A51842:158
One hundred and ninety sermons on the hundred and nineteenth Psalm preached by the late reverend and learned Thomas Manton, D.D. ; with a perfect alphabetical table directing to the principal matters contained therein.
London: printed for T.P. &c, 1681
Title page: Internet Archive scan of the Early English Books microfilm
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
First, Let us consider how far sin may be in a blessed man, in a child of God.
1. They have a corrupt nature, they have sin in them as well as others, it is their misery to the last. Rom. 7. 24. O wretched man that I am, saith the holy Apostle. Sin though it be dejectum, cast down in regard of Regency, yet it is not ejectum, cast out in regard of inherency, their corrupt nature sticks by them to the last. One compares it to a wild fig-tree, or to Ivy ⟨p. 19⟩in a wall, cut off the body, the boughs, sprigs, branches, yet still there will be something that will be sprouting up again until the wall be digged down. Such an in-dwelling sin is in us, though we pray, strive, and cut off the excrescencies, the buddings out of it here and there, yet till it be plucked asunder by death, it continueth with us.
1. They have a corrupt nature, they have sin in them as well as others, it is their misery to the last. Rom. 7. 24. O wretched man that I am, saith the holy Apostle. Sin though it be dejectum, cast down in regard of Regency, yet it is not ejectum, cast out in regard of inherencie, their corrupt nature sticks by them to the last. One compares it to a wild fig-tree, or to Ivy ⟨p. 19⟩in a wall, cut off the body, the boughs, sprigs, branches, yet still there will be something that will be sprouting up again until the wall be digged down. Such an in-dwelling sin is in us, though we pray, strive, and cut off the excrescencies, the buddings out of it here and there, yet till it be plucked asunder by death, it continueth with us.
2. They have their daily failings and infirmities: Eccles. 7. 20. There is not a just man upon earth that doth good, and sinneth not. Those that for their general state are just and righteous men, yet certain sins they cannot get rid of, and are unavoidable; as sins of ignorance, incogitancy, sudden surreption, indeliberate incursions, which we shall never be freed from as long as we are in this imperfect state. So also imperfections of duty, for we cannot serve God with that high degree of reverence, delight, and perfection which he requireth. There are unavoidable infirmities which are pardoned of course.
3. They may be guilty of some sins which by watchfulness might be prevented, as vain thoughts, idle, passionate speeches, and many carnal actions. It is possible that these may be prevented by the ordinary assistances of grace, and if we will keep a strict guard over our own hearts. But in this case Gods children may be overtaken, and overborne; overtaken by the suddenness, or overborne by the violence of temptation: Overtaken, Gal. 6. 1. If a man be overtaken in a fault, restore such an one, &c. and overborn, Jam. 1. 14. Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
3. They may be guilty of some sins which by watchfulness might be prevented, as vain thoughts, idle, passionate speeches, and many carnal actions. It is possible that these may be prevented by the ordinary assistances of grace, and if we will keep a strict guard over our own hearts. But in this case Gods children may be overtaken, and overborn; overtaken by the suddenness, or overborn by the violence of temptation: Overtaken, Gal. 6. 1. If a man be overtaken in a fault, restore such an one, &c. and overborn, Iam. 1. 14. Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
4. They may now and then fall foully; as Noah by excess of Drink; Lot's Incest; David's Adultery; Peter's Denial. Failings and Infirmities they are not determined either by the smallness or by the greatness of the act, but by other concomitant circumstances. Not by the smallness of the act. There is as much Treason in coining Pence, as Shillings and Pounds. Allowed affections to small sins is deadly and damnable: He that is unfaithful in little, will be unfaithful in much. Christians, where temptations are weak, and impotent, and of slight concernment and importance, they may be sooner confuted, and obedience is the more easy; so that our rebellion to God by small sins may be greater. A man may have great affections to small sins, so it may prove an iniquity, a damnable sin.
4. They may now and then fall foully; as Noah by excess of Drink; Lot's Incest; David's Adultery; Peter's Denial. Failings and Infirmities they are not determined either by the smallness or by the greatness of the act, but by other concomitant circumstances. Not by the smallness of the act. There is as much Treason in coyning Pence, as Shillings and Pounds. Allowed affections to small sins is deadly and damnable: He that is unfaithful in little, will be unfaithful in much. Christians, where temptations are weak, and impotent, and of slight concernment and importance, they may be sooner confuted, and obedience is the more easie; so that our rebellion to God by small sins may be greater. A man may have great affections to small sins, so it may prove an iniquity, a damnable sin.
