Therefore here nothing of difficulty will occur our Prayers the more simply and plainly they are exprest the more sincere they are In this Prayer observe I. The Persons to whom this Prayer is addressed Now our Lord Iesus Christ himself and God

here for the Apostle conjureth them by all that is dear and sacred in their most holy Faith and upon this I will mainly spend the first part of this Discourse I shall prove it by these two choice pieces of Scripture which describe the Communion of the Church with Christ or the dispensations of Christ to the Church the one concerneth Gods internal the other his external Government the Canticles and Revelations The Book of Canticles is ended with this desire vote and wish Cant. 8.14 Make haste my beloved and be like a young Hart or Roe upon the Mountains of Spices the Brides last and great suit to the Bridegroom is make haste as to his coming in Glory to judge the World not that Christ is slack but the Churches affections are strong they that go a Whoring after the World neither desire his coming nor love his appearing but the Spouse would have all things hastened that he might return he cannot come soon enough to set the World to rights and compleat their Happiness it is that only that will perfect their Consolation and therefore would have the blessed and longed for meeting hastened In the other Book of the Revelations see how it is closed Rev. 22.20 Christ saith Surely I come quickly and the Church like a quick Echo saith Even so Come Lord Iesus come quickly it taketh the word out of Christs Mouth and presently improveth the Promise into a Prayer and so Christs Voice and the Churches Voice are Unisons the Acclamation of the Saints answereth to his Proclamation Christ saith I come as desiring to meet with us the Church answereth even so come as desiring his Fellowship and Company when once Faith apprehendeth the glorious coming of our Lord Jesus to Judgment Love presently desireth it as the most comfortable thing which we can ask of him that is the farewel suit of the Church to Christ if he will grant this all complaints and sorrow and sighing will be no more Now I shall give you Reasons why this is desired by all true Christians 1. In respect of him who is to come His Person that we may see him who is our great Lord and Saviour all that believed any thing of Christ desired to see him those that lived before his coming in the flesh Jo●n 8.56 Your Father Abraham rejoiced to see my day and he saw it and was glad and the same affection possesseth us that live after his coming in the flesh we know him by hear-say we have heard much of him he wooeth us by a Proxy as Eliezer Abrahams Servant did Rebekah Now Christians would fain see him of whom they have heard and whom they loved and in whom they have believed 1 Pet. 1.8 Whom having not seen ye love and in whom though now you see him not yet believing ye rejoice with joy ●nspeakable and full of glory they do not see Christ but they have a taste of his goodness 1 Pet. 2.3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious They have felt his comforts and live by his Life all that is wanting is but ocular Vision that they may see him Face to Face therefore they long for his coming 2. The Excellency of Christ their head shall then be fully revealed therefore it is comfortable to his Saints to think of his second comeing it is called the Revelation of Christ 1 Pet. 1.13 Christ is now under a Vail retired within the Curtain of the Heavens the wicked often ask where is now your God and our own unbelieving hearts are apt to question the glory of his Person and the truth of his Promises when his most faithful Servants are under disgrace Christ is a glorious King but little of his Glory is seen in the World therefore they desire that he may appear in Glory and Royalty we pray that his Kingdom may come 2. The persons desiring there is somewhat in them to move them to it 1. The Spirit of Christ Rev. 22.17 The Spirit in the Bride saith come the Holy Ghost breadeth this desire in the Church nature saith it is good to be here but this is a disposition above nature the Flesh saith Depart but the Spirit saith Come the great work of the Spirit is to bring us and Christ together he cometh from the Father and the Son to bring us to the Father by the Son his business is to marry us to Christ the promise being past the Spouse longeth to see her beloved It is the Spirit kindleth a desire in us of his second coming when the Marriage that is now contracted shall be consummated when the Queen shall be brought unto the King in rayment of Needle-work and shall enter into the Palace with him there to abide for ever Well then though guilty Sinners would have Christ stay away still and if it might go by Voices the Carnal World would never give their Voice this way Even so come Lord Iesus come quickly no they are of the Devils mind Why art thou come to torment us before the time Mat. 8.29 Thieves and Malefactors if they might have the liberty to choose they would never look nor long for the day of Assizes but the Spirit in the Bride is another thing it giveth us other inclinations the sooner Christ cometh the better they can never be soon enough taken up to him nor he come to them 2. There are Graces planted in us Faith Hope and Love to move us earnest●y to desire his coming 1. Faith believeth Christ will be as good as his word I will come again if it were not so I would have told you John 14.2 And if Christ saith in a way of Promise I come the Church saith Amen in a way of Faith even so Com● If Christ had gone away in discontent and with a threat in his mouth Ye shall never see my face more we should altogether despair of seeing him again but he parted in Love and left a Promise with us which upholdeth the Hearts of Believers during his absence Would Christ deceive us and flatter us into a Fools Paradise What need that He can strike us dead in an instant if we do not please him and we have hitherto found him true in all things and will he fail us at last 2. Hope which is Faiths Handmaid it looketh for that which we do believe it is the immediate effect of the new Creature 1 Pet. 1.3 Begotten to a lively hope as soon as Grace is infused it discovereth it self by its tendency to its end and rest it came from Heaven and carrieth the Soul thither 3. Love is an affection of Union it desireth to be with the party loved Phil. 1.23 I desire to depart and to be with Christ therefore its Voice is Come Come he hath Communion with us in our Houses of Clay therefore we desire presence with him in his Palace of Glory his Voice now is very sweet when he saith Come unto me ye that are weary and heavy laden but much more will

