A51842:50
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.
Secondly, There's a conformity to this Rule. If you would be blessed, there must be a sincere, constant, uniform Obedience. The will of God must not only be known, but practised: many will conclude that Gods Law in the Theory is the only direction to true blessedness; but now, to take it for their Rule, to keep close to it, not one of a thousand doth that.
1. Then, sincere obedience is required; Blessed is the undefiled in the way. At first hearing of these words, a man might reply, Oh, then none can be blessed, if that be the qualification, For who can say my heart is clean? Prov. 20. 9. I answer, This undefiledness is to be understood according to the tenor of the second Covenant, which doth not exclude the mercy of God, and the justification of penitent sinners. Psal. 130. 3, 4. If thou Lord shouldst mark iniquities, who shall stand? But there is mercy with thee. There is no escaping condemnation and the curse, if God should deal with us according to strict justice, and require an absolute undefiledness. Well then, this qualification must be understood (as I said) in the sense of the second Covenant; and what's that? sincerity of sanctification; when a man doth carefully endeavour to keep his garments unspotted from the world, and to approve himself to God; when this is his constant exercise, to avoid all offence both towards God and man, Acts 24. 16. and is cautious and watchful lest he should be defiled; when he is humbled more for his pollutions, when he is always purging his heart, and doth endeavour (and that with success) to walk in the way of God; here's the undefiledness in a Gospel sense. Psal. 84. 11. The Lord will be a sun and a shield &c. (to whom?) to those that walk uprightly. This is possible enough; here's no ground of despair. This is that will lead us to blessedness, when we are troubled for our failings, and there is a diligent exercise in the purification of our hearts.
2. A constant obedience. Wicked men have their good moods, and devout pangs in the way to Heaven, but they are not lasting. They will go with God a step or two; but it is said, He that walketh in the law of the Lord. A wicked man prays himself weary of prayer, and professeth himself weary of holiness. A man is judged by the tenor of his life, not by one action, but as he holdeth on his way to Heaven, Job 27. 10. Many run well for a while, but are soon out of breath. Enoch walked with God three hundred sixty five years.
2. A constant obedience. Wicked men have their good moods, and devout pangs in the way to Heaven, but they are not lasting. They will go with God a step or two; but it is said, He that walketh in the law of the Lord. A wicked man prays himself weary of prayer, and professeth himself weary of holiness. A man is judged by the tenour of his life, not by one action, but as he holdeth on his way to Heaven, Iob 27. 10. Many run well for a while, but are soon out of breath. Enoch walked with God three hundred sixty five years.
3. An uniform and an entire obedience. Exod. 20. 1. God spake all these words. He commandeth one thing as well as another, and conscience takes hold of all. To single out what pleaseth us, is to make our selves Gods.
3. An uniform and an intire obedience. Exod. 20. 1. God spake all these words. He commandeth one thing as well as another, and conscience takes hold of all. To single out what pleaseth us, is to make our selves Gods.
A servant doth not choose his work, but the Master. A child of God is uniform in one place as well as another, at home and abroad, in all the passages of his life, in prosperity and adversity, whether he abound, or whether he be abased, Phil. 4. He is not like Ephraim, as a Cake not turned; but there's an uniformity. Doth he make conscience of piety and worship, and will he not make conscience of honesty and just dealing with men? Will he make conscience of his actions, and will he not of his words? He doth not give up himself to idle speech and vain discourse. An hypocrite is best when he is taken in pieces; but a sincere man is best when he is taken all together. A Christian is always like himself. It is notable in the story of the Creation, that God views every days work, and God saw that it was good; he viewed it all together, and God saw all things that he had made, and behold it was very good. When he did consider the whole correspondence of his Works, how it answered one another, then God was delighted in it. So a Christian is most delighted in the review of his course and walking, according to the Commandment.
