PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Complete Works of Thomas Manton — Volume 8
Thomas Manton · 321,683 words · 317 reading sections
Section 1
SSSHSfiiiSi \\ Id' l/> ^jo ^^"^ PRINCETON, N. J. % Shelf.. BX 8915 .M3 1870 V. 8 ^^^^ Manton, Thomas, 1620-1677. The complete works of Thomas Manton THE WORKS OF THOMAS MANTON, D.D. VOL. VTII. COUNCIL OF PUBLICATION. W. LINDSAY ALEXANDER, D.D., Professor of Theology, Congregational Union, Edinburgh. JAM…
911 wordsSECTION 2Section 2
„ CXXXVIII. " It is time for thee, Lord, to work ; for they have made void thy law," ver. 126, 296 „ CXXXIX. " Therefore I love thy commandments above gold ; yea, above fine gold," ver. 127, . 307 >» CXL. "Therefore I esteem all thy precepts con- cerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way," ver. 12…
878 wordsSECTION 3Section 3
miderstandinp;s ; they have a large conscience, antl more liberty to do what they will ; so that a child of God is gone if it were to oppose craft with craft ; and usually they carry their matters more subLilly, laying hidden snares and profound counsels ; whereas the children of God cany it simply and plainly. But the…
1,342 wordsSECTION 4Section 4
2. In case things succeed ill with him, and contrary to his expecta- tion, yet they are Aviser than their enemies can be, because they have provided for the worst. Carnal policy is but wisdom in opinion for- a 6 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. CIV. time, not always, Avliile they have matter to work upon in the world ;…
1,062 wordsSECTION 5Section 5
2. Then take heed of carnal policy ; ibr we are made wiser than our enemies through the coinmandment. We must not oppose craft with craft, for so Satan will be too hard for us in the use of his own wea- pons. That is not wisdom to run to shifts, and to carnal and sinful devices. There is a wisdom that is necessary for …
907 wordsSECTION 6Section 6
9. Then is our adversary wiser than we, when his opposition draws us to sin ; then and then only are we foiled by our adversary. Secondly, There are some graces also make us wise. 1. To this wisdom faith is necessary. If we could but depend upon YeR. 99.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 9 God in a good, plain, and downrig…
1,011 wordsSECTION 7Section 7
3. AVe may look upon them as contenting themselves with the naked theory of God's law, without making conscience of practice ; that they were such kind of guides that never tasted themselves what they com- mended to others, or practised what they taught ; then ' I have more understanding than my teachers.' He that exce…
1,034 wordsSECTION 8Section 8
Obs. 2. Not only the freeness of God's grace in giving wisdom to one more than to another, but observe also the sovereignty of God's distribution. The treasures of grace are at his free disposing, and he will not be tied to any order ; he gives to every one that measure of understanding which he sees fit. Indeed his or…
943 wordsSECTION 9Section 9
Obs. 5. We learn, again, that it is good to submit to God's insti- tutions ; though the persons employed in them be never so mean, yet if they be clothed with lawful authority, by a conscientious attending upon God's ordinance, we may get a great deal of wisdom more than the teacher ever had, as they set your thoughts …
951 wordsSECTION 10Section 10
2. He compares it here in the text with the wisdom of the ancients, or men of long experience. By the elders or ancients may be meant either men of former times, or aged men of the same time. [1.] Men of former times : Heb. xi. 2, ' By it the ancients or elders obtained a good report ; ' that is, the holy patriarchs o…
1,041 wordsSECTION 11Section 11
VeR. 100.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 17 2. As it is a more exact, so a more sure way of learning wisdom, whereas experience is more uncertain. Many have much experience, yet have not a heart to see and to gather wisdom from what they feel : Deut. xxix. 2, 3, ' Ye have seen all that the Lord did before your eyes in the …
971 wordsSECTION 12Section 12
L Because the word doth sufficiently instruct us in our duty : Prov. ii. 9, ' Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity ; yea, every good path.' Then ! when ? When you give up yourselves to God's direction, and take the law from his mouth, and walk in the way that is pointed out by his word and…