little Flock for it is your Fathers good Pleasure to giv● you the Kingdom And this is accompanied with his active Providence and Care over us all the way thither So that all things are sanctified to us that we may be sanctified to God Rom. 8.28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God to them who are the Called according to his purpose 2. It sheweth us that the Elect have cause to bless God if they be chosen to Salvation though not to Wealth Pleasure and Honour These Thessalonians endured great Afflictions for the Gospel sake yet Pa●l looked upon himself as bound to give thanks always to God for them because he had chosen them to Salvation God disperseth his Gifts variously some are shall I say chosen or condemned rather to Worldly Felicity It is the Will of God they should attain great Wealth and Honour here and will you envy them and repine against Providence though God hath reserved you for a better Estate hereafter Compare two places one is Ier. 17.13 All that forsake thee shall be written in the Earth The other is Luke 10.20 Rejoyce in this that your Names are written in Heaven Which is the better Privilege to be written in Earth or to be written in Heaven To have a great Name in the Subsidy-Book or to have our Names written in the Book of Life The one is their Punishment the other your Blessedness Second Use is Exhortation It presseth you to two things 1. Put in for a share and interest in this Mercy that is to say in the Apostle's words 2 Pet. 1.10 Give deligence to make your Calling and election sure God hath told us who are Elected and who are not Therefore our way is to accept of the general Grace offered and to devote and resign our selves to God and to depend upon the Merits of our Redeemer and put our selves under the Discipline of his Spirit in the use of the appointed Means humbly waiting for his renewing and reconciling Grace and every Day more and more by diligence in the holy and heavenly Life getting your Interest more assured For by this means do we come to know the purposed Love of God and that he hath not appointed us to Wrath but to obtain eternal Salvation by our Lord Iesus Christ. We need not say who shall go up to Heaven to know the Mind of God Our Election is known to us by our Vocation and our Vocation by the Fruits our walking before him in Holiness and Righteousness all our Days Surely the knowledg of our Election is a thing greatly to be desired because our Eternal Happiness and all Spiritual good Things depend upon it Election is the free Love of God by which he intendeth these Blessings to us This is manifested by Calling by which they begin to be applied to us then the effectual Operation which these Blessings have in us discovereth Calling when we call on the Name of Christ and depart from Iniquity 2 Tim. 2.19 2. We should praise and admire and esteem this glorious Grace and shew our Thankfulness both in Word and Deed. 1. In Word because that is a means to kindle in our Hearts the Love of God and to stir up a Spiritual rejoycing in him Psal. 103.1 2 3. Bless the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me bless his holy Name Bless the Lord O my Soul and forget not all his Benefits Who forgiveth all thine Iniquities who healeth all thy Diseases c. 2. But chiefly in Deed you are more obliged to live to God than other Men wh●n passing by thousands who in outward ●espects were better than you and you as deep in Sin as they Not only without but against all merit of yours by his singular Grace set you apart for himself Shall I sin against God and grieve his Spirit No Let me glorifie him as long as I have a Day to live SERMON XII 2 Thess. 2.14 Whereunto he called you by our Gospel to the obtaining of the Glory of our Lord Iesus Christ. AFter the Doctrine of Antichrist and God's dreadful Spiritual J●dgments on his Abetters and Followers the Apostle interposeth some matter of Consolation to the Thessalonians As before he comforted them from their Election so now from their Vocation Therefore as we saw the Doctrine of Election set forth in the former Verse with all its appendant Branches and Circumstances So now the Doctrine of Vocation with what belongeth to it Here Calling is set forth 1. By the Author of it he called you that is God who from the beginning hath chosen you to Salvation 2. The outward Means by our Gospel 3. The End which is double 1. Subordinate in the word Whereunto to Faith and Holiness 2. Ultimate to the obtaining of the Glory of our Lord Iesus Christ. Whereunto he called you c. Doct. All that are Elected by God are in time effectually called by Faith and Holiness to obtain Eternal Life 1. I shall open effectual Calling by what is said of it in the Text. 2. That all chosen by God are called in this Way 1. Let me explain Effectual Calling 1. The Author of it he called you Namely God spoken of in the former Verse I prove it by these two Reasons 1. None else hath Authority to call 2. None else hath Power to call 1. Authority to call either to Duties or Priviledges for Calling is an earnest invitation to Duties upon the offer of several Priviledges 1. Duties 1. God is our proper Lord and rightful Soveraign He may justly challenge our Obedience being our Creator he is our Owner and being our Owner he is our Soveraign and Law-giver and may enact what Laws he pleaseth Certainly Creation giveth him an interest in us For every Man taketh himself to have an● Authority over what he hath made to dispose of it as he pleaseth Now he that properly made all things is God Man is said to make a thing as he bestoweth Ar● upon it but God bestoweth Being upon it A Potter may form his Clay into what Vessel he pleaseth to make one Vessel unto Honour and another unto dishonour Rom. 9.21 that is either a Dish for Food or a Vessel to serve the vilest uses of Nature for Meat or Excrements But we speak of Rational Creatures that are capable of proper Government Surely God made us and hath a right to govern us Our Parents are but Instruments of his Providence they know not how the Child is framed in the Womb c. Now he calleth upon us to do our Duty with Original Supreme Authority we may refuse others if they speak not to us in his Name they have no right over our Consciences to impose new Duties upon us James 4.12 There is one Lawgiver who is able to save and to destroy Now his Calling being a powerful Excitation to do our Duty it originally belongeth to God 2. As to Priviledges The Blessings God offereth are so great and glorious