A51842:761
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.
I. What is it to forget the word? A man may remember or forget two ways, Notionally and Affectively.
1. Notionally, when the notions of things formerly known, are either altogether, or in part worn out. Jam. 1. 25. He is like one that looks his natural face in a glass, but goeth away, and straightway forgetteth what manner of person he was.
2. Affectively, when though he still retain the notions, yet he is not answerably affected, nor doth act according thereunto. Thus the Butler did not remember Joseph, that is, did not pity him. Thus God is said not to remember the sins of them that repent, when he doth not punish them; and to forget the afflictions of his people, when he doth not deliver them; and we are said to forget God, Psal. 106. 21. when we do not obey him; and to forget his word when we do not remember his commandments to do them, Psal. 103. 18. In this place both are intended, the Notional and Practical remembrance.
2. Affectively, when though he still retain the notions, yet he is not answerably affected, nor doth act according thereunto. Thus the Butler did not remember Ioseph, that is, did not pity him. Thus God is said not to remember the sins of them that repent, when he doth not punish them; and to forget the afflictions of his people, when he doth not deliver them; and we are said to forget God, Psal. 106. 21. when we do not obey him; and to forget his word when we do not remember his commandments to do them, Psal. 103. 18. In this place both are intended, the Notional and Practical remembrance.
II. The Reasons why we should not forget his word.
1. Meditation will fail else. A barren lean soul is unfit to enlarge it self in holy thoughts, shall never grow rich in the spiritual understanding. Col. 3. 6. Let the word of God dwell in you richly, in all knowledge, &c. Men of small substance grow rich by continual saving, and holding together what they have gotten; but if they spend it as fast as they get it, they cannot be rich. Luk. 2. 19. Mary kept all these sayings, and pondered them in her heart.
1. Meditation will fail else. A barren lean soul is unfit to enlarge it self in holy thoughts, shall never grow rich in the spiritual understanding. Col. 3. 6. Let the word of God dwell in you richly, in all knowledg, &c. Men of small substance grow rich by continual saving, and holding together what they have gotten; but if they spend it as fast as they get it, they cannot be rich. Luk. 2. 19. Mary kept all these sayings, and pondered them in her heart.
2. Delectation will grow cold, unless the memory be rubbed up ever and anon. When they fainted under affliction, the cause is intimated, Heb. 12. 5. Have ye forgotten the exhortation, that speaketh unto you as unto children? Distrust in straits, is from the same source, Mar. 8. 13. They remembered not the miracle of the loaves, for their hearts were hardened. Ye see, and hear, and do not remember. David was under great discomfort, till he remembered the years of the right hand of the Most High, Psal. 77. 10. Lament. 3. 21. This I recall to mind, therefore I have hope.
2. Delectation will grow cold, unless the memory be rubbed up ever and anon. When they fainted under affliction, the cause is intimated, Heb. 12. 5. Have ye forgotten the exhortation, that speaketh unto you as unto children? Distrust in straits, is from the same source, Mar. 8. 13. They remembred not the miracle of the loaves, for their hearts were hardened. Ye see, and hear, and do not remember. David was under great discomfort, till he remembred the years of the right hand of the Most High, Psal. 77. 10. Lament. 3. 21. This I recall to mind, therefore I have hope.
3. Practice, and conscience of obedience, will grow more remiss. Nothing keepeth the heart in a holy tenderness, so much as a presence of the truth; and when we can bring our knowledge to act, and have it for our use upon all occasions, it urgeth us to practice. Jam. 1. 25. Being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer. Most of our sins are sins of forgetfulness and incogitancy. Peter would never have been so bold and daring, and done what he did, if he had remembered Christs prediction. The Text saith, Luk. 22. 61. When he remembered, he wept bitterly. A bad memory is the occasion of much mischief to the soul. When we do not call Truths to mind in their season, and when fit occasion and opportunity is offered. Memory is an handmaid to Understanding and Conscience, and keeps Truths, and brings them forth when called for.
