A51842:632
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. In our converses, how little do we edify one another! If Christs question to the two disciples going to Emmaus, were put to us, Luke 24. 17. What manner of conversation had you by the way? What cause should we have to blush and be ashamed! Generally our discourse is either, 1. Profane and sinful; there is too much of the rotten communication which the Apostle forbids, Eph. 4. 29. Let no corrupt communication come out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearer. Rotten discourse argueth a rotten heart. Or, 2. Idle and vain, as foolish tales. The Apostle bids Timothy, 1 Tim. 4. 7. To refuse profane and old wives fables, or vain complements, though we are to give an account for idle words, Mat. 12. 36. Or else like the Athenians, we spend our time in hearing and telling news, Acts 17. 21. Or we please and solace our selves with frothy flashes of a wanton wit, and jesting that is not convenient, which the Apostle forbids, Ephes. 5. 4. The praise of a Christian lieth not in the wittiness, but in the graciousness of his conversation. That which is Aristotle's virtue is made a sin with Paul, (foolish jesting.) You should rather be refreshing one another with what experiences you have had of the Lords grace; that is the comfort and solace of Christians when they meet together. But when men wholly give up themselves to move laughter, all this is idle and vain discourse. It is not enough to say it doth no hurt, but what good doth it do? doth it tend to the use of edifying? A Christian that hath God and Christ, and his wonderful and precious benefits to talk of, and so many occasions to give thanks, he cannot want matter to discourse of when he comes into company; therefore we should avoid vain discourse. Or, 3. We talk of other mens matters or faults, as the Apostle speaks of those, 1 Tim. 5. 13. That wandered from house to house; that not being idle only, but tattlers also, and busy bodies, speaking things which they ought not.