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What Kind of Perfection is Attainable in This Life, by Thomas Manton.

What Kind of Perfection is Attainable in This Life, by Thomas Manton. What Kind of Perfection is Attainable in This Life, by Thomas Manton (1620-1677).

Let, therefore, as many as be perfect be thus minded; and if in any, thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
~ Philippians 3:15

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
~ Philippians 3:12-14

I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. That ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
~ Galatians 5:10, Colossians 4:12f

Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
~ Colossians 1:28, 2 Timothy 3:17, 1 John 2:5

But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
~ James 1:4

"3. Such are more swayed by love than fear. Weak Christians are most obedient when most in fear of hell; but the more we love the Lord our God with all our hearts, the more we advance towards our final estate. At first our pride and sensuality beareth sway and rule in us, and have no resistance, but now and then some frightenings and ineffectual checks from the fears of hell. Such they are not converted yet. And if the sense of religion do more prevail upon us, yet our condition is more troublous than comfortable, and all our business is to escape the everlasting misery which we fear; and so we may forsake the practice of those grosser sins which breed our fears, or perform some duties that may best fortify us against them. But this religion is animated by fear alone, without the love of God and holiness, that is only preparative to religion, near the kingdom of God; but when really converted, we have the Spirit of his Son inclining us to God as a Father, Gal 4:6. But as yet the spirit of adoption produceth but weak effects; we differ little from a servant; it is 'perfect love casteth out fear,' 1 John 4:18. When the soul loveth God, mindeth God, and is inclined to the ways of God, delighteth in them as they lead to God, then we are in a better progress, and more prepared for our final estate: his great motive is love, his great end is perfect love. For the present he would serve him better, because he delighteth in his ways. 'Oh, how I love thy law!' Ps 119:97, and ver. 140, 'Thy word is very pure, therefore thy servant loveth it.' They are willing and ready for God; these are thoroughly settled in a Christian course.

"4. The grown Christian is more humble, he seeth more of his defects than others do. Weak Christians are more liable to be puffed up than the wiser and stronger; for the more men increase in grace, whether knowledge or holiness, the more they know their emptiness, unmortifiedness, and manifold sins and failings, the more they know of the jealousy of God's holiness, of the evil of sin, of the strictness of the covenant, have a deeper sense of their obligations to God, and have more experience of their own slippery hearts: sin is more a burden to them than ever they see; they have more difficulties to grapple with, and all this keepeth them humble and low in their own eyes. All this is spoken to press you to look to this growth and progress which is our perfection. By the way, he that thinketh he hath grace enough to be saved, and careth for no more, dealeth more niggardly with God than he would do in the world; if a man hath bread enough to keep him from starving, would he be content? There is no truth where no care of growth; if our condition be safe, it is not sure to us."


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