PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
Horae Homileticae — Volume 1 of 21
Simeon, Charles, 1759-1836 · 313,334 words · 642 reading sections
244 Genesis, Xxviii. 20—22. [40.
possessed more than any other man ever did, has pronounced it all to be vanity ; and not vanity only, but vexation of spirit also. And, whilst it is so incapable of adding any thing to your happiness, it subjects you to innumerable temptations s, impedes in a very great degree your progress heaven-ward11, and grea…
694 wordsSECTION 242246 Genesis, Xxxii. 26. [47.
Gen. xxxii. 26. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. SOME have thought that the circumstances here recorded were a mere vision ; and others a reality : but they seem to have been neither the one nor the other ; but a real transaction under a figurative re- presentation. The " wrestling" was …
575 wordsSECTION 24347.1 Jacob Pleading With God. 247
for us all. He takes nothing but shame to himself, and casts himself wholly on the mercy of his father. O that there were in us also such a heart! for not the Pharisee who commends himself, but the Publican who smites on his breast and cries for mercy, shall obtain the blessings of grace and glory.] 2. A simple re…
484 wordsSECTION 244248 Genesis, Xxxit. 26. [47.
deny himself." He has said, " Ask, and ye shall have ; seek, and ye shall find ; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." He has not determined any thing indeed with respect to the time or manner of answering our petitions : but answer them he will, in the best manner and the fittest time. He may not grant the par…
507 wordsSECTION 245Jacob Pleading With God. 240
47.] shall ask of him, believing, he will do :" yea, " we may ask what we will, and it shall be done unto us."] 2. The yet richer blessings of his grace — [The new name which God gave to Jacob was a standing memorial of God's loveq, and a pledge of all that should be necessary for his spiritual welfare. And what …
503 wordsSECTION 246250 Genesis, Xxxii. 26. [47.
and faith. It is curious to observe how often, without any apparent necessity, he repeats this promise to us. After saying, " He that coraeth to me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst," he repeats no less than four times, " I will raise him up at the last day ;" and repeatedly also a…
494 wordsSECTION 24748.1 Reconciliation Of Esau And Jacob. 251
is little else than a bodily exercise. Whoever has made his observations on the way in which both social and public wor- ship is often performed, wall have seen abundant cause for this caution. In like manner, the confidence of many savours far more of bold presumption, than of humble affiance. But let it never be…
351 wordsSECTION 248252 Genesis, Xxxiii. 4. [48.
Gen. xxxiii. 4. And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him : and they ivej)t. SUCH are the dispositions of men in general, that they cannot pass any considerable time without feeling in themselves, and exciting in others, some malignant tempers. The more nearly men come in con…
485 wordsSECTION 24948.] Reconciliation Of Esau And Jacob. 253
are more numerous. Between friends there are a thousand little circumstances taken into the account, which could find no place among strangers, and which, in fact, often operate more forcibly on the mind than the more immediate subject in dispute. Above all, the foundations of their regard are over- thrown. Each t…
408 wordsSECTION 250254 Genesis, Xxxiii. 4. [48.
in his ears. Vehement as Esau's anger was, it could not withstand all this kindness, humility, and gentleness. The submission of his brother perfectly disarmed him : and " the gift in his bosom pacified his strong wrath a." Thus we may hope to " overcome evil with goodb." As stones are melted by being subjected to…
394 wordsSECTION 25148. J Reconciliation Of Esau And Jacob. '255
arise from accusations, and the breach perhaps be made wider than ever. To bury matters in oblivion is the readiest way to the maintenance of peace. In this respect the reconciled bro- thers acted wisely: explanations would only have led to evil consequences ; and therefore they avoided them altogether. And we in …
417 wordsSECTION 252Slaughter Of The Shechemites.
