A51842:740
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 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.
2. This Delight will be of great use to them:
1. To draw us off from carnal Vanities. We have another delight, and the strength of the soul runneth out in another way; there will not be such room for worldly affections. As fear is cured with fear, the fear of men with the fear of God; so is delight by delight; delight in Gods statutes, is the cure of delight in worldly things. Love cannot lye idle, it must be occupied one way or another; either carried out to the contentments of the flesh, or else to holy things. Now if you can find a more noble delight, there is a check upon that which is carnal. Psal. 119. 37. Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity, and quicken thou me in thy way. The enlargement of the heart straitens the flesh.
2. It will take off the tediousness of Religious Exercises. What we delight in, is not irksome. In Hunting, Fowling, and Fishing, though there be as much labour as in our ordinary employments, yet we count the toil nothing, because of the delight in them. We are very apt to be weary of well-doing, and to tire in an holy course; but now when it is our delight, it goeth on the more easily. In one sense we must make Religion our business, in another our recreation; our work to prevent slackness, our recreation to prevent tediousness; it is not a task, but a pleasure.
2. It will take off the tediousness of Religious Exercises. What we delight in, is not irksome. In Hunting, Fowling, and Fishing, though there be as much labour as in our ordinary imployments, yet we count the toyl nothing, because of the delight in them. We are very apt to be weary of well-doing, and to tire in an holy course; but now when it is our delight, it goeth on the more easily. In one sense we must make Religion our business, in another our recreation; our work to prevent slackness, our recreation to prevent tediousness; it is not a task, but a pleasure.
USE 1. This informeth us of the ill choice that many men make of their Delights ⟨p. 98⟩and recreations; they must have Cards and Dice, and foolish mirth, to pass away the time, or else idle stories and vain Romances: a Christian is every where like himself; he showeth himself a Christian in his recreations as well as his business. Castae deliciae meae sunt Scripturae tuae, saith Austin, Lord, my chaste delights are the holy Scriptures. If we were as we should be, it would be our recreation to understand our duty, to contemplate the way of reconciliation to God by Christ, and to take a view of our everlasting Hopes. Were we seriously persuaded of the benefits which men have by the word, that there is a sure direction to resolve our doubts, and our scruples, and the offers of a pardon, and a glorious estate by Christ, what need a Christian any other Recreation? Will not the sense of Gods love, and the hopes of heaven, make us merry enough? Indeed, because of the weariness of the flesh, we need temporal refreshments; but here should be our great delight, I will solace or recreate my self in thy statutes.
USE 1. This informeth us of the ill choice that many men make of their Delights ⟨p. 98⟩and recreations; they must have Cards and Dice, and foolish mirth, to pass away the time, or else idle stories and vain Romances: a Christian is every where like himself; he sheweth himself a Christian in his recreations as well as his business. Castae deliciae meae sunt Scripturae tuae, saith Austin, Lord, my chast delights are the holy Scriptures. If we were as we should be, it would be our recreation to understand our duty, to contemplate the way of reconciliation to God by Christ, and to take a view of our everlasting Hopes. Were we seriously perswaded of the benefits which men have by the word, that there is a sure direction to resolve our doubts, and our scruples, and the offers of a pardon, and a glorious estate by Christ, what need a Christian any other Recreation? Will not the sense of Gods love, and the hopes of heaven, make us merry enough? Indeed, because of the weariness of the flesh, we need temporal refreshments; but here should be our great delight, I will solace or recreate my self in thy statutes.
USE 2. Caution to us to fix our delight aright.
1. It is a considerable affection. All the affections depend upon Pleasure or Pain, Delight or Grief (the one is proper to the body, the other to the soul) which grow from the contentment or distaste which we receive from the divers objects which we meet with. If we love, it is for that we find a sweetness in the object beloved; if we hate, we apprehend a trouble in what we hate: if we hope, we promise our selves an happiness or satisfaction in the possession of the thing hoped for: if we despair, it is because the thing cannot be obtained from which our contentment would arise. Desire is of some good which we judg pleasing. By Fear and Flight we shun things which we apprehend would breed us vexation. So that in effect, Delight sets all the other affections a-work.
1. It is a considerable affection. All the affections depend upon Pleasure or Pain, Delight or Grief (the one is proper to the body, the other to the soul) which grow from the contentment or distast which we receive from the divers objects which we meet with. If we love, it is for that we find a sweetness in the object beloved; if we hate, we apprehend a trouble in what we hate: if we hope, we promise our selves an happiness or satisfaction in the possession of the thing hoped for: if we despair, it is because the thing cannot be obtained from which our contentment would arise. Desire is of some good which we judg pleasing. By Fear and Flight we shun things which we apprehend would breed us vexation. So that in effect, Delight sets all the other affections a-work.
2. It is a choice affection, more proper to Fruition than Use, and therefore not for the means so much as end, and so reserved for God who is the last End. There are fruenda and utenda, God and Heavenly things to be enjoyed, but earthly things to be used: for means, those that are in the nearest vicinity to the end, as the Law of God, and Grace: earthly things are to be used with a kind of indifferency, and therefore should have little of our joy, but our solid complacency must be in God, next in the things of God, his Law and Grace, which are means in the nearest vicinity with our End. Psal. 37. 4. Delight thy self also in the Lord, and he shall give thee the desires of thy heart. Phil. 4. 4. Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice.
