Thomas Manton: Psalm 119

Joshua Purdy
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Thomas Manton (1620–1677) was one of the leading Puritan preachers of his day. Charles Spurgeon, while working through Psalm 119 himself, wrote of him: “While commenting upon the One Hundred and Nineteenth Psalm, I was brought into most intimate communion with Thomas Manton, who has discoursed upon that marvellous portion of Scripture with great fullness and power. I have come to know him so well that I could choose him out from among a thousand divines… His works occupy twenty-two volumes in the modern reprint: a mighty mountain of sound theology. They mostly consist of sermons; but what sermons! … For solid, sensible instruction forcibly delivered, they cannot be surpassed. Manton is not brilliant, but he is always clear; he is not oratorical, but he is powerful; he is not striking, but he is deep. There is not a poor discourse in the whole collection: he is evenly good, constantly excellent. Ministers who do not know Manton need not wonder if they are themselves unknown.” This is a free, complete spoken-form series of Thomas Manton’s 190 sermons on Psalm 119. Each sermon has been expanded and shaped for the ear—clarifying structure, integrating the full Scripture texts he cites, and allowing the conviction of the original to come through fully—without adding new content or softening any of his claims. These spoken adaptations aim to let the force and weight of Manton’s original preaching come through clearly while remaining faithful to the substance and elevated register of the text.

  1. Episode 1

    Sermon 1 on Psalm 119:1 – Blessed Are the Undefiled in the Way by Thomas Manton

    Thomas Manton’s first sermon on Psalm 119 sets forth the true nature of blessedness: it belongs to those who are undefiled in the way and walk in the law of the Lord with gospel sincerity and constancy. In this opening sermon of his classic exposition, Manton shows that God’s law is the only safe and satisfying rule, and presses both the present and eternal rewards of holy walking. “O how miserable should we be if our lust were our law, if the bent of our hearts were our rule!” This is the first episode in a free, complete series of Thomas Manton’s sermons on Psalm 119.

  2. Episode 2

    Sermon 2 on Psalm 119:2 – Keep His Testimonies and Seek Him with the Whole Heart by Thomas Manton

    Thomas Manton’s second sermon on Psalm 119 sets forth the blessedness of those who keep God’s testimonies and seek Him with the whole heart. In this sermon Manton shows that the blessed man is marked by the frame of his heart. God’s testimonies are the full declaration of His will; keeping them (laying them up and observing them) and seeking the Lord Himself with undivided affection is the internal principle of a truly blessed life. External obedience without this sincerity is insufficient.

  3. Episode 3

    Sermon 3 on Psalm 119:2 – Seek Him with the Whole Heart by Thomas Manton

    Thomas Manton’s third sermon on Psalm 119 presses the call to seek God with the whole heart. In this continuation on verse 2, Manton shows why we must seek the Lord Himself—not merely His gifts—and what it means to seek Him with an undivided heart. He sets forth the motives for seeking God, the difference between legal and gospel seeking, and the marks of a heart truly engaged with the Lord as its all-sufficient portion.

  4. Episode 4

    Sermon 4 on Psalm 119:3 – They Do No Iniquity and Walk in His Ways by Thomas Manton

    Thomas Manton’s fourth sermon on Psalm 119 describes the blessed man as one who does no iniquity and walks in God’s ways. In this sermon on verse 3, Manton shows that true holiness consists in both eschewing sin and studying to please God. “They do no iniquity” does not mean absolute perfection, but that sin is not their trade, their way, or their work. The positive counterpart is a constant walking in the ways of the Lord.

  5. Episode 5

    Sermon 5 on Psalm 119:4 – Keep Thy Precepts Diligently by Thomas Manton

    Thomas Manton’s fifth sermon on Psalm 119 presses the authority of God and the call to keep His precepts diligently. In this sermon on verse 4, Manton shows that the fundamental ground of obedience is God’s command, and that God will not be put off with partial or careless service. He requires diligence and exactness—not only that we keep His precepts, but that we keep them with the greatest care and seriousness.

  6. Episode 6

    Sermon 6 on Psalm 119:5 – Oh That My Ways Were Directed to Keep Thy Statutes by Thomas Manton

    Thomas Manton’s sixth sermon on Psalm 119 shows the duty of turning precepts into prayers and the earnest desire for grace to keep God’s statutes. In this sermon on verse 5, Manton teaches that it is the practice of God’s people to ask for the grace God commands. “Oh that my ways were directed” expresses a resolute, whole-hearted desire for the strength to obey—not a weak or conditional wish, but a sincere longing that God would work in us what He requires of us.

  7. Episode 7

    Sermon 7 on Psalm 119:6 – Respect unto All Thy Commandments by Thomas Manton

    Thomas Manton’s seventh sermon on Psalm 119 shows that sincere obedience means having respect unto all of God’s commandments, and that this frees the soul from shame. In this sermon on verse 6, Manton teaches that a true heart aims at universal obedience—small and great commandments alike. Partial obedience, picking and choosing among God’s laws, is no true respect to the lawgiver. The fruit of this whole-hearted respect is that we shall not be ashamed before God or man.

  8. Episode 8

    Sermon 8 on Psalm 119:7 – I Will Praise Thee with Uprightness of Heart by Thomas Manton

    Thomas Manton’s eighth sermon on Psalm 119 shows the connection between learning God’s righteous judgments and praising Him with uprightness of heart. In this sermon on verse 7, Manton teaches that God’s precepts are righteous judgments, and that true learning of them is not mere knowledge but a heart conformed to the word. The fruit of this learning is sincere praise—praise that arises from an upright heart that has been taught by God Himself.

See All Season 1 (31)

About

Thomas Manton (1620–1677) was one of the leading Puritan preachers of his day. Charles Spurgeon, while working through Psalm 119 himself, wrote of him: “While commenting upon the One Hundred and Nineteenth Psalm, I was brought into most intimate communion with Thomas Manton, who has discoursed upon that marvellous portion of Scripture with great fullness and power. I have come to know him so well that I could choose him out from among a thousand divines… His works occupy twenty-two volumes in the modern reprint: a mighty mountain of sound theology. They mostly consist of sermons; but what sermons! … For solid, sensible instruction forcibly delivered, they cannot be surpassed. Manton is not brilliant, but he is always clear; he is not oratorical, but he is powerful; he is not striking, but he is deep. There is not a poor discourse in the whole collection: he is evenly good, constantly excellent. Ministers who do not know Manton need not wonder if they are themselves unknown.” This is a free, complete spoken-form series of Thomas Manton’s 190 sermons on Psalm 119. Each sermon has been expanded and shaped for the ear—clarifying structure, integrating the full Scripture texts he cites, and allowing the conviction of the original to come through fully—without adding new content or softening any of his claims. These spoken adaptations aim to let the force and weight of Manton’s original preaching come through clearly while remaining faithful to the substance and elevated register of the text.

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