A51842:98
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. Observe the act of duty, they seek the Lord. 2. The manner of performance, with the whole heart.
First, What it is to seek the Lord?
1. To seek the Lord presupposeth our want of God; for no man seeks what he hath, but for what he hath not. All that are seeking, are sensible of their want of God. For instance, when we begin to seek him at first, it begins with a sound remorse and sense of our natural estrangement from him. The first work and great care of returning-penitents, is to enquire after God. So long as men lye unconverted, they are wholly neglectful of him, and think they do not want God. Psal. 14. 2. There is none that understands and seeks after God. They have no affection or desire of communion with God. They seek such things as their hearts lust after, but it is not their desire or care to enjoy God. But when the conversion of the Jews is spoken of, Hos. 3. 5. it is said, They shall return and seek the Lord their God. At first conversion men are sensible of their great distance from God, and are troubled they have been so long strangers to him. Go to another sort of seekers, they are sensible of the same thing, in case of desertion it is clear, Cant. 5. 6. My beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone; I sought him, but I could not find him. They never begin to recover, until they are first sensible of their loss; when they see Christ is gone, they are left dead and comfortless; yea, all believers, their seeking or looking after communion with God, is grounded upon a sense of want in some degree and measure; it is little they have, in comparison of what they want and expect; and therefore still the children of God are a generation of seekers, that seek after God, Psal. 24. 6. whatever they enjoy, they are still in pursuit of more. They are always breathing after God, and desire to enjoy more communion with him. A wicked man is always running from God, and is never better than when he is out of Gods company, when he is rid of all thoughts of God: he runs from his own conscience, because he finds God there; he runs from the company of good men, because God is there; holy conference is as a prison: he runs from Ordinances, because ⟨p. 12⟩they bring God near to his Conscience, and put him in mind of God: He avoids death, because he cannot endure to be with God. But men that have a sense and want of God upon them, will be enquiring and seeking after him.
1. To seek the Lord presupposeth our want of God; for no man seeks what he hath, but for what he hath not. All that are seeking, are sensible of their want of God. For instance, when we begin to seek him at first, it begins with a sound remorse and sense of our natural estrangement from him. The first work and great care of returning-penitents, is to enquire after God. So long as men lye unconverted, they are wholly neglectful of him, and think they do not want God. Psal. 14. 2. There is none that understands and seeks after God. They have no affection or desire of communion with God. They seek such things as their hearts lust after, but it is not their desire or care to enjoy God. But when the conversion of the Iews is spoken of, Hos. 3. 5. it is said, They shall return and seek the Lord their God. At first conversion men are sensible of their great distance from God, and are troubled they have been so long strangers to him. Go to another sort of seekers, they are sensible of the same thing, in case of desertion it is clear, Cant. 5. 6. My beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone; I sought him, but I could not find him. They never begin to recover, until they are first sensible of their loss; when they see Christ is gone, they are left dead and comfortless; yea, all believers, their seeking or looking after communion with God, is grounded upon a sense of want in some degree and measure; it is little they have, in comparison of what they want and expect; and therefore still the children of God are a generation of seekers, that seek after God, Psal. 24. 6. whatever they enjoy, they are still in pursuit of more. They are always breathing after God, and desire to enjoy more communion with him. A wicked man is always running from God, and is never better than when he is out of Gods company, when he is rid of all thoughts of God: he runs from his own conscience, because he finds God there; he runs from the company of good men, because God is there; holy conference is as a prison: he runs from Ordinances, because ⟨p. 12⟩they bring God near to his Conscience, and put him in mind of God: He avoids death, because he cannot endure to be with God. But men that have a sense and want of God upon them, will be enquiring and seeking after him.
2. This seeking may be known, by the things sought. What do we seek for? Union and communion with God, Psal. 105. 4. Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his face for evermore. It is an allusion to the Ark which was a pledge of Gods favourable and powerful presence; so that which we seek after, is Gods favourable and powerful presence, that we may find the Lord reconciled, comforting and quickening our heart. Communion with God is the main thing that we seek after, as to the enjoyment of his favour in the acceptance of our persons and pardon of our sins. This is that the man of God expresseth in his own name, and in the name of all the Saints, Psal. 4. 6, 7. Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. That God would display his beams of favour upon the soul. So Psal. 63. 3. Thy favour is better than life. And then his strength too, that he may subdue our corruptions, temptations, enemies, Mic. 7. 19. and that he may supply our wants inward and outward by his all-sufficiency, Phil. 4. 19. God telleth Abraham, I am God all-sufficient, walk before me, and be thou perfect.