1,062 wordsSECTION 13Section 13
20 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeII. CVI. tures. Ignatius pleads the cause of the bishop when lie was hut a very youth, but a man powerful in doctrine and of great wisdom ; and therefore he saith, he would have them not look to his appearing youth, but to the age of his mind, to his wisdom before God. And he saith, ther…
924 wordsSECTION 14Section 14
Use 2. The use in general is twofold — that young men should not be discouraged nor despised. 1. Not discouraged. We use to say Youth for strength and age for wisdom : but if they apply their hearts to religion and the study of God's will, and with knowledge join practice, they may profit, and so as they may be a mean…
941 wordsSECTION 15Section 15
Use 4. To humble the aged, that have not made conscience of their time and ways, and therefore are more blockish than many children : Isa. Ixv. 20, ' There shall be no more an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days;' old men that are ignorant of the mysteries of faith, after they have long sat und…
992 wordsSECTION 16Section 16
5. The more fruitful any grace is, the more doth it abound with us ; and therefore when your knowledge is fruitful you will find it increased by laying out your talents : Col. i. 10, ' Be fruitful in every good work, always increasing in the knowledge of God.' First he presseth knowledge in order to practice, then he p…
942 wordsSECTION 17Section 17
26 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. CVII. But liow could David say this in truth of heart, because of his offence in the matter of Uriah ? Ans. This was the usual frame and temper of his soul, and the course of his life ; and such kind of assertions concerning the saints are to be interpreted voce ^ et conatu, licet non…
1,016 wordsSECTION 18Section 18
4. As the one must be done in order to the other, so our care in the first place must be to avoid evil, or to stand at a distance from every known sin. He begins with that as necessary to the other ; first, ' I refrained my feet/ and then, ' that I might keep thy law ; ' he was to be more exact in a course of obedience…
1,067 wordsSECTION 19Section 19
VeR. 101.] SERMONS UPON PSALBI CXIX. 29 one sill allowed in the soul, be it never so small, it forfeits our privi- leges by grace. But now, because particulars are more effective, and do strike upon the soul with the more smart blow than generals, briefly consider : — 1. We must refrain from every evil way ; not onl…
1,284 wordsSECTION 20Section 20
YeR. 101.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 31 7. We are not only to avoid siicli sins as seem to lie remote from our temper and course of our business and interest, but our own special sins ; those sins which suit better with our condition, constitu- tion, calling, employment: Ps. xviii. 23, ' I was upright before thee, and …
965 wordsSECTION 21Section 21
The reasons of this are two — (1.) Because sins will weaken our graces; (2.) They will weaken our comfort; both which are necessary to the keeping of God's law. Therefore, if we would keep the law, and be punctual and close with God in a course of obedience, we must stand at a great distance in heart and practice from …
901 wordsSECTION 22Section 22
2. It shows how far they are from the temper of God's children that are not punctual with God in a course of obedience, that hate one kind of evil, not another. Many hate prodigality, yet not covetousness ; hate covetousness, and are given up to sensuality ; hate an epicure, and such a one as squanders away his estate,…
937 wordsSECTION 23Section 23
2. Another grace is a fear of God and his word. A fear of God : Prov. viii. 13, ' The fear of the Lord is to depart from evil ;' Job i. 1, * Job feared God, and eschewed evil' Surely a fear of God will make you refrain yourselves from every evil way. And not only so, but a fear of his Avord, that is useful : Prov. xiii…
1,099 wordsSECTION 24Section 24
VeR. 102.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 37 same degree of affection. 'You did run well, who hindered you?' Gal. V. 7. There may be a ready forwardness, and yet a great defec- tion afterwards. This uncertainty is not only at first, before we are settled by grace, or have any sound acquaintance with God's ways. Then it is m…
