A51842:729
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.
But now, how do they delight in Gods Statutes?
1. In reading the word. The Eunuch returning from public Worship, was reading a portion of Scripture, Acts 8. 28. It is good to see with our own eyes, and to drink of the fountain our selves; if it seem dark without the explication of men, God that sent Philip to the Eunuch, will send you an Interpreter.
1. In reading the word. The Eunuch returning from publick Worship, was reading a portion of Scripture, Acts 8. 28. It is good to see with our own eyes, and to drink of the fountain our selves; if it seem dark without the explication of men, God that sent Philip to the Eunuch, will send you an Interpreter.
2. In hearing of the Word. The Command is, James 1. 19. Wherefore be swift to hear. The Saints have had experiment of the power of it, and therefore delight in it. I was glad when they said, Come, and let us go up unto the house of the Lord, Psal. 122. 1. You should be glad of these occasions of hearing, not as with the Minstrel, to please the ear, but to warm the heart. Seeing is in Heaven, Hearing in the Churches upon earth; then Vision, now Hearing.
2. In hearing of the Word. The Command is, James 1. 19. Wherefore be swift to hear. The Saints have had experiment of the power of it, and therefore delight in it. I was glad when they said, Come, and let us go up unto the house of the Lord, Psal. 122. 1. You should be glad of these occasions of hearing, not as with the Minstril, to please the ear, but to warm the heart. Seeing is in Heaven, Hearing in the Churches upon earth; then Vision, now Hearing.
3. In conferring of it often. What a man delighteth in, he will be talking of; so should you at home, abroad, Deut. 6. 7. Thou shalt be talking of them when thou sittest in thy house, and as thou walkest by the way, seasoning thy journey. He that would have God to be in his journey, as travelling and walking abroad, should be speaking of divine things.
4. In meditating and exercising his mind upon it. Psal. 1. 2. He delighteth in the law of God, and in that law doth he meditate day and night. Delight causeth a pause or consistency of mind: as the Glutton rolleth the sweet morsel under his tongue, and is loth to let it go; so a godly man's thoughts will run along with his delight. Clean beasts chew the cud; God's children will be ruminating, going over the word again and again.
5. In Practice. This Delight is not in bare speculation; so Hypocrites have their tastes, and their flashes; but in believing, practising, obeying. Psal. 119. 14. I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies. Delight breedeth obedience, and is increased and doubled by it. 'Tis not the delight which an ordinary beholder taketh in a rare piece of painting, merely to admire the Art; but the delight which an Artist taketh in imitating it, and copying it out. Here in the Text it is in thy Statutes. A gracious heart is alike affected with the Rule, as the Promise; not only with discoveries of Grace, but discoveries of duty.
5. In Practice. This Delight is not in bare speculation; so Hypocrites have their tasts, and their flashes; but in believing, practising, obeying. Psal. 119. 14. I have rejoyced in the way of thy testimonies. Delight breedeth obedience, and is encreased and doubled by it. 'Tis not the delight which an ordinary beholder taketh in a rare piece of painting, meerly to admire the Art; but the delight which an Artist taketh in imitating it, and copying it out. Here in the Text it is in thy Statutes. A gracious heart is alike affected with the Rule, as the Promise; not only with discoveries of Grace, but discoveries of duty.
Now thus it must be ordinarily.
1. The Duties of every day must be carried on with delight. This must be our divertisement, and the refreshment of our other labours, that when tired out with the incumbrances of the world, we may look upon reading, meditating, hearing, as our recreation, and the salt and solace of our lives, that other things may go down the better. The labours of the mind do relieve those of the body, and those of the body those of the mind. Ainsworth saith, the word in the Text signifieth, I will solace and recreate my self; and Psal. 1. 2. His delight is in the law of the Lord, and in that law doth he exercise himself day and night, as was before cited.
2. Especially upon the Lords day: Isa. 58. 13. Thou shalt call the Sabbath a delight; call it so, that is account it so. When our whole time is to be parted into Meditation, and Prayer, and Hearing, and Conference, then it is our advantage to lye in the bosom of God all the day long. A Bell is kept up with less difficulty when it is once raised; and when the heart is once got up, it is the better kept up in an holy delight in God.
2. Especially upon the Lords day: Isa. 58. 13. Thou shalt call the Sabbath a delight; call it so, that is account it so. When our whole time is to be parted into Meditation, and Prayer, and Hearing, and Conference, then it is our advantage to lye in the bosome of God all the day long. A Bell is kept up with less difficulty when it is once raised; and when the heart is once got up, it is the better kept up in an holy delight in God.
The Reasons of it are two: 1. The word of God deserveth it. 2. This delight will be of great use to them.
First, The word of God deserveth it.
1. In regard of the Author, they delight in it for the Author's sake, because it is the signification of his mind; as a Letter from a beloved friend is very welcome to us. Aristotle mentioning ⟨p. 97⟩the causes of delight, saith, Rhet. 1. cap. 11. [Greek or Hebrew]. Lovers are mightily pleased when they hear any thing of the party beloved, or receive any thing from them, a Letter or a Token. The Word is God's Epistle and Love-Letter to our selves; it is the more welcome for his sake. The contrary God complaineth of. Hos. 8. 12. I have written to them the great things of my Law, but they were counted as a strange thing. God is the Author, whosoever be the Pen-man; it is a Writing from him to us. Now to be strangers to it, or little conversant about it, argueth some contempt of God. As to slight the Letter of a Friend, showeth little esteem of the Writer. But now the Saints put it into their bosoms, view it with delight, it is Gods Epistle.
