PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Complete Works of Thomas Manton — Volume 9
Thomas Manton · 312,957 words · 314 reading sections
Section 1
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took no oil with them : but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps," ver. 3, 4, . 331 „ III. "They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them : but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps," ver. 3, 4, . 339 „ IV. " While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slep…
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In this general sense I take it here, and observe this point — 1. The word of God is righteousness. This is one of the notions by which it is expressed in this psalm ; so it is called in the text. The reasons. [1.] Because it is the copy of that righteousness which is in God. God's natural perfections are represente…
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Secondly, Now I come from the notion to the predication. This righteousness, it is an everlasting righteousness : it is so in two respects — in the constitution among men, and in the effects of it. 1. In the constitution of it. The covenant of grace is an everlast- ing covenant ; so it is called Heb. xiii. 20 ; and th…
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Use 2. Exhortation. 1. Let this take us off from seeking things that have no continuance in them. The everlastingness of the word is opposed often to the transitory vanities of the world : 1 Peter i. 23-24, ' All flesh is grass, and the glory of man as the flower of grass : the grass withereth, and the flower falleth …
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VER. 142.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 9 2. But much more if you consider man in his community, as he is a part of that spiritual community called a church. All societies of men from the beginning of the world have found the establishing of laws the only means to preserve themselves from ruin. There is no other way again…
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[4.] A sanction supposeth a judge, who will take an account whether his law be broken or kept, otherwise all the promises and threatenings were in vain. The law, that is the rule of our obedience, is the rule of his process ; so the word of God hath this in common with other laws ; therefore God hath appointed a judge …
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12 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SER. CLIX. v. 11, 'Ephraim is oppressed, and broken in judgment, because he willingly walked after the commandment.' A little danger will draw men into the snare, when hell will not keep them from it. Oh, let us rouse up ourselves ! Is not man God's subject ? Is he not a more powerful sove…
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2. The matter itself ; it commends itself to our consciences by the manifestation of the truth : 2 Cor. iv. 2, ' Approving yourselves by the word of truth,' 2 Cor. vi. 7. If the heart be not strangely perverted, and become an incompetent judge by obstinate atheism and corrupt affections, it cannot but own these truths …
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First, The temptation was very great, for he speaketh of trouble and anguish. The joining of synonymous words, or words of a like import and signification, increaseth the sense ; and so it showeth his affection was not ordinary ; yea, both these words have their particular use and emphasis. Trouble may imply the outwar…
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YER. 143.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 17 perience of all ages verifieth this. When religion began first to fly abroad into all lands, the pagans first persecuted it, and then the pseudo- Christians ; the holiest and best people were maligned, and bound, and butchered, and racked, and stoned, but still they multiplied. I…
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Use 2. If you are under afflictions, pr) ^evl^eade, 1 Peter iv. 12, do not strange at it, more than at night and day, showers and sunshine ; as these things fall out in the course of nature, so do troubles and afflic- tions in the course of God's providence ; it were a wonder if otherwise. We do not wonder to see a sho…
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Use. Let us take notice how affliction worketh. There is a double extreme, slighting the hand of God, or fainting under it, Heb. xii. 5 ; we must beware of both. There must be a sense, but it must be kept within bounds ; without a sense there can be no improvement ; to 20 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. CLX. despise t…
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Secondly, Let us consider the effects. 1. The first is dilatatio cordis, the enlarging of the heart ; it openeth and wideneth the heart towards the reception of the law, and maketh it more capacious and comprehensive thereof than otherwise it would be : Ps. cxix. 32, ' I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou…
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Use 3. Let us be exhorted to do what we can for the begetting, increasing, and cherishing this delight in our hearts. If you love God, you cannot but love his word, which is so perfect a representation of YER. 143.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 23 him. If you love holiness, you must needs delight in the word ; this is th…
