PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
Horae Homileticae — Volume 2 of 21
Simeon, Charles, 1759-1836 · 273,224 words · 589 reading sections
446 Deuteronomy, Xxx. 11—14. [226.
from the covenant of works b : and that distinction is confirmed by the account which he gives of it else- where. The law, as published on Horeb or Mount Sinai, made no provision for the pardon of any sin whatever : it simply said, " Do this and thou shalt live :" but the covenant made afterwards in the land of M…
364 wordsSECTION 422226. J The Old Testament Contains The Gospel. 417
assent to this as true, and his approbation of it as right and good : " Cursed is he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them : and all the people shall say, Amene." But of the impossibility of coming to God by the law, we have a most striking illustration in the conduct of your forefathers at the…
377 wordsSECTION 423448 Deuteronomy, Xxx. 11—14. [226.
This conviction would also prepare you for another lesson taught you by Moses ; namely, II. That you must be saved altogether by an atoning sacrifice. This was taught you throughout the whole cere- monial law : the daily and annual sacrifices pro- claimed it to your whole nation. Nor was this merely taught in th…
345 wordsSECTION 424226. J The Old Testament Contains The Gospel. 449
I believe to have been inspired of God, the Apostles of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ1. The same thing was intimated by the very partial appointment of sacrifices. There were many sins, as adultery and murder, for which no sacrifice was appointed. Indeed, presumptuous sins, of whatever kind they were, if remi…
371 wordsSECTION 425450 Deuteronomy, Xxx. 11—14. [226.
law, and ignorant of the way in which your guilt is to be removed :) on the contrary, your " peace should flow as a river," and, as " children of Zion, you should be joyful in your King." But further, it is declared in your law, III. That all who are thus saved, must be holy in heart and life. God, as you know, …
396 wordsSECTION 426226.] The Old Testament Contains The Gospel. 451
able to add, as Moses did in my text, that it is " in your heart" also! And now permit me to address a few words to you, my Jewish Brethren — It is to your own Scriptures that I wish in the first instance to direct your attention: for you yourselves know that they testify of your Messiah, and are in- tended to d…
381 wordsSECTION 427452 Deuteronomy, Xxx. 11—14. [226.
itself, even that word of faith which declares, that whosoever with the heart believes in Christ, and with the mouth confesses him, shall assuredly be saved". How thankful should we be for such a light ! and having been favoured with it, shall we conceal it from our Jewish brethren, from whom, under God, we have …
346 wordsSECTION 428A Faithful Minister'S Appeal.
Deut. xxx. 19. / call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live. HOWEVER long a minister may continue with his people, he must part from them at last, and be summoned to give up his …
323 wordsSECTION 429454 Deuteronomy, Xxx. 19. [227.
heaven and earth to testify of his fidelity in executing the office that had been assigned him. Let it not be thought that we would presume to institute a comparison between that holy man and ourselves. We well know how infinitely short of him we have come, in the whole of our personal and official character. Yet…
905 wordsSECTION 430456 Deuteronomy, Xxx. 19. [227.
Whilst, however, " we call heaven and earth to record this day" respecting these things, let it not be supposed that we are not conscious of innumerable short-comings and defects in our «" Acts xx. 20, 26, 27. ° Gal. v. 11. p Gal. vi. 14. Q Mark xvi. 15, 16. r Ezek. xiii. 10, 18, 22. ■ 1 Pet. ii. 2. and 2 Cor. ii.…
591 wordsSECTION 431227.1 A Faithful Minister'S Appeal. 457
prevail over the reluctance of their hearts, it is not by the exercise of an overpowering/orce, but by " making them willing in the day of his power f." If he " work in them to do," it is by " working in them to will5." And I will appeal to every living man, whether he ever did good or evil by compulsion against h…
505 wordsSECTION 432458 Deuteronomy, Xxx. 19. [227.
conscience in seasons of sickness and reflection, and be brought home at last with penitential sorrow to their God. At all events, we have encouragement to hope, that " our labour for them shall not be in vain in the Lord ;" and that, though in some instances we should fail, it shall be found generally true, that,…
462 wordsSECTION 433Moses' Encouraging Address To Israel.
