PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Complete Works of Thomas Manton — Volume 6
Thomas Manton · 319,442 words · 323 reading sections
Section 181
Doct. That lying, especially a way or course of lying, should be far from God's people. David begs the removal of it, as most inconsistent with the temper and sincerity of a child of God. E.Kamine — 1. What is lying? 2._ Upon what_ grounds this should be fiir from a child of God? First, What is lying? Ans. Lying is…
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[1.] A lying to God, which is the worst sort, because it argues un- belief and atheism, low thoughts of God, as if he were not omniscient, did not know the lieart, and try the reins. How do we lie to God ? Partly when we put him off with a false appearance, and make a show 280 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. XXX, of w…
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(3.) There is a pernicious lie, that is to the hurt and prejudice of another. Of tliis nature was the first lie, by which all mankind was ruined — the devil's lie to our first parents, ' Ye shall be as gods,' Gen. iii. 4, 5. And of this nature was the patriarchs' lie concerning Joseph, when they spake to his father, Ge…
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4. This is a consideration, that God never dispensed with this precept. He hath upon special occasion dispensed with other com- mands, but never with the ninth. With the seventh commandment in the polygamy of the patriarchs, and with the second in Hezekiah's YeR. 29.] SERMONS UPON PSAL^M CXIX. 283 passover; but a man…
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Consider, there is a lying to God in public and private Avorsliip. In public worship, how often do you compass him about with lies ! We show love with our moutlis when our heart is at a great distance from God. Oh, how odious should we be to ourselves if our heart were turned inside outward in the best duty, and all ou…
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5. Avoid the causes of lying. There are three of them — (1.) Boast- ing, or speaking too much of ourselves. When men are given to boasting, whatever thing of weight is done, they were privy to it ; their hand was in the work, in contriving and prosecuting the business, their counsel was for it. Nothing can be acted wit…
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1. Press God about this, not only to grant his %vord unto the church, but to grant it unto you, unto your persons : ' To reveal his Son in me,' Gal. i. 16. There is a general benefit, ' He hath showed his word unto Jacob, and his statutes unto Israel,' Ps. cxlvii. 19. And there is a particular benefit, ' Grant me thy l…
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Doct. 3. That the law is granted to us or written upon our hearts out of God's mere grace. Grant it graciously, saith David. I will do it, saith God ; and God will do it upon his own reasons. The condi- tions of the covenant are conditions in the covenant, and the articles that bind us are also promises wherein God is …
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There are two great faults of men — one in point of choice, the other in point of pursuit. Either they do not choose right, or they do not live up to the rules of their profession. Both are prevented by these points. Doct. 1. That there being many crooked paths in the world, it con- cerns us to choose the way of truth…
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The Lord permits this in his holy and righteous providence, that the godly may be stirred up more to embrace truth upon evidence with more affection, that they may more encourage and strengthen them- selves and resolve for God ; for when all people will walk every one in the name of his god, 'we will walk in the name o…
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VeR. 30.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 293 good thing shall I do that I might have eternal life ? ' Though he disliked the bargain afterwards, yet he cheapens it, and asks what way he must take. For a great while persons have only a meraorative knowledge, some apprehension which doth furnish their talk about religion ; an…
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2. Consider the sad consequence of erring. There are damnable errors and heresies, 2 Peter ii. 1. Vice is not only destructive and damnable to the soul, but error. Now eternal damnation and salva- tion are no small matters. A man cannot please God in a false belief, how laudable so ever his life be ; and they cannot pu…
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296 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. XXXI. evidence but the Christian. How shall I be persuaded of this ? Why, that religion which God hath revealed, that religion which suits with the ends of a religion, that is, with the inward necessities of mankind, and most commodiously provides for man, that is true religion. Sure…
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1. That is the true religion which doth most draw off the minds of men from things temporal and earthly to things celestial and eternal, that we may think of them and prosecute them. The sense of another world, an estate to come, is the great foundation upon which all reli- gion is grounded. All its precepts and promis…
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VeR. 30.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 299 know our Lord himself usetli this very motive to invite men : Mat. xi. 29, ' Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest;' that is, take the Christian religion, that easy yoke upon yon, and you shall find rest for your souls. The Lord Jesus is our…
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VeK. 30.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 301 Prop. 8. That in the private difFerences among the professors of tlie reformed Protestant religion, a man is to choose the best way, but to hold charity towards dissenters. In the true church, in matters of lesser moment, there may be sundry differences ; for until men have the s…
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If all these can be proved, there is no reason to complain of our separation. First, That this separation was neither unjust nor unnecessary. It is unjust if it be made without a cause : it is unnecessary if it be made without a sufficient cause, or such a cause as may warrant so great a breach in the Christian world.…
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304 SERMONS UPON TSALM CXIX. [SeR. XXXII. which Grod had displayed because of liis truth, and so could not in conscience and spiritual safety live without the means of grace and the benefit of ordinances and church -societies, lest they should be scat- tered as sheep without a shepherd, and become a ready prey to Sata…
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Suppose the Roman Church were sound in faith, in manners, in dis- cipline ; yet, being but a particular church, that it should challenge such a right to itself, in giving laws to all other churches at its own pleasure, and that every particular society which doth not depend upon her beck in all things should be exclude…
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VeR. 30.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 307 ments upon Christian liberty; to receive the decrees of one church, and that so erroneous and imposing, without examination or leave of complaint. 3. That which grieveth, and did grieve, and cause this withdrawing, is both papal infallibility and freedom from error. That any chu…
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Thirdly, Come to their worship. Their adoration of the host, their invocation of saints and ano-els. their jrivins: to the Virgin Mary and other samts departed the titles of mediator, redeemer, and saviour, in their public liturgies and hymns ; their bowing to and before images ; their communion in one kind, and that d…
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5. It reproves those that think to reserve their hearts, notwithstand- ing outward con:ipliance ; the way of truth, being chosen, is to be owned, 2 Cor. vii. 1 ; the outward profession is required as well as the inward belief : Horn. x. 10, ' For with the heart man believeth unto righteous- ness, and with the mouth con…
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Secondly, As we should choose the way of truth, so cleave to it with all firmness and perseverance, without seeking out any other way, John vi. 67, G8. If you turn away from Christ, where will you get a better master ? Change where you will, you will change for the worse ; you will turn your back upon true comfort and …
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VeR. 30.] SERMONS UrON PSALM CXIX. 313 Mat. vii. 14. Why ? Because it gives no allowance to corrupt nature ; we have but a strait line to go l)3^ So that we need regard our rule. [2.] We are so ignorant in many particulars relating to faith and manners, that we need often consult with our rule. The children of light …
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If men would be constant, the next thing they must do is to ]wac- tise that religion they choose, and live under the power of it. Holi- ness is a great means of constancy : 1 Tim. iii. 9, ' Holding the mys- tery of faith in a pure conscience.' As precious liquors are best kept in clean vessels, so is the mystery of fai…
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316 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SePw XXXIII. you that cast liim off after trial, your apostasy is supposed to be the fruit of your experience, as if the devil were a better master ; when you have tried both, you return to him again. Tertullian, in his book De Pcenitentia, hath this saying, After you have tried God, you …
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Use 1. Get grace, then look after perseverance. Evil men must get grace; and God's children their business is to persevere in that state to which they have attained. But what should Ave do to persevere ? First, Be fortified against what may shake you from without ; beware of being led away by offences and scandals. T…
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Secondly, Be fortified within, by taking heed to the causes of apos- tasy, and falling off from the truth either in judgment or practice. Wliat is there will make men apostates ? VeR. 31.] SERMONS UPON PSALBI CXIX. 319 1. Ungrounded assents. A clioice lightly made is lightly altered. When we do not resolve npon evide…
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Thirdly, Take heed of the first decays, and look often into the state of your hearts. A man that never casts up his estate is undone insen- sibly ; therefore look often into the state of your hearts, whether you increase in your affections to God, in the power of holiness, or whether you go backward. It is the devil's …
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First, From sin, ' I have stuck unto thy testimonies ;' oh ! sufier me VOL. YI. X 322 SERMONS UPON PSALM cxix. [See. XXXIII. not to fall into any such sinful course as may expose me to shame, and make me become a reproach to religion. Observe — Doct. The fruit of sin is shame. Shame is a trouble of mind about such…