1. In regard of the Author, they delight in it for the Author's sake, because it is the signification of his mind; as a Letter from a beloved friend is very welcome to us. Aristotle mentioning ⟨p. 97⟩the causes of delight, saith, Rhet. 1. cap. 11. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Lovers are mightily pleased when they hear any thing of the party beloved, or receive any thing from them, a Letter or a Token. The Word is God's Epistle and Love-Letter to our selves; it is the more welcome for his sake. The contrary God complaineth of. Hos. 8. 12. I have written to them the great things of my Law, but they were counted as a strange thing. God is the Author, whosoever be the Pen-man; it is a Writing from him to us. Now to be strangers to it, or little conversant about it, argueth some contempt of God. As to slight the Letter of a Friend, sheweth little esteem of the Writer. But now the Saints put it into their bosomes, view it with delight, it is Gods Epistle.
2. In regard of its own excellency, in three respects. It is, 1. Their Direction. 2. Their Support. 3. Their Charter.
1. It is their Direction; it is a light that shines in a dark place, 2 Pet. 1. 19. The World is a dark place beset with dangers, and ever and anon we are apt to stumble into the pit of destruction, without taking heed to this light. The Word discovereth to them evils, that they may see them, repent of them, forsake them; and showeth us our ready way to heaven, that we may walk therein. It discovereth the greatest dangers, and pointeth out the surest way to safety and peace. They are called true Laws, and good statutes, Neh. 9. 13. to show the full proportion that they bear to the soul. Verum and Bonum, Truth and Goodness, are proper for our most eminent faculties, the understanding and will. It doth a man's heart good, to study these statutes. A child of God that seeth others stumble and fall, how may he stand and bless God for the direction of the word, that God hath given him counsel in his reins, that he hath a Clue to lead him out of those Labyrinths in which others have lost their way, and know not how to escape!
1. It is their Direction; it is a light that shines in a dark place, 2 Pet. 1. 19. The World is a dark place beset with dangers, and ever and anon we are apt to stumble into the pit of destruction, without taking heed to this light. The Word discovereth to them evils, that they may see them, repent of them, forsake them; and sheweth us our ready way to heaven, that we may walk therein. It discovereth the greatest dangers, and pointeth out the surest way to safety and peace. They are called true Laws, and good statutes, Neh. 9. 13. to shew the full proportion that they bear to the soul. Verum and Bonum, Truth and Goodness, are proper for our most eminent faculties, the understanding and will. It doth a man's heart good, to study these statutes. A child of God that seeth others stumble and fall, how may he stand and bless God for the direction of the word, that God hath given him counsel in his reins, that he hath a Clue to lead him out of those Labyrinths in which others have lost their way, and know not how to escape!
2. It is their Support. The word is [Greek or Hebrew], as Basil expresseth it; 'tis Gods shop, from whence they fetch all their Cordials in a time of fainting, and so are freed from those fears and discontents, and despairing thoughts, under which others languish. Psal. 119. 50. This is my comfort in my affliction, thy word hath quickened me. When a believer is damped with trouble, and even dead at heart, a Promise will revive him again. Ver. 92. Unless thy law had been my delight, I had perished in my affliction. And many such like experiences the Saints have had. The worth of the Word is best known in an evil time. One Promise in the Word of God doth bear up the heart more than all the arguings and discourses of men, though never so excellent. In a time of temptation, in the hour of death, O what a reviving is one word of Gods mouth!
2. It is their Support. The word is 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, as Basil expresseth it; 'tis Gods shop, from whence they fetch all their Cordials in a time of fainting, and so are freed from those fears and discontents, and despairing thoughts, under which others languish. Psal. 119. 50. This is my comfort in my affliction, thy word hath quickned me. When a believer is damped with trouble, and even dead at heart, a Promise will revive him again. Ver. 92. Unless thy law had been my delight, I had perished in my affliction. And many such like experiences the Saints have had. The worth of the Word is best known in an evil time. One Promise in the Word of God doth bear up the heart more than all the arguings and discourses of men, though never so excellent. In a time of temptation, in the hour of death, O what a reviving is one word of Gods mouth!
3. It is their Charter, that which they have to show for their everlasting hopes: There we have promises of eternal joy and blessedness under the greatest assurance; and this makes way for strong consolation, Heb. 6. 18. A man that hath a clear evidence to show for a fair Inheritance, it is not irksome to hear it read, or to look over it now and then, as a covetous man is pleased to look into his Bills and Bonds which he has under hand and seal.
3. It is their Charter, that which they have to shew for their everlasting hopes: There we have promises of eternal joy and blessedness under the greatest assurance; and this makes way for strong consolation, Heb. 6. 18. A man that hath a clear evidence to show for a fair Inheritance, it is not irksome to hear it read, or to look over it now and then, as a covetous man is pleased to look into his Bills and Bonds which he has under hand and seal.