1,087 wordsSECTION 25Section 25
[2.] By giving success to a wrong party, that layeth claim to him, to his favour in an evil way, and interpret when his providence seems to be an approbation of an evil course. It is a great tempta- tion. God's choicest servants have been staggered by it ; yet it is but a temptation : Ps. 1. 21, ' I kept silence, and t…
1,064 wordsSECTION 26Section 26
Use 1. Direction to us both in puhlic and private cases. Be sure you follow such ways as God's word doth allow, for otherwise it is not constancy, hut obstinacy ; and then whatever troubles and discourage- ments you meet with, this will be a comfort to you, that you are in God's way. First, As to your piivate case, be…
1,077 wordsSECTION 27Section 27
2. Inwardly God teacheth two ways— -(1.) By common illumination ; (2.) Special operation. 1. Common illumination, barely enlightening the mind to know or understand what he propoundeth by his messengers. So Eom. i. 20, 42 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. CVIII. God showed it to the heathen, ' For the invisible tliinoj…
1,053 wordsSECTION 28Section 28
1. That there is such a thing as spiritual taste. 2. That to a spiritual taste^the word of God is sweeter than all pleasures and delights whatsoever. Doct. 1. That there is such a thing as spiritual taste. I shall show that it is, and ivhat it is ; the use of it, and what is requisite to it. First, It appears that …
1,001 wordsSECTION 29Section 29
So for feeling: Jer. iii. 25, ' We lie down in our shame, and our confusion covereth us ; for we have sinned against the Lord our God.' Men may feel the blows of his providence, and be sensible of the natural inconvenience, yet they have not a spiritual feeling so as to be affected with God's displeasure, and have a ki…
1,164 wordsSECTION 30Section 30
VeE. 103.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 47 and possibility of salvation by Christ, or in some general thought of those large promises and great offers which God makes in the gospel, not as it enforceth duty and subjection to Grod ; well, then, it differs from a bare understanding of the goodness of God's ways. 2. This co…
952 wordsSECTION 31Section 31
2. What is requisite to cause this taste ? (1.) Something about the object ; (2.) Something about the faculty. [1.] Something about the object, which is the word of God. Eating, or taking into the mouth, that is necessary before tasting; for the tongue is the instrument of taste ; the outward part of the tongue that s…
903 wordsSECTION 32Section 32
[2.] As to this taste, there is somewhat necessary as to the soul or faculty ; we must have a palate qualified for these delicates. Now there is a double qualification necessary to this taste — a hungry con- *science and mortified affections. (1.) A hungry conscience. Without this, a man hath a secret loathing of this…
975 wordsSECTION 33Section 33
[4.] It is this taste that will make you more useful to others. That which we have seen, heard, and tasted, that we commend to others. A report of a report and tradition, it may be or not ; that is a cold thing, this is not a valid testimony. Ay ! but when you can speak of that which you ' have felt and tasted, your ey…
1,065 wordsSECTION 34Section 34
VeK. 104.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX, 53 tilings to come, this will work out that taste, the love, the sense we have of better things. Godly men, when they turn out to the content- ments of the flesh, they lose their taste, it becomes dead. This is a considerable loss as to the vitality of your graces ; for without a ta…
1,111 wordsSECTION 35Section 35
(1.) Where the Spirit of God doth afi'ect men with an earnest de- sire of knowledge, and so affect them as to desire to know the will of God, for no other reason but that they may avoid what is displeasing to God, and do what is pleasing in his sight ; and therefore hear, pray VeR. 104.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 55 r…
952 wordsSECTION 36Section 36
1. Because this is the true principle of resistance against sin. Until a man hate sin, he is never truly set against it ; as a man is never thoroughly gained to that which is good until he loves holiness for holiness' sake. His afiections maybe bribed with other considera- tions, but then he is rooted in holiness when …