Gen. xxxiv. 31. And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot ? THE life of man is continually exposed to trouble; and not unfrequently waves follow waves with little intermission. It was thus in Jacob's case, who, from the time that he fled from the face of Esau, met with a continued series of …
333 wordsSECTION 25349. J Slaughter Of The Shechemites. 257
she had yielded to what might be justly termed, an incestuous commerce : and now she lives to see the humiliation and defilement of her only daughter.] But, whatever degree of blame attached either to Dinah or her mother, the provocation given by She- chem was doubtless exceeding great — [To take advantage of a t…
378 wordsSECTION 254258 Genesis, Xxxiv. 31. [49.
objection was sufficient to weigh down every other consideration: still what regard had they for conscience when they could de- liberately contrive a plan for murdering the whole city ? This was indeed to " strain at a gnat, and to swallow a camel."] 2. Profaneness — [They knew that both the prince and his people …
417 wordsSECTION 25549.] Slaughter Of The Shechemites. 259
is it very similar to what occurs continually before our eyes. Is an injury done, or an affront offered to us? we feel our- selves called upon by a regard for our own honour to seek the life of the offender. Is a slight encroachment made on the rights of a nation ? it is deemed a just cause of war ; and the lives …
451 wordsSECTION 256Joseph Envied By His Brethren.
no avail : but every transaction shall appear in its proper colours ; and every man receive according to what he has done in the body, whether it be good or evil.] Gen. xxxvii. 4. When his brethren saw that his father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him. WE…
347 wordsSECTION 25750.] Joseph Envied By His Brethren. 261
when it is founded on a great and manifest difference in their moral character; inasmuch as it is a parent's duty to mark his approbation of religion and morals. But in no case ought that partiality to be shewn by such vain distinctions as Jacob adopted. Joseph's " coat of many colours" was calculated to generate …
415 wordsSECTION 258262 Genesis, Xxxvii. 4. [50.
rather fear than covet : and, at best, they are only talents, of which he must soon give an awful account to God. If there- fore we are sensible how little improvement we have made of the talents already committed to us, we shall see at once how little reason we have to envy others their increased responsibility.]…
428 wordsSECTION 25950.] Joseph Envied By His Brethren. 263
[Satan was once an angel of light, as happy as any that are now before the throne : but he kept not his first estate : he sinned; and thereby brought upon himself the wrath of Almighty God. It pleased God afterwards to form another order of beings, who were designed to fill up, as it were, the seats from which the…
459 wordsSECTION 260264 Genesis, Xxxix. 9. [51.
existing. People do not like to be excelled in that line wherein they themselves affect distinction. The female that courts admiration, the tradesman that values himself upon the superiority of his goods, the scholar that is a candidate for fame, the statesman that is ambitious of honour, must con- sider how he fe…
357 wordsSECTION 26151.1 The Need Of Fleeing From Sin. 265
Gen. xxxix. 9. How can I do this great tvickedness, and sin against God? THE grace of God is equally necessary for us in every situation of life ; in adversity, to support us ; and in prosperity, to keep us — We should have been ready indeed to congratulate Joseph on his advance- ment in the house of Potiphar, as…
446 wordsSECTION 262266 Genesis, Xxxix. 9. [51.
merited; and we shall instantly confess with Solomon, that they are " fools, who make a mock of sin" — ] Not however to insist on this general view of sin, we observe that, II. Considered as an offence against God, its enormity is exceeding great — This is the particular light in which it struck the mind of Jose…
379 wordsSECTION 26351.] The Need Of Fleeing From Sin. 2()7
open shame" — It proclaims aloud, that the glory of heaven is not to be compared with the gratification of our lusts; and that it is better to perish by self-indulgence, than to obtain salvation in the exercise of self-denial — What terms then can sufficiently express the enormity of that, which so blinds and infa…
440 wordsSECTION 264268 Genesis, Xxxix. 9. [51.
temptation a sufficient excuse for their compliance with it — But to what purpose shall we palliate our guilt, unless we can prevail on the Judge of quick and dead to view it with our eyes ? We may indeed weaken our present convictions, but we shall only secure thereby, and enhance, our eternal condemna- tion— Let…
501 wordsSECTION 265Lii.
