Glorify Thy Name: Sermons on John 17

Thomas Manton preaches on the High Priestly Prayer of Christ in John 17. In his own words,

"I SHALL, in the following exercises, open to you Christ’s solemn prayer recorded in this chapter — a subject worthy of our reverence and serious meditations. The Holy Ghost seemeth to put a mark of respect upon this prayer above other prayers which Christ conceived in the days of his flesh. Elsewhere the scripture telleth us that Christ prayed; but the form is not expressed, or else only brief hints are delivered, but this is expressed at large. This was, as it were, his dying blaze. Natural motion is swifter and stronger in the end; so was Christ’s love hottest and strongest in the close of his life; and here you have the eruption and flame of it. He would now open to us the bottom of his heart, and give us a copy of his continual intercession. This prayer is a standing monument of Christ’s affection to the church; it retaineth a perpetual efficacy; the virtue remaineth, though the words be over. In this prayer he mentions all blessings and privileges necessary for the church. He prayeth for himself, for the apostles, for all believers. He beginneth with his own glorification, as the foundation; and goeth on to seek the welfare of the apostles, as the means; and then the comfort of believers, as the fruit of his administrations in the world. Christ’s merit, the apostles’ word, the believers’ comfort, are three things of the highest consideration in religion. I shall open these in the order and method in which they are laid down."

The outstanding preaching ministry of Thomas Manton (1620-77) was exercised first a Stoke Newington from 1644, then from 1656 in one of the leading Puritan churches in London. St Paul's Covenant Garden. The extent of his pulpit labours is shown by the fact that the twenty-two volumes of the standard 19th century edition of his works consist almost entirely of sermons. The works of Thomas Manton (1620-1677) present us with what was most characteristic in the ministry of the English Puritans: careful, solid, warm-hearted applicatory exposition of the Scriptures. Manton's works are characterised by great pastoral concern and a balanced wisdom.

Bishop J.C. Ryle said, 'If ever there was an English divine who must be classed as a Puritan, that man is Manton...his works, like the Pilgrim s Progress deserve the attention of all true Christians...As an expositor of Scripture I regard Manton with unmingled admiration. Here, at any rate, he is "facile princeps" [easily first] among the divines of the Puritan school...In days like these, I am thankful that the publishers of Manton's Works have boldly come forward to offer real literary gold to the reading public.'

Ted Cortez Publishing