[Moses had ministered to his people for forty years : and it is now just about that time that I have ministered to you. How much longer God may be pleased to continue my labours amongst you, he alone knows : but, according to the course of nature, it cannot be long. Be in earnest, then, to improve the light whilst…
395 wordsSECTION 434460 Deuteronomy, Xxxi. 6. [228.
words before us. They were first addressed by Moses generally to all Israel, when they were about to invade the land of Canaan. They were then addressed particularly to Joshua in the sight of all Israel3 : and they were afterwards again addressed to Joshua by God himself b. Now it might be asked, Have we any righ…
380 wordsSECTION 435228.1 Moses' Encouraging Address To Israel. 461
watch for an opportunity to betray your soul, and to inflict on it the most deadly wounds. Yet these enemies, notwithstand- ing their number and power, are quite overlooked by St. Paul, and counted as nothing, in comparison of those mighty adver- saries, the principalities and powers of helld. Their incon- ceivabl…
460 wordsSECTION 436462 Deuteronomy, Xxxi. 6. [228.
to arise from a view of duties impracticable, or of difficul- ties insurmountable: but, in the former case, David consoled Solomon1, and, in the latter case, Hezekiah comforted the Jewsk, with the very address which we are now considering : a sure proof, that it contains a sufficient antidote against all disquieti…
730 wordsSECTION 437464 Deuteronomy, Xxxi. 14. [229.
Let the captives of Satan arise and assert their liberty — [Behold the kingdom of heaven is before you, " that good land flowing with milk and honey: " and will ye be content that your great adversary shall rob you of it without a struggle ? Know that there is armour provided for you ; and that if you go forth ag…
374 wordsSECTION 438229.] The Approach Of Death. 465
Deut. xxxi. 14. And the Lord said unto Moses, Behold, thy days approach that thou must die. " TO man there is an appointed time upon earth." But the precise measure of our days is in mercy hid from us. On some occasions, however, God has been pleased to make it known, and to declare with pre- cision the near appr…
724 wordsSECTION 439466 Deuteronomy, Xxxi. 14. [229.
a ver. 2. b See Numb. xx. 7 — 12. However this be, a time of separation must come : the pastor who has fed you more than forty years must be taken from you : and how soon, who can tell ? It may be, yea, it is highly probable, that this year will be Iris last. Certain it is, that " his days approach," and very rapi…
461 wordsSECTION 440The Approach Of Death. 461
229.] evil habits in which we have lived, or fulfil some duties which we have hitherto neglected. We may have thought, that to repent us of our sins, and to seek for mercy through Christ, and to give all diligence to the concerns of our souls, was the path winch true wisdom dictated ; and that we would speedily c…
466 wordsSECTION 441The Song Of Moses A Witness Against The Jews.
what precise distance it is, we know not. But should not this thought stimulate us to improve our every remaining hour ? Yes, verily : we should turn unto God without delay ; and "apply our hearts to wisdom" with all diligence: and so " watch for the coming of our Lord, that, at whatever hour it may be, we may be …
352 wordsSECTION 442230.] Moses' Song A Witness Against The Jews. 4-69
wicked Canaan should occupy that land, and prepare it, as it were, for Israel ; and that the Israelites should be just ready to possess it when the inhabitants should have filled up the measure of their iniquities, and become ripe for the execution of the curse of God upon them. It was in reference to the children…
457 wordsSECTION 443470 Deuteronomy, Xxxi. 19. [230.