2. This seeking may be known, by the things sought. What do we seek for? Union and communion with God, Psal. 105. 4. Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his face for evermore. It is an allusion to the Ark which was a pledg of Gods favourable and powerful presence; so that which we seek after, is Gods favourable and powerful presence, that we may find the Lord reconciled, comforting and quickning our heart. Communion with God is the main thing that we seek after, as to the enjoyment of his favour in the acceptance of our persons and pardon of our sins. This is that the man of God expresseth in his own name, and in the name of all the Saints, Psal. 4. 6, 7. Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. That God would display his beams of favour upon the soul. So
3. The formality of the duty may be explained with respect to Graces and Ordinances. It consists in the exercise of grace, and in the use of Ordinances. (1) The Exercise of Grace, Faith and Love. Faith is often expressed by terms of motion, coming, running, going, seeking. Thus is the whole tendency of soul towards God expressed by terms that are proper to outward motion. Coming notes our serious resolution and purpose to make after God. Going notes the practice or progress in that resolution. Running notes the fervour and earnestness of the soul to enjoy God. And seeking, that notes our diligence in the use of means. That faith is implied in seeking, appears by comparing these two Scriptures, Isa. 11. 10. To it shall the Gentiles seek. Now when this is spoken of in the New Testament, it is rendered thus, Rom. 15. 12. In him shall the Gentiles trust. So that it notes confidence and hope. (2) It notes Love, which is exercised herein, which puts upon Sallies, and earnest egressions of soul, after the party loved. Psal. 63. 8. My soul follows hard after thee. It is grievous to those who love God to think of separation from him, or to forbear to seek after him. The great care of their souls is to find God, that he may direct, comfort, strengthen and sanctify them, and to have sweet experience of his grace. Thus the Spouse sought him whom her soul loved, and gave not over till she found him.
3. The formality of the duty may be explain'd with respect to Graces and Ordinances. It consists in the exercise of grace, and in the use of Ordinances. (1) The Exercise of Grace, Faith and Love. Faith is often exprest by terms of motion, coming, running, going, seeking. Thus is the whole tendency of soul towards God exprest by terms that are proper to outward motion. Coming notes our serious resolution and purpose to make after God. Going notes the practice or progress in that resolution. Running notes the fervor and earnestness of the soul to enjoy God. And seeking, that notes our diligence in the use of means. That faith is implied in seeking, appears by comparing these two Scriptures, Isa. 11. 10. To it shall the Gentiles seek. Now when this is spoken of in the New Testament, it is rendred thus,
2. Again, it is exercised in the use of the Ordinances, as the Word and Prayer. God will be sought in his own Ordinances. Christ walks in the midst of the golden Candlesticks. If you would find a man, mind there is his walk and usual resort. When Christ was lost, his Parents sought him in the Temple, there they found him. If you would find Christ, look to the shepherds tents in the assemblies of his people, Cant. 1. 7, 8. there shall you meet him. Only let me tell you, in these Ordinances it is not enough to make Christ the object of them, to worship Christ, but he must be made the end of them. To serve God is one thing, to seek him another. To serve God is to make him the object of Worship, to seek God is to make him the end of Worship. When we will not go away from him without him, Gen. 32. 16. I will not let thee go unless thou bless me. It is not enough to make use of Ordinances, but we must see if we can find God there. There are many that hover about the Palace, that yet do not speak with the Prince: so possibly we may hover about Ordinances, and not meet with God there. To go away with the husk and shell of an Ordinance, and neglect the kernel, to please our selves because we have been in the Courts of God, though we have not met with the living God, that's very sad. A Traveller and Merchant differ, thus: a Traveller goes from place to place only that he may see; but a Merchant goes from Port to Port that he may take in his lading, and grow rich by Traffic. So a formal person goes from Ordinance to Ordinance, and is satisfied with the work; a godly man looks to take in his lading that he may go away from God with God; that he may meet God here, and there, in this duty and in that, and go away from God with God. A man that makes a visit only by constraint, and not by friendship, it is all one to him whether the person be at home or no; but another would be glad to find his friend there: so, if we from a principle of love come to God in these duties, our desires will be to find the living God. Again, if God be not found in an Ordinance, yet we must continue seeking, you may find him in the next. Sometimes God will not be found in public, that he may be found in private Ordinances. The Spouse sought him upon her bed, then in every street of the city. Isa. 55. 6. Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near.
