PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
Horae Homileticae — Volume 2 of 21
Simeon, Charles, 1759-1836 · 273,224 words · 589 reading sections
382 Deuteronomy, Xviii. 13. [212.
and mind and soul and strength." And every one of us should be able to say with David, " Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire besides theec" ] 2. In affiance on his care — [Whatever our trials be, there should be no leaning either upon our own strength or on any created power…
439 wordsSECTION 3622] 2.1 Christian Perfection. 383
blissful retrospect, if not in its full extent, yet in good mea- sure, will be his : " I bessech thee, O Lord, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight1!"] 2. No stability in our ways — [" A double-minded man will be unstable in all…
429 wordsSECTION 363The Method Of Expiating An Unknown Murder.
2. Those who have an inward evidence that their hearts are right with God — [What is there under heaven that can equal such a blessing as this? St. Paul himself had no greater joy0. For you, Brethren, death has no sting, and the day of judgment itself no terror. You may look and long for the coming of your Lord. …
358 wordsSECTION 364213.] Of Expiating An Unknown Murder. 385
civil magistrate. If a wilful murderer had fled to a city of re- fuge, or even to the altar itself, neither the one nor the other was to prove a sanctuary to him; he must be taken thence, and be carried forth for execution3. In the event of a slain man being found, and the murderer being unknown, this law was to b…
525 wordsSECTION 365386 Deuteronomy, Xxi. 6—8. [213.
the criminal himself in the world to come. How amiable does God appear in this view ! and how plainly may we see in this very ordinance that " judgment is a strange act," to which he is extremely averse ; and that he is rich in mercy unto all them that call upon him !] 2. Its particular provisions — [These deserv…
443 wordsSECTION 366213.1 Of Expiating An Unknown Murder. 387
II. To point out some lessons which may be learned from it — We of course pass over those things which are less appropriate, and fix our attention upon those which seem to arise most naturally out of the subject before us. We may learn then, 1. The importance of preventing or punishing sin — [The concurrence of…
453 wordsSECTION 367388 Deuteronomy, Xxi. 6—8. [213.
that we are free from it. We must be Israelites indeed, and without any allowed guile. And O ! what a comfort is it when we can say with Job, " O God, thou knowest I am not wickedg!" Such was the comfort enjoyed by Paid; "Our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in sim- plicity and godly sincer…
591 wordsSECTION 368Ccxiv.
BENEVOLENCE TOWARDS GOD's ANCIENT PEOPLE. Deut. xxiii. 3, 4. An Ammonite or a Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord ; even to their tenth gene- ration shall they not enter into the congregation of the Lord for ever ; because they met you not with bread and with water, when ye came forth out of …
295 wordsSECTION 369890 Deuteronomy, Xxiii. 3, 4. [214.
and to act up to the spirit of the injunction there given a. Now it is to the practical improvement of them that I wish to direct your attention : and for that end I shall set before you, I. The duty of benevolence in general — It is a duty — [Love is the very essence of all practical religion. It is in a most p…
732 wordsSECTION 370392 Deuteronomy, Xxiii. 3, 4. [214.
2. The very blessings which we enjoy were taken from them, on purpose that they might be transferred to us — [The Jews were once the only people upon earth who possessed the blessings of salvation. But God, in righteous indignation, cast off them; and, in a way of sovereign grace and mercy, took us from a wild ol…
651 wordsSECTION 371392 Deuteronomy, Xxiii. 3, 4. [214.
1 Rom. xi. 30, 31. 214.] BENEVOLENCE TOWARDS GOD's ANCIENT PEOPLE. 393 but left him to perish, when thou hadst in possession all that his soul needs ; and which thou couldest impart to him, to the full extent of his necessities, without feeling any sensible dimi- nution of thy wealth ; yea, when, strange to say ! …
417 wordsSECTION 372394 Deuteronomy, Xxiii. 3, 4. [214.
and what efforts are making by Christian missionaries for the conversion of the Jews ! and I must say, that this is a call from God to us, and that it is no less our privilege, than it is our duty, to obey it.] 2. The stir which prevails amongst the Jews them- selves— [This also obtains to a degree unprecedented …
704 wordsSECTION 373396 Deuteronomy, Xxiii. 5. [215.
