Thomas Manton

son of Tho. Manton of Whimpole in Devonshire, was born in that County, as ’tis said in the publick ((a))((a)) Reg. Matric. Univ. Oxon. P P. fol. 258. b. matricula, (tho one of his perswasion who knew him well, hath lately informed me that his birth was at Laurence Liddyard in Somersetshire) and at 15 years of age in 1635 was entred a Servitour in Wadham Coll. in Lent term, where continuing till 1639, he translated himself to Hart Hall, being then accounted by those (yet living) that well knew him a hot-headed person, and as a member thereof he took the degree of Bach. of Arts. Afterwards upon the turn of the times he became preacher, tho not in holy Orders, at Culliton in Devon. whence, under pretence of some disturbance, either by his Diocesan, or the Royal party, he went to London, adhered to the Presbyterians, and being a forward and florid Preacher among them, became, after he had taken the Covenant, Minister of Stoke Newington in Middlesex, and in 1647 and after, a preacher before the members of the Long Parliament. When the Independents ruled, he closed with them, took the oath called the Engagement, and made a flattering speech to Oliver (to whom he was Chaplain) when he was inaugurated Lord Protector in Westminster Hall, and in the latter end of the same year (1653) he was by him made one of the Triers, or rather Spanish Inquisitors, for the approbation of godly preachers. In the beginning of 1654 he was by the favour of the Delegates (appointed by the Chancellour of this University) actually created Bach. of Divinity, and soon after, upon the resignation of his Wifes Father called Obad. Sedgwick, he became Rector of S. Pauls Church in Covent-garden near London, where he was much frequented by Presbyterians and Independents for his fluent and practical way of preaching. In the beginning of Sept. 1658 when the Titmouse Prince called Richard was inaugurated to the Protectorate according to the Humble petition and advice, our author Manton, the peculiar Chaplain to that dignity, as Prelate of the Protectorship, said prayers and blessed him, his Council, Armies, and People, and so concluded that scene. In the latter end of the year 1659 he was by Act of Parliament (I mean that Parl. to which the secluded members were restored by General Monk) constituted one of the Triers or Approvers of Ministers according to the Presbyterian way, and in the beginning of the year following, he took holy Orders at Westminster from Thomas Bishop of Galloway. Soon after his Majesty being restored to his Kingdoms (towards which he pretended to be a helper when he could not hinder it) he was sworn one of his Chaplains in Ordinary, and in that quality, he was, by vertue of his Majesties Letters, actually created Doctor of Divinity among several Royallists, who had in a most miserable manner suffer’d for their Loyalty. He then, as ’twas observed by curious men present in the Convocation house, looked like a person rather fatted up for the slaughter, than an Apostle, (being a round, plump and jolly man) but the others (the Royallists) resembled Apostles by their most macerated bodies and countenances, and were indeed, in that respect, pitied by many, comforted, and bless’d by true Hearts as they passed the streets. After his Majesties restauration he did not read the English Liturgy in his Church in Covent garden, neither did the Parishioners enjoy it from the mouth of another, till the latter end of 1661, at which time they petitioned the Bishop of London to have it read unto them. In the interim this fat Doctor had a fat Deanery design’d him by his Majesty upon a supposal that he would conform; and ’twas verily thought that he would have taken it, (as Reynolds had the Bishoprick of Norwych) could he have been ascertain’d that the Kings declaration about Ecclesiastical affairs (published at his restauration) would have indulged him while he was a Dean, as then while he was a parochial Minister, or, as ’tis said ((b))((b)) In A Letter to a friend concerning some of Dr. Joh. Owens principles and practices. Lond. 1670. p. 36.37., had not a female Saint who had read many of his books and wrot much of his Sermons, extracted from them every sentence that made for the Covenant, for the government by presbytery, for the honor of Smectymnus, or that made against the Bishops and Liturgy of the Church; all put in a Letter and sent by her to him. Which of these two, was the reason, I am not certain: Sure it is that while these things were agitating, and after he had taken a great deal of pains, as a commission’d person by his Majesty, in the Savoy conference about the Liturgy, the Act of uniformity was published, and rather than he would conform, he not only refused the Deanery, but left his rectory at Barthelmew day, an. 1662. Afterwards he did set up a Conventicle in Covent-garden, and tho imprison’d for it for some time in the Gatehouse, yet, as ’twas thought, he got more from the Brethren, than if he had been a Dean, or had continued in his rectory. His works are these,