In prayer we come most directly to enjoy God, and do more especially call him in to our help and relief, there all graces are acted. If you cannot find God in prayer, look for him in the Supper, and in the Word; if he be not comfortably present in the Word, seek him by Meditation. Cant. 5. 6. My soul failed when he spake. That is, when I considered his speaking, for his wooing was over, my beloved was gone, but when I thought ⟨p. 13⟩of his speaking my soul failed. David consults with Nathan, but he could give him no clear answer, what then? 2 Sam. 7. 4. The word of the Lord came that night unto Nathan, saying, Go and tell my servant David, &c. So when we have been enquiring after God all day in public Worship, all this while the Oracle is silent; but at night when going over these things again, God may be found. Act. 17. 12. it is said, Therefore many of them believed. How? when they searched the Word; though in the hearing they did not discern the impressions of God upon the Word, but when they searched and studied, going over them in private duties, God appeared. Heb. 11. 11. it is said, She judged him faithful that had promised. How so? at first hearing? No, Sarah laughed when God promised her a Son: (for it was the Son of God that was in company with the Angels, Gen. 18.) but afterward when she considered of it, She judged him faithful.
In prayer we come most directly to enjoy God, and do more especially call him in to our help and relief, there all graces are acted. If you cannot find God in prayer, look for him in the Supper, and in the Word; if he be not comfortably present in the Word, seek him by Meditation. Cant. 5. 6. My soul failed when he spake. That is, when I considered his speaking, for his wooing was over, my beloved was gone, but when I thought ⟨p. 13⟩
Thus we must follow God from Ordinance to Ordinance. It argues a great deal of pride in carnal men, if God doth not meet them presently they throw off all. Now and then they will see what they shall have for calling upon God, but if God do not answer at the first knock, they are gone.
PSAL. CXIX. 2. Blessed are they that keep his Testimonies, that seek him with the whole heart.
USE 1. To press you to seek God: The Motives are,
1. It was the end of our Creation: We do not live merely to live, but for this end were we sent into the world to seek God. Nature is sensible of it in part by the dissatisfaction it finds in other things, and therefore the Apostle describes the Gentiles to be groping and feeling about for God, Act. 17. 27. God is the cause of all things, and Nature cannot be satisfied without him. We were made for God, and can never enjoy satisfaction until we come to enjoy him, therefore the Psalmist saith, Psal. 14. 2. We are all gone aside, and altogether become filthy. Nature is out of joint, we are quite out of our way to true happiness. We are seeking that for which we were created when we seek and enquire after God.
1. It was the end of our Creation: We do not live meerly to live, but for this end were we sent into the world to seek God. Nature is sensible of it in part by the dissatisfaction it finds in other things, and therefore the Apostle describes the Gentiles to be groping and feeling about for God, Act. 17. 27. God is the cause of all things, and Nature cannot be satisfied without him. We were made for God, and can never enjoy satisfaction until we come to enjoy him, therefore the Psalmist saith, Psal. 14. 2. We are all gone aside, and altogether become filthy. Nature is out of joint, we are quite out of our way to true happiness. We are seeking that for which we were created when we seek and enquire after God.
2. We seek other things that we want with great solicitude and care, we are cumbered with much serving to obtain the world, and shall any thing be sought more than God? we can least spare him. The chiefest good should be sought after with the chiefest care, and chiefest love, and chiefest delight, nothing should be so precious to us as God. It is the greatest baseness that can be, that any thing should take up our time, our thoughts, and content us more than God. When we come to God we are earnest for other things. Hos. 7. 14. They howl upon their beds for corn and wine. If any thing be sought from God above God, more than God, and not for God, it is but a brutish cry.
2. We seek other things that we want with great solicitude and care, we are cumbred with much serving to obtain the world, and shall any thing be sought more than God? we can least spare him. The chiefest good should be sought after with the chiefest care, and chiefest love, and chiefest delight, nothing should be so precious to us as God. It is the greatest baseness that can be, that any thing should take up our time, our thoughts, and content us more than God. When we come to God we are earnest for other things. Hos. 7. 14. They howl upon their beds for corn and wine. If any thing be sought from God above God, more than God, and not for God, it is but a brutish cry.
