Commentary on the Book of James (The Complete Works of Thomas Manton, vol. 4)
In addition to his sermons, Manton is perhaps best known for his detailed commentary on the book of James, which he finds “full of useful and practical matter.” He affirms its divine authority, its canonicity, and its catholicity, paying particular attention to Luther’s objections to James. James, more than any other book, shows the church that “faith is not an idle grace.”
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- Affirms the book of James’ divine authority, canonicity, and catholicity
- Investigates Luther’s objections to James
- Examines themes of faith expressed in the book of James
Top Highlights
“We are all apt to divorce comfort from duty, and to content ourselves with a ‘barren and unfruitful knowledge’ of Jesus Christ, 2 Peter 1:8; as if all that he required of the world were only a few naked, cold, and inactive apprehensions of his merit, and all things were so done for us, that nothing remained to be done by us. This is the wretched conceit of many in the present age, and therefore, either they abuse the sweetness of grace to looseness, or the power of it to laziness. Christ’s merit and the Spirit’s efficacy are the commonplaces from whence they draw all the defences and excuses of their own wantonness and idleness.” (Page 8)
“First we practise sin, then defend it, then boast of it. Sin is first our burden, then our custom, then our delight, then our excellency.” (Pages 395–396)
“Mercy is never obtained but in the use of means; wisdom’s dole is dispensed at wisdom’s gate, Prov. 8:34. But the use of means doth not oblige God to give mercy; there are conditions which only show the way of grace’s working. Again, I grant that closing with Christ is an excellent duty, and of the highest importance in religion. But in Christ there are no dead and sapless branches; faith is not an idle grace; wherever it is, it fructifieth in good works.” (Page 9)
“The apostle wrote it upon the same reason, to wit, to prevent or check their misprisions who cried up naked apprehensions for faith, and a barren profession for true religion.” (Page 9)
“that inward privileges are the best and most honourable, and spiritual kin is to be preferred before carnal” (Page 17)
How hard and successful a student he was, and how frequent and laborious a preacher, and how highly and deservedly esteemed; all this, and more, is commonly known.
Ministers who do not know Manton need not wonder if they are themselves unknown.
The fertility of his mind seems to have been truly astonishing. Every page in his books contains many ideas . . . I regard Manton as a divine of singularly well-balanced, well-proportioned, and scriptural views. . . . As an expositor of Scripture, I regard Manton with unmingled admiration.
Perhaps few men of the age in which he lived had more virtues and fewer failings.
—William Harris
- Title: Commentary on the Book of James (The Complete Works of Thomas Manton, vol. 4)
- Author: Thomas Manton
- Series: Complete Works of Thomas Manton
- Publisher: J. Nisbet & Co.
- Print Publication Date: 1871
- Logos Release Date: 2012
- Pages: 481
- Era: era:reformation
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Presbyterian Church; Theology › History--17th century; Puritans › Doctrines
- Resource ID: LLS:MANTON04
- Resource Type: text.monograph.collected-work
- Metadata Last Updated: 2023-02-17T17:37:05Z
Thomas Manton (1620–1677) was an English Puritan clergyman. He was born in 1620 in Somerset, England. He attended Oxford University, and graduated in 1639. At age 19, he was ordained as a deacon, and became the town lecturer of Collumpton in Devon. He began preaching at St. Mary’s Church in 1644, and became lecturer at Westminster Abbey in 1656. He also participated in the Westminster Assembly and preached before Parliament. In 1662, Manton was forced to leave the Church of England for nonconformity. He was imprisoned—as were many Puritans—in 1670 for preaching illegally. He also crafted the Fundamentals of Religion with Richard Baxter during this time. Throughout his lifetime, Thomas Manton was a devoted follower and ardent defender of Reformed theology. He died in 1677.