PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Complete Works of Thomas Manton — Volume 6
Thomas Manton · 319,442 words · 323 reading sections
Section 61
94 SERMONS UPOX PSALM CXIX. [SePv. XI. by those whose hearts are affected, while they look upon it under these notions ; and they may be so far affected that they may for a while not only profess it out of" danger, but when some danger doth arise they may defend their opinions with some care. Yet this is not with all …
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2. We may mention it to our own comfort. Thus Paul, 2 Qor. i. 12. Jesus Christ is our rejoicing, but in one sense this is also our rejoicing, ' the testimony of our conscience,' Wherefore is grace given us, but for the furtherance of our comfort? To bear false witness against ourselves is naught. Though the duties of t…
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1. Because their light is increased. By communion with God they see more of his holiness. The more a man is exercised in obedience, YeR. 10.] SERMONS UPON PSAL3I CXIX. 97 the clearer is his Yi^ht and understanding, both to God and the will of God : Mat. v. 8, ' Blessed are the j^ure in heart, for they shall see God.'…
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Doct. 2, It is God alone that can keep us from wandering. Reas. There is in man's heart a mighty proneness thereto : Jer. xiv. 10, you have hearts that ' love to wander.' Man is a restless creature, that loveth shifts and changes. For weakness they are com- pared to children, Hosea xi. 3, and for wandering compared to…
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3. The subject or place where the word is hidden, in the heart. Not the brain, or mind and memory only, but the heart, the seat of affec- 100 SERMONS urox rsALM cxix. [Ser. XII. tions. To hide the word in our hearts is to understand and remember it, and to be affected to it and with it. Christ saith, John xiv. 21, ' …
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1. It will prevent vain thoughts, AVhat is the reason evil is so ready and present with us ? Because our stock of knowledge is so small. A man that hath a pocket fuller of brass farthings than pieces of silver, will more readily draw out farthings than shillings ; his stock is greater. So vain thoughts will be more rea…
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6. It is a great relief in troubles and afflictions. Our faintings come from ignorance, or our forgetfulness : Heb. xii. 5, ' Ye have for- gotten the consolation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him.' If we had a herb growi…
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3. The Holy Grhost makes use of a sanctified memory, bringing scriptures to our remembrance as we have need. It is made their act^ because the Holy Ghost made use of their memories : ' They remem- bered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up,' John ii. 17. They that neglect to search and hide the…
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Use 2. To direct you Avliat to do in reading, hearing, meditating. 1. In reading. Hide the word in your hearts. The word may be reduced to doctrines, promises, threatenings. (1.) For doctrines, lay up knowledge, Prov, x. 14. It is a notable preservative against sin, and an antidote against the infection of the world, …
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2. We must not hide the word in our heart merely that we may be able to teach others, tliat we may make a gainful trade of it. Alas ! a man may teach others and be himself a castaway. Look, as in coin- ing of money, an iron stamp may impress the character and print upon a piece of gold and silver, so God may use the gi…
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Secondly, Subjectively ; and so again God is blessed either in an active or in a passive sense. 1. In an active sense. And here we must distinguish again ; for so God is blessed either with respect to himself or with respect to us. [1.] Blessed in himself, as he hath the fulness of perfection and contentment. Blessed…
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[2.] God is actively blessed with respect fo us as he is the fountain of all blessedness. He is not only blessedness itself, but willing to communicate and give it out to the creature, especially his saints. He fills all created things with his blessedness : Ps. cxlv. 16, ' Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the d…
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2. Though God stand in no need of us, yet he is willing to communicate his blessedness, and to make us happy in the enjoyment of himself. There is a threefold consideration which doth advance the bounty of God — that to us, that himself to us, and that so readily and freely. [1.] That to us, who can neither hurt him …
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4. If we would profit by the word of Grod, we must go to God, and desire the light and strength of his grace. If we would enjoy the blessed God, according to the direction of his word, we must not only consult with the word, but with God. Xotliiuo- else can draw us off from the world, and persuade us to look after hea…
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[2.] There is no sincerity in them. All that is in the world is but a semblance and an appearance, that which tickles the senses ; it doth not go to the heart. You would have thought Belshazzar was merry at the heart when he was quaffing and carousing in the cups of the temple ; but how soon is the edge of his bravery …