INGRATITUDE OF PHARAOIl's BUTLER. Gen. xl. 23. Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him. IT was a wise and prudent choice which David made, " Let me fall into the hands of God, and not into the hands of man." Man, when intent on evil, knows no bounds, except those which are prescribed by his …
333 wordsSECTION 266270 Genesis, Xl. 23. [52.
once criminated either his brethren who had sold him, or his mistress who had falsely accused him : he cast a veil of love over their faults, and sought for nothing but the liberty of which he had been unjustly deprived. Who would conceive that so reasonable a request, pre- sented to one who had such opportunities…
409 wordsSECTION 267Ingratitude Of Pharaoh'S Butler. 271
52.] hour's sleep, or a small intermission of pain, or the services of his attendants, than he ever was for all the ease and sleep that he enjoyed, or the services that were rendered him, in the days of his health. We have a very striking instance of the dif- ferent effects of prosperity and adversity in the histo…
493 wordsSECTION 268272 Genesis, Xl. 23. [52.
owe to God for the gift of his dear Son — and of his Holy Spirit — and of a preached Gospel ? — What do we owe to God if he has rendered his word in any measure effectual for the enlightening of our minds, and the quickening of our souls ? " What manner of persons then ought we to be ? " How should our hearts glow…
516 wordsSECTION 269Liii.
Joseph's advancement. Gen. xli. 41. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. IN the eventful life of Joseph we are particularly struck with the suddenness and greatness of the changes he experienced. One day he was his father's favourite; the next he was menaced with death an…
391 wordsSECTION 270274 Genesis, Xli. 41. [53.
that it cannot hear :" yea rather he would glorify himself, as he did in rescuing Israel at the Red Sea, if we would call upon him ; and our extremity should he the opportunity he would seize for his effectual interpositions : " In the mount, the Lord would be seen." We may apply the same observations to those who…
738 wordsSECTION 27127G Genesis, Xlii. 21. [54.
Happy would it be for us if we could leave ourselves in God's hands, and submit ourselves in all tilings to his wise disposal ! We are persuaded, that our want of submission to Divine Providence is that which so often necessitates God to afflict us ; and that if we could more cordially say, " Thy will be done," we…
597 wordsSECTION 272The Power Of Conscience.
Gen. xlii. 21. And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saiv the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear ; there- fore is this distress come upon us. 54.1 TIIE POWER OF CONSCIENCE. il~7 THE history of Josepli appears rather like a well- concerte…
400 wordsSECTION 273278 Genesis, Xlii. 21. [54.
[Of itself indeed it cannot guide, but only according to rules which before exist in the mind. It does not so much tell us what is right or wrong, as whether our actions corre- spond with our apprehensions of right and wrong. But as we are apt to be biassed by interest or passion to violate our acknowledged obliga…
463 wordsSECTION 27454.1 The Power Of Conscience. 279
Wonderful was its insensibility in the sons of Jacob — [When they conspired against their brother Joseph, and east him into the pit, that he might perish with hunger, they regarded not the cries and entreaties of the youth, but pro- ceeded in their murderous career without remorse. But the seasonable appearance of…
476 wordsSECTION 275280 Genesis, Xlii. 21. [54.
pheme it : they can go on for years and years, and yet never imagine that they have once offended God. Behold the sensual, who revel in all manner of uncleanness : they " wipe their mouth, like the adulteress, and say, I have done no wicked- nessk." Behold the worldly, who have no cares whatever beyond the things …
459 wordsSECTION 27654.] The Power Of Conscience. 281
Some it inspires only with terror — [Tims it wrought on these : they saw their guilt, and the wrath of God upon them on account of it : " We are verily guilty concerning our brother, " said they, " and behold his blood is required of usr." Thus it wrought also on the un- happy Judas, who, when he saw what he had d…
489 wordsSECTION 277282 Genesis, Xlii. 36. [55.