1. You will say, perhaps, that You have no con- nexion with the Jews, and therefore may well be excused from all concern about them — [But what had the Ammonites and Moabites to do with the Jews ? They were descended, not from Abraham, but from Lot, and had never had any intercourse with them. But this was no exc…
742 wordsSECTION 374396 Deuteronomy, Xxiii. 5. [215.
Let us notice, then, from the words before us, I. God's love to his ancient people — This appeared in bringing them forth out of Egypt, and in preserving them throughout their wanderings in the wilderness ; and especially, also, in the instance that is here specified, the counteracting of the designs of Balaam, a…
308 wordsSECTION 375398 Deuteronomy, Xxiii. 5. [215.
the promised rewards'1, he resumed his prophetic strains, and declared, not only that this people should triumph over Moab, but that from them should One arise, who should establish an universal empire, and have dominion over the whole world e. All this, Joshua brought to the remembrance of Israel, long- after th…
387 wordsSECTION 376215. J Gods Care For His People. 899
He will deliver them both from men and devils — [From the beginning of the world have God's chosen people been opposed and persecuted, even from the time of Abel to the present hour. It was the superior piety of Abel that called forth the resentment of the envious Cain, and stimulated him to imbrue his hands in hi…
509 wordsSECTION 377400 Deuteronomy, Xxiii. 5. [215.
things shall work together for his people's good m ;" and that their " light and momentary afflictions shall work for them a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory"."] To this Almighty God is pledged, by the love that he bears towards us — [God has loved his people with an everlasting love ; and therefore…
439 wordsSECTION 378Gleaning, A Divine Ordinance.
will and counsel had determined before to be done1:" and, though " they neither meant nor thought so," they were his agents, to accomplish what was necessary for the redemption of the world. Men and devils may have prepared a furnace for you : but it is God who puts you into it, to purify you from your dross, and …
392 wordsSECTION 379402 Deuteronomy, Xxiv. 19—22. [216.
the greatest, to bring it into exercise. Hence he appointed, that, when they gathered in the fruits of the earth, they should guard against selfishness, and manifest a spirit of love towards their more indigent and afflicted brethren. In the very words which I have just read, the threefold repetition of them shews…
391 wordsSECTION 380216.] Gleaning, A Divine Ordinance. 403
the fatherless, and the widow :" and, after having gathered in their corn, or their grapes, or olives, they were not to be going over their ground or their trees again, but to leave the re- maining produce for those whose necessities called for such aid ; yea, and to rejoice in seeing the wants of others supplied, …
431 wordsSECTION 381404 Deuteronomy, Xxiy. 19—22. [216.
nourished those only who gathered it for their daily use : and, if the poor will avail themselves of the bounty scattered in our fields, they must go out and gather it. Were all the harvest left upon the field, it would benefit none, unless it were reaped and appropriated to our use : so all the promises of salvati…
485 wordsSECTION 382217.1 Gratitude To God Enforced. 405
for you," that you may not labour in vain : yea, I have invited you to "come, even amongst the sheaves;" and, so far from '* reproaching you " for your boldness, have encouraged you k by the strongest assurances of the unbounded liberality of my Divine Master. Bear in mind, that you are gleaners. You must indeed l…
269 wordsSECTION 383406 Deuteronomy, Xxvi. 3—6. [217.