Many Sermons as (1) Meat out of the Eater: or, hopes of Unity in and by divided and distracted times, Fast sermon before the House of Commons 30. June 1647. on Zech. 14.9. latter part. Lond. 1647 qu. (2) Englands spiritual languishing, with the causes and cure, Fast serm. before the H. of Com. 28. June 1648 on Rev. 2.3. Lond. 1648. qu. (3) The blessed estate of them that die in the Lord, on Rev. 14 13. (4) Sermon before the L. Protector and Parl. on a publick day of humiliation, 24. Sept. 1656. on Amos 4.12. (5) The Saints triumph over death, Fun. serm. on Ch. Love, 25. Aug. 1651. on 1. Cor. 15.57. Lond. 1658. oct. (6) Sermon on Matth. 15.7.8.—Printed in the book called The morning exercise at Cripplegate. Lond. 1661. qu. (7) Farewel sermon at Barthelmew-tyde, on Heb. 12.2. Lond. 1662. oct. This sermon tho put out under his name, yet it was disclaimed by him under his hand in the common News of Sept. 24. an. 1663. published by Roger L’estrange (8) How we ought to improve baptisme, on Acts 2.38.—Printed in the Supplement to the morning exercise at Cripplegate. Lond. 1674. and 76. qu. (9) Serm. on 2. Thes. 2.15.—Published in the Morning exercise against popery in Southwark. Lond. 1675. qu. (10) Serm. on Rom. 5.12.—Published in The morning exercise methodized, &c. Lond. 1676. qu. (11) Twenty sermons on the Psalms, Acts, &c. Lond. 1678. qu. with his picture before them, published by Dr. Will. Bates. (12) Eighteen sermons on the second Chapt. of the sec. Epist. to the Thess. containing the description, use, growth and fall of Antichrist, &c. Lond. 1679 oct. (13) Sermons on the 119 Psal. Lond. 1681. fol. They are in number 190 and have his picture before them. This is called The first vol. of Sermons. (14) A second Volume of sermons in two parts. The first containing 27 sermons on the 25 of S. Matthew; forty and five on the 17 of S. John, and twenty and four on the sixth to the Romans. The second part containing 45 sermons on the eighth to the Romans, and 40 on the fifth Chapt. of the sec. Epist. to the Corinthians, &c. Lond. 1684. 85. fol. (15) The third Vol. of sermons, in two parts. The first containing sixty six sermons on the eleventh Chapt. to the Hebrews. To which is annex’d A Treatise of the life of faith. The second part contains A Treatise of self denial, with several sermons on the sacrament of the Lords Supper, and other occasions, &c. Lond. 1689. fol. Besides these there is now (May 1691) prepared for the press a fourth Vol. in fol. of select sermons on several Texts.

A practical commentary or exposition on the Epistle of S. James. Lond. 1651. 53. qu.

Exposition on the Epistle of S. Jude. Lond. 1652. qu.

Smectymnus redivivus, being an answer to a book entit. An humble remonstrance, &c. Lond. 1653. 60. 61. This book called Smectymnus, was written, as I have elsewhere told you, by Steph. Marshall, Edm. Calamy, Thom. Young, Matth. Newcommen, and Will. Spurstow, and first of all published in 1641, being the year after the said Humble remonstrance was published.

Practical exposition of the Lords Prayer. Lond. 1684. oct. with his picture before it. He also made some additions to the second edition of The life and death of Ignatius Jurdaine sometimes Alderman of Exeter, written by Ferdinando Nicolls Minister of S. Mary Arches in Exeter—Lond. 1655. in tw: Also an Epistle commendatory before A Commendatory or Exposition on the second Epist. to the Corinth. Lond. 1655. fol. Written by Dr. Rich. Sibbs; was one of the three that collected and published Thirty and one select sermons, written by Will. Strong, and wrot the Epistle to the reader before the second edit. of The larger and lesser Catechismes of the Assemb. of Div. Lond. 1658. qu. with several other little things of the like stamp. He paid his last debt to nature, after he had ran through many changes,1677. on the 18. of Oct. (S. Lukes day) in sixteen hundred seventy and seven, and was accompanied to his grave, in the Church at Stoke-Newington near London beforemention’d, by hundreds of the brethren: At which time Dr. Will. Bates one of his perswasion (the same, who also had been offered a Deanery, with our author, if he would conform) preached his funeral Sermon: Which being published, the Reader, if curious, may see therein the character and encomiums of him the said Dr. Manton.