by Thomas Manton
in ePub, .mobi & .pdf formats
"For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord." (2 Cor 1: 1-6)
The words branch themselves into three parts:—
1. A supposal of the worst that could befall him in the world: If our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved.
2. A proposal of a glorious estate to be enjoyed after death: We have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
3. An assertion of his own right, or the application to himself, or an assured expectation of this blessed and glorious estate: We know that we have. It is not a bare conjecture, but a certain knowledge, οἴδαμεν, 'We know.' And what is there known? Not the general truth only, that there is a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens, but that we have a particular confidence of our own blessed immortality.
The point is this—
That the difficulties, pressures, and dangers of the present life, even though they should end in death itself, are a matter of no great terror to those who have a sure confidence of their own blessed immortality.
I shall explain this point by these considerations:—
1. That the present life is frail, miserable, and transitory, and within a little while will surely come to an end.
2. That there is a much happier condition than this world is capable of, even an abiding estate of blessedness which God hath provided for his people. For the apostle, speaking of the present life, he calleth it a tent, but the other is an house: that is an earthly house; this eternal in heaven, out of the reach of all sublunary dangers. That is an house in which man is instrumental in raising it up, or sometimes pulling it down; this is builded without hands by God himself, and continued to us for ever by his gracious grant.
3. That a sure confidence of this happy and blessed condition may be had. For there is a sure right—'We have;' a certain confidence—'We know.' It is not, We think, We hope well, but, We know. It is propounded as a common privilege, you and I and all the suffering servants—'We know.'
4. That this sure confidence of our own right in it, and future possession of it, doth support and fortify the soul against all the dangers and pressures of the present life, yea, against death itself.
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Table of Contents
SERMON I. "For we know, that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved," ver. 1
SERMON II. "For we know, that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved," ver. 1
SERMON III. "For we know, that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved," ver. 1
SERMON IV. "For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house," ver. 2
SERMON V. "If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked," ver. 3
SERMON VI. "For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened," ver. 4
SERMON VII. "Now he that hath wrought us for this self-same thing is God," ver. 5
SERMON VIII. "Therefore we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home," ver. 6
SERMON IX. "Knowing that whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent," , ver. 6
SERMON X. "For we walk by faith, and not by sight," ver. 7
SERMON XI. "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body," , ver. 8
SERMON XII. "Wherefore we labour, that whether present or absent, we may be accepted," ver. 9
SERMON XIII. "For we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ," , ver. 10
SERMON XIV. "For we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ," , ver. 10
SERMON XV. "For we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ," , ver. 10
SERMON XVI. "For we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ," , ver. 10
SERMON XVII. "That every man may receive the things done in the body, according to what," , ver. 10
SERMON XVIII. "Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men," , ver. 11
SERMON XIX. "But we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made," , vers. 11, 12
SERMON XX. "For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God; or whether," , ver. 13
SERMON XXI. "For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God; or whether," , ver. 13
SERMON XXII. "For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God; or whether," , ver. 13
SERMON XXIII. "For the love of Christ constraineth us, because we thus judge," , ver. 14
SERMON XXIV. "For the love of Christ constraineth us, because we thus judge," , ver. 14
SERMON XXV. "For the love of Christ constraineth us, because we thus judge," , ver. 14
SERMON XXVI. "For the love of Christ constraineth us, because we thus judge," , ver. 14
SERMON XXVII. "For we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead," , ver. 14
SERMON XXVIII. "Then were all dead," ver. 14
SERMON XXIX. "But to him that died and rose again," ver. 15
SERMON XXX. "That they which live should not henceforth live to themselves," , ver. 15
SERMON XXXI. "Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh," , ver. 16
SERMON XXXII. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature," , ver. 17
SERMON XXXIII. "And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself," , ver. 18
SERMON XXXIV. "To wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself," , ver. 19
SERMON XXXV. "Not imputing their trespasses unto them," , ver. 19
SERMON XXXVI. "Not imputing their trespasses unto them," , ver. 19
SERMON XXXVII. "And hath committed to us the word of reconciliation," ver. 19
SERMON XXXVIII. "Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did," , ver. 20
SERMON XXXIX. "Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did," , ver. 20
SERMON XL. "For he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin, that we might," , ver. 21