932 wordsSECTION 37Section 37
[2.] It is seen by striving, or serious resistance in the temptation. A Christian is not always to be measured by the success, but by con- flict; he fights it out: Rom. vii. 15, 'The evil which I hate, that do I.' Though they be foiled by sin, yet they hate it. An enemy may be overcome, yet he retains his spite and mal…
941 wordsSECTION 38Section 38
SEEMON CXI. Therefore I hate every false loay. — Ver. 104. The second proposition is the universality of this hatred, every false way. They that hate sin must hate all sin. 1. This doth necessarily follow upon the former ; for if we hate sin especially as sin, for the intrinsic evil that is in it, not upon foreign a…
1,075 wordsSECTION 39Section 39
Thirdly, This is a part and fruit of true wisdom. 1. That this is a chief part of wisdom and understanding, to hate every false way, appears from Job xxviii. 28, ' The fear of the Lord, that is wisdom ; and to depart from evil, that is understanding.' So much as we hate sin, so much of spiritual wisdom and spiritual u…
951 wordsSECTION 40Section 40
[2.] Second reason ; that when the mind is fraught with truths, and gotten a good stock of knowledge by God's precepts, then it will be checking and urging the soul to caution against sin ; and therefore the more understanding you yet by God's precepts, the more are you warned and put in mind of things: Ps. cxix. 11, '…
916 wordsSECTION 41Section 41
The fourth thing in this general point is, that this wisdom and understanding is gotten by God's precepts. Mark, ' I hate every false way.' Why ? ' Because by thy precepts I get understanding.' Where have we it ? By studying God's word.' Kom. iii. 20, ' By the law is the knowledge of sin.' How is the knowledge of sin b…
903 wordsSECTION 42Section 42
Here you may observe — (1.) The double notion by which the direc- tion of the word is set forth. (2.) You have the object, or the matter wherein we are directed ; that also is expressed by a double notion, ' It is a lamp to my feet, and a liglit to my path.' Let me explain these a little. 1. The two notions whereby tl…
1,038 wordsSECTION 43Section 43
3. It is light in regard of comfort : Eccles. xi. 7, ' Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun ; ' especially to those that have been shut up in darkness, and kept in a dungeon. Oh, it is a pleasant thing to behold the light again ! So is the word of God light in this sense, …
942 wordsSECTION 44Section 44
3. Let me prove it by experience, that the word is such a sure direction. [1.] Because natural men have a sense of it, and upon that account fear it. See John iii. 20, 21, ' Every one that doeth evil, hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.' Natural men will not come to the wo…
1,240 wordsSECTION 45Section 45
70 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. CXII. ns, "but God hath drawn a straight line for us to heaven, Avliicli if wo follow wc cannot miss. Again, partly becanse man's condition since the fall is such that he needs a supernatural remedy ; before he can be happy, he needs a redeemer. Now the gift of a redeemer depending up…
947 wordsSECTION 46Section 46
(1.) That by this means heavenly doctrine might be kept free from corruption, that men might not obtrude articles of faith upon us and fancies of their own brain, that heavenly doctrine might be put into a stated course and kept pure from corruption. When mankind sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, it was neces…
978 wordsSECTION 47Section 47
Secondly, But now it is a full direction, for David speaks it of liis feet and path. 1. In general observe this: it is not a light to our brains to fill us with empty notions, but a light to our feet to regulate our practice and to guide our actions, Jer. vi. IG. He doth not say, hearken after the true religion, but l…
903 wordsSECTION 48Section 48
But, secondly, there are many causes of men's mistake. 1. Some come to the word with a presumption of their own wit, and leaning upon their own understanding, as if that should discover the whole counsel of God, and these God never undertook to teach : Ps. XXV. 9, ' The meek will he guide in judgment, and the meek wil…