Awful as was their punishment in Babylon, it fell short of these menaces, which were only to receive their full accomplishment, when they should have filled up the measure of their iniquities in the murder of their Messiah. This is evident from that part of the song which is,] 3. Promissory — [Fixed as was God's …
435 wordsSECTION 444Moses' Song A Witness Against The Jews. 471
230.] Israelites also, when they should have provoked him to anger, by sinning in a far more grievous manner, against clearer light and knowledge, and against infinitely greater obligations than they. Of this he forewarned them ; and the fault, as well as misery, would be all their own. " His work is perfect: all …
469 wordsSECTION 445472 Deuteronomy, Xxxi. 19. [230.
mercies they enjoy, and walked worthy of them, the Jews would soon be stirred up to seek those blessings, in the contempt of which they are hardened by Christians themselves.] Let us learn then from hence, 1. To cultivate a knowledge of the Holy Scrip- tures ourselves — [To us also are they a witness, as they wer…
453 wordsSECTION 446The Character Of Jehovah.
not only have mere nominal Christians neglected them, but even the godly themselves have for the most part overlooked them, as much as if they were in no danger, or as if their con- version were an hopeless attempt. But we need not occupy your time in proving the danger of their state : for if they were not perish…
415 wordsSECTION 447474 Deuteronomy, Xxxii. 1—4. [231.
importance of the subject, and to convey an idea, that even the inanimate creation will rise up in judg- ment against the children of men, if they should dis- regard the voice of their Creator. After requesting their attention, he declares, that the whole tendency of his discourse, and especially of that part whic…
343 wordsSECTION 448231.] The Character Of Jehovah. 475
2. His providential government — [Deep and mysterious are his ways, yet are they all or- dered in perfect wisdom and goodness. In the ivorld, in the Church, and in our own individual cases, there are many things which we cannot account for ; yet if we imagine that any one of them could have been more wisely appoin…
496 wordsSECTION 449476 Deuteronomy, Xxxii. 1—4. [231.
of his surety: so that all in heaven, and all in hell too, are constrained to say, " Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty ; just and true are thy ways, thou King of Saints g."] That we may make a practical use of the Divine character we shall, II. Shew how to make it a source of comfort to the s…
573 wordsSECTION 450478 Deuteronomy, Xxxii. 9—12. [232.
god's regard for his people. Deut. xxxii. 9 — 12. The Lord's portion is his people ; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. He found him in a desert land, and in the xoaste howling wilderness ; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. As an eagle stirreth up her nest, flutter eth ove…
655 wordsSECTION 451478 Deuteronomy, Xxxii. 9—12. [232.
d Rom. viii. 29. e Exod. xix. 5. f 1 Pet. ii. 9. s 1 Pet. ii. 9. h 2 Tim. i. 9. * Tit. iii. 5. k 1 Johniv. 10. i John xv. 16. m Isai. xliii. 21. 232.1 god's regard for his peofle. 479 But that which our text chiefly leads us to con- sider, is, II. His tender care over them — This towards his ancient people is il…
524 wordsSECTION 452480 Deuteronomy, Xxxii. 21. [233.
instruction as we could not by any means have so well received in any other way. By his word and by his Spirit he has im- parted to us much knowledge of himself: but by his various dispensations, and especially those of a more afflictive nature, he has led us into discoveries of his perfections, which we could nev…
409 wordsSECTION 453233. J The Jews Moved To Jealousy. 481
Deut. xxxii. 21. They have moved me to jealousy ivith that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities : and I tvill move them to jealousy with those which are not a people ; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation. " KNOWN unto God are all his works from the beginning of the w…
429 wordsSECTION 454482 Deuteronomy, Xxxii. 21. [233.
and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat; then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant. And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are befallen them, that this song shall testify against them as a witness ; for it shall not be forgott…
339 wordsSECTION 455233. J The Jews Moved To Jealousy. 483
others: the reason that it appears so is, that God's conduct towards them, and theirs towards him, is all exhibited to view, and forms a contrast the most humiliating that can be imagined. On some parti- cular occasions they seem to have been penetrated with a becoming sense of the mercies vouchsafed unto them; b…
368 wordsSECTION 456484 Deuteronomy, Xxxii. 21. [233.