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apprehend the things of God in a spiritual manner: Ps. xxxvi. 9, 'In thy light shall we see light.' There is no discerning spiritual things spiritually, hut in God's light. There may be a literal instruction which one man may give to another, but ' in thy light only shall we see light ; ' such a lively affective knowl…
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4. We are apt to abuse our knowledge. Saving knowledge makes us more humble, but carnal knowledge more proud. Where it is in gift rather than in grace, there men are puffed up. The more we Icnow God or ourselves by a divine light, the more humble we shall be : Jer. xxxi. 18, 19, ' When I was instructed, I smote upon my…
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YeR. 13.] SERMONS UPON PSAL51 CXIX. 119 the tongue will drop what is savoury. I say, certainly if it be within, it will break out. The word is to be hid, but not like a talent in u napkin, but like gold in a treasury, to be laid out upon all meet occa- sions. Thus referring it to the 11th verse, there may be a fair co…
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2. David may be considered here as a prophet, and so a pattern of all teachers. He asserts his sincerity in two respects — (1.) As to the matter of his doctrine; it should be the judgments of God's mouth, such as he had received from God. (2.) As to the extent ; that he would declare all the judgments of his mouth. [1…
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122 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. XIY. household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord.' God promiseth himself, that from Abraham and his family he should have respect. God hath made many great promises to Abraham, as he doth now to all believers ; but if you would have him bring upon you that which he h…
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2. It is the glory of the tongue to serve God in this kind. It is the most excellent member in the body when it is well used for the glory of God and edification of others ; therefore called our glory often in the psalms : ' Awake, my glory ; ' that is, my tongue ; and what is glory in the Old Testament is rendered ton…
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5. It discovereth plenty of knowledge and a good esteem of the word. (1.) Plenty of knowledge, when it is so apt to break out. When these living waters run out of the belly, it is a sign of a good spring there : Col. iii. 16, ' Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teachino; and admonishinsr one ano…
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will have his hand in the work, and are quickening and inflaming one another. Fathers, children, husbands, wives, all find some employ- ment or other about their idolatrous service. Oh, that every one would be as forward and zealous and helpful in the work of God ! Oh, that we were as careful to train and set our famil…
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2. It should press us to holy conferences set. There may be, and should be, some set time for mutual edification. It is not the duty only of the ministers, but also of private Clmstians, keeping within the bounds of their station and the measures of their knowledge, to teach and to instruct one another. The scriptures …
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In the words there is — 1. A delight asserted. 2. The object of it, in the loay of thy testimonies. 3. The degree of ijt, as much as in all riches. By way of explication : The ' testimonies' of God are his word, for it testifieth of his will. Now the prophet saith not only, ' I have re- joiced in thy testimonies,' …
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[2.] There is a sweetness found in the way of God's testimonies which arisetli from the conscienceof practical obedience,notfrom contemplation VeR. 14.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 131 ouly : and it is best to be found when we come to practise and perform what we know. It is said of wisdom, Prov. iii. 17, 'All her ways …
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3. The reasons why they rejoice more in the way of God's testi- monies than in all riches. [1.] Because of the suitableness of these things to the new nature. Everything hath a kind of joy when it enjoys that which is good for it. The ground doth pleasantly receive a shower of rain after drought ; the natural man eate…
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[2.] That is riches which puts an esteem upon us in the eyes of God and the holy angels, who are best able to judge, One barbarous Indian may esteem another the more he hath of his shells and trifles ; but you would count him never the richer that should bring home a whole ships lading of these things : Luke xii. 20, s…
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Use 1. Here is an invitation to men to acquaint themselves more with the way of God's testimonies, that they may find this rejoicing above all riches. It is hard to pleasant natures to abjure accustomed delights ; and carnal men picture religion with a sour austere foce : We shall never see cheerful day more if we are …
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Compare it with the ISthverse, 'I have declared;' now ' I will meditate.' To be warm and affectionate in our expressions of respect to the word before others, and to slight it in our own hearts, argueth gross hypocrisy ; therefore David would not only confer, but meditate. Many talk with others, but not with their own …
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1. Occasional meditation is an act by which the soul s[)iritualiseth every object about which it is conversant. A gracious heart is like an alembic ; it can distil useful thoughts out of all things that it meeteth with. Look, as it seeth all things in God, so it seetli God in all things. Thus Christ at Jacob's w'ell di…