A servant doth not chuse his work, but the Master. A child of God is uniform in one place as well as another, at home and abroad, in all the passages of his life, in prosperity and adversity, whether he abound, or whether he be abased, Phil. 4. He is not like Ephraim, as a Cake not turned; but there's an uniformity. Doth he make conscience of piety and worship, and will he not make conscience of honesty and just dealing with men? Will he make conscience of his actions, and will he not of his words? He doth not give up himself to idle speech and vain discourse. An hypocrite is best when he is taken in pieces; but a sincere man is best when he is taken all together. A Christian is always like himself. It is notable in the story of the Creation, that God views every days work, and God saw that it was good; he viewed it all together, and God saw all things that he had made, and behold it was very good. When he did consider the whole correspondence of his Works, how it answered one another, then God was delighted in it. So a Christian is most delighted in the review of his course and walking, according to the Commandment.
Thirdly, What respect hath this to true blessedness? It is the way to it. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the Law of the Lord. This will appear in two respects: 1. It is the beginning of blessedness. Likeness to God is the foundation of glory. Conformity to him will be carried on from glory to glory, 2 Cor. 3. 18. And as conformity unto, so communion with God in the beauties of holiness, is the beginning of happiness. As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness. I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness, Psal. 17. 15. 2. Sincere and constant obedience is the evidence of our right to future blessedness. A man hath somewhat to show for it, Matt. 5. 8. It is an inclusive evidence, Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God; and it is an exclusive evidence, Heb. 12. 14. Without holiness no man shall see the Lord. Well then, when this is our way and course, we may expect happiness hereafter.
Thirdly, What respect hath this to true blessedness? It is the way to it. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the Law of the Lord. This will appear in two respects: 1. It is the beginning of blessedness. Likeness to God is the foundation of glory. Conformity to him will be carried on from glory to glory, 2 Cor. 3. 18. And as conformity unto, so communion with God in the beauties of holiness, is the beginning of happiness. As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness. I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness, Psal. 17. 15. 2. Sincere and constant obedience is the evidence of our right to future blessedness. A man hath somewhat to shew for it, Matt. 5. 8. It is an inclusive evidence, Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God; and it is an exclusive evidence, Heb. 12. 14. Without holiness no man shall see the Lord. Well then, when this is our way and course, we may expect happiness hereafter.
The Uses are, 1. To show you, that carnal men live as if they sought misery rather than happiness, Prov. 8. 36. He that sins against me, wrongs his own soul. All that hate me, love death. If a man were travelling to York, who would say his aim was to come to London? Do these men pursue happiness that walk in such defilement? It is the way of Gods Law that leads to true blessedness.
The Uses are, 1. To shew you, that carnal men live as if they sought misery rather than happiness, Prov. 8. 36. He that sins against me, wrongs his own soul. All that hate me, love death. If a man were travelling to York, who would say his aim was to come to London? Do these men pursue happiness that walk in such defilement? It is the way of Gods Law that leads to true blessedness.
2. To press you to walk according to this rule, if you would be blessed. To this end, let me press you to take the Law of God for your Rule, the Spirit of God for your Guide, the Promises for your encouragement, and the Glory of God for your end.
1. Take the Law of God for your Rule. Study the mind of God, and know the way to Heaven, and keep exactly in it. It is an argument of sincerity, when a man is careful to practise all that he knows, and to be inquisitive to know more, even the whole will of God; and when the heart is held under awe of Gods word. If a Commandment stand in the way, it is more to a gracious heart, than if a thousand Bears and Lyons were in the way, more than if an Angel stood in the way with a flaming sword. Prov. 13. 13. He that feareth the Commandment, shall be rewarded. Would you have blessings from God? fear the Commandment. It is not he that fears wrath, punishment, inconveniences, troubles of the world, molestations of the flesh; no, but he that dares not make bold with a Commandment. As Jer. 35. 6. Go bring a temptation, set pots of Wine before the Rechabites, O they durst not drink of them; why? Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine. Thus a child of God doth reason, when the Devil comes and sets a temptation before him; and being zealous for God, dares not comply with the lusts and humours of men, though they should promise him peace, happiness, and plenty. A wicked man makes no bones of a Commandment; but a godly man, when he is in a right posture of spirit, and the awe of God is upon him, dare not knowingly and wittingly go aside, and depart from God.