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2. The miscarriages of God's children are most shameful. Oh, how will the Hams of the world laugh to see a Noah drunk ! So a child of God, when he hath fallen into disorder, how will this furnish the triumphs of the uncircumcised ! Blind Samson did not make such sport for the Philistines as a child of God for a wicked …
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Let us see what this general enlargement and freedom is from these places. It consists in two things — a freedom from the power and from the guilt of sin, or the curse and obligation to eternal damnation. The first sort of freedom from the power of sin is spoken of Rom. vi. 18, ' Being then made free from sin, ye beca…
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2. There is a particular enlargement, or the actual assistance of the Lord's grace, carrying us on in the duties of our heavenly calling with more success. This is that which David begs in this place, ' If thou wilt enlarge my heart.' There are, after grace is received, many spiritual distempers which are apt to seize …
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VeR. 32.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 329 apprehensions of the Lord's grace, we are carried out to God with greater strengtli and liveliness. 4. We may look upon it as a fruit of love. For thus the apostle doth express his love to the Corinthians, 2 Cor. vi. 11, ' 0 ye Corin- thians, our mouth is open unto you, our hear…
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1. Ignorance and defect of gifts ; for it is by knowledge all grace comes into the soul: Col. iii. 16, 'Let the word of God dwell in you richly.' When the understanding is fraught with spiritual treasure, when the word of God dwells in us richly, then we have it upon all occasions to help us, we have at home a truth re…
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2. On the other side, some think they have it not when indeed they 332 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. XXXV. have it. Why ? Because they are not carried out in the work of God, as sometimes they seem to have been, with that liveliness and comfort. Let me tell you, there are necessary aids of grace, and there are more …
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Here two cases may be handled ; one is more generally — Case 1. Whether we are to resolve upon a course of obedience when we are uncertain of God's assistance ? The reason of doubting is, be- cause we cannot perform it in our own strength. I answer — 1. It is your duty to engage and consent to give up yourselves to Go…
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Thirdly, The subsequent operation of the saints ; they that are acted by God act under him: ' Then will I run the way of thy commandments.' VeR. 32.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 335 First, Mark, he resolveth, ' Then I will run.' He doth not say, Then I should run, but tvill run, as binding his soul by a resolution, and …
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3. Let it not be a rash but a serious resolution, all difiiculties being well weighed. In a fit or pang of devotion men will resolve for God, but it is soon gone : Josh. xxiv. 19, 20, ' We will serve the Lord, for he is our God : and Joshua said, Ye cannot serve the Lord, for he is an holy God, he is a jealous God;' th…
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4. The commands of God are legal and evangelical : they are both to be regarded : — (1.) The evangelical commands come first into con- sideration by the fallen creature ; there the great command is to believe VOL. YI. Y 338 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX, [SePv. XXXV. in Christ, John vi. 29, 1 John iii. 23. To believe in C…
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SERMON XXXVI. Teach me, 0 Lord, the ivay of thy statutes, and I shall keep it unto the end. — Ver. 33. The man of God had promised to run the way of God's command- ments ; but being conscious of many swervings, beggeth God further to teach him. In the words two things are observable : — 1. A prayer for grace, 2. A…
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But all this will be more evidently made out in the following points. Bocf. 1. Divine teaching is necessary for all those that would walk in the way of God's statutes. 1. We have lost our way to true happiness. Adam lost it, and all mankind in him ; ever since we have been wandering up and down : Ps. xiv. 3, ' They a…
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4. This inward teaching must be renewed and continued from day to day, or else we shall soon miscarry by our mistakes and prejudices. David is often pressing God with this request, 'Lord, teach me;' which plainly showeth that not only novices, but men of great holiness and experience, need new direction every day. The …
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Use 1 is for information. 1. The difference between the way of God and the way of sin. We have need of none to teach us to do evil — Vitia etiam sine magistro discunhii' ; we have that from nature ; but in the way of God we must be taught and taught again ; God must be our teacher and daily monitor. 2. It informs us …
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2. God's children are sensible of their own insufficiency, and so of the need of a constant dependence upon God ; sound and saving know- ledge is ever humble. They have clearer light than others, and so best 346 SERMOKS UPON PSALM cxix. [Ser. XXXVI. see their own defects : Prov. xxx. 2, ' Surely I am more brutish tha…