985 wordsSECTION 49Section 49
76 SERMONS UPON TSALM CXIX. [SeR. CXIII. the Spirit, who ' seurcheili out the deep things of God,' 1 Cor. ii. 11, leaveth us iu darkness uhout God's mind. The object to be known is fixed in tlie scriptures, but the faculty that knowetli must be enlight- ened by the Spirit. There is a literal understanding of the scrip…
1,014 wordsSECTION 50Section 50
Object. 5. Another objection is from experience ; a poor Christian complaineth, as Job xix. 8, ' He hath set darkness in my path that I cannot pass.' They would fain know the mind of God in some parti- cular cases, but they cannot see it. Ans. I answer — This darkness of ours should not be urged to the disparagement o…
909 wordsSECTION 51Section 51
^ Qu. ' wise ' ? — Ed. VeK. 105.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 79 afterwards, as it is spoken in other scriptures, ' tlieir sin shall not be blotted out till they die,' that is never ; but for the forraer reason that I have given before, I think it is meant of the light of glory. Use 2. Keproof. — [1.] Of those that wal…
944 wordsSECTION 52Section 52
In which words you may observe — 1. The strength of David's resolution and purpose, expressed in his oath; not I mast, or I will keep, but / have sioorn, &c. 2. The matter of this purpose or oath, and that was to Jccejo God's judgments. 3. One great motive and reason that inclined him so to do, in the word, thy righ…
942 wordsSECTION 53Section 53
VOL. VIII. F 82 SERMONS UPON TSALM CXIX. [SeR. CXIV. xxxi. 1, ' I made covenant with mine eyes/ He liad bound himself by a holy vow and purpose to p^uavd his senses, and take heed his heart did not take fire by the gazing of his eye, that it was not inflamed with hist and sin. 2. That it is convenient so to do. [1.…
1,116 wordsSECTION 54Section 54
[2.] In regard of our fickleness and inconstancy ; we are slippery, oft' and on with God : ' A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways,' James i. 8. We have unsettled hearts, and when we meet with temptations from without we shall soon give up at the first assault, and so be now for God, anon for Satan ; therefor…
1,090 wordsSECTION 55Section 55
[2.] Helps to obedience. Such things as we shall find to be helps, and do conduce to the removal of impediments, such should come under a vow and solemn promise to God: Job xxxi, 1, ' I made a covenant with my eyes ; ' that was a help to the preserving of his chastity, that he would not allow himself to gaze, to take a…
1,036 wordsSECTION 56Section 56
VeR. 106.] SERMONS UPON- PSALM CXIX. 87 stant in all his promises, and he certainly expects the like constancy from us, especially when we are so deeply hound, not only hy his laws and ohligation of his mercies, hut hy the solemn consent of our own vows. We have hound ourselves, then, to keep them, whether we will or …
1,041 wordsSECTION 57Section 57
SERMON CXV. / have sivorn, and I n-iUj^oform //, fltaf, I will hccp thj rujldcous judgments. — Vj<:u. lOG. DocT. 4. I now come to the fourth point, that our oath of obedience to God should be often revived and renewed upon us. David recognises and takes notice of the oath wherein he was bound to God, and here he ren…
1,169 wordsSECTION 58Section 58
2. We are already obliged by God's command, so that whether you resolve or no, you are bound. There are some things that are left free in our own power before the vow passeth upon us ; as, Acts v. 4, ' Was it not in thy power ? ' Ay ! but there are other things that are not in our power. God's right over the creature i…
951 wordsSECTION 59Section 59
^ Qu. ' stuck ' ? — Ed. 92 SERMONS uroN rsALM cxix, [Skii. CXV. upon the ground, arc tossed up and down by every blast and pn(F ol Avind, but those things tliat ai'e fastened to the ground, thongli the wind lAowH never so strongly, they remain. Many set out towards the ways of salvation, but are discouraged, and tui'…
920 wordsSECTION 60Section 60
5. It must be a resolution for the ]iresent, not for the future ; for all resolutions for the future are false : Ps. xxvii. 8, ' When thou saidst, Seek ye my face;' like a quick echo, ' My heart answered. Thy face, Lord, will I seek.' And we must resolve so to engage presently, for what we do for hereafter it is but a …
959 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.