Dcut. xxvi. 3 — 6. And thou shalt go unto the priest that shall be in those days, and say unto him, I profess this day unto the Lord thy God, that I am come unto the country which the Lord sware unto your fathers for to give us. And the priest shall take the basket out of thine hand, and set it down before the alt…
562 wordsSECTION 384217.] Gratitude To God Enforced. 407
Jews themselves : but, if we call to mind the state of our fore- fathers, who were as ignorant of God as the most savage In- dians, and remember, that we ourselves should have been bowing down to stocks and stones just like them, if the light of the Gospel had not been sent to dispel our darkness, we shall see tha…
509 wordsSECTION 385408 Deuteronomy, Xxvi. 3—6. [217.
they; but we must dedicate to God the first-fruits of our time, and the first-fruits of our property . We should fear the Lord in our youth, and not think it sufficient to give him the glean- ings and the dregs of life and we should " honour him with our substance, and with the first-fruits of all our in- crease;"…
457 wordsSECTION 386217.] Gratitude To God Enforced. 409
awful our condition then ! Truly we should have been for ever like the fallen angels, destitute of all help or hope, if God had not marvellously interposed to rescue us from death and hell by the sacrifice of his only dear Son. With what emphasis then may every one of us say, " A Syrian ready to perish was our fat…
470 wordsSECTION 387Covenanting With God Explained.
be contemplated by him, and lie will soon have his mind raised above earthly things, and fired with a holy ambition to honour and to resemble God. See how the Psalmist expresses his thoughts on such occasions0: what glorious language! how sublime must have been the feelings of his soul, when uttering it before God…
345 wordsSECTION 3882 18. J Covenanting With God Explained. 411
called to take upon ourselves under the Christian dispensation : 1. To accept God as our God — [The Jews had most satisfactory evidence that Jehovah was the only true God, and that he alone was worthy to be worshipped and adored. But, great as were the evidences of his kindness towards them, they are nothing in c…
458 wordsSECTION 389412 Deuteronomy, Xxvi. 17—19. [218.
not come to God only as a Saviour to deliver us, but also as a Lord to govern us : and we must resolve that henceforth " no other Lord shall have dominion over us." Nor must this deter- mination be kept secret : this also must be avowed : we must let it be seen "whose we are, and whom we serve;" and must evince a …
449 wordsSECTION 390218.] Covenanting With God Explained. 413
" will put his Spirit within us, and cause us to walk in his statutes, &c.d" This is actually a part of his covenant en- gagements; and must be esteemed by us as our security for the enjoyment of all our other advantages. Together with this does God undertake to give us the most exalted honour and happiness : " he…
433 wordsSECTION 391414 Deuteronomy, Xxvi. 17—19. [218.
engagements of that day. But do you not find that the good impressions have been greatly weakened, and that, whilst the ardour of your will and affections has cooled, little remains except the convictions of your judgment ? Ah ! beware of " leaving your first love," or of resting satisfied with past ex- periences.…
493 wordsSECTION 392The Extent And Excellency Of The Moral Law.
any excuse for their irreligion, or that it invalidates their obliga- tion to serve the Lord? See the solemn injunction that precedes the textg: can they make that void? See what is the prophet's description of things under the gospel dispensation11: there not only are the Lord's people represented as encouraging o…
390 wordsSECTION 393416 Deuteronomy, Xxvii. 26. [219.
thought is punishable by our Judge g. Omissions of duty will entail on us the same judgments11. A violation of the law in one point ensures condemnation as truly, though not as severely, as a rejection of the whole1. One single transgression brought misery on the whole world k; and this was agreeable to the terms …
436 wordsSECTION 394219.1 The Excellency Of The Moral Law. 417
must be overlooked ? Is God forced to honour those who dis- honour him ? Has not He as much right to be our enemy, as we have to be his ? When he sees us destitute of any love to him, is he bound to renew our hearts that we may be capable of enjoying him ? Is he unjust if he leave us to eat the fruit of our own wa…
422 wordsSECTION 395418 Deuteronomy, Xxvii. 26. [219.
position for us had been less needed ; it would have discovered far less love. The obligations conferred by it would have been comparatively small. He would have been less honoured by all. Some would have been saved without his aid. Many would, to eternity, have ascribed the honour of their salvation to themselves…
322 wordsSECTION 396The Duty Of Fearing God.
ccxx. Deut. xxviii. 58, 59. If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this Law that are written in this book, that thou may est fear that glorious and, fearful name, The Lord thy God; then the Lord ivill make thy plagues wonderful. WE admire the fidelity of Moses, who " declared to Israel the whole counsel …
369 wordsSECTION 397420 Deuteronomy, Xxviii. 58, 59. [220.
as the Old, we are taught to bear this in mind, that " our God is a consuming fire, and never to be approached but with reverence and godly feare."] 2. With obediential love — [This is the point more especially noticed in the passage before us : and wherever the fear of God is, it must of neces- sity manifest its…
677 wordsSECTION 398422 Deuteronomy, Xxix. 4. [221.
