A51842:882
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.
First, To open it. Sometimes it may be understood in a Literal sense, and sometimes in a Moral.
1. Sometimes in a literal sense: Thus the Patriarchs that had a wandering life, and were forced to flit from place to place without any certain abode; they confessed themselves to be strangers. Jacob saith Gen. 47. 9. Few and evil have the years of my life been. 2. Morally also, and more generally, it is true of the Saints, they are strangers. In some sense it is true of good and bad. We are all travelling into another world, and are every day nearer to Eternity. As in a ship, whether men sleep or wake, stand or sit; whether they think of it, yea or no, the voyage still goes onward. So whatever we think, and whatever we do, we hasten towards death. In this sense even wicked men may be strangers and pilgrims in condition, though not in affection. All men in condition, will they, nill they, must into the other world, as they yield to the decays of nature, and every day they are a step nearer to their long home. Heathens have had a sense of this notion; saith one of them, Ex hac vita discedo tanquam ex hospitio, non tanquam ex domo: I go out of this life as out of an Inn. Here we are but passengers, not inhabitants to dwell. But now to be strangers and pilgrims in affection, that's proper to the children of God, Heb. 11. 13, 14, 15. It is made the fruit of their faith: because they were persuaded of the promises, therefore they confessed themselves pilgrims and strangers on earth. The voice of Nature saith, It is good to be here, let God do with Heaven what he pleaseth. Natural men are contented with their present portion, and cannot endure to think of change; and therefore though they are travelling to Eternity, yet they are not pilgrims in affection. But now Gods children are so in condition, and in affection too; they count Heaven their home, and the world to be a strange place. They are Pilgrims in affection in a threefold regard:
1. Sometimes in a literal sense: Thus the Patriarchs that had a wandring life, and were forced to flit from place to place without any certain abode; they confessed themselves to be strangers. Iacob saith