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Use 1. Is to reprove them that desire knowledge, but only to inform their judgments or satisfy their curiosity, not to govern their hearts in the fear of God, or to reform their practices. Such are foolish builders : Mat. vii. 26,27, 'Every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doetli them not, shall be likened u…
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VeR. 34.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 349 'Walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil,' Eph. v, 15. 3. That he may respect things according to their order and places, and give them precedency in his care and practice as their worth de- serveth, which certainly belongeth t…
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4. Understanding is necessary, that we may judge aright of time and place and manner of doing, that we may do not only things good but well, where to go, where to stand still ; as it is said, they sought of God a right way, Isa. viii. 21/ and David behaved himself wisely in all that he did, 1 Sam. xviii, 5. It is for t…
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2. That they will do so is also clear upon a twofold account : — [1.] Because answerable to the discovery of good or evil in the understanding. There is a prosecution and an aversation in the will ; for the will doth necessarily follow 'pnicticum dictamen, the ultimate resolution of the judgment ; for it is 6pePi<; fi…
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VOL. VL ■ z 354 SEKMONS UPON PSALM cxix. [Ser. XXXVIII. soberly, righteonsly, and godlily in this present world ; ' and Luke i. 75, ' That we, being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life.' (3.) That he may spend his y…
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5. If you love any, you give them the heart ; and you are wont to wish that there were windows in your bodies that they might see the sincerity of your hearts towards them. Surely if you have cause to love any, you have much more cause to love God. No such friend as he, no such benefactor as he, if you consider what he…
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VeR. 34.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 357 ranee, faith without imbehef, hope without despair, love without defect and mixture of carnal inchnations, all good motions without distraction. Here is folly and confusion ; here ' flesh lusteth against the spirit ' in the best, Gal. v. 17. They have a double principle, though n…
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Use 1. First, to reprove those that do not give God the heart in their service ; secondly, not the whole heart. 1. Not the heart, but content themselves with outward profession : Jer. xii, 2, ' Thou art near in their mouth, but far from their reins.' God is often in their speech, but they have no hearty affection. Nev…
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Ans. 1. When our purpose is to cleave to God alone, and to serve him with an entire obedience both of the inward and outward man, purely and sincerely, without hypocrisy : Ps. li. 6, ' Behold thou desirest truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom ;' and Phil. iii. 3, ' For we …
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362 SERMONS UPON PSALM .CXIX. [SeR. XXXIX., as was wholly unfit and indisposed for those things that were to be made of it. Now, this latter suits with us : ' We are created in Christ Jesus to good works ; ' that is, we were altogether indisposed before to that which is good. We have our natural powers, but they are w…
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Now this actual help is necessary — 1. Partly to direct us : Ps. Ixxiii. 24, ' Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and aiterward receive me to glory.' We need not only a principle within and a rule without, but need also a guide. Though we have grace in our hearts, though we have the law of God to direct us, yet we …
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VeR. 35.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 365 is put into some great disorder, in a great storm of spirit, the distem- per should first be mourned for and prayed against. The reasons why from first to hist he must make us go in tlie way of his commandments. 1. God keeps this power in his own hands, that his grace might he …
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Use 1. Look after renewing grace ; see whether there be a principle of life in you or no, whether you be his workmanship in Christ Jesus. Better never be his creature if not a new creature ; a dog is in a better condition. You can do nothing in the spiritual life until there be a prin- ciple ; in vain to expect new ope…
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368 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. XXXIX. 3. A f^ood frame of heart mast be kept up, for the joy of a Christian may be impaired by his own folly and prevalency of carnal distempers. There is dulness and a damp that is apt to creep upon us ; either by carnal pleasure, or worldly lusts and cares, we may abate of our che…
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3. Of all our affections delight and complacency is most acceptable. The promise is made to such: Ps. xxxvii. 4, ' Delight thyself in the Lord, and he will give thee the desire of thine heart.' It is a slander that the hypocrite brings upon God : Job xxxiv. 9, ' He hath said, It jiroiiteth a man nothing that he should …
924 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.
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.