1. Take the Law of God for your Rule. Study the mind of God, and know the way to Heaven, and keep exactly in it. It is an argument of sincerity, when a man is careful to practise all that he knows, and to be inquisitive to know more, even the whole will of God; and when the heart is held under awe of Gods word. If a Commandement stand in the way, it is more to a gracious heart, than if a thousand Bears and Lyons were in the way, more than if an Angel stood in the way with a flaming sword. Prov. 13. 13. He that feareth the Commandment, shall be rewarded. Would you have blessings from God? fear the Commandment. It is not he that fears wrath, punishment, inconveniencies, troubles of the world, molestations of the flesh; no, but he that dares not make bold with a Commandment. As Ier. 35. 6. Go bring a temptation, set pots of Wine before the Rechabites, O they durst not drink of them; why? Ionadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine. Thus a child of God doth reason, when the Devil comes and sets a temptation before him; and being zealous for God, dares not comply with the lusts and humours of men, though they should promise him peace, happiness, and plenty. A wicked man makes no bones of a Commandment; but a godly man, when he is in a right posture of spirit, and the awe of God is upon him, dare not knowingly and wittingly go aside, and depart from God.
2. Take the Spirit of God for your Guide. We can never walk in Gods way, without the conduct of Gods Spirit. We must not only have a way, but a voice to direct us when we are wandering, Isa. 30. 21. And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk in it. Sheep have a Shepherd as well as a Fold; and children that learn to write, must have a Teacher as well as a Copy: and so it is not enough to have a Rule, but we must have a Guide, a Monitor, to put us in mind of our duty. The Israelites had a pillar of a cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night. The Gospel-Church is not destitute of a Guide, Psal. 37. 24. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterwards receive me to glory. The Spirit of God is the Guide and Director to warn us of our duty.
3. The Promises for your encouragement. If you look elsewhere, and live by sense and not by faith, you shall have discouragements enough. How shall a man carry himself through the temptations of the world with honour to God? 2 Pet. 1. 4. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruptions that are in the world through lust. When we have promises to bear us up, this will carry us clear through temptations, and make us act generously, nobly, and keep close to him.
4. Fix the Glory of God for your aim; else it is but a carnal course. The spiritual life is a living to God, Gal. 2. 20. when he is made the end of every action. You have a journey to take, and whether you sleep or wake, your journey is still a going. As in a ship, whether men sit, lye, or walk, whether they eat or sleep, the ship holds on its course, and makes towards its Port. So you all are going into another World, either to Heaven or Hell, the broad or the narrow way; and then do but consider how comfortable it will be at your journey's end, in a dying hour, to have been undefiled in the way; then wicked men that are defiled in their way, will wish they had kept more close and exact with God; even those that now wonder at the niceness and zeal of others, when they see that they must in earnest into another world, oh then that they had been more exact and watchful, and stuck closer to the Rule in their practice, discourses, compliances! Men will have other notions then of holiness, than they had before; oh then they'll wish that they had been more circumspect! Christ commended the unjust ⟨p. 7⟩Steward for remembering that in time he should be put out of his Stewardship. You will all fail within a little while; then your poor shiftless naked souls must launch out into another world, and immediately come to God: How comfortable will it be then to have walked closely according to the line of Obedience!
4. Fix the Glory of God for your aim; else it is but a carnal course. The spiritual life is a living to God, Gal. 2. 20. when he is made the end of every action. You have a journey to take, and whether you sleep or wake, your journey is still a going. As in a ship, whether men sit, lye, or walk, whether they eat or sleep, the ship holds on its course, and makes towards its Port. So you all are going into another World, either to Heaven or Hell, the broad or the narrow way; and then do but consider how comfortable it will be at your journey's end, in a dying hour, to have been undefiled in the way; then wicked men that are defiled in their way, will wish they had kept more close and exact with God; even those that now wonder at the niceness and zeal of others, when they see that they must in earnest into another world, oh then that they had been more exact and watchful, and stuck closer to the Rule in their practice, discourses, compliances! Men will have other notions then of holiness, than they had before; oh then they'l wish that they had beem more circumspect! Christ commended the unjust
The Third Point:
That a close walker not only shall be blessed, but is blessed in hand, as well as in hope.
How is he blessed?
1. He is freed from wrath; he hath his discharge, and the blessedness of a pardoned man, Joh. 5. 24. He that believeth on Christ, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, for he hath passed from death to life: he is out of danger of perishing, which is a great mercy.
