HERE are presented to thy view some of
the further profitable and pious labours of that eminent divine, Dr Manton (now
with God), who though, like a tree full of fruit, he has already yielded much
fruit, yet still more and more falls from him.
Since his much to be lamented death, two very large volumes (with some lesser)
of his sermons have been published, which give a clear discovery to the world
of his great abilities for, and great diligence in, the office and work of the
ministry. Now this small piece succeeds, which, in comparison of the former, is
but a poor stripling,—but as 'the shaking of an olive tree, as the
gleaning grapes when the vintage is over.' Yet let it not be rejected or
slighted upon that account; for though it is not so bulky as they, yet,
according to its proportion, it is of equal value, and shows the same head and
heart which they do.
My pen (upon this opportunity) would fain be launching forth into the
commendation of the worthy author, but I will not suffer it, considering how
little he needs that from any, and how much he is above it as from me. Neither
will I suffer it to run out in the commending of these sermons; for I hope, to
impartial and judicious readers, they will commend themselves (the best way of
commending). I only recommend them, as judging them worthy of the perusal of
all who are desirous of a fuller knowledge of our Lord Jesus.
For he is the grand subject treated of in them. His person, offices, works,
blessings, are here described, asserted, vindicated, and improved. Our
redemption by his blood; his being the image of the invisible God, the
first-born of every creature; his creating and sustaining all things; his
headship over the church, pre-existence before all created beings; his being
the first-born from the dead, the union of the two natures in his person; his
reconciling of sinners to God through the blood of his cross,—these are
the heads insisted upon in these sermons (the author following the apostle,
Col. i. 14-20).
And are not these great points, of a very sublime nature, containing the very
vitals of gospel revelation? Can ministers preach, print too much of them? Can
private Christians hear, read, meditate too much of them? Oh, they are the
ta bayh 'the deep things of God,' in which is
manifested the polupoikilos sofia 'the manifold
wisdom of God,' which 'the angels desire to look into,' which are the wonder
and astonishment of heaven, which put such a transcendent excellency upon the
knowledge of Christ. Should we not, therefore, thankfully receive and
diligently peruse all discourses that may clear, up our light in and about
these profound mysteries? I hope the consideration hereof will make these
sermons acceptable to many gracious souls. They all hanging upon this string,
and pointing to this argument (of what Christ is, has done, suffered, and
procured for believers), they are not unfitly put together, and printed by
themselves, in this small volume.
Several of the points mentioned are controversial; for a long track of time
there has been hot disputes about them. What volumes pro and con
have been written, both by ancient and modern divines, about them! But our
reverend author does not so much concern himself in what is polemical and
controversial, but chose rather in a plainer way (as best suiting with
sermon-work) to assert and prove the truth by scriptural testimonies and
arguments: and that he has done to the full.
Reader, whoever thou art into whose hands these sermons shall come, let me
assure thee they are the genuine work of the person whose name they bear. They
were copied out from, and according to, his own notes, by one who I am sure
would be as exact therein as possibly he could. But how earnestly could I wish,
if God had not seen it good to order it otherwise, that the author himself
might have lived to have reviewed and polished them; for what hand so fit to
polish the stone as that which cuts it? But now what is amiss must be left to
the understanding reader to discover, and to the candid reader to pardon.
Christian, I commit thee to God; may he bless thee, and all the labours of his
faithful servants (whether living or dead), to the promoting of thy spiritual
and eternal good. Which he ardently desires, who is,—
Thine to serve thee in our Lord Jesus,
THO. JACOMB.