2. Hereafter — [Who can conceive a soul, at its first entrance into the invisible world, beholding all at once the face of an angry and avenging God? How does it start back from him, and cry to rocks and mountains to hide it from his presence ! Who can conceive that soul hearing from its Judge those terrific word…
548 wordsSECTION 399Ccxxi.
men's blindness in spiritual things. Deut. xxix. 4. The Lord hath not given you an heart to per- ceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day. THERE is nothing more comforting to a minister, than to see " the word of the Lord running and glorified" amongst the people of his charge. On the other hand, i…
480 wordsSECTION 400424 Deuteronomy, Xxix. 4. [221.
intent of either : they had no idea of the one as shutting them up to the only possible way of salvation through faith in their Messiah, or of the other as shadowing forth that Messiah in all his offices. In fact, they had no spiritual discernment of any of these things, but were uninstructed and unedified by all …
728 wordsSECTION 401426 Deuteronomy, Xxix. 19, 20. [222.
But look at the great majority of those to whom the Gospel has been ministered, and say whether any measure of these effects be visible upon them ? Alas ! it is as true of us as of the Jews, that " God has not given us an heart to perceive, or eyes to see, or ears to hear, unto this day."] Let me then address myse…
400 wordsSECTION 402222.1 Danger Of Carnal Security. 427
Deut. xxix. 19, 20. And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst : the Lord will not spare him, but then the anger of the Lord and his jealousy shall smoke a…
534 wordsSECTION 403428 Deuteronomy, Xxix. 19, 20. [222.
do not conform to God's law ; (nor indeed have they any wish to do so ;) but yet, though their actions are not correct, their hearts are good : they mean no harm : they do as they would be done by ; and that, in their estimation, comprehends all that is required of them. It is truly astonishing to see how, in the …
456 wordsSECTION 404222. Danger Of Carnal Security. 429
1. Infallibly certain — [Sinners imagine that God cannot inflict punishment : they suppose that if not inconsistent with his justice, it would at least be contrary to his acknowledged goodness and benignity. They think that, when the time comes, he will relent, and spare them. But, in our text, he meets that error…
477 wordsSECTION 405430 Deuteronomy, Xxix. 29. [223.
[Were we to see men in danger of perishing in the sea, the most hardened amongst us would be moved to compassion : why then do we not pity those who are ready every moment to sink into the flames of hell? That they themselves are not alarmed is rather the reason why we should feel the more alarmed; because their f…
394 wordsSECTION 406223.1 Secret Things Belong To God. 431
Deut. xxix. 29. The secret things belong unto the Lord our God : but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this Law. NEVER were mercies granted to any people, so rich as those which were vouchsafed to Israel : nor were there ever judgments so …
394 wordsSECTION 407432 Deuteronomy, Xxix. 29. [223.
we, in reality, know any thing more of the moral perfections of the Deity, than we do of those which we call natural. We speak of his holiness, and justice, and mercy, and truth : but our knowledge of these things is altogether negative : we merely know that he is not unholy, or unjust, or unmerciful, or untrue ; …
493 wordsSECTION 408223.1 Secret Things Belong To God. 433
matter in any one motion of his own body : and if he cannot tell this, how shall he presume to judge of God, " whose ways are in the great deep, and his paths past finding out ? " 3. Of his purposes ? [We are assured that " God doeth every thing according to the counsel of his own will ; and that none can stay his…
413 wordsSECTION 409434 Deuteronomy, Xxix. 29. [223.