the abomination of the Moabites ;" yea, " they made their children to pass through the fire unto Moloch," and " sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils, and shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan, and the land was pollut…
362 wordsSECTION 457233.1 The Jews Moved To Jealousy. 485
Jewish writers refer to a passage in the Prophet Isaiah d. The Chaldeans were but very recently risen into power ; for, many hundred years after the JewTs were established in the land of Canaan, the very name of Babylon was not at all formidable to Israel, or perhaps scarcely known. It was originally owing to the…
362 wordsSECTION 458486 Deuteronomy, Xxxii. 21. [233.
appears from Schebet Jehuda, where Solomon Virgce quotes this very verse, to prove that their present sufferings proceed not from nature, but from an angry God, more powerful than nature0." The truth is, that this prophecy received but a very partial accomplishment at that time : for there were but two tribes sen…
347 wordsSECTION 459233.1 The Jews Moved To Jealousy. 487
only never relapsed into idolatry, but you withstood every attempt to ensnare or to compel you to it. Yet, as your sufferings since that period have been so heavy and protracted, it must be supposed that your fathers committed some crime of deeper die, or at least some that was of equal enormity with your former …
380 wordsSECTION 460488 Deuteronomy, Xxxii. 21. [233.
repent of it. All preceding judgments were removed, when your fathers repented of the crimes on account of which they had been inflicted : and the reason that your present judgments are not removed, is, that your enmity against the Lord Jesus is at this hour as strong as ever; and, if he were to put himself in yo…
369 wordsSECTION 461233.] The Jews Moved To Jealousy. 489
against your nation for destroying their Messiah came upon them. Now by this act, the crucifying of your Messiah, you did provoke God to jealousy to a greater degree than by any of your former crimes ; for God sent you his co-equal, co-eternal Son : he sent you that Divine Person, who was " David's Lord," as well…
359 wordsSECTION 462490 Deuteronomy, Xxxii. 21. [233.
with all imaginable contempt, whilst you readily adhered to any vile impostor that chose to arrogate to himself the title of Messiah. Your former ido- latries, though sinful in the extreme, were less hei- nous than this, inasmuch as the manifestations of God's love were far brighter in the gift of his Son, than i…
364 wordsSECTION 463233.] The Jews Moved To Jealousy. 491
discourse, they would have instantly cast him down a precipice, if he had not escaped from their hands k. When, on another occasion, he spoke a parable to the chief priests and elders, and asked them " what they conceived the lord of the vineyard would do to those husbandmen who beat all his servants, and then mu…
379 wordsSECTION 464492 Deuteronomy, Xxxii. 21. [233.
novel ? No : it is that which is sanctioned by your own prophets, supported by our Apostles, and con- firmed by actual experience. Look at the prophets : do they not declare the call of the Gentiles into the Church, saying, " In that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an Ensign of the peopl…
412 wordsSECTION 465233.1 The Jews Moved To Jealousy. 493
you*. If we look to matter of fact, we find that there are, in every quarter of the globe, thousands and millions of Gentiles who are serving and honour- ing Jehovah, precisely as Abraham himself did : they are believing in the same God, and walking in the same steps : and the only difference between him and them…
367 wordsSECTION 466494 Deuteronomy, Xxxii. 21. [233.
mercies and judgments that they ever experienced ; for by means of it they were cured of their idolatrous propensities ; and never have yielded to them any more, even to the present hour. After seventy years God delivered them from thence also, as he had before delivered them from Egypt ; and re-established them,…
360 wordsSECTION 467233.1 The Jews Moved To Jealousy. 495
made them " partakers of the root and fatness of the olive-tree" which his own right hand had planted. What he might have done for the Gen- tiles, if the Jews had not provoked him to cut them off, we cannot say : but the Apostle, speaking on this subject, says, that " they became enemies for our sakes," and " wer…
383 wordsSECTION 468496 Deuteronomy, Xxxii. 21. [233.
of mankind shall be " one fold under one Shepherd." What a stupendous mystery is this ! Well might St. Paul, in the contemplation of it, exclaim, " O the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and know- ledge of God ! How unsearchable are his judg- ments, and his ways past finding out ! " Truly, this mystery is …
387 wordsSECTION 469233.1 The Jews Moved To Jealousy. 497
gods of wood and of stone were " vanities;" but are not pleasure, and riches, and honour, " vanities" when put in competition with our God ? and does not the inordinate pursuit of them provoke him to jealousy, as much as the bowing down to stocks and stones ever did ? And if the rejection of Jesus by the Jews was…
387 wordsSECTION 470498 Deuteronomy, Xxxii. 21. [233.