3. Practice, and conscience of obedience, will grow more remiss. Nothing keepeth the heart in a holy tenderness, so much as a presence of the truth; and when we can bring our knowledg to act, and have it for our use upon all occasions, it urgeth us to practice. Jam. 1. 25. Being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer. Most of our sins are sins of forgetfulness and incogitancy. Peter would never have been so bold and daring, and done what he did, if he had remembred Christs prediction. The Text saith, Luk. 22. 61. When he remembred, he wept bitterly. A bad memory is the occasion of much mischief to the soul. When we do not call Truths to mind in their season, and when fit occasion and opportunity is offered. Memory is an handmaid to Understanding and Conscience, and keeps Truths, and brings them forth when called for.
USE is to press us to Caution. Let us not forget the Word. Helps to memory, are:
1. Attention. Men remember what they heed and regard. Prov. 4. 21. Attend to my sayings, keep them in the midst of thy heart. Where there is attention, there will be retention. Oh lay up truths with much earnestness and care. Sensitive memory is seated in the hinder part of the head, as one would say in a Chamber backward, from the noise of the street. Now, oh lay up Truth safe, and lay it out when ever you have need. But Rational memory lieth near the Understanding and Conscience, in the midst of thine heart. Reverence in the admission of the word, helps us in the keeping of it. Heb. 2. 1. Let us take heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time they slip from us. If we did receive it with more heed, we would retain it with more constancy, lay them up, keep them choicely.
1. Attention. Men remember what they heed and regard. Prov. 4. 21. Attend to my sayings, keep them in the midst of thy heart. Where there is attention, there will be retention. Oh lay up truths with much earnestness and care. Sensitive memory is seated in the hinder part of the head, as one would say in a Chamber backward, from the noise of the street. Now, oh lay up Truth safe, and lay it out when ever you have need. But Rational memory lyeth near the Understanding and Conscience, in the midst of thine heart. Reverence in the admission of the word, helps us in the keeping of it. Heb. 2. 1. Let us take heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time they slip from us. If we did receive it with more heed, we would retain it with more constancy, lay them up, keep them choicely.
2. Affection, that is a great friend to memory. What we esteem most, we best remember. Omnia quae curant senes meminerunt: An old man will not forget where he laid his bag of gold. Delight and Love will renew and revive the object upon our thoughts. Here in the Text we have this Truth asserted, I will delight my self in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word. Affection to Truths cometh from the application. In a public Edict a man will be sure to carry away what is proper to his case.
2. Affection, that is a great friend to memory. VVhat we esteem most, we best remember. Omnia quae curant senes meminerunt: An old man will not forget where he laid his bag of gold. Delight and Love will renew and revive the object upon our thoughts. Here in the Text we have this Truth asserted, I will delight my self in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word. Affection to Truths cometh from the application. In a publick Edict a man will be sure to carry away what is proper to his case.
3. Meditation. We must be often viewing and meditating of what we have laid up in the memory. It availeth not to the health of the body to eat much, but to digest what is eaten. Tumultuary reading and hearing, without Meditation, is like greedy swallowing much meat. When little is thought on, it doth not turn to profit. This concocteth and digesteth what we have heard. The more a thing is revolved in the mind, the deeper impression it maketh.
4. Beware of inuring the mind to vain thoughts; for this distracts it, and hindereth the impression of things upon it. The face is not seen in running-waters; nor can things be written in the memory, unless the mind be close and fixed. Lead is capable of engraving, because it is firm and solid; but Quicksilver, because it is fluid, will not admit it. An inconsistent wandering mind reapeth little fruit from what is read or heard.
5. Order is an help to memory. Heads of Doctrine are as Cells wherein to bestow all things that are heard from the word. He that is well instructed in the Principles of Religion, will most easily and firmly remember Divine Truths. Methodus est catena memoriae; to link Truths one to another, that we may consider them in their proportion.
6. Get a lively sense of what you hear or read, and you will remember it by a good token. Psal. 119. 93. I will never forget thy precepts, for by them thou hast quickened me. They that are quickened by a Sermon, will never forget such a Sermon.
6. Get a lively sense of what you hear or read, and you will remember it by a good token. Psal. 119. 93. I will never forget thy precepts, for by them thou hast quickned me. They that are quickned by a Sermon, will never forget such a Sermon.
7. Holy Conference; the speaking often of good things, keeps them in the heart; and the keeping of them there, causeth us to speak to those that are about us.
