Eighteen Sermons on the Second Chapter of the Second Epistle to the Thessalonians

An ADVERTISMENT.

To prevent false Copies, that may be published in Dr. Manton's Name: These are to give Notice, that nothing is to be received as Genuine, but what shall be Attested under the Hands of Dr. Bates, or Mr. Baxter.

Now we beseech you (Brethren) by the coming of our Lord Iesus Christ, and our gathering together unto him: That you be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter, as from us, that the day of Christ is at hand.

THE former Chapter was spent in a Consolation against troubles, this in a caution against Error, or to rectify their Judgments concerning the time of Christs second coming. In these two first Verses; we have the manner of proposal V. 1. the matter proposed V. 2.

1. The manner of proposal is very pathetical, by way of Adjuration or Obtestation.

2. The matter, an Error had crept in among the Thessalonians, concerning the speedy and immediate coming of Christ to Judgment, while they were yet alive; which error the Devil set on foot to subvert their Faith, and expose the whole Christian Doctrine to contempt.

First, The manner of obtestation falleth p. 2first under our consideration, in which two things are mentioned.

1. The coming of Christ.

2. Their gathering together unto him.

Obtestations are by those things which have great reverence and respect with us, as most likely to prevail. Now these two things are mentioned,

1. As weighty, 2 Tim. 4.1. I charge thee before God, and the Lord Iesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead, at his appearance and his Kingdom.

2. This was the Article mistaken and perverted as to one circumstance, the Time; but the thing is taken for granted, as an unquestionable truth, and the support of all their hopes, 2 Thess. 1.10. When he shall come to be glorified in his Saints, and admired in all them that believe.

3. This was a famous Christian Doctrine, with which the Apostles usually began, in planting Religion in any place, 1 Thess. 5.1, 2, 3. But of the times and the seasons ye have no reason that I write unto you, for ye your selves know perfectly, that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night, &c.

4. It was of precious account with them, 2 Tim. 4.8. Henceforth is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness, which the Lord the righteous Iudge shall give me at that day, and not to me only, but unto them also that love his appearing. p. 3So that the obtestation implyeth both the certainty of their belief, and also their dear account of this Article of Faith; and therefore the sense is, As you do assuredly expect him, and love, and look, and long for this day, that it may go well with you, and Christ appear to your glory, so be not troubled.

p. 31. Doct. That the coming of Christ to the judgment, is a truth well known, firmly believed, and earnestly desired by all true Christians.

2. Doct. That when Christ shall come, all the Saints shall be gathered together unto him.

1. Doct. That the coming of Christ to the judgment, is a truth well known, firmly believed, and earnestly desired by all the Saints.

1. That it is well known, the Apostle produceth the testimony of Enoch, Jude 14. Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his Saints; David often mentioneth it as a thing delighted in by Believers; therefore in a Poetical, or rather Prophetical strain, he calleth upon the Heavens, Ear◊h, Sea, and Fields, to rejoice; before the Lord, for he cometh, for h◊ cometh to judge the Earth; he shall judge the World with Righteousness, and the people with his truth, Psal. 96.13. and again, Psal. 98.10. He calleth upon the Creatures to rejoice; before the Lord, for he cometh to judge the Earth; p. 4with Righteousness shall he judge the World, and the people with Equity; passages whi◊h relate, not only to the Kingdom of the Messiah, as it is exercised now in the World, but also to his final act of judging, till which time they are not fully verifyed: Solomon bindeth ◊he whole duty of man upon him by his consideration, Eccles. 12.13, 14. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter; Fear God, and keep his Commandements, for this is the whole duty of man; for God shall bring every work into Iudgment, with every secret thing; whether it be good, or whether it be evil: And the Apostles, when they went abroad to Proselyte the World, usually began with this point.

p. 42. That this is firmly believed by all true Christians. This must needs be so; because it is the grand inducement to all Piety and Godliness, and none ever disbelieved it, but those, the interest of whose Lusts ingaged them to question it, 2 Pet. 3.3, 4, 5. Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days, scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? For since the Fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the Creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, &c. willingly ignorant; their interest puts them upon it, rather than their Conscience, because this Doctrine filleth them with unquiet thoughts, that they cannot so securely follow their sinful practices, p. 5till they blot out the fear of it, or banish the thoughts of it out of their hearts; but all that obey the teachings of grace (take it for objective or subjective grace) they firmly believe it, Tit. 2.11, 12, 13. …