1. Seek to maintain a good conscience before God — [Let your minds be well instructed in the written word, and your lives be regulated by its dictates. To have always a conscience void of offence towards both God and man is no easy matter : but it is worth the utmost labour and vigilance that you can bestow upon i…
371 wordsSECTION 278Lv.
Jacob's unbelieving fears. Gen. xlii. 36. All these things are against me! THE best of men are weak when they come into temptation. The trials of Jacob were indeed heavy : and, if we suppose that he had any idea that his sons 55.] Jacob's unbelieving fears. 283 had been active agents in bereaving him of his belov…
435 wordsSECTION 279284 Genesis, Xlil 36. [55,
are apt to " charge God foolishly," as if he were unmerciful, if not unrighteous also, in his dispensations towards them.] 2. Desponding fears — [So filled was Jacob with a sense of his present calamities, that he could not indulge a hope of a favourable issue from them : he thought of nothing but increasing troub…
665 wordsSECTION 280286 Genesis, Xlv. 8. [56.
We may further learn from this subject, 1. What an excellent grace faith is — [Faith beholds nothing but paternal love in the heaviest chastisements. Faith " brings meat out of the eater," and tastes sweetness in the bitterest cup. Faith looks to the end of things, and sees them, in a measure, as God sees them. It…
308 wordsSECTION 281Lvi.
GOD VIEWED IN JOSEPIl's ADVANCEMENT. Gen. xlv. 8. So now, it was not you that sent me hither, but God. BY looking through second causes to the first Cause of all, we learn to trace events to an all-wise Being, who " worketh all things after the counsel of his own will," and whose prerogative it is to bring good ou…
675 wordsSECTION 282288 Genesis, Xlv. 8. [56.
2. He suffers Satan to instigate them to evil — [" Satan is always going about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour : " but he cannot act without divine per- mission : he could not tempt Job, or even enter into the herd a Rom. ix. 17. of swine, till he had first obtained leave of God. For the most part, …
794 wordsSECTION 283290 Genesis, Xlv. 8. [56.
2. It disposes us to a ready forgiveness of those who injure us — [It does not incline us to palliate their faults, as if they were mere unconscious instruments impelled by the force of Him who made use of them ; (for in all that they do, they act as freely as if God bare no part at all in their actions :) but it …
720 wordsSECTION 284Lvii.
2. How happy will he be in the future world ! [Here " he walks by faith, and not by sight." He be- lieves that things are working for his good, beavuse God has said that they shall do so. But in heaven he will have a per- fect discovery of all the links in that chain of providences, whereby he has been brought to …
345 wordsSECTION 285292 Genesis, Xlv. 27, 28. [57.
weeping for her children, refused to be comforted for her children, because they were nota." This passage St. Matthew applies to the slaughter of the children in Bethlehem, to which, in its primary sense, it had no reference b: nevertheless, the citation of it was just, and the accommodation beautiful. A similar u…
708 wordsSECTION 286294 Genesis, Xlv. 27, 28. [57.
2. The tidings were too good to be true — [There is a proneness in the human mind to believe evil reports more easily than those which are favourable. Jacob instantly acceded to the idea that his son Joseph had been torn in pieces, notwithstanding, if he had considered the spirit and temper of his brethren towards…
682 wordsSECTION 287294 Genesis, Xlv. 27, 28. [57.
With the removal of his doubts there was an in- stantaneous change in his determinations. This will appear while we consider, III. The effect which their removal produced upon him — He had been hitherto reluctant to leave his home ; but now, 1. He desired nothing so much as to see the one object of his affectio…
313 wordsSECTION 288296 Genesis, Xlv. 27, 28. [57.
[It was not a pleasing thing for an infirm old man, who was one hundred and thirty years of age, to leave his home, and set out upon so long a journey: but the mountains be- came a plain, when such an object was to be attained. Nor is it pleasing for flesh and blood to encounter the diffi- culties which we must me…
800 wordsSECTION 289298 Genesis, Xlvii. 7—10. [58.