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2. They prepare us for them ; the sweetness of the word is best per- ceived under the bitterness of the cross. God and his word are never so sweet to the saints as in adversity: Ps. xciv. 19, ' In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul;' and 2 Cor. i. 5, ' As the sufferings of Christ abound…
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2. In regard of the effects. These testimonies endure for ever, both in a way of grace and glory. In a way of grace, the word worketh in the heart an eternal principle, and carries us beyond temporal things, 2 Cor. iv. 18 ; 1 Peter i. 23, 'Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but incorruptible, the word of God, w…
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2. Because it bindeth and helpeth to obedience, partly as it showeth the absolute necessity of obedience, because the terms of salvation are in- dispensably fixed, and will everlastingly stand in force ; therefore I must yield to God or perish. The soul cometh off most kindly to the ways of God when it is shut up unavo…
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[3.] It comforts us against the difficulties of obedience, when it groweth irksome to us. The difficulty and trouble is but for a while, but we shall everlastingly have the comfort of it : 2 Cor. iv. 17, ' For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glo…
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2. Because of the excellency of understanding ; therefore we should make it our request to God. Here are four considerations : — [1.] Knowledge in the general is man's excellency. It is our privi- VER. 144.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 31 lege above the beasts ; many of them excel us in beauty of colour, in strength, a…
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Use. Oh ! then, beg this gift of God. Lord, give me understanding eyes. Do not beg riches, and honours, and great things in the world, but beg for understanding ; it is pleasing to God, 2 Chron. i. 12. This will bring other things with it. Be importunate, take no nay ; Prov. ii. 3, cry for knowledge, lift up thy voice …
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vol. ix. c 34 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. CLXL. interpretari cujus est condere. He can best show his own meaning ; and therefore in all doubtful cases repair to him, especially since he hath undertaken in necessary cases : Jer. xxxi. 34, ' For they shall all know me from the least to the greatest ;; and loveth to …
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Thirdly, Life everlasting, or our blessed estate in heaven. So it is said of the saints departed, they all live to God, Luke xx. 38 ; and this is called water of life, the tree of life, the crown of life ; pro- perly this is life. What is the present life in comparison of everlast- ing life ? The present life, it is mo…
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he did not call, but cry. Crying noteth vehemency and earnestness, and is opposite to careless formality and deadness. The note from thence is — Doct. That there is a holy vehemency and fervour required in prayer. Here I shall show — ■ 1 . That we may cry. 2. That we must cry. 3. Wherein it consisteth. First, We …
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2. This spiritual crying is not the earnestness of carnal affections ; that is stirred up by the flesh, but this cry is stirred up by the Spirit, who maketh request, Kara Qeov, Rom. viii. 27. God should have work enough to do if he did answer all men's prayers. Some would set him a task to provide meat for this, others…
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2. As they are tongue-tied through sin, and carnal liberty hath brought an indisposition upon them, 1 John iii. 20, 21. He that hath wronged another will not easily repair to him, and crave his help in straits. 3. Want of spiritual desire. Prayer is but the acting of desire ; as desire is more or less, so is our cry i…
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4. Holy fervency and vehemency will be argumentative, and plead with God ; as Abraham: Gen. xviii. 25, ' Shall not the judge of all the earth do right ?' So Jacob : Gen. xxxii. 9, Jacob pleadeth God's promise ; Return unto thy father's house; I will deal well with thee ; Lord, I undertook not this journey but upon this…
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3. The prevalency of these affections. That God and his interest be uppermost in the soul, and the heart be effectually bent towards him ; for prayer is not a work barely of our natural faculties, but of grace guiding, ordering, and inclining those faculties ; not only a work of understanding and will, but of faith, lo…
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[3.] You must pray earnestly in secret as well as in company : Mat. vi. 5, 6, ' When thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues, and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men : but thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when tho…
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Reason 1. Because they dare not take God's name in vain, as all do that pray cursorily and never regard what cometh of it ; like foolish boys that knock at a door in wantonness, but have no business, and therefore will not stay till somebody cometh to open the door. It is a great sin to take God's name in vain in any a…
