Complete Works Of Thomas Manton, D.D eBook

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. These words are part of Christ''s rebuke to Peter, who, when the high priest''s servants came to attack Christ, draweth his sword, and cuts off Malchus'' ear, which our Lord first health, and then reproveth his disciple for this temerarious action: ''Put up thy sword into the sheath.'' He reproveth him, partly because it becometh no private man by opposition to resist authority; but the chief reason was, our Lord would not be hindered in performing the great act of his mediation, his dying for sinners. You shall see in another place, when Peter counselled him against his sufferings, he rebuked him with the same severity that he doth the devil tempting him to idolatry: ''Get thee behind me, Satan,'' Mat. xvi. 23, compared with Mat. iv. 10. And here this rash and unseasonable interposition, to save his master by force, is again reproved. In Peters temerity, take notice of the difference between military valour and christian fortitude. He that faltered and was blown down by the weak blast of a damsels question hath now the courage with a single sword to venture upon an whole band of men. Military valour is boisterous, and dependeth upon the heat of blood and spirits, and is better for a sudden onset than a deliberate trial; but christian fortitude dependeth on the strength of faith, and lieth in a meek subjection to God, and will enable us to endure the greatest torments rather than encroach upon the conscience of our duty to God. A man of a military forward spirit may outbrave dangers when they are sudden, but faileth or fainteth in weaker trials, that are managed rather in a way of charge and accusation than force. But in Christ''s rebuke, take notice of his obedience to God and love to men. Obedience to God: Shall I not suffer patiently, without resisting, what my Father hath determined me to suffer? And love to men; it was the cup which God had given him to drink for the good of his people, and therefore he would by no means decline it.

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