On the other side, great sins may be infirmities; as Lot's Incest, David's Adultery, when they are not done with full consent of soul, when their hearts are not wholly carried away with them. Iniquities are determined by their manner. Jude v. 15. Their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed: when with full consent of will, and it is their course that argues an habitual hatred and contempt of God.
On the other side, great sins may be infirmities; as Lot's Incest, David's Adultery, when they are not done with full consent of soul, when their hearts are not wholly carried away with them. Iniquities are determined by their manner. Iude v. 15. Their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed: when with full consent of will, and it is their course that argues an habitual hatred and contempt of God.
5. A child of God may have some particular evils, which may be called predominant sins, (not with respect to grace, that's impossible that a man should be renewed and have such sins that sin should carry the mastery over grace;) but they may be said to have a predominancy in comparison of other sins; he may have some particular inclination to some evil above others. David had his iniquity, Psal. 18. 23. Look as the Saints have particular graces, Abraham was eminent for Faith, Timothy for Sobriety, Moses for meekness, &c. so they have their particular corruptions which are more suitable to their temper and course of life. Peter seems to be inclined to Tergiversation, and to shrinking in a time of trouble. We find him often tripping in that kind; in the denial of his Master; again, Gal. 2. 12. it is said he dissembled and complied with the Jews, therefore Paul withstood him to his face, for he was to be blamed. It is evident by experience, there are particular corruptions to which the children of God are more inclinable: this appears by the great power and sway they bear in commanding other evils to be committed by their falling into them out of inward propensity when outward temptations are few or weak, or none at all; and when resistance is made, yet they are more pestered and haunted with them than with other temptations, which is a constant matter of exercise and humiliation to them.
5. A child of God may have some particular evils, which may be called predominant sins, (not with respect to grace, that's impossible that a man should be renewed and have such sins that sin should carry the mastery over grace;) but they may be said to have a predominancy in comparison of other sins; he may have some particular inclination to some evil above others. David had his iniquity, Psal. 18. 23. Look as the Saints have particular graces, Abraham was eminent for Faith, Timothy for Sobriety, Moses for meekness, &c. so they have their particular corruptions which are more suitable to their temper and course of life. Peter seems to be inclin'd to Tergiversation, and to shrinking in a time of trouble. We find him often triping in that kind; in the denial of his Master; again, Gal. 2. 12. it is said he dissembled and complied with the Iews, therefore Paul withstood him to his face, for he was to be blamed. It is evident by experience, there are particular corruptions to which the children of God are more inclinable: this appears by the great power and sway they bear in commanding other evils to be committed by their falling into them out of inward propensity when outward temptations are few or weak, or none at all; and when resistance is made, yet they are more pestered and haunted with them than with other temptations, which is a constant matter of exercise and humiliation to them.
Secondly, Wherein doth grace now discover it self, where's the difference?
1. In that they cannot fall into those iniquities wherein there is an absolute contrariety to grace; as hatred of God, total Apostasy, so they cannot sin the sin unto death, 1 Joh. 5. 16.
1. In that they cannot fall into those iniquities wherein there is an absolute contrariety to grace; as hatred of God, total Apostasie, so they cannot sin the sin unto death, 1 Joh. 5. 16.
2. In that they do not sin with the whole heart: Psal. 119. 176. I have gone astray like a lost sheep, seek thy servant for I do not forget thy commandments: There was somewhat of God in the heart, when he was conscious to himself of strayings and wanderings: and David saith elsewhere, I have not departed wickedly from thy precepts. When they sin, it is with the dislike and reluctancy of the new nature; it is rather a rape than a consent. Bernard saith, A child of God suffers sin rather than acts it, and his hearts protest is against it.
2. In that they do not sin with the whole heart: Psal. 119. 176. I have gone astray like a lost sheep, seek thy servant for I do not forget thy commandments: There was somewhat of God in the heart, when he was conscious to himself of strayings and wandrings: and David saith elsewhere, I have not departed wickedly from thy precepts. When they sin, it is with the dislike and reluctancy of the new nature; it is rather a rape than a consent. Bernard saith, A child of God suffers sin rather than acts it, and his hearts protest is against it.
