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kingdom_n	glory_n	power_n	time_n	1,784	5	3.3791	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A26793	A funeral sermon preached upon the death of the Reverend and Excellent Divine Dr. Thomas Manton, who deceas'd Octob. 18, 1677 by William Bates ... ; to which is now added, the last publick sermon Dr. Manton preached.	Bates, William, 1625-1699.; Manton, Thomas, 1620-1677.	1678 (1678)	Wing B1110; ESTC R11400	38,335	122

Soul is as it were all Act continually exercising its most noble faculties on the best Objects Does the Soul sleep in that all-enlightned World that sees with open face the infinite Beauty of God that hears and bears a part in the Hymns of the Angels and Saints encircling his Throne that drinks of the Rivers of Pleasure that flow from his Presence that freely and joyfully converses with all the Celestial Courtiers the Princes of that Kingdom the Favourites of God Then it truly lives This reconciles Death to a Christian who has nothing more in his wishes than to be with Christ and knows that Diseases and Pains the fore-runners of it are but as breaking down the Walls of this earthly dark Prison that the Soul may take its flight to the happy Region and for ever enjoy the Liberty of the Sons of God And for his Body that shall be re-united to the Soul in Glory Methinks God speaks to a dying Believer as he did to Jacob when he was to descend to Egypt Fear not to go down into the Grave I will go down with thee and I will bring thee up again The same Almighty Voice that gave being to the World shall awake those who sleep in the Dust and reform them according to the Example of Christ's glorified Body O how should we long for that triumphant day and with most ardent Aspirings pray Thy Kingdom come in its full power and glory I Shall now come to speak of the Mournful Subject the Cause of my Appearing here at this time the Deceased Reverend and Excellent Divine Dr. Thomas Manton A Name worthy of precious and eternal Memory And I shall consider him both in the quality of his Office as he was an Embassador of Christ declaring his Mind and representing his Authority and in the holiness of his Person shewing forth the Graces and Vertues of his Divine Master God had furnish'd him with a rare union of those parts that are requisite to form an excellent Minister of his Word A clear Judgment rich Fancy strong Memory and happy Elocution met in him and were excellently improved by his diligent study The Preaching of the Word is the principal part of the Minister's Duty most essential to his Calling and most necessary to the Church For this end chiefly the severral Orders in the Ministerial Office were instituted Ephes 4. and upon our Saviour's triumphant ascent and reception into Heaven an abundant effusion of the Spirit in Graces and Abilities descended upon Men. Now in the performing this Work he was of that conspicuous Eminence that none could detract from him but from ignorance or envy He was endowed with extraordinary knowledg in the Scriptures those Holy Oracles from whence all Spiritual Light is derived And in his preaching gave such a perspicuous account of the order and dependence of Divine Truths and with that felicity applied the Scriptures to confirm them that every Subject by his management was cultivated and improved His Discourses were so clear and convincing that none without offering voluntary violence to Conscience could resist their Evidence And from hence they were effectual not only to inspire a sudden Flame and raise a short Commotion in the Affections but to make a lasting Change in the Life For in the humane Soul such is the composition of its Faculties that till the Understanding be rectified in its Apprehensions and Estimations the Will is never induc'd to make an entire firm choice of what is necessary for the obtaining perfect Happiness A sincere persevering Conversion is effected by weighty Reasons that sink and settle in the Heart His Doctrine was uncorrupt and pure the Truth according to Godliness He was far from a guilty vile intention to prostitute that sacred Ordinance for the acquiring any private secular advantage Neither did he entertain his Hearers with impertinent Subtilties empty Notions intricate Disputes dry and barren without productive Vertue But as one that always had before his Eyes the great End of the Ministry the Glory of God and the Salvation of Men his Sermons were directed to open their eyes that they might see their wretched condition as Sinners to hasten their flight from the Wrath to come to make them humbly thankfully and entirely receive Christ as their Prince and all-sufficient Saviour And to build up the Converted in their most holy Faith and more excellent Love that is the fulfilling of the Law In short to make true Christians eminent in Knowledg and Universal Obedience As the Matter of his Sermons was designed for the good of Souls so his way of expression was proper to that end Words are the Vehicle of the Heavenly Light As the Divine Wisdom was incarnate to reveal the Eternal Counsels of God to the World so Spiritual Wisdom in the Mind must be clothed with words to make it sensible to others And in this he had a singular Talent His Stile was not exquisitely studied not consisting of harmonious Periods but far distant from vulgar meanness His Expression was natural and free clear and eloquent quick and powerful without any spice of folly and always suitable to the Simplicity and Majesty of Divine Truths His Sermons afforded substantial food with delight so that a fastidious Mind could not disrelish them He abhorr'd a vain ostentation of Wit in handling Sacred things so venerable and grave and of eternal consequence Indeed what is more unbecoming a Minister of Christ than to waste the spirits of his Brain as a Spider does his bowels to spin a Web only to catch Flies to get vain applause by foolish pleasing the ignorant And what cruelty is it to the Souls of Men Suet. 'T is recorded as an instance of Nero's savage temper that in a general Famine when many perish'd by hunger he ordered a Ship should come from Egypt the Granary of Italy laden with Sand for the use of Wrestlers In such extremity to provide only for delight that there might be Spectacles on the Theatre when the City of Rome was a spectacle of such misery as to melt the heart of any but a Nero was most barbarous Cruelty But 't is cruelty of an heavier imputation for a Minister to prepare his Sermons to please the foolish curiosity of Fancy with flashy Conceits nay such light Vanities that would scarce be endured in a Scene whiles hungry Souls languish for want of solid nourishment His fervour and earnestness in Preaching was such as might soften and make pliant the most stubborn obdurate Spirits I am not speaking of one whose Talent was only in Voice that labours in the Pulpit as if the end of Preaching were for the exercise of the Body Si sudare aliter non potes est alind and not for the profit of Souls But this Man of God was inflam'd with an Holy Zeal and from thence such ardent expressions broke forth as were capable to procure attention and consent in his Hearers He spake as one that had a living Faith within

