Eternal in the Heavens: Sermons on 2 Corinthians 5

Puritan minister Thomas Manton examines why the Christian can look beyond this world and find comfort in the next. "Paul here rendereth a reason why he could so overlook things seen, whether crosses or comforts, and so resolutely venture upon the hope of things unseen. The point is this: That the difficulties, pressures, and dangers of the present life, even though they should end in death itself, are a matter of no great terror to those who have a sure confidence of their own blessed immortality." The outstanding preaching ministry of Thomas Manton (1620-77) was exercised first at 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