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(2.) Practical and applicative. This we now speak of; and it is that duty and exercise of religion whereby the mind is applied to the serious and solemn consideration and improvement of the truths which we understand and believe, for practical uses and purposes. Not like a man that soweth and never reapeth ; or a woman…
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(3d.) It is a profitable duty as to temporals. Isaac went out to meditate, and of a sudden he espieth the camels coming upon which Eebecca was brought to him, Gen. xxiv. 63, 64. W^as this a mere accident, think you, or a providence worthy of remark and obser- vation ? Isaac goes to meet with God, and there he gets the …
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2. Of the truths lohich ice ^mderstand and believe. In meditation we suppose the object understood ; for it is the work of study to search it out, of meditation to enforce and apply it ; and we suppose it be- lieved and granted to be a truth. The work now is to improve our assent, that it may have an answerable force a…
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VOL. VI. K 146 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. XYII. govern his thoughts, they would come more to hand. Partly, want of love. We pause and stay upon such objects as we delight in. Love naileth the soul to the object or thing beloved : Ps. cxix. 97, ' Oh, how I love thy law ! it is my meditation all the day.' Carnal me…
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148 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. XVII. that 'he delightetli in the law of God, and in that law doth he exer- cise himself day and night.' God's people will delight in his law ; it it is one of the greatest enjoyments they have on this side heaven, in the time of their absence from God. It is the instrument of all th…
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2. In regard of its own excellency, in three respects ; it is— [1.] Their direction. [2.] Their support. [3.] Their charter. [] .] It is their direction ; it is ' a light that shines in a dark place,' 2 Peter i. 19. The world is a dark place, beset with dangers, and ever and anon we are apt to stumble into the pit o…
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YeR. 16.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 151 but here sliould be our great deliglit, ' I will solace or recreate myself in thy statutes.' Use 2. Caution to us to fix our delight aright. 1. It is a considerable affection. AH the affections depend upon pleasure or pain, delight or grief — the one is proper to the body, the …
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How shall we get it ? 1. Get a suitableness to the word. Every man's delights are as his principles : Rom. viii. 5, ' They that are after the flesh, do mind the things of the flesh ; but they that are after the spirit, the things of the spirit.' A man is much discovered by his savour and relish of things. AH creatures…
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154 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. XVIII. US.' If we did receive it with more lieed, we would retain it with more constancy ; lay them up, keep them choicely. 2. Affection, that is a great friend to memoiy. What we esteem most we best remember. Omnia quce ciirant senes meminerunt — an old man will not forget where he…
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2. The end and scope of life ; God's service. First, The cause of life, deal hountifully ivitli thy servant, that I may live. Observe — Doct. The prorogation of our lives is not the fruit of our merits, but the free grace of God. 1. Long life is in itself a blessing, and so promised, though moi-e in the Old Testamen…
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VeK. 17.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 157 we are not consumed, because liis compassions fail not.' Tlie reasons are two: — 1.] We deserve nothing at liis hand. '2.] We deserve the contrary. (1.) We cannot merit of God : Job. xxii. 2, ' Can a man be profit- able to God, as he that is wise is profitable to himself ?' Jo…
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2. It quickeneth us to love and serve God, who is ' the strength of our lives, and the length of our days,' Deut. xxx. 20. Thy life is wholly in God's hands. Man cannot add a cubic to his stature, nor make one hair white or black at his own pleasure. It is the Lord's providential influence that keepeth thee alive ; in …
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160 SERMONS uroN PSALM cxix. [Ser. XYIII. is too hard to be resisted or endured : Job vii. 15, ' My soul choosetli strangling and death rather than my life.' In all these cases it is but a shameful retreat from the conflict and burden of the present life, from carnal irksomeness under the calamity, or a distrust of Go…
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Beas. 2. It is the end of our lives that God may be served : ' All things are by him, and through him, and to him,' Kom. xi. 36 ; angels, men, beasts, inanimate creatures. He expects more from men than from beasts, and from saints than from men ; and therefore life by them is not to be desired and loved but for this en…
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Ver. 18.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 163 cxix. 105, ' Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my paths.' His glory : Col. iii. 17, ' And whatsoever ye do, in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.' [4.J Death shall not prevent ns, till we have ended our…
