A51842:520
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.
7. It makes our conference and conversation with others more gracious: Mat. 12. 34. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. When we have a great deal of hidden treasure in the soul, it will get out at the tongue; for there's a quick intercourse between the heart and the tongue. The Tap runs according to the Liquor wherewith the Vessel is filled; come to men of an unsavoury spirit, pierce them, broach them, give them occasion again and again for discourse, and you get nothing but frothy communication from them, and vain talk. But now a man that hath stored his heart with the Word, he is ever and anon interposing for God. Like a bottle filled with wine he must have vent. As the Spouses lips are said to drop as honey-combs. They are ever putting forth savoury expressions in their converse with others: Col. 3. 16. Let the word of God dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and Hymns, and spiritual songs. It will burst out presently if the Word of God dwell in your hearts.
Before I go to the second Reason, let me answer an Objection: But is not this to take from the Spirit, and to give it to the Word? and that to the Word, not as written in Gods Book, but as it is in our hearts; will not this be to ascribe all to created Grace? I Answer,
1. Questionless it is the office of the Spirit to bring things to our remembrance, and the great help of the Spirit of God is by suggesting such passages as may be of most seasonable relief to the soul in Temptations, in Prayer, and in Business, Joh. 14. 16. But what is given to the Scriptures and Grace, is not to the wrong of the Spirit, for the Scripture is of his inditing, and Grace is of his working; yea, we still reserve the chief honour to the Holy Ghost, for he not only worketh grace, but worketh by grace; he not only indites the Scripture, but works by it; it is he that quickeneth prayer; and therefore it is ill trusting to our own understanding and memory, for it is the Spirit that is the great remembrancer, and impresseth upon the mind savoury and seasonable thoughts.