Sermons on Psalm 119, Title page – To the reader 2
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.
LUK. XXIV. 44.
All things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms concerning me.
Hic Psalmus est tanto praestantior, quanto prolixior.
Muis.
LONDON, Printed for T. P. &c. and are to be Sold by Michael Hide, Bookseller in Exon, 1681.
Thomas Manton D. D.
R White sculpsit
To the READER.
'TIS the Honour of the Evangelical Ministry, that it was principally instituted for the service of God, not as he is the Governour of the Earth, but the Lord of Heaven, and to prepare men by holiness for his eternal Kingdom. And 'tis an excellent favour of God to his Ministers, when their labours are eminently useful for this blessed end. This singular grace and priviledge God was pleased to confer upon his faithful Servant Dr. Manton, whose life was spent in the most precious work of converting souls to Christ, and preparing them for the Coelestial Paradise; and since his retiring from the world by death, his soul now enjoying the blessed rest above, yet he remains with us in what was most valuable of him, his excellent Sermons the productions of his holy mind and heart; and the Pen having a larger extent than the Tongue in communicating them, may be more beneficial to the Church than before.
The following Sermons were preacht by him in his usual course of three times a week, which I do not mention to lessen their worth, but to shew how diligent and exact he was in the performance of his duty. Indeed his ordinary Sermons, considering the substantial matter, clear order, and vigorous full expressions, may well pass for extraordinary. I cannot but admire the foecundity and variety of his thoughts, that the same things so often occurring in the verses of this Psalm, yet by a judicious observing the different arguments and motives whereby the Psalmist enforces the same requests, or some other circumstances, every Sermon contains new conceptions and proper to the Text. Some few Verses were not handled by him. I earnestly pray that those who shall read these Sermons may taste the sweetness of the Divine Truths open'd in them, and may be transform'd into the spirit of David, by an inward feeling of the affections, and verifying in their own breasts the words of the Holy Prophet.
W. BATES.
Christian Reader,
IT is somewhat difficult not to applaud that excellency which has first approved it self to our judgment. Hence is it, that though this work needs it not, I will so far gratifie my own affections, and comply with obtaining custom as to acquaint thee, that if thou hadst my eyes and taste, thou must admire its beauty, and confess its sweetness; much more when thou shalt use thy own more discerning eye, and judicious palate.
The Matter of these Sermons is Spiritual, and speaks the Author one intimately acquainted with the secrets of wisdom: He writes like one that knew the Psalmists heart, and felt in his own the sanctifying power of what he wrote: Their design is practice; beginning with the understanding, dealing with the affections, but still driving on the advancement of Practical Holiness. They come home and close to the Conscience; first presenting us a glass, wherein we may view the spots of our souls, and then directing us to that fountain wherein we may wash them away. They are of an Evangelical complexion, abasing proud corrupt nature, and advancing free and efficacious grace in the conversion of Sinners. The Exhortations are powerful, admirably suited to treat with Reasonable Creatures, yet still supposing them to be the vehicle of the holy Spirit, through which he communicates life and power to obey them.
The manner of handling is not inferiour to the dignity of the Matter; so plain as to accommodate the most sublime Truths to the meanest spiritual capacity, and yet so elevated as to approve it self to the most refined understanding. He knew how to be succinct without obscurity, and where the weight of the Argument required it, to enlarge without nauseous prolixity. He studied more to profit than please, and yet an honest heart will then be best pleased when most profited. He chose rather to speak appositely than elegantly; and yet the judicious do account propriety the choicest elegancy. He laboured more industriously to conceal his learning, than some others to ostentate theirs; and yet when he would most veil it, the discernnig Reader cannot but discover it, and rejoice to find such a mass, such a treasure of useful learning couched under a well-studied and artificial plainness. But let the Reader take a taste of, let him concoct, and digest these spiritual Discourses, and he shall say with the Sabaean Queen, It was a true report I heard in my own land, but behold the one half was not told me! Or with the men of Sychar, Now we believe not because of thy saying, but because we our selves have proved and experienced their delicacies. As one taste of honey will more effectually commend its sweetness, than the most elaborate Oratory.
Those Ancients that had seen the first Temple wept bitterly when they saw the foundation of the second laid: And perhaps some pious souls who have sate with great delight under the Authors Ministerial shadow, and have found his fruit sweet to their taste, may secretly shed a tear, that though they here meet with the same Divine Truths, the same spiritual matter, yet they want the living voice, the grateful elocution, the natural eloquence in which that heavenly matter dropt, or rather flowed from his gracious lips; but let the same consideration which quieted the spirits of those Jews of old, satisfie theirs, God can fill this house also with his Glory. And though the second Edition of the Temple fall short of the former in the beauty and symmetry of the structure, yet can the Spirit flow from the Press, as well as the Pulpit; with this advantage, that they may here in safety read, what with great danger they formerly heard.
I have admired, and must recommend to the observation of the Reader, the fruitfulness of the Authors holy invention, accompanied with solid judgment; in that whereas the coincidence of the matter in this Psalm might have superseded his labours in very many Verses, yet without force or offering violence to the Sacred Text, he has either from the connexion of one Verse with its predecessor, or the harmony between the parts of the same Verse, found out new matter to entertain his own meditation, and his Readers expectation; nor do I observe more than twelve Verses in this large Psalm wholly omitted, if at least they may be said to be omitted, whose subject matter is elsewhere copiously handled.
Had the Reverend Author design'd these Papers for publick view, he could not have flattered himself in a cavilling age, that he should escape the severe lashes of envy and malice, (those fiends that haunt all things and persons excellent) he must have expected a snarle from the Wolf's black mouth, or a kick from the dull Asse's hoof; yet on his behalf I demand this justice, that he be not condemn'd for the Printers crimes: Their Venial Errors will receive a pardon of course from the Ingenuous Reader; and for their mortal transgressions, whereof they are sometimes guilty, either clouding, altering, or perverting the scope of the Author, enjoin them (Gentle Reader!) a moderate penance, and then receive them to full absolution, who have voluntarily offered themselves to confession.
Thus much (Christian Reader) it was thy interest and mine to have spoken, the rest must be to the God of all Grace that he would give thee and this Book his blessing, which is the prayer of
Decemb. 13th. 1680. Thy affectionate Friend and faithful Servant in our Lord Jesus, V. A.