A Brighter Day Begins with His Word.

PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK

The Complete Works of Thomas Manton — Volume 7

Thomas Manton · 317,571 words · 317 reading sections

SECTION 301

Section 301

4G8 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. CI. Avill never be found out unless God will discover it himself ; for how could any man divine what God purposed in his heart before he brought it to purpose, until he himself had revealed it ? Therefore it is a good word, because it reveals reconciliation by Christ. [2.] There is …

939 words
SECTION 302

Section 302

Thirdly, Tlie use of scripture, the ends for which God liatli ap- pointed it, and the uses for which it was given. 1. To increase the knowledge of God. Now, the saints would know more of God, and better their notions of him ; as Moses, his great request to God is, ' Tell me thy name ;' when he learned that, ' Show me …

941 words
SECTION 303

Section 303

[1.] For building up in faith, or increasing in internal grace. The word of God is not only for novices, but for grown persons, that there may be a continual dropping into the lamps, as it was in the vision of Zechariah : Acts xx. 32, ' I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, …

910 words
SECTION 304

Section 304

472 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [Ser. CII. mine heart.' When they come to taste, digest, and have experience of the benefit in comforting, changing, supporting their own hearts, then they love the word of God that hath been the instrument of it : James i. 18, ' He hath begotten us by the word of truth.' Then what follows…

973 words
SECTION 305

Section 305

3. This is that which will give you a clearer understanding in the mysteries of godliness. The more we love the word the more we study it, and the deeper insight and more spiritual discerning we have in the mysteries thereof. It is not acute parts, but strong affections to divine things, that maketh us to understand th…

946 words
SECTION 306

Section 306

YeR. 97.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. • 475 streagtlien us in our conflicts, either with sins or with afflictions, to strengthen us against corruptions, and quicken us to duties ; the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, the choicest weapon in the spiritual warfare, Eph. vi. 18. Here a Christian fetcheth his al…

1,047 words
SECTION 307

Section 307

2. If you have this love to the word of God, you will delight to get it into your hearts. There is the great business of a Chiistian, that it may not only be in the Bible, but may be impressed on the heart, and expressed by a sincere, uniform, impartial obedience, when we study conformity thereto in heart and life. Hyp…

930 words
SECTION 308

Section 308

478 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. CII. but a pure sincere heart can have such a universal love to God's law, 4. If you love the word, you will ever love the word ; for the same reasons that drew your heart at first continue still : Ps. cxix. 20, ' My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy j udgments at …

907 words
SECTION 309

Section 309

[1.] A sound belief, for it is reality that will work upon us. Affec- tion is always according to the strength of the persuasion. [2.] There must be application. Every kind of operation is by the touch. The nearer the touch the greater the virtue ; so the more close they are upon the heart, and touch, and concern us, …

968 words
SECTION 310

Section 310

Use 2. Information. It informs us why we are so backward to meditate ; it is for want of love : ' Oh, how love I thy law ! ' and then, ' It is my meditation all the day.' You think it is want of time, ani want of parts and abilities. I tell you, it is want of love. It is but a r YeR. 97.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 481…

1,035 words
SECTION 311

Section 311

SERMON CIII. Tliou, through thy commandments, hast made me iviser than mine enemies ; for they are ever loith me. — Ver. 98. In the former verse you shall find the man of God had expressed his affections to the word, ' Oh, how I love thy law !' Now he renders the reason of his great affection, because he got wisdoni …

1,033 words
SECTION 312

Section 312

4. It is not a bare knowledge of God's will, but wisdom. Knowledge is one thing, and wisdom another : ' I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,' Prov. viii. 12. Many are knowing men, well skilled with notions, but they want prudence or practical direction for the governing of their hearts and ordering of their ways. In the scr…

1,154 words
SECTION 313

Section 313

486 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. CIIL that is sincere, that is, strictly severe to a godly purpose, that walks uprightly, that stands strictly and precisely upon his duty to God ; and yet there is no man usually more safe. But he that turneth ' and windeth to avoid dangers, and runs to his shifts and studied arts to…

927 words
SECTION 314

Section 314

1. Frequency of meditation, ' They are ever with me ; ' that is, often thought of by me, for my comfort and direction. A man that exer- ciseth himself in the commandments of God, there is his study and business. The king of Israel, for his comfort and direction, was to have the book of the law ever before him, Deut. xv…

1,045 words
SECTION 315

Section 315

VeR. 98.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 481) ;j11 things, before that which will only yield us a limited or particular comfort. So he is the wiser man that chooseth God for his portion, for he that hath God ' shall inherit all things,' Eev. xxi. 7 ; and Mat. vi. 33, ' Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,…

1,116 words
SECTION 316

Section 316

3. Wisdom lies in a vigorous prosecution of fit means to the best end, without which all is nothing. It is in vain to be sensible of our end and to be convinced of our way unless we mind to walk in it. Many carnal men will say that their happiness lies in the enjoyment of God, that the scriptures are the word of God, a…

991 words
SECTION 317

Section 317

492 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. GUI. of the world, to part with them, to be dead to temporal interests, it seems the greatest folly in the world, but indeed it is the truest wisdom. Saith Lactantius, Usually wisdom dwells at the sign of folly. Why ? Because all wisdom puts men upon some self-denial. Carnal men coun…

338 words
← PreviousPage 6 of 6

Source & 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.