2. It is a choice affection, more proper to Fruition than Use, and therefore not for the means so much as end, and so reserved for God who is the last End. There are fruenda and utenda, God and Heavenly things to be enjoyed, but earthly things to be used: for means, those that are in the nearest vicinity to the end, as the Law of God, and Grace: earthly things are to be used with a kind of indifferency, and therefore should have little of our joy, but our solid complacency must be in God, next in the things of God, his Law and Grace, which are means in the nearest vicinity with our End. Psal. 37. 4. Delight thy self also in the Lord, and he shall give thee the desires of thy heart. Phil. 4. 4. Rejoyce in the Lord always, and again I say rejoyce.
3. Delight, if not right set, of all the affections it is apt to degenerate. We have a liberty to delight in earthly things; the affection is allowed, the excess is forbidden. Thou mayest delight in the Wise of thy youth, in thy Children, Estate, in the Provisions heaped upon thee by the indulgence of Gods Providence. Pleasure is the sauce of life, to better digest our sorrows. It is allowed us, but it must be well guarded. We are most apt to surfeit of pleasant things, and to miscarry by sweet affections. Sorrow is afflictive and painful, and will in time wear away of it self. Pleasure is ingrained in our natures, born and bred with us; and therefore though we may delight in the moderate use of the refreshments of the present life, in Estate, Honour, Reputation; yet we should take heed of excess, that our hearts be not overjoyed, and too much taken up about these things. Carnal joy is the drunkenness of the mind, it besotteth us, maketh us unmindful of God, weakens our esteem of his favour and blessing, it chaineth us to present things. Pleasure is the great Witch and Sorceress that enchants with the love of the world, maketh us unmindful of the Country whence we came, and whither we are a going; therefore we should be jealous of our delight, and how we bestow it.
3. Delight, if not right set, of all the affections it is apt to degenerate. We have a liberty to delight in earthly things; the affection is allowed, the excess is forbidden. Thou maist delight in the Wise of thy youth, in thy Children, Estate, in the Provisions heaped upon thee by the indulgence of Gods Providence. Pleasure is the sawce of life, to better digest our sorrows. It is allowed us, but it must be well guarded. We are most apt to surfeit of pleasant things, and to miscarry by sweet affections. Sorrow is afflictive and painful, and will in time wear away of it self. Pleasure is ingrained in our natures, born and bred with us; and therefore though we may delight in the moderate use of the refreshments of the present life, in Estate, Honour, Reputation; yet we should take heed of excess, that our hearts be not overjoyed, and too much taken up about these things. Carnal joy is the drunkenness of the mind, it besotteth us, maketh us unmindful of God, weakens our esteem of his favour and blessing, it chaineth us to present things. Pleasure is the great Witch and Sorceress that inchants with the love of the world, maketh us unmindful of the Countrey whence we came, and whither we are a going; therefore we should be jealous of our delight, and how we bestow it.
USE 3. To exhort us to this delight in Gods Statutes, or this spiritual rejoicing.
USE 3. To exhort us to this delight in Gods Statutes, or this spiritual rejoycing.
1. Here is no danger of exceeding; the greatest excesses here are most praise-worthy. In other things we must exercise it with jealousy, feed with fear, rejoice as if we rejoiced not; a man may easily go beyond his bounds when he rejoiceth in the creature; but here enlarge thy heart as much as is possible, and take thy fill of pleasure. Cant. 5. 1. Eat, O friends: drink, yea drink abundantly, O beloved. This is ebrietas quae nos castos facit, chaste Flagons. Eph. 5. 18. Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be ye filled with the Spirit.
1. Here is no danger of exceeding; the greatest excesses here are most praise-worthy. In other things we must exercise it with jealousie, feed with fear, rejoyce as if we rejoyced not; a man may easily go beyond his bounds when he rejoyceth in the creature; but here enlarge thy heart as much as is possible, and take thy fill of pleasure. Cant. 5. 1. Eat, O friends: drink, yea drink abundantly, O beloved. This is ebrietas quae nos castos facit, chast Flagons. Eph. 5. 18. Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be ye fill'd with the Spirit.
2. We shall never be ashamed of these joys. 2 Cor. 1. 12. Our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, &c. All carnal joys have a turpitude affixed to them, and therefore affect to lye hid under a veil of secrecy. The world would cry shame of him that would say of his bags, or his dishes, Here is my joy; as much as men affect these things, yet they desire to conceal them from the knowledge of others.
2. We shall never be ashamed of these joys. 2 Cor. 1. 12. Our rejoycing is this, the testimony of our conscience, &c. All carnal joys have a turpitude affixed to them, and therefore affect to lye hid under a vail of secresie. The world would cry shame of him that would say of his bags, or his dishes, Here is my joy; as much as men affect these things, yet they desire to conceal them from the knowledg of others.