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4. It argues some disesteem of God's favour and acceptance, they care not whether he hath any respect for them, yea or no ; for they do not so much as inquire of it. Oh ! how contrary is this to the temper of God's people ! If God hide his face they are troubled, Ps. xxx. 7 ; he is the life of their lives : ' Lord, lif…
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Use 2. To press us to hearken after the answer of our prayers. God's children do so, and get much comfort thereby, and evidence of his love : Ps. lxvi. 18, 19, 'But verily God hath heard me ; he hath attended to the voice of my cry.' It is no small favour and respect we have from God's love to us ; it is a great owning…
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[2.] Ordinary, and this several ways : — (1.) Either by granting the mercy prayed for; as to Hannah: 1 Sam. i. 27, ' For this child I prayed, and the Lord hath given me the petition I asked of him.' So to David : Ps. xxi. 2, ' Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips.' So…
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52 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SER. CLXIII, fain have Ishmael the child of the promise, but God intended Isaac : Gen. xvii. 18, ' 0 that Ishmael might live before thee ! ' Thus doth God often blast instruments we most expect good from, and make use of others to be instruments for our good which we did least expect it fr…
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2. They are supernaturally or spiritually sincere, and so propose this as their scope in all conditions, to live unto God : all their desires and resolutions are to this purpose. They have a sense of their own benefit, but still in subordination ; their purpose is to serve him diligently: Phil. i. 21, 'To me to live is…
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2. A deliverance is never so sweet, nor so thankfully improved, if it come at the first call. [1.] It is not so sweet, nolo nimis facilem. We disdain things that come too easily, but that which costs us much pains and long crying is more prized. The reason is because delay and difficulty sharpen our desires, and the s…
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[2.] There is weakness of faith to yield to the temptation, and to go off upon every repulse ; yea, sometimes too too plain unbelief and atheism, as if there were no mercy to be expected from God, or no good to be obtained by spiritual means. Faith is to believe what we see not. The woman of Canaan cometh to Christ ; a…
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58 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. CLXIV. have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not ? Wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge ? Behold, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, and exact all your labour : behold, you fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness, y…
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[5.] Whether God answereth or no, it is the duty of faith to answer itself. The answer of his providence is not so sure as the answer of his word, and that faith hath to do with. See Ps. vi. 4, ' Keturn, 0 Lord; deliver my soul ; save me, for thy mercies' sake.' Compare ver. 8, 9, ' The Lord hath heard the voice of my …
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VER. 146.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 61 use himself for God's glory and service, and God shall have a share in all that he hath and doth : Eom. xiv. 7, 8, ' None of us liveth to him- self, and no man dieth to himself ; for whether we live, we live unto the Lord ; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord ; whether we li…
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2. Good ones that prayed before will pray better and oftener, and with greater seriousness. Therefore God puts his own in straits to quicken their affections : Isa. xxvi. 16, 'Lord, in trouble have they visited thee ; they poured out a prayer, when thy chastening was upon them.' So Hosea v. 15, ' I will go and return t…
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64 SERMONS LTON PSALM cxix. [Seb. OLXIV. 3. There is comfort in dealing with God, whatever our case be. (I.) Because of his all-sufficient power. (2.) Because of his good- will and readiness to help. [1.] Because of his power and all-sufficiency, so that he hath ways of deliverance more than we know of, and can save …
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2. It is a sign the rod hath done its work, and then it will be gone, when it hath convinced you of former failings, and put you upon serious purposes : Job xxxiv. 31, 32, ' Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will offend no more. That which I see not, teach thou me : if I have done iniq…
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I say, that make a business of prayer ; others that use it as a com- pliment and customary formality will not be thus affected, or do it as a thing by the by, or a work that might well be spared, do not look upon it as a necessary duty ; but if a man's heart be in it, he will be early at work, and follow it close morni…
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1. All the precepts of prayer do include closet prayer : ' Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving,' Col. iv. 2 ; ' Pray without ceasing,' 1 Thes. v. 17. First God's precepts fall upon single persons before it falleth upon families and churches ; for God considereth us first as persons apart, and th…