3. It is our benefit to seek God. It is no benefit to God if we do not seek him. The Lord hath no less, though we have less. He that hides himself from the Sun, doth not impair the light. We derogate nothing from God if we do not seek him. He needed not the Creature, he had happiness enough in himself, but we hide our selves from our own happiness and our own peace. But what benefit have we by seeking God? a great deal of present benefit, Psal. 22. 26. They that seek thee shall praise thy name. You'll have cause to bless God before the search be over, God hath past his word, there are a great many experiences we taste. As they that continue in the pursuit of the Philosophers-stone find out many experiences, which are a satisfaction to their understandings; so one way or other we shall have cause to bless God. The God of Jacob hath openly professed we shall not seek him in vain, Isa. 45. 19. That is, this is a truth God hath written as it were with a Sun-beam, that something will come in seeking of ⟨p. 14⟩God. By seeking him in prayer we carry away a great deal of comfort and strength. As we read of that Emperor that sent not away any one sad out of his-presence, so neither doth God, there is some comfort to be had in waiting upon him. And as it brings present comfort and satisfaction, so it brings an everlasting reward, Heb. 11. 6. He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. If you would have the fruit of your holy calling, that which is the result of that Religion you do profess, you must diligently seek him; so that in effect we never seek our selves more than when we seek the Lord. Amos 5. 6. Seek the Lord, and ye shall live. It is the undoubted way to get eternal life, to live for ever. They that seek not his face here, shall never see his face for ever. With what diligence will men court an outward preferment, which is yet very uncertain? Prov. 29. 26. All men seek the rulers face, but every mans judgment is of the Lord. What a deal of observance and waiting is there for the Rulers face and favour, and yet God disposeth of every mans judgment, it is uncertain whether they shall obtain it yea or no. But now if you seek the face of God, in heaven you shall live for ever.
4. If you do not sensibly find God, yet comfort thy self that thou art in a seeking way, and in the pursuit of him. Psal. 24. 6. Gods people are described to be the generation of them that seek him. This is the true mark of Gods chosen people, they make it their business to get the favour of God, and to wrestle through discouragements. It is better be a seeker than a wanderer. Though we do not feel the love of God, nor have the comfort of a pardon, have no sensible communion with him, yet the choice and bent of the heart is towards him, and you have the character of Gods people upon you.
3. It is our benefit to seek God. It is no benefit to God if we do not seek him. The Lord hath no less, though we have less. He that hides himself from the Sun, doth not impair the light. We derogate nothing from God if we do not seek him. He needed not the Creature, he had happiness enough in himself, but we hide our selves from our own happiness and our own peace. But what benefit have we by seeking God? a great deal of present benefit, Psal. 22. 26. They that seek thee shall praise thy name. You'l have cause to bless God before the search be over, God hath past his word, there are a great many experiences we taste. As they that continue in the pursuit of the Philosophers-stone find out many experiences, which are a satisfaction to their understandings; so one way or other we shall have cause to bless God. The God of Iacob hath openly professed we shall not seek him in vain, Isa. 45. 19. That is, this is a truth God hath written as it were with a Sun-beam, that something will come in seeking of ⟨p. 14⟩God. By seeking him in prayer we carry away a great deal of comfort and strength. As we read of that Emperour that sent not away any one sad out of his-presence, so neither doth God, there is some comfort to be had in waiting upon him. And as it brings present comfort and satisfaction, so it brings an everlasting reward, Heb. 11. 6. He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. If you would have the fruit of your holy calling, that which is the result of that Religion you do profess, you must diligently seek him; so that in effect we never seek our selves more than when we seek the Lord. Amos 5. 6. Seek the Lord, and ye shall live. It is the undoubted way to get eternal life, to live for ever. They that seek not his face here, shall never see his face for ever. With what diligence will men court an outward preferment, which is yet very uncertain? Prov. 29. 26. All men seek the rulers face, but every mans judgment is of the Lord. What a deal of observance and waiting is there for the Rulers face and favour, and yet God disposeth of every mans judgment, it is uncertain whether they shall obtain it yea or no. But now if you seek the face of God, in heaven you shall live for ever.
