A51842:531
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.
1. In reading, hide the Word in your hearts. The Word may be reduced to Doctrines, Promises, Threatenings. For Doctrines, lay up knowledge, Prov. 10. 14. It is a notable preservative against sin, and an antidote against the infection of the world, when we have a good stock of Principles, Psal. 37. 31. The Law of God is in his heart, none of his steps shall slide. As long as truth is kept lively and active, and in view of Conscience, we shall not slide, or not so often slide. We have many temptations to divert us from the truth and obedience; but here we are in safety when the Law of God is in our heart. How often was the Word of God in Joseph's heart, How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God? Against God, that is of such a Sovereign Majesty? against God of such infinite goodness, and mighty power, so able to save and to destroy? Every time you read the Scriptures you should lay up something. The best way to destroy ill weeds, is by planting the ground with right seed. Every where we shall meet with notable passages. Therefore stock your selves with good Principles.
1. In reading, hide the Word in your hearts. The Word may be reduced to Doctrines, Promises, Threatnings. For Doctrines, lay up knowledg, Prov. 10. 14. It is a notable preservative against sin, and an antidote against the infection of the world, when we have a good stock of Principles, Psal. 37. 31. The Law of God is in his heart, none of his steps shall slide. As long as truth is kept lively and active, and in view of Conscience, we shall not slide, or not so often slide. We have many temptations to divert us from the truth and obedience; but here we are in safety when the Law of God is in our heart. How often was the Word of God in Ioseph's heart, How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God? Against God, that is of such a Soveraign Majesty? against God of such infinite goodness, and mighty power, so able to save and to destroy? Every time you read the Scriptures you should lay up something. The best way to destroy ill weeds, is by planting the ground with right seed. Every where we shall meet with notable passages. Therefore stock your selves with good Principles.
2. Then for Promises, that part of the Word: What have you hidden in your heart for Comfort against Temptations, Desertions, Afflictions? What have you laid up against a dear year? Job 22. 22. Lay up his word in thine heart. In a time of trial you will find one Promise will give you more comfort and support than all the arguments that can be produced by reason: Psal. 119. 50. This is my comfort in my affliction, thy word hath quickened me. He had a word to support him. Therefore let us treasure up all the Promises, all will be little enough when we need comforts. That we may not have them to seek in a time of distress, it is good they should be familiar. As you read the Word, collect for your comfort and profit; happy is ⟨p. 68⟩the man that hath his Garner full of them. And so for threatenings, especially against the sins we are most inclinable to, Who among you will give ear, and hear for the time to come? Isa. 42. 23. You should think of what will come afterward; it is well with you for the present, but matters to come are put off, little cared for, Amos 6. 3.
2. Then for Promises, that part of the Word: What have you hidden in your heart for Comfort against Temptations, Desertions, Afflictions? What have you laid up against a dear year? Iob 22. 22. Lay up his word in thine heart. In a time of trial you will find one Promise will give you more comfort and support than all the arguments that can be produced by reason: Psal. 119. 50. This is my comfort in my affliction, thy word hath quickned me. He had a word to support him. Therefore let us treasure up all the Promises, all will be little enough when we need comforts. That we may not have them to seek in a time of distress, it is good they should be familiar. As you read the Word, collect for your comfort and profit; happy is ⟨p. 68⟩
2. In Hearing, do not hear slightly, but hide the Word in your heart, that it be not embezzled by thy own negligence, forgetfulness, running into carnal distractions, that it be not purloined by Satan, that he may not snatch away the good seed out of thy soul. When the Word is preached there is more company present than is visible, there are Angels and Devils in the Assembly. When ever the Sons of God meet together, Satan is present with them. The Devil is present to divert the mind by wandering thoughts, by raising prejudices, that we may cast out the Word; or by excuses, delays, evasions, putting it off to others when we begin to have some sensibleness of our sin and danger. The Devil is loth to let us go too far, lest Christ get a subject into his Kingdom. Oh therefore labour to get something into thy heart by every Sermon, some fresh notion or consideration is given out to set you a work in the spiritual life. A conscientious waiting upon God will find something every time. It is sad to consider how many have heard much, and laid up little or nothing at all; it may be they have laid it up in their Note-books, but not laid up the word in their hearts.
2. In Hearing, do not hear slightly, but hide the Word in your heart, that it be not imbezilled by thy own negligence, forgetfulness, running into carnal distractions, that it be not purloined by Satan, that he may not snatch away the good seed out of thy soul. When the Word is preached there is more company present than is visible, there are Angels and Devils in the Assembly. When ever the Sons of God meet together, Satan is present with them. The Devil is present to divert the mind by wandring thoughts, by raising prejudices, that we may cast out the Word; or by excuses, delays, evasions, putting it off to others when we begin to have some sensibleness of our sin and danger. The Devil is loth to let us go too far, lest Christ get a subject into his Kingdom. Oh therefore labour to get something into thy heart by every Sermon, some fresh notion or consideration is given out to set you a work in the spiritual life. A conscientious waiting upon God will find something every time. It is sad to consider how many have heard much, and laid up little or nothing at all; it may be they have laid it up in their Note-books, but not laid up the word in their hearts.
3. For Meditation: Meditate upon the Word, do not study the Word in a cursory manner or content your selves with a slight taste, or a little volatile affection, but ponder it seriously that it may enter into your very heart. Hasty and perfunctory thoughts work nothing; Meat must be well chewed and digested, if you would have it turn into good blood and spirits: you must follow it close till it settle into some affection.
