The previous post in this series may be found here: https://memoirandremains.wordpress.com/2014/04/07/thomas-manton-on-psalm-1192b/
[The third sermon in series, continues with verse 9, Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, that seek him with the whole heart.— This portion of sermon contains application from the doctrine stated, that blessing flows from seeking God.
Therefore,]
I. Use 1. To press you to seek God. The motives are:—
1. “It was the end of our creation….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, Ps. 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 inquire after God.[1]
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 anything be sought more than God? We can least spare him.
3. It is our benefit to seek God. It is no benefit to God if we do not seek him. …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 ourselves from our own happiness and our own peace. But what benefit have we by seeking God? A great deal of present benefit: Ps. 22:26, ‘, Isa. 44:19: Heb. 11:6,: Amos 5:6, Prov. 29:26
4. If you do not sensibly find God, yet comfort thyself that thou art in a seeking way, and in the pursuit of him: Ps. 24:6, God’s people are described to be ‘the generation of them that seek him.’
5. You have misspent a great deal of time already, and long neglected God; therefore, now you should seek him: Hosea 10:12. 1 Peter 4:3,
6. This is the reason of affliction: we are so backward in this work that we need to be whipped unto it: Hosea 5:15,
Use 2. For direction. If you would seek God—
1. Seek him early: Prov. 8:32, ‘: Isa. 55:6, ‘Ps. 27:8,
2. Seek him daily: Ps. 105:4
3. Seek him unweariedly, and do not give over your seeking until you find God. Wrestle through discouragements; though former endeavours have been in vain, yet still we should continue seeking after God. We have that command to enforce us to it: Luke 5:5
4. Seek him in Christ. God will only be found in a mediator: Heb. 7:25, Hosea 3:5,
5. God can only be sought by the help of his own Spirit. As our access to God, we have it by Christ, so we have it by the Spirit: Eph. 2:18, ‘For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.’ As Christ gives us the leave, so the Spirit gives us the help.
Secondly, Now the manner, with the whole heart.
- Whoever would seek God aright, they must seek him with their whole heart.
Here I shall inquire—
1. What doth this imply?
2. Why God will be sought with the whole heart?
1. What doth this imply? It implies sincerity and integrity; for it is not to be taken in the legal sense, with respect to absolute perfection, but in opposition to deceit:
[1.] The extension of parts; with the understanding, will, and affections. Some seek God with a piece of their hearts, to explain it either in the work of faith or love. Acts 8:37, Luke 4:34 Heb. 6:4; … There may be some assent, such as may engage to profession and partial reformation, but the whole heart is not subdued to God.:1 Chron. 28:9, Jer. 22:16 Deut. 6:5, ‘….Every faculty must express love to God. Many will be content to give God a part. God hath their consciences, but the world their affections.
[2.] For intension of degrees. To seek God with the whole heart, is to seek him with the highest elevation of our hearts.
…
2. The reasons why God will be sought with the whole heart are—
[1.] He that gives but part to God doth indeed give nothing. The devil keeps an interest as long as one lust remains unmortified, and one corner of the soul is kept for him. …. A bird that is tied in a string seems to have more liberty than a bird in a cage; it flutters up and down, though it be held fast: so many seem to flutter up and down and do many things, as Herod; but his Herodias drew him back again into the fowler’s net. Thus because of a sinner’s danger.
[2.] Because of God’s right. By creation he made the whole, therefore requires the whole; ‘the Father of spirits’ must have the whole-spirit. 1 Cor. 6:20, ‘
Use. Well, do we serve God and seek after God with the whole heart? The natural mother had rather part with the whole than see the child divided, 1 Kings 3:26. God had rather part with the whole than take a piece. Either he will have the whole of your love, or leave the whole to Satan. The Lord complains, Hosea 10:2, ‘Their heart is divided.’ Men have some affections for God many times, but they have affections for their lusts too, the world hath a great share and portion of their heart.
Q. But when, in a gospel sense, may we be said to seek God with the whole heart? Take it in these short propositions.
1. When the settled purpose of our souls is to cleave to God, to love and serve him with an entire obedience, both in the inward and outward man, when this is the full determination and consent of our hearts.
2. When we do what we can by all good means to maintain this purpose; for otherwise it is but a fruit of conviction, a freewill pang: Acts 24:16, ‘Herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence towards God, and towards all men.’
3. When we search out our defects, and are ever bewailing them with kindly remorse: Rom. 7:24, ‘O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from this body of death?’
4. When we run by faith to Christ Jesus, and sue out our pardon and peace in Christ’s name, until we come to be complete in him: Col. 1:10, ‘That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.’
[1] Notice the use hinges upon both the doctrine of God “God is the cause of all things” and man, “We were made for God”.
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