Thomas Manton Quotes on Faith, Affliction, Prayer and the Word
Thomas Manton was a Puritan preacher in London in the 1600s. He was rector of St. Paul's, Covent Garden, until he was ejected in 1662, and he spent the rest of his life preaching in private rooms and, for a while, from prison. His sermons are long, but they're packed with short, sharp sentences that stick. That's why Puritan readers have been copying him out for more than three hundred years.
Every quotation below is copied exactly from his books in TheWay Library: his commentary on the Epistle of James and his 190 sermons on Psalm 119. Each has its source, so you can read it in its setting. The Psalm 119 volumes were restored from old scans and still have misread words in places, but each line here has been checked against the text. For his life story, see who was Thomas Manton. For a guide to his books, see Thomas Manton books.
On faith and works
Manton lectured through James to correct a faith that only talked. He was careful to keep works in their place: they don't earn anything, but they prove faith is alive.
Faith is not an idle grace; wherever it is, it fructifieth in good works.
A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of James, Prolegomena, or a Preface
Works are not a ground of confidence, but an evidence; not the foundations of faith, but the encouragements of assurance.
A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of James, Chapter II: James 2
There is a great deal of difference between declaring and deserving: works, as fruits, may declare our justified state.
A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of James, Chapter II: James 2
Faith is not always alike lively; but, where it is true, it is always living.
A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of James, Chapter II: James 2
Graces are not dead, useless habits; they will have some effects and operations, when they are weakest and in their infancy.
A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of James, Chapter II: James 2
Reason telleth us, we must be for ourselves: faith telleth us, we must be for God.
A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of James, Chapter II: James 2
On trials and affliction
Manton knew trouble: civil war, plague, the fire of London, ejection and prison. His sermon on "It is good for me that I have been afflicted" is one of the best things he wrote.
The world hath no reason to think religion a black and gloomy way.
A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of James, Chapter I: James 1
Of all afflictions those are sweetest which we endure for Christ's sake.
A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of James, Chapter I: James 1
The trial doth not merit heaven, but always goeth before it.
A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of James, Chapter I: James 1
The hot furnace is Christ's workhouse: the most excellent vessels of honour and praise have been formed there
Sermons on Psalm 119, Volume 2, Sermon LXXIX (verse 71)
When we are but newly under the affliction, we feel the smart, but do not presently find the benefit; but, within a while, especially in the review, it is good for me; it is matter of faith under the affliction, it is matter of sense after it.
Sermons on Psalm 119, Volume 2, Sermon LXXIX (verse 71)
Afflictions are good, if we have the grace to make a good use of them.
Sermons on Psalm 119, Volume 2, Sermon LXXIX (verse 71)
Haste never speaketh well of God, nor his promises, nor maketh any good comment upon his dealings.
Sermons on Psalm 119, Volume 2, Sermon LXXIX (verse 71)
When all things go well with him, God is his best friend; when all things go ill with him, God is his only friend
Sermons on Psalm 119, Volume 2, Sermon CXVI (verse 107)
On prayer
He had little patience with careless prayer, and great confidence in prayer that rests on God's promise.
Prayers rightly qualified, want not success; that is, if they come from a holy heart, in a holy manner, to a holy purpose.
A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of James, Chapter I: James 1
Let the prayer be according to the word, and the success will be according to the prayer.
A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of James, Chapter I: James 1
Prayer is not for God's information, but the creature's submission; we pray that we may have his leave.
A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of James, Chapter IV: James 4
Fervent prayer is like an arrow drawn with full strength, but yet it must be godly prayer.
A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of James, Chapter IV: James 4
On the word of God
Psalm 119 is a psalm about Scripture, and Manton preached it as a man who loved his Bible. He wanted ordinary people reading it and storing it up.
Either a man forgets the word, or hath lost his affection to it, before he can be drawn to sin.
Sermons on Psalm 119, Volume 1, Sermon XII (verse 11)
Every time you read the Scriptures, you should lay up something.
Sermons on Psalm 119, Volume 1, Sermon XII (verse 11)
Meditation breedeth delight, and delight helpeth memory
Sermons on Psalm 119, Volume 1, Sermon XVII (verse 16)
Tumultuary reading and hearing, without meditation, is like greedily swallowing much meat.
Sermons on Psalm 119, Volume 1, Sermon XVII (verse 16)
Why, it is God's epistle, it is my best friend's letter.
Sermons on Psalm 119, Volume 2, Sermon CI (verse 97)
In the waters of the sanctuary, in some places the elephant may swim; in others, the lamb may wade.
Sermons on Psalm 119, Volume 3, Sermon CXLIII (verse 130)
The doctrine of Christ is the sum of religion; he that hath learned it well, hath learned all.
Sermons on Psalm 119, Volume 3, Sermon CXLIII (verse 130)
On the heart and the will
Manton always pressed past outward behavior to the heart behind it.
O how miserable should we be if our lust were our law, if the bent of our hearts were our rule!
Sermons on Psalm 119, Volume 1, Sermon I (verse 1)
To single out what pleaseth us, is to make ourselves gods.
Sermons on Psalm 119, Volume 1, Sermon I (verse 1)
There is a quick intercourse between the heart and the tongue; and whatever aboundeth in the heart, cometh uppermost and findeth vent in the speech.
A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of James, Chapter II: James 2
Hypocrites are most censorious; but true piety maketh men meek and humble.
A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of James, Chapter III: James 3
When a man loveth you, you have the keys of his heart; you can open and shut it when you please.
Sermons on Psalm 119, Volume 3, Sermon CLXXIX (verse 165)
On the world, pride and riches
He preached to some of the richest people in London, and he didn't soften what James says to the rich.
If we had one world, yet we are not happy, we would covet another; carnal desire is a gulph that is never filled up.
A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of James, Chapter IV: James 4
Covetousness is the root of evil, and pride is the soul of it; covetousness is but pride's purveyor.
A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of James, Chapter IV: James 4
It is hard to carry a full cup without spilling, and not to lift up ourselves when we are raised up by God.
A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of James, Chapter IV: James 4
There is excellency enough in God: he requireth only sense of emptiness in us.
A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of James, Chapter IV: James 4
The least grain of grace seemeth better to them than a mountain of gold.
Sermons on Psalm 119, Volume 3, Sermon CXXXIX (verse 127)
On putting it off
A Puritan sermon always ends with a call. Manton's sermon on "I made haste, and delayed not" is a plain warning against waiting to turn to God.
Delay is a denial; for, if they were willing, there would be no excuse.
Sermons on Psalm 119, Volume 2, Sermon LXVII (verse 60)
God will not always wait upon a lingering sinner, but will take the denial and be gone.
Sermons on Psalm 119, Volume 2, Sermon LXVII (verse 60)
On heaven
Last, his picture of what it's all for.
This is the heaven of heaven, that the soul shall be filled up with God, shall understand God, love God, and be satisfied with his presence.
A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of James, Chapter V: James 5
Where to read more Manton
If you want one book of his first, read A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of James. It's the clearest of his books here and the easiest text to read. For his sermons on suffering, turn to Volume 2 of the Psalm 119 sermons. All his books are listed on the Thomas Manton author page, our reading guide explains how the three Psalm 119 volumes divide the psalm, and our guide to the best Puritan books suggests other Puritans to read next.