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1. There is a taking away the veil before we can have a true dis- cerning of the mysteries that are revealed in the word of God : 2 Cor. iii. 14, 15, the apostle, speaking of the Jews, saith, 'But their minds were blinded ; for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away, in the reading of the Old Testament ; w…
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166 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. XIX. cept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little and there a little.' So sottish and brutish are some, that a man had need teach them as he teacheth little children, letter after letter, and line after line, little good done. (2.) In others there is a grammatical knowledge b…
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(5.) It is a light that prevaileth over our lusts and interest, such a light as hath fire in it to destroy lusts : 1 John ii. 3, 4, ' He that saith I know him, and doth not keep his commandments, is a liar.' A true knowledge and sight of God is able to bridle lusts and purify the conscience. Therefore it is said, ' He …
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VeR. 18.] SERMONS UrON PSALM CXIX. 169 and sentences, and be able to discourse of them, yet ho wanteth faith, and a spiritual sense and relish of tliem ; they are folly to him. It noteth the utter contempt of spiritual things by a carnal heart, who looketh upon redemption by Christ crucified, with the consequent benef…
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Use 1. To show us the reason why the word prevaileth so little when it is preached with power and evidence ; their eyes are not opened : Isa. liii. 1, ' Who hath believed our report ; and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed ? ' No teaching will prevail till we are taught of God. Use 2. What need we have to consult …
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172 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. XIX. yet maldng nicany rich.' 2 Cor. vi. 9, 10. All the operations of the Spirit are wonderful: 1 Peter i. 8, ' Joy unspeakable and full of ij;lory:' Phil. iv. 7, ' Peace that passeth all understanding ; ' Piom. viii. 26, ' Groans that cannot be uttered.' And now, what divine illumi…
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lie "was, a stranger; and the place where, upon earth; not in heaven, he was familiar there. And how a stranger upon earth, in point of happiness, — I do not find here that which satisfieth my soul ; he had his home, his rest elsewhere ; but not in point of service, for he had much work to do. Doct. God's children are…
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VeR. 19.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 175 a possession ; he was king over, an opulent and flourishing kingdom ; yet, Ps. xxxix, 12, ' I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.' Not only he that was a wandering partridge, and flitted up and down ; but David that was settled in a throne, he that w…
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4. There they abide longest. That we account our home where we abide. An inn cannot be called our home, where we come but for a night, and away ; but now there we are ' for ever with the Lord.' Here we are in motion, there in rest. The world must be surely left. If we had a certain term of years fixed, yet it would be …
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VOL. VI. M 178 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. XX. upon these considerations sets them a-longing and groaning;. (2.) As love makes them desire the company of Christ, so entire subjection to - God ; they would have perfect grace and freedom from sin, therefore are ever groaning, — Oh ! when shall we he rid of this body…
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4. What is your solace in your affliction, and the inconveniences 180 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. XX. that you meet with in your pilgrimage ? Doth this comfort you — Home will pay for all ? Heh. x. 34, ' Ye took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and enduring…
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Secondly, I proceed to the latter clause, ' Hide not thy command- ments from me.' Here is his request. To make short work of it, I shall endeavour to make out the connection and sense of these words in these propositions. 1. Every man here upon earth, especially a godly man. is but a stranger and passenger. Every man …
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2. Entreat the Lord of his abundant grace to pity poor strangers, who are ignorant ; and desire him he would not hide his word from you, that you may walk in the nearest, closest way wherein he would have you walk. He may hide it from you as an absolute supreme Lord, for he is bound to give his grace to none ; and he m…
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3. For the properties of it. You have them here in the text : — "1.] They must be earnest. 2.] A constant bent of heart. 1.] An earnest bent of heart. Common and ordinary afFection or desire after the word will not serve the turn ; not a faint and cold wish, but such as hath heat and warmth in it. It is good to see b…
950 wordsSource & rights
Public-domain historical edition (1870); OCR text from Internet Archive. OCR may contain scanning/transcription errors. Verify quotations against page images when precision matters.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.