King of his Church, we are of necessity taught to look to him for the illumination of our minds, the pardon of our sins, the subjugation of all our spiritual enemies. We are taught to " live altogether by faith in him, who has loved us, and given himself for us " ] 3. The Holy Spirit, and his operations — [If we …
422 wordsSECTION 410223.] Secret Things Belong To God. 435
Godhead; the incarnation of Christ, and his atoning sacrifice; and the influences of the Holy Spirit. But to all such proud objectors I will say, with St. Paul, " Nay but, O man ! who art thou that repliest against Gode?" Thou mistakest utterly the province of reason, if thou thinkest that she is to sit in judgmen…
486 wordsSECTION 411The Restoration And Conversion Of The Jews.
sight. Now, in all these ways will God discover his secrets to the believing soul. He will, by his Spirit, cast a flood of light upon the word; and make the soul most eager to apprehend his truth ; and by the medium of faith bring that truth directly upon the tablet of the mind; and thus fulfil that promise, " All …
383 wordsSECTION 412224.1 Restoration And Conversion Of The Jews. 437
in bringing us to God and renovating our souls, we might speak what was good and useful ; but the primary sense of the passage leads us to another subject, which ought to be of equal importance in our eyes, namely, The Restoration and Conversion of the Jews. In discoursing then on the words before us, we shall n…
409 wordsSECTION 413438 Deuteronomy, Xxx. 4—6. [224.
a time were broken off, as fruitless branches ; and the Gentiles were grafted on their stock : and, when the appointed season shall arrive, God will again engraft the Jews upon their own stock, and make both Jews and Gentiles one tree, that shall fill the whole earth. It is by this latter measure that God's design…
449 wordsSECTION 414224.1 Restoration And Conversion Of The Jews. 439
living witnesses of the truth of God, and of the divine autho- rity of that book which they profess to have been inspired by him. They may be even said to be witnesses also of the truth of Christianity, which is founded on the Jewish Scriptures, and is altogether the completion of them. What therefore God said to …
450 wordsSECTION 415440 Deuteronomy, Xxx. 11—14. [225.
wonderful care, the Scriptures of the Old Testament ? or who wrote the New Testament, but Jews? Who died to redeem our souls from death and hell? a Jew. Who at this moment makes intercession for us at the right hand of God ? a Jew. Who manages every thing in heaven and earth for our good, and is a fountain of all …
268 wordsSECTION 416225.] The Way Of Salvation Plain And Easy. 441
Deut. xxx. 11 — 14. This commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it ? neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who sh…
630 wordsSECTION 417442 Deuteronomy, Xxx. 11—14. [225.
the very words of Moses, answers, " The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth and in thy heart;" and then he adds, " This is the word of faith which we preach." If then the Apostle was inspired by the Holy Ghost, the matter is clear ; and the Gospel was the commandment of which Moses spake. And it is worthy of obse…
518 wordsSECTION 418The Way Op Salvation Plain And Easy. 44
225.] creature ; or that he needs an atonement for his sins, and a better righteousness than his own for his justification before God? What doubt can he have that he needs the influences of the Holy Spirit to renew him after the divine image, and to render him meet for heaven ? "If the Gospel be hid from any, it …
448 wordsSECTION 419444 Deuteronomy, Xxx. 11—14. [225.
paid to the words of Moses, and what emphasis he has laid upon them. Moses had transiently observed, " The word is in thy mouth and in thy heart ; " but the Apostle amplifies the idea, and shews repeatedly that the confessing of Christ with the mouth is quite as necessary as the believing on him with the heart: by…
472 wordsSECTION 420The Gospel Clearly Contained In The Old Testament3.
for us ? To say, ' This salvation is not for me,' is to contradict the Scriptures, and to " make God a liar." Repeatedly is it said, that " whosoever believeth in Christ, and whosoever shall call on his name, shall be saved." It matters not whether he be a Jew or a Gentile, a greater sinner or a less ; for " God is…
404 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical edition (1832-33); scan/OCR from Internet Archive.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.