Thomas Manton's collections of sermons on Psalm 119 is one of the lasting works of the Puritan era.
Here's what Spurgeon said on Manton's exposition of Psalm 119: "Fully up to Manton's highest mark, and he is well known to have been one of the chief of the Puritan brotherhood. The work is long, but that results only from the abundance of matter."
J.C. Ryle championed the republication of Manton's works in the 19th century. He wrote,
"Manton’s chief excellence as a writer, in my judgment, consists in the ease, perspicuousness, and clearness of his style. I find it easier to read fifty pages of Manton’s than ten of some of his brethren’s; and after reading, I feel that I carry more away.
Let no one, moreover, suppose that because Manton’s style is easy, his writings show any lack of matter and thought. Nothing of the kind. The fertility of his mind seems to have been truly astonishing. Every page in his books contains many ideas, and gives you plenty to think about.
If Manton never soars so high as some writers, he is, at any rate, never trifling, never shallow, never wearisome, and never dull."
On Manton's practical commentary on James, Spurgeon notes: "In Manton’s best style. An exhaustive work, as far as the information of the period admitted. Few such books are written now."
Thomas Manton was an English Puritan clergyman.
Born at Lydeard St Lawrence, Somerset, Manton was educated at Blundell's School and then at Hart Hall, Oxford where he graduated BA in 1639. Joseph Hall, bishop of Norwich, ordained him deacon the following year: he never took priest's orders, holding that he was properly ordained to the ministerial office. He was then appointed town lecturer of Collumpton in Devon. In the winter of 1644-1645, he was appointed to preach at St Mary's Church in the parish of Stoke Newington in Middlesex, where in 1646 he was joined by Alexander Popham as the parish's ruling elder and began to build a reputation as a forthright and popular defender of Reformed principles.
Although Manton is little known now, in his day he was held in as much esteem as men like John Owen. He was best known for his skilled expository preaching, and was a favourite of John Charles Ryle, who championed his republication in the mid-19th century. His finest work is probably his Exposition of James.
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