A51842:176
One Hundred and Ninety Sermons on Psalm 119
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
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.
2. By an argument drawn from our selves, it is very unsuitable to you. We profess our selves to be regenerate and born of God, 1 Joh. 3. 9. He that is born of God, cannot sin. It is not only contrary to thy duty, but to thy nature, as thou art a new creature. It were monstrous for the egg of one creature to bring forth a brood of another kind, for a Crow or a Kite to come from the Egg of a Hen: It is as unnatural a production for a new-creature to sin; therefore you that are born of God, it is very uncomely and unsuitable. Do not dishonour your high birth.
3. Consider the nature of Sin; if you give way to it, it will encroach further. Sins steal into the Throne insensibly; and being habituated in us by long custom, we cannot easily shake off the yoke, or redeem our selves from their tyranny. They go on from little to little, and get strength by multiplied acts. Therefore we should be very careful to avoid all sin.
The second part of the Caution is, Beware of gross sins committed against light and conscience. When we are tempted to sin, say with Joseph, Gen. 39. 9. How can I do this wickedness, and sin against God? The more of deliberation and will there is in any action, the sin is the fouler. Consider, foul sins are a blot that will stick long by us. See 1 King. 15. 5. it is said, David walked in all the ways of the Lord, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite. Why, there were many other things wherein David failed; you read of his diffidence and distrust in God; I shall one day perish by the hand of Saul. We read of his dissimulation, and feigning himself mad in the company of the Philistines. We read of his injustice to Mephibosheth, his fond affection to Absalom, his indulgence to Amnon; we read of his numbering the people, which cost the lives of thousands all on a sudden; all these are great failings, but these are not taken notice of: but the matter of Uriah left a scar and blot that was not easily washed off.