bours. This you cannot but know : what then must we expect, but that God will punish as precisely as he has done the Jews, and provoke us to jealousy, by others whom we despise ? The fact is, that God is already dealing with us in this manner. The rich, the great, the noble are, for the most part, so occu- pied w…
385 wordsSECTION 471233. J The Jews Moved To Jealousy. 499
Lastly, we should be stirred up by this subject to concur with God in his gracious intentions towards the Jews. In the song before us, there are repeated intimations that God will once more restore to his favour his now degenerate and afflicted people. In verse 36, it is said, " The Lord will judge his people, an…
396 wordsSECTION 472500 Deuteronomy, Xxxii. 21. [233.
would begin to envy us, and to wish to be partakers of our blessings. But, if they see that we are as covetous and worldly-minded, as lewd and sensual, as proud and vindictive, and, in short, as corrupt in all respects as the very heathen, shall we not prove a stumbling-block, rather than an help, to them ? And w…
381 wordsSECTION 473233.1 The Jews Moved To Jealousy. 501
were graffed contrary to nature into a good olive- tree ; how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive- tree ? If they abide not in unbelief, they shall be graffed in ; for, though we are unable, God is able to graff them in again d." But then, how is this to be accomp…
382 wordsSECTION 474502 Deuteronomy, Xxxii. 31. [234.
think that, in exalting Jesus, we dishonour Jehovah : but let us shew them by our lives, that we render to Jehovah all the love, and honour, and service, that were ever rendered to him by his most eminent saints ; and that there is no principle whatever so operative and powerful as the love of our adorable Redeem…
314 wordsSECTION 475234.1 The Excellency Of Jehovah. 503
Deut. xxxii. 31. Their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges. IT is not a little to the honour of those who serve God, that the more fully their principles are hives- tigated, the more just will they appear, and worthy to be adopted by all the world. Those embraced by ungodly men are o…
360 wordsSECTION 476504 Deuteronomy, Xxxii. 31. [234.
[In the contest with the worshippers of Baal, this matter was brought to a trial : and what was the result ? the very idolaters themselves exclaimed, " The Lord, He is God ! The Lord, He is Goda!" Nebuchadnezzar was in like manner forced to acknowledge the vanity of the idol he had set up, and to confess that no o…
435 wordsSECTION 477Judgment Near At Hand.
fill it." In vain shall either men or devils seek to injure them ; for " one of them should chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight0." Let them then consider what an almighty Friend they have ; and endeavour to walk worthy of Him who has called them to his kingdom and glory."] c ver. 30. ccxxxv. Deu…
339 wordsSECTION 478506 Deuteronomy, Xxxii. 34, 35. [235.
and have but too much reason to expect the judg- ments of God upon us. I observe, then, I. That our sins are treasured up before God in order to a future judgment — [This is stated to us in way of appeal : " Is not your iniquity laid up in store with me, and sealed up among my treasures?" We cannot doubt but that…
477 wordsSECTION 479235.1 Judgment Near At Hand. 507
time for every man's departure is fixed by God: and how near it may be at band, no one can divine. But the instant it is arrived, whether we be prepared or unprepared, away we are hurried to the judgment-seat of Christ; and, if unprepared, we are cast into the very depths of hell. I know that persons are ready to …
485 wordsSECTION 480508 Deuteronomy, Xxxii. 34, 35. [235.
his life one single hour? We have been in the hands of God, hanging, as it were, over the bottomless pit, and suspended only by a single thread, which, if let loose or cut, would have transmitted us at once to everlasting misery. And many times has God been tempted, so to speak, to let go his hold: but our blessed…
681 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical edition (1832-33); scan/OCR from Internet Archive.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.