Perfection of Degrees Perfection is still required otherwise our Defects were nothing and we might allow our selves in our Failings and no great Harm would come of it And then to strive after Perfection or to press towards the Mark would not be a necessary Duty but only a Work of Super-errogation No it doth invite us to the highest Degree of Godliness and makes the Endeavour after Perfection a necessary Condition of our Happiness as Perfection it self to be our proper Happiness And so our Duty and Felicity do agree that we may not have any liberty to be bad and miserable But yet it accepteth of Sincerity if our Hearts be upright with God and our whole Mind and Desire be set to obey please and glorify him and we make it our main Work so to do God will not enter into Judgment with his Servants nor be strict and severe to his Children nor condemn those that love and fear him for lesser Failings and Infirmities nor take that Occasion to ruine and destroy them Indeed as the new Covenant commandeth Perfection it noteth our Infirmities to humble us in order to our Cure Christ as a Physician looks to our Infirmities to rid us of them and free us from them but not as a Judge to condemn us for them But yet because of the multitude of our Errors the holiest and humblest and most penitent believing Soul is scarce able to abide the Trial. Therefore when we have done our utmost Mercy in that Day is our greatest and surest Support 4thly With respect to the Day of Judgment 1. The Preparation that is necessary Since Christ is ready to judg and we know not the Day and Hour of his Coming we should be ready to be judged A sad Meeting and Greeting there will be between Christ and an unprepared Soul Therefore it concerns us deeply to see whether we be ready to give up our Account to God Now there is a twofold Readiness when you are in a safe Condition and when you are in a comfortable Case with respect to that Day All that are in a safe Case know not that they are in a comfortable Case know not that it shall go well with them in the Judgment Our Safety is known by the Law of Grace for Christ will judge according the Gospel Rom. 2.16 Whom the Gospel doth justify they shall be justified and whom the Gospel doth condemn they shall be condemned The Rules of judging are in the Word but every one cannot apply them Now the Gospel justifieth all that repent and believe By Repentance meaning a Turning in Heart and Life to God and by Faith a believing what Christ hath done for the Restauration and Salvation of Sinners and an accepting and making use of him to this End But these things are not wrought in us as easily as they are spoken of And when they are wrought in us they are not so soon evidenc'd that we have Repentance unto Life and Faith unfeigned Now then is it not a necessary Prayer whilst we are in the midst of our Doubts and Conflicts that we may find Mercy in that day 2. The strict Trial that we must undergo The Day of Judgment is the greatest and most dreadful Day that ever was when it is Matter of Sense as now it is Matter of Faith If a Man had it he would give all the World for Mercy in that Day For then the Judg will come from Heaven with a shout and the Books shall be opened Rev. 10.12 the Book of Conscience and the Book of God's Remembrance and every thing must be produced in the Judgment whether it be Good or Evil Eccles 12.14 Now the thought of this should make us humbly to sue out our Pardon Then intreaty is of no use but now it may steed us and no request becomes us so much As Mercy Lord in that Day If we miscarry then we are undone for ever but if accepted then we are blessed indeed to all eternity 3. The greatness of the Blessings we expect which beyond all proportion excel our best Endeavours Eternal Mercy is at the bottom of all God's proceedings with us Now the least comfort that he bestows upon us comes from his Mercy and Grace and should work a deep sense of it in our Hearts Gen. 32.10 I am not worthy of the least of all thy Mercies and of all thy Truth which thou hast shewed unto thy Servant But then there will be the fullest and largest manifestation of God's Love and Favour to us 1 Pet. 1.13 Hope to the end for the Grace that is to be brought to us at the Resurrection of Jesus Christ There is Grace brought to us now by the Revelation of Jesus Christ in the Gospel in some measure but hereafter by that Revelation we shall see his Grace and Mercy more fully and perfectly We see his Grace in the pardon of Sins and that measure of Sanctification and Renovation which we attain unto that he is pleased to pass by our Offences and to take us into his Family and give us a taste of his Love and a right to the Heavenly Kingdom and will any way imploy us in his Service But then it is another manner of Grace and Favour Indeed when our Pardon and Approbation shall be pronounced and ratified by our Judg's own Mouth Acts 3.17 Then times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. When he shall not only take us into his Family but into his Presence and Palace that we may dwell with him for ever John 12.26 Not only give us a Right but Possession Matth. 25.34 Not see Christ by Faith but by Sight 1 John 3.2 See our Persons admitted into the nearest fruition of God that may be and we are capable of Not only have some remote Service and Ministration but everlastingly imployed in loving and delighting in God and praising of God with all those Heavenly Creatures who are our Eternal Companions in this Work This is Grace and Mercy indeed The Grace of God or his Favour to Sinners is never seen in all its graciousness till then Then the praise of his glorious Grace doth shine forth Ephes 1.6 We cry Grace Grace now when we taste his Love but then we have the full and uninterrupted communion of it We have much of his Mercy now For we are justified freely by his Grace Rom. 3.24 Of his abundant Mercy he hath begotten us to a lively hope 1 Pet. 1.3 Grace is as free now as then but then it is more full No more trouble with Infirmities or Necessities The consideration of these things should press us to three things To be Serious Humble and Thankful 1. Serious in our preparation for our great Account The Judgment is so exact and impartial that the choicest of God's Servants are fain to refer their whole claim to Mercy The Business is weighty we are to be judged to Life or Death and both are Everlasting we have need to be serious in it The