3. It is not their course; not constant, easy, and frequent. Relapses into gross sins they argue an habitual aversion from God, for a habit is determined by the constancy and uniformity of acts; therefore it is but now and then under some great temptation. There is sin, and there is a way of sin, Psal. 139. 24. Search me and see if there be any way of wickedness in me, as Chrysostom glosseth.
3. It is not their course; not constant, easie, and frequent. Relapses into gross sins they argue an habitual aversion from God, for a habit is determined by the constancy and uniformity of acts; therefore it is but now and then under some great temptation. There is sin, and there is a way of sin, Psal. 139. 24. Search me and see if there be any way of wickedness in me, as Chrysostome glosseth.
4. When they fall they do not rest in sin: Shall they fall, and shall they not arise? Jer. 8. 4. They may fall into the dirt, but they do not lye and wallow there like swine in the mire. A fountain may be mudded, but it works it self clean again. The needle that hath been touched with the load-stone may be jogged and discomposed, but it never leaves till it turn towards the Pole again. Gods children have their failings, but they sue out their pardon, run to their Advocate, 1 Joh. 3. 1. humble themselves before God.
4. When they fall they do not rest in sin: Shall they fall, and shall they not arise? Jer. 8. 4. They may fall into the dirt, but they do not lye and wallow there like swine in the mire. A fountain may be mudded, but it works it self clean again. The needle that hath been touched with the load-stone may be jogged and discomposed, but it never leaves till it turn towards the Pole again. Gods children have their failings, but they sue out their pardon, run to their Advocate, 1 Ioh. 3. 1. humble themselves before God.
5. Their falls are sanctified. When they have smarted under sin, they grow more watchful and more circumspect. A child of God may have the worse in praelio in the battle, but not in bello in the war. Sometimes the carnal part may get the victory, and they may fall foul, but see the issue, Psal. 51. 6. In the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. David had sinned against the Lord, but I have learned wisdom never to trust a naughty heart more, but to look to my self better.
5. Their falls are sanctified. When they have smarted under sin, they grow more watchful and more circumspect. A child of God may have the worse in praelio in the battel, but not in bello in the war. Sometimes the carnal part may get the victory, and they may fall foul, but see the issue, Psal. 51. 6. In the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. David had sinned against the Lord, but I have learned wisdom never to trust a naughty heart more, but to look to my self better.
6. Grace discovers it self by the constant endeavours which they make against sin. What's the constant course a Christian takes? They groan under the relics of sin, it is their burden that they have such an evil nature, Rom. 7. 24. They fly to Gods grace in Christ for daily pardon, 1 Joh. 1. 9. They are ever washing their garments in the Lambs blood, Rev. 7. and every day are cleansing themselves from the filthiness and defilement they contract by sin, Joh. 13. 10. He that is washed, needeth not save to wash his feet. An allusion to a man that hath been a journey, in those Countries where they went bare foot, when he came home he must wash his feet. So a man that is reconciled to God, though he hath been in the Bath, in the fountain which God hath opened for uncleanness, yet every day he must be washing his feet, cleansing himself by the blood of Christ more and more, because he contracts new defilement. Then by using all endeavours against it, Col. 3. 5. as prayer, striving, watching, cutting off the provisions of the flesh, improving the death of Christ. They do not voluntarily and without opposition live under sin, and the slavish tyranny of it. Their bent and habitual inclination is to do otherwise; therefore they are said to do no iniquity; whereas those that are wretchless and careless of their souls, sin, and never lay it to heart; they are the workers of iniquity.
6. Grace discovers it self by the constant endeavours which they make against sin. What's the constant course a Christian takes? They groan under the reliques of sin, it is their burden that they have such an evil nature, Rom. 7. 24. They fly to Gods grace in Christ for daily pardon, 1 Ioh. 1. 9. They are ever washing their garments in the Lambs blood, Rev. 7. and every day are cleansing themselves from the filthiness and defilement they contract by sin,
Use 2. If this be the character of a blessed man, To make it our business to avoid sin; Then here's caution to God's people: 1. To beware of all sin. 2. To be very cautious against gross sins, committed against the light of conscience. 3. To beware of continuance in sin.
First, To beware of all sin. The more you have the mark of a blessed man, 1 Joh. 2. 1. These things I write unto you, that you sin not. Though you have a pardon and cleansing by the blood of Christ, though you have an Advocate, yet sin not. Now the motives to set on this Caution, are taken from God, from our selves, from the nature of sin.