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Secondly, It was an early morning prayer, ' I prevented the dawn- ing of the morning, and cried.' I would not lay a burden upon anjr one's conscience ; so God have his due at any time of the day, it is enough. In colder climates, those of a weaker constitution may not be able to rise so soon, and therefore if any other…
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4. Consider, it is profitable to begin the day with God, and to season the heart with some gracious exercise; as David, Ps. cxxxix. 18, ' When I awake, I am still with thee.' It sanctifieth all our other business, as the offering the first-fruits did sanctify the whole lump. And to whom should the first-fruits of our r…
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2. It was earnest though the answer was delayed : I cried, I cried ; I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried. The Lord can- not away with cold asking and a ceasing upon every repulse. You must continue to pray when God continueth to deny, otherwise you do not pray in faith ; for when the word warrants you to …
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2. Bather than fail, he would take it from his sleep. Other busi- VER. 147.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 75 ness must give way to the great work and interest, especially the most inconsiderable interests of recreation. We are bidden to redeem time, Eph. v. 16, rescue it from meat, sleep, company, and recreation. Surely …
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2. For assurance and firm confidence ; before the thing promised be obtained, God pawneth his word with us, which we must hold till the performance come. Now they that can thus hold it, and believe the promise, will be often in prayer, that the word may be both esta- blished to them, 2 Sam. vii. 25, and fulfilled: Ps. …
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1. From the duty wherein David was exercised, Doct. That meditation on the word of God is one duty that Chris- tians should take care to perform. 2. From the season, his eyes prevented the night watches, Doct. A gracious heart will take all occasions to set itself a-work on holy things, and sometimes in the night. …
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2. It is a great help to our graces. (1.) Faith takes root by medi- tation : Mat. xiii. 5, ' The seed forthwith sprang up, because it had no deepness of earth/ A careless slight heart is no fit soil for faith to 80 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. CLXVI. grow in. (2.) Hope is made lively by consideration of the thing h…
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Doct. That a gracious heart will take all occasions to set itself a-work on holy things, and sometimes in the night. David did frequently rouse up himself in the night to solace his soul with thoughts of God ; this was a frequent and cheerful exercise and employment to him. 1. I shall prove this argueth a gracious fr…
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Doct. That meditation of the promises is very seasonable when the answer of our prayers is denied. For this is very powerful to support our fainting hopes, and to cheer and revive our drooping spirits. There is support in the word, and comfort in the word ; therefore we should much meditate on the pro- mises at such a…
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4. Expect this grace in and through Jesus Christ, who came down from heaven for this end : John x. 10, ' I am come that they might have life, and might have it more abundantly.' That was his end in coming into the world, to procure life for his people, and not only bare life, but liveliness and comfort, yea, glory here…
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[3.] Activity in duties. That we may honour Christ : 1 Peter ii. 4, 5, ' To whom coming as a living stone, ye also as lively stones are built up into a spiritual house.' Christ liveth, and we live by him, as the stones in the building carry a proportion with the corner-stone ; so Christians as the body with the head. I…
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[3.] Because our outward condition doth work a great change in us. A Christian should, and in some measure doth, carry an equal mind in all conditions, and keep the same pace whether he goeth up-hill or down-hill, and have his heart fixed in God whatever falleth out : Ps. cxii. 7, ' He shall not be afraid of evil tidin…
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First, It is a modest argument, and it were good if we could learn this modesty of David. He was one much in prayer, diligent in keep- ing God's statutes, abundant in all acts of devotion, spent nights in meditation, and yet after all this placeth all his hopes in the mercy and loving-kindness of God, and desireth only…
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[2.] Over and above this common kindness, there is a more entire special love and kindness towards believers in Christ. This may be admired rather than expressed : Ps. xxxvi. 7, ' How excellent is thy loving-kindness, 0 God ! ' This is unto admiration, his common kind- ness, his preservation of man and beast. This is t…
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Use. Well, then, if this be the great plea of the saints — 1. Let us meditate often of the loving-kindness of God, of his pitying, and pardoning, and lovingly entreating poor sinful and broken-hearted creatures that come to him. This should be our daily meditation ; honum est primum et potentissimum nomen Dei, saith Da…
962 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.