Dr. T homas Manton's Funeral Sermon, \\' hen the Soul opens its eyes to the clear difcoveries of the firfl: T ruth, .and its hrcall to the dear and intimate imhraces of the Supream Good, beyond wluch nothing remains to be known, nothing to be ?njoy'd, what a delujje of the pureft Pl~afures will o,·crll.ow it? VVe cannot afcend 111 onr thoughts fo h1gh, as to corlcetve the cxccfs of Joy that attends thofe operations of the glorified Soul upon its proper ' Object. Sut fomething we may conjeCture. (1.) Thofe who arc po!Tefl: with a noble Paffion for Knowledge, hoW do they defpife all lower Pleafures in compar ifon ofit? How do they forget themfelvcs, negleCt ~~J~eBba~~' a~;~e~e::,rGo~t~f t/~~h~i~ ~gstl;f,;~i~~e~,~~r\~~r~i"N:t~~e11l~::~ ~~ ~t~~a~ ll:i ve influence upon the AffeCtions, is pleafant to the U nderJl:anding. As the appearance of Light, though not attended with any other vifi.ble Beauties, refrefhcs the Eye after long Darknefs: fo the clear difcovery of Truths, l1ow abfl:raCI: fa-ever, that were bcoforc unknown, is grateful to the intelleCtive Faculty. Thus fame have been llrangely tranfported with the Pleafures of a Mathematical ~ernonfiration, when the Evidence, not the Importance of the Thmg was fo ravzfiung; for what is more dry and barren of Delight than the [peculation of Figures and Numbers ? So!OJt when near h is end, and fame of his Friends that viltted him were [peaking foftly of a Point ofPhilofophy, by a foundofWifdom was awaken'd from the neep of Death that was jull feizing on him, and opening his Eyes, and raiGng )lis Head to give attention ; being ask' cl the reafon of it? Anfwered, ThrJ,. t whm * I unde,fland what you nre difcourjiug of, I may die. Such was his delight • Ut ,:.~ iflud in I~no:vicdge, that a litt!e ?fit made his Agony in~enfible. But ~ere are many Im-lJ:;~'lJd,:_ffiu1!r~~ pcrfclbons that lefTen tins mtc11efrual Pleafure, wh1ch fhall ceafe m Heaven. Here jmtpm, mr the acquifition of Knowledge is often with the expence of Health : the flower ri•r.Vai.Max, of the Spirits, nece!Tary for Natural Operations, is wafl:ed by intenfe thoughts. How often are the Loarned lickly? As the Fl int when 'tis fl:ruck, gives not a ij' ark without confuming it fe lf; So Knowledge is obtain'd by Studies that wafl:e our f.1 in t fcnfitive Faculties. But then our Knowledge fhall be a free emanation from the Spring of Truth, without our labour an~ pains. Here we learn by circu it, and diK:ern by comparing things; our Ignorance is difpell'd by a gradual fucceffion of Light : But then Univerfal Knowldge fhall be infufed in a moment. Hero after all our labour and toy!, how little Knowledge do we gain? Every Que- ~~~;;c~t~ t~~~'fe\~t~: 0~o~; :;~;1f~~~io~:~~~~~s~~~"~'[~~p~e:~~~~i~nr.~fr~~dfn~~oJ ~~~~~~~~~>atl\'~~~e~iai,;~~~ed ~~~;'~~~a:.hr'?Fg~~~~~~~i~grVI~~:~l;;r~eBl~ ti;~e~~l~: fl:ia l Paradife, as no inordinate AffeCtion. But fuppofe that all things in the compafs of the World were known, yet llillthcre \vould be emptinefs and anguifi1 in the MiuJ : for the mofl: comprehenGve Knowledge of things that are infufficient to make us happy, cannot afford tnre SatisfaCtion. But then we fhall fee God in all his Excellencies, the fupream ObjeCt and End, the only Felicity of the Soul. How will the Gght of his Glory perfonally fh ining in our Redeemer, in the firfl: moment quench our cxtream thirfl:, and fill us with Joy and Admiration ? 'Tis not as the naked conception ofTreafures, that only makes rich in ldc,u, but that Divine Gght gives a re:-~ I Interel1: in him. The Angels arc fo ravifh'd with the Beauties and Wonders of llis Face, that they never divert a moment from the contemplation of it. 2 . The pure Love ofthe Saints to God is then fully fatisfied. Love conGderedas an affeCtion of rri endlhip, is always attended with two dcGres; to be affured of Re- ~tf~~ ~fl:~~~~e~:J'~:,I.~t~iJ. th~~~~~~~ci~~~o;> ~~:~ra~ef[~~s~~'b:ef~e~~aa~:~~i~b • A,;p,;. that infinite dillance that is between God and the Creature. But though 'tis di(j,roportio<l1ble to the Divine Majefl,y, 'tis proportionable to his Goodnefs. Accordmgly our Sa" IOnr Protmr~.:s, He thqt loves me, foall be loved ofmy Father, and I will love him. tmrln:;i/1 litrmifift my ftlf 1111to hi'!'· And to confirm our belief of this aftoniOting GJndt.'fccntion, repeats it, If a i\f.,m love me, my Father wiU love him, dnd :w~ n:ili t:ome to hint, n11d make o:tr abotf-q wit/:; him. In the prefcnt fi:ate, the figns of God's fpcciJI Faviour are exhibited to his Friends. Now he bellows on them the Honour o~ being his Sons, the G r.:~c cs and Comfor~s of his Spirit, the precious Earnefl:s of l1 1s ~ovc,and Seal oft h. ir R cdcempt ioH. But in eminency of dcgrec3, the effects of his Love arc ;ncomparably mor~gl~ri ous inHcJven. Here thcS.:~ i ntsare Adopted,there Crown'd. T here he opens all the bnght Treafures of his Wif{lom, the R.iches of his Goodnefs, the BcJ uti~s of his Hol ine!s, the Glories of his Power, and by the intimate applicatiorl
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