So much for David's practice, I have hid thy word in my heart.
The second thing is the aim and end of it, That I may not sin against thee.
1. We must not study the Word merely out of curiosity, that we may know what is said there; as men will pry into Civil Art and Discipline; so the Athenians flocked about Paul, Act. 17. 18, 19, 20, 21. so for novelty sake, men may have an affection and a delight in the Word, Joh. 5. 35. Ye rejoiced in his light for a season. There are certain Adulterous affections we have to the Word when it is new and fresh, but when it grows stale we loath it. This affection to the Word is soon spent.
1. We must not study the Word meerly out of curiosity, that we may know what is said there; as men will pry into Civil Art and Discipline; so the Athenians flocked about Paul, Act. 17. 18, 19, 20, 21. so for novelty sake, men may have an affection and a delight in the Word, Ioh. 5. 35. Ye rejoiced in his light for a season. There are certain Adulterous affections we have to the Word when it is new and fresh, but when it grows stale we loath it. This affection to the Word is soon spent.
2. We must not hide the Word in our heart merely that we may be able to teach others, that we may make a gainful trade of it. Alas a man may teach others, and be himself a cast-away. Look as in coining of money, an iron-stamp may impress the character and print upon a piece of gold and silver; so God may use the gifts and knowledge of some men to beget faith in others, and perish themselves: Mat. 7. 21. We have prophesied in thy name, yet depart from me I know you not.
2. We must not hide the Word in our heart meerly that we may be able to teach others, that we may make a gainful trade of it. Alas a man may teach others, and be himself a cast-away. Look as in coyning of money, an iron-stamp may impress the character and print upon a piece of gold and silver; so God may use the gifts and knowledg of some men to beget faith in others, and perish themselves: Mat. 7. 21. We haue prophesied in thy name, yet depart from me I know you not.
3. This must not be our end neither, not merely for delight: Largeness of knowledge brings a content with it, as it is an addition to our perfection. Truth is the object of our understanding, and may please an unsanctified mind, not merely out of subserviency to some base and inferior ends, that we may get esteem in the world, or the repute of knowing persons, but as it is an elevation of the understanding. Every delight in truth is not a delight in God. There is a natural oblectation we have in the contemplation of any sublime truth; this is merely a delight in the work of our own faculties, when the affections are terminated in bare knowledge; as it is a high and mysterious truth; as it is a delectation to the understanding.
3. This must not be our end neither, not meerly for delight: Largeness of knowledg brings a content with it, as it is an addition to our perfection. Truth is the object of our understanding, and may please an unsanctified mind, not meerly out of subserviency to some base and inferiour ends, that we may get esteem in the world, or the repute of knowing persons, but as it is an elevation of the understanding. Every delight in truth is not a delight in God. There is a natural oblectation we have in the contemplation of any sublime truth; this is meerly a delight in the work of our own faculties, when the affections are terminated in bare knowledg; as it is a high and mysterious truth; as it is a delectation to the understanding.
4. We are not merely to study the Word for the comfortableness of it, and the suitableness to the Conscience. As man is a reasonable creature he will delight in knowledge; and as he hath a Conscience presageous of death and judgment to come, he may delight in the comfort of it. Many search out Promises, that do not affect precepts. The stony-ground seemed to have a joy, they may delight in the comfortable part of Religion, but this joy comes to nothing; this gladsome forward spring is no sure Prognostication of a plentiful harvest. Then do we receive the word a right when we look to the holy part, and mortify our natural desires and affections. Many deal with the word as Great men do with fleshly companions, are willing to entertain them at their Tables to hear their Discourse, because of the pleasantness of their mirth; but to enter into bonds for them, and discharge them from debt, or better their fortunes, that they will not do: So many will give Christ and the Word, and the comfortable part of it entertainment; but they are loth to take the duty of the Gospel upon themselves. Therefore it is not enough to study the word merely that we may cherish our own ⟨p. 69⟩persons with the comfortable part of it; but we must also study the holy part of it, and that which doth require our duty. Let us labour to hide the word in our hearts, as David did, I have hid thy word in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.
4. We are not meerly to study the Word for the comfortableness of it, and the suitableness to the Conscience. As man is a reasonable creature he will delight in knowledg; and as he hath a Conscience presageous of death and judgment to come, he may delight in the comfort of it. Many search out Promises, that do not affect precepts. The stony-ground seemed to have a joy, they may delight in the comfortable part of Religion, but this joy comes to nothing; this gladsome forward spring is no sure Prognostication of a plentiful harvest. Then do we receive the word a right when we look to the holy part, and mortifie our natural desires and affections. Many deal with the word as Great men do with fleshly companions, are willing to entertain them at their Tables to hear their Discourse, because of the pleasantness of their mirth; but to enter into bonds for them, and discharge them from debt, or better their fortunes, that they will not do: So many will give Christ and the Word, and the comfortable part of it entertainment; but they are loth to take the duty of the Gospel upon themselves. Therefore it is not enough to study the word meerly that we may cherish our own
PSAL. CXIX. 12. Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy statutes.
IN these words you have: 1. A Compellation, Blessed art thou, O Lord. 2. A Supplication, Teach me thy statutes.
1. Branch. The Compellation carrieth the force of an argument, Because thou art blessed, O Lord, therefore teach me. And therefore I shall open the sense of this title that is here given to God, so as I may still make good the argument.
For the sense. God may be said to be blessed objectivè, or subjectivè.
