A51842:483
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.
Doct. 1. The more experience men have of the ways of God, the more sensible will they be of their readiness to wander.
David, a man of so much experience, that sought God with his whole heart, Lord let me not wander. What's the reason? 1. Because they have a larger sense of Duty. 2. A more tender sense of dangers and difficulties that do attend them.
First, They have a larger sense of duty to God. At first while we are carnal, we take up duty by the lump, and by the visible bulk of it we look only to [Greek or Hebrew], the work of the Law, Rom. 2. 15. and to avoid gross sins, or perform outward acts of worship. O if I do sin, I am no Adulterer, no Extortioner, Luk. 18. 11. we think then 'tis well. But when we begin to have grace wrought in our heart, then we begin to serve God in the spirit, Phil. 3. 3. And my God whom I serve with my spirit, Rom. 1. 9. Then we begin to look after the regulation of the inner man, and subduing of the soul to God, and we cannot be contented with the visible bulk of obedience, and with some general conformity. I but at first there is only a general purpose to serve God in the spirit, but afterwards when they begin to look into the breadth of the Commandment, still they are sensible of their coming short, and how apt they are to wander in this and that point. Still their sense of duty is increased, because their light, their love to God, and their power is increased; and because they draw near to their everlasting hopes.