Jacob's interview with pharaoh. Gen. xlvii. 7 — 10. And Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and set him before Pharaoh: and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, Hoio old art thou ? And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years : few and evil have…
728 wordsSECTION 290298 Genesis, Xlvii. 7—10. [58.
We notice, II. Jacob's answer to it — [The patriarch's mind was fraught with zeal for God ; and therefore not contenting himself with a plain short answer, he framed his reply in words calculated to make a deep impression on the mind of Pharaoh, without giving him the smallest offence. He insinuates, and repeats …
321 wordsSECTION 291300 Genesis, Xlviii. 15, 16. [59.
is there that does not find, (especially in more advanced life,) that the evil, on the whole, outweighs the good? These hints, offered in so delicate a manner to a potent monarch, with whom he had only one short interview, afford a beautiful pattern for our imitation, at the same time that they convey important in…
295 wordsSECTION 29259.1 Jacob Blessing The Sons Of Joseph. 301
Gen. xlviii. 15, 16. And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did tvalk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, the Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads ! THERE are not any more profitable scenes than those which we behold in the chambers of dyin…
474 wordsSECTION 293302 Genesis, Xlviii. 15, 16. [59.
In prosecuting this subject, we observe, that, I. We should feel a concern for the spiritual welfare of the rising generation — We should by no means be indifferent to the souls of any : on the contrary, the conveying of religious instruction to children is an occupation well worthy the attention of all, who have…
410 wordsSECTION 29459.] Jacob Blessing The Sons Of Joseph. 303
For though the best efforts may not universally succeed, we may assume it as a general truth, that " if we bring up a child in the way he should go, when he is old he will not depart from it."] 3. Their souls will be required at our hands — [This is a truth acknowledged in reference to Ministers : all agree that …
429 wordsSECTION 295304 Genesis, Xlviii. 15,16. [59.
respecting the providence of God, and to make them know, that whether they become rich by industry or by inheritance, it is " God who feeds them all their life long." It is also in- dispensably necessary to direct their attention to that " Angel," Jehovah, the Lord Jesus Christ, " the Angel of the Covenant0," thro…
474 wordsSECTION 296Christ The True Shiloh.
the death of the righteous," be diligent to live his life. If your own business be not already transacted with God, (so to speak,) you will have little disposition either to speak to others in a dying hour, or to pray for them : but if your own calling and election be made sure, then will your dying exhortations b…
374 wordsSECTION 29730G Genesis, Xl1X. 10. [(Jo.
separate and independent jurisdiction which was vested in Dan, and in all the other tribes b. Nor does the term " law- giver" mean a person who should enact laws; but rather, one who should execute and enforce them. Moses was the only lawgiver of the Jews; and even the kings were required to write a copy of his la…
497 wordsSECTION 29860.1 Christ The True Shiloh. ,'J07
The time of Clirist's advent being thus clearly ascertained, let us consider, II. The consequences of it — The last clause of the text is by some applied to Judah, to whom the tribe of Benjamin was attached, and the few of the other ten tribes, who returned after their dispersion by the Assyrians, were gathered1'…
411 wordsSECTION 299308 Genesis, Xlix. 10. [60.
the whole Roman empire, was filled with those who were ga- thered unto him. And, at this moment, " all who are taught of God come unto him''' as the one foundation of all their hopes, and the only fountain of all their blessings. There is a period still future, when this prophecy shall be fulfilled in its utmost e…
481 wordsSECTION 300Joseph A Type Of Christ.
sovereign dominion shall exist to all eternity; " Thy tin-one, O God, is for ever and ever; of thy kingdom there shall be no endr." Rejoice then, believers, in your Lord; "let the children of Zion be joyful in their king." Cherish his attrac- tive influences: gather yourselves around him yet daily and hourly : spr…
359 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical edition (1832-33); scan/OCR from Internet Archive.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.