My Summer with Psalm 119 #25

As a few of you know, I love, love, LOVE Psalm 119. I thought it would be great to spend a summer focusing on that psalm and what others have had to say about it. I'll begin with Thomas Manton's Exposition of Psalm 119. It may take all summer to read all 158 sermons. But they're so GOOD, so RICH, I think it will be worth it.

Sermon 32 (Psalm 119:30)

• Doct. When we have chosen the way of truth, or taken up the profession of true religion, the rules of it should be ever before us. Three reasons for this:— 
• 1. To have a holy rule and not a holy life is altogether inconsistent. A Christian should he a lively transcript of that religion he doth profess. A Christian should be Christ’s epistle, 2 Cor. 3; a walking Bible: Phil. 2:15, 16, shining as lights, holding forth the word of life.’ How? Not in doctrine, but in practice. A suitable practice joined with profession puts a majesty and splendour upon the truth. If there are many doubts about the true religion, why they are occasioned by the scandalous lives of professors; we reason from the artist to the art itself. Look, as there is a correspondence between the stamp and the impress, the seal and the thing sealed, so should there be between a Christian’s life and a Christian’s belief; the stamp should be upon his own heart, upon his life and actions; his action should discover his opinion, otherwise he loseth the glory and the benefit of his religion; he is but a pagan in God’s account,’ Jer. 9:25; he makes his religion to be called in question; and therefore he that walks unsuitably, he is said to deny the faith,’ 1 Tim. 5:8.
• To be a Christian in doctrine and a pagan in life is a temptation to atheism to others; when the one destroys the other, practice confutes their profession, and profession confutes their practice; therefore both these must be matched together. Thus the way of truth must be the rule, and a holy life must be suited.
• 2. As to this holy life, a general good intention sufficeth not, but there must be accurate walking. Why? For God doth not judge of us by the lump, or by a general intention. It is not enough to plead at the day of judgment, you had a good scope and a good meaning; for every action must be brought to judgment, whether it be good or evil, Eccles. 12:14. When we reckon with our servants, we do not expect an account by heap, but by parcels; so a general good meaning, giving our account by heap, will not suffice, but we must be strict in all our ways, and keep close to the rule in every action, in your eating, trading, worship: Eph. 5:15, See that you walk circumspectly,’ &c. See that you do not turn aside from the line and narrow ridge that you are to walk upon.
• 3. Accurate walking will never be, unless our rule be diligently regarded and set before us. Why? So accurate and exact is the rule in itself, that you may easily swerve from it; therefore it must always be heeded and kept in your eye, Ps. 19. You are not to walk according to the course of this world, but according to rule; and therefore you are not to walk rashly and in deliberately, and as you are led and carried on by force of present affections, but to walk circumspectly, considering what principle you are acted by, and what ends; and the nature and quality of our actions are always to be considered.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible