PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
Horae Homileticae — Volume 3 of 21
Simeon, Charles, 1759-1836 · 243,969 words · 482 reading sections
66 Judges, Xiv. 12—14. [274.
duration. This sentiment does not arise from a view of the instability of human affairs, but from an apprehension that a continuance of their blessings is too great a thing to expect even from God himself, and that his grace, though rich, is not sufficiently extensive for such a gift. But how dishonourable is this…
393 wordsSECTION 62Cclxxiv.
Samson's riddle. Judg. xiv. 12 — 14. And Samson said unto them, I will noio put forth a riddle unto you : if ye can certainly declare it me ivithin the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I tvill give you thirty sheets aiid thirty change of garments: but if ye can7iot declare it me, then shall ye give m…
433 wordsSECTION 6368 Judges, Xiv. 12—14. [274.
concealed it utterly from his parents, and proceeded with them as though nothing particular had hap- pened unto him*^. What a rare instance of modesty was this ! How few people are there in the world, who, if they had performed such an act, could have suffered it to remain hid from their dearest friends ! Having …
896 wordsSECTION 6470 Judges, Xiv. 12—14. [274.
who left the place in disgust, deserted his treacherous wife, and had the mortification to find her afterwards in the embraces of one, who had just before professed himself his greatest friend. Would to God that every gambler in the universe would duly consider this history !] We will now proceed to consider the r…
693 wordsSECTION 6572 Judges, Xvi. 28. [275.
Two words of advice I would suggest as arising out of this subject — 1. Be frequent in reviewing the mercies of your God— [There is no one who has not met with mercies and deli- verances, on account of which he has reason to bless his God. And if we took frequent occasions of reviewing these mercies, what sweetn…
441 wordsSECTION 66Cclxxv.
Samson's character and end. Judg. xvi. 28. And Samson called unto the Lord, and said, 0 Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, 1 pray thee, only this 07ice, O God, that I may he at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes. SCARCELY any part of Scripture has afforded more occasion for the do…
530 wordsSECTION 6774 Judges, Xvi. 28. [275.
reason of this conduct, avenged him on his wife and father-in- law by burning them to death, yet was he bent on further vengeance, and " slew the PhiHstines, hip and thigh, with a great slaughter." After this we do not wonder that the Philistines sought to take him : we only wonder that his own countrymen did not …
894 wordsSECTION 68T6 Judges, Xvi. 28. [275.
How in the midst of all this wickedness can he be deemed a saint ? [We must make great allowance for the dispensation under which he lived, and the peculiar darkness of his times. But God forbid that we should vindicate such conduct as his ! We ^ ver. 1 — 3. apprehend that we must look for his piety rather in his…
683 wordsSECTION 69T6 Judges, Xvi. 28. [275.
and prayed for them with the most pious solicitude^ O that those who think lightly of such sins would ponder the cautions given them by Solomon s ■ — and learn betimes to " abstain from fleshly lusts, which tvar against the soul /"] 2. For encouragement — [Great as was the sin of Samson, and justly as he merited …
259 wordsSECTION 7078 Judges, Xvii. 13. [276.
micah's false confidence. Judg. xvii. 13. Then said Micah, Now knoio I that the Lord ivill do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest. IN the history before us we see the commencement of that defection to idolatry, which at no distant period prevailed throughout all the tribes of Israel. The account in point…
663 wordsSECTION 7180 Judges, Xvii. 13. [276.
Somewhat of a similar mixture is the religion of the generality in the present day — [It is a combination of Heathenism, and Judaism, and Christianity. It is in part Heathenism. What are the views which men in general have of God, but such as were enter- tained by the heathen philosophers? We have, it is true, cl…
854 wordsSECTION 7282 Judges, Xvii. 13. [276.
But whilst ungodly men are buoying themselves up with such delusive hopes, let us contemplate, IL Their bitter disappointments — What was the issue of Micah's confidence? Was it justified by facts ? Could his idols help him in the day of adversity ? or did Jehovah interpose for his support ? No : his idols could …
636 wordsSECTION 73277.] The Benjamites' Wickedness. 83
world; and compare the states of the Pharisee and tlie Publican, or of the martyred Stephen and his self-applauding murderers ; and then say, what principles are most salutary, and, what practice is most conducive to our true happiness. Away with all the systems then of man's device ; and embrace with your whole h…
365 wordsSECTION 7484 Judges, Xxl 25. [277.
Judg. xxi. 25. In those days there tvas no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes. SUCH is the depravity of human nature, that man is always prone to depart fi'om God ; and de- partures once begun, extend rapidly through indi- viduals, communities, and kingdoms : the departure of a few…
454 wordsSECTION 75277. J The Benjamites' Wickedness. 85
from the field of battle ; the demolition of all their cities ; the destruction also of the whole population of Jabesh Gilead, except four hundred virgins, who were preserved in order to prevent the utter extinction of the tribe of Benjamin; these and other miseries all arose out of this single circumstance, a wan…
442 wordsSECTION 7686 Judges, Xxi. 25. [277.
This security we are apt to overlook : but we can never in reality be too thankful for it. If we were to estimate our state according to truth, we should all consider ourselves like Daniel in the lions' den : the lions have not lost their nature ; but they feel a restraint, which, though invisible, operates for ou…
460 wordsSECTION 77277.1 The Benjamites' Wickedness. 87
But the Gospel produces in them a most blessed change — [This establishes a King in Israel : it represents the Lord Jesus Christ as the Redeemer and the Lord of all ; and erects Ills throne in the hearts of men —The Gospel rectijies the views also, of all that receive it. His law, and not our own vain conceits, b…
439 wordsSECTION 7888 Judges, Xxi. 25. [277.
[Persons are apt to form their judgment on very inade- quate grounds. Any one who should have seen the two defeats of Judah, would be ready to conclude, that the cause for which victory had decided, was the right: but we are not to judge from events : righteousness is not always triumphant in this world : it may b…
293 wordsSECTION 79The Character Of Ruth.
Rutli i. 15 — 17. She (Naomi) said, Behold, thy sister-in-law is gone hack unto her people, and unto her gods : return thou after thy sister-in-law. And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for lohither thou goest, I will go; and lohere thou lodgest, I loill lodge : thy …
266 wordsSECTION 8090 Iiuth, I. 15—17. [278.
I. Simply as here depicted — In the circumstances before us, she approves her- self a pattern, 1 . Of fihal piety — [Her mother-in-law, Naomi, had long endeared herself to her ; and now was about to part with her, and to return to the land of Israel. But Ruth would not suffer her to depart alone, but determined …
483 wordsSECTION 81278. J The Chakactek Of Ruth. 91
break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem, for the name of the Lord Jesus'^."] 2. Of vital godliness — [This was at the root, and was the true spring of her determined resolution : " Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God." She had been instructed by her mother …
446 wordsSECTION 8292 Ruth, I. 15—17. [278.
choose the better part : and never was it taken from thee'," nor ever hadst thou reason to regret thy choice. It was wise as that of Moses, when he " chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season"^." We congratulate thee on the strength of thy principles,…
489 wordsSECTION 83278.] The Character Of Ruth. 93
idolatrous friends and their idol-gods :) but when she saw, unhappily, that she had prevailed with Orpah, had she any right to urge Ruth to follow her sad example ? Should she not rather have rent her garments, yea, and torn the very hair from her head with anguish, at the thought of having so fatally prevailed to…
469 wordsSECTION 8494 Ruth, I. 15—17. [278.
them, or, at all events, none which David and Elijah were not at liberty to dispense with. But Naomi had no right what- ever to discourage the pious purposes of her daughters : if she had chosen to dispense 'svith their attendance on her, she had no authority to dissuade them from devoting themselves to God. Remem…
489 wordsSECTION 85The Changes Made By Time And Circumstances.
others tm-n from the Lord, and go back vmto the world, do not ye follow them. Even though they be your near relatives, with whom you have been bound in ties of the closest amity, let them not prevail : yea, though their prudence be proposed to you as the fittest pattern to follow, and the proposal come from the hi…
350 wordsSECTION 8696 Ruth, I. 19. [279.
This is altogether a changing scene ; every day bringing with it something new, to elevate or depress onr minds. Some changes are of a favourable nature, such as the growth of our children in wisdom and stature ; the advancement of our friends in wealth and honour ; and, above all, the conversion of the gay and d…
399 wordsSECTION 87279.1 Changes Made By Time And Circumstances. 97
her support, is either languishing on a bed of sickness, or wrested from her by resistless death ! In a word, see Job encircled ^^dth his family, and in the fullest possession of all that the world could give him : Ah! how fallen! how destitute! "What a complete picture of human misery, and of the vanity of all su…
424 wordsSECTION 8898 Ruth, I. 19. [279.
the Babylonish monarch, agreeably to the predictions re- specting him*^ And similar exultation was felt at the destruction of Jerusalem; as it is said: " All that pass by clap their hands at thee; they hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, Is this the city that men call the perfection of be…
490 wordsSECTION 89279.] Changes Made By Time And Circumstances. 99
Rom. xii. 15. k Prov. xiv. 13. prosperity, after his distresses, far exceeded any thing that he had enjoyed in his earHer hfe™. Naomi, too, found, in the issue, that she had no reason to "adopt the name of Mara":" for her subsequent connexion with Boaz soon dissipated all her sorrows, so that she could " put off…
467 wordsSECTION 90Boaz And His Reapers.
Ruth ii. 4. And, behold, Boaz came from BetJilehem, and said nnfo the reapers. The Lord be ivith yon. And they answer ed him. The Lord bless thee. EVERY season suggests to us some appropriate considerations : and even the most common incidents of life are capable of affording us very important instruction. Certai…
355 wordsSECTION 91280.J Boaz And His Reapers. 101
2. As a devout benediction — [From the piety evinced by Boaz, we may well suppose that these benevolent expressions, on both sides, were not a mere customary form; but a real desire, in the bosoms of them all, for their mutual welfare in reference to the eternal world. How lovely was the address, how suitable the …
629 wordsSECTION 92Cclxxxi.
ruth's piety and reward. Ruth ii. 11, 12. And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother-in-law since the death of thine husband : and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewes…
595 wordsSECTION 93104 Ruth, 11. 11, 12. [281.
will lodge : thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God. Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried : the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me^." Here is a pattern of true piety, and particularly as contrasted with Orpah, the relict of Naomi's other son. Orpah, …
857 wordsSECTION 94104 Ruth, 11. 11, 12. [281.
How richly was now that prayer of Boaz answered to her, " The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given to thee of the Lord God of Israel ! "] Such being the principal circumstances of the his- tory, we proceed to notice, II. The light which it reflects on subjects of the greatest moment — And here a …
841 wordsSECTION 95104 Ruth, 11. 11, 12. [281.
3. The call of the Gentiles into the Church of Christ— [In common cases it was unlawful for an Israelite to marry one of the daughters of Moab : but Ruth was become a proselyte to the Jewish religion, and was therefore entitled to all the privileges of a child of Abraham. Still as a Moabitess, taken into that lin…
262 wordsSECTION 96Cclxxxii.
be brought nigh by the blood of Jesus, and " sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of God."] 4. The procedure of God in the day of judgment — [Rewards do not always accompany virtue in tliis world, because God has appointed a day wherein he will judge the world in righteousness, and reward every …
810 wordsSECTION 97Cclxxxii.
I. The perfections of his nature — Unless we are fully aware of the desire which the Jewish women felt to have the Messiah spring from them, we shall not be able to account for the extreme grief occasioned by barrenness, or for the exultation arising from the birth of a child. But to all the common grounds of joy…
582 wordsSECTION 98112 1 Samuel, Il 1—10. [282.
1. To the Church— [She had found to her joy what care God takes of his people : and she confidently declared, that that care should be extended to all his saints, even to the end of time. Their adversaries might lay snares for their feet ; bvit he would "keep their feet ; " he would " keep them from falling, and p…
455 wordsSECTION 99The Danger Of Neglecting The Great Sacrifice.
1. The benefit of prayer — [See how successful she was, though she uttered no words, but only importuned God in her heart''! And what will God refuse to those who seek him in sincerity and truth? The Saviour's promise to us all is this, "Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, I will do it ;" " Ye shall ask what ye wi…
355 wordsSECTION 100114 1 Samuel, 11. 25. [283.
and Eli adverted to it, as well calculated to enforce liis exhortations, and to dissuade his sons from their impieties. His sons were transgressors of no common stamp : they are justly reprobated as sons of Belial. Their father being advanced in years, the administra- tion of the priestly office had devolved to th…
354 wordsSECTION 101283.1 Danger Of Neglecting The Great Sacrifice. 115
if he violate the divine law, he shall be condemned by God himself: this is far short of its real import. The sin which the sons of Eli had committed was of a peculiar nature. They, as priests, had a right to certain parts of all the sacrifices that were offered : but, instead of being contented with the parts whi…
370 wordsSECTION 102116 1 Samuel, Ii. 25. [283.
this last dispensation to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself"." In causing therefore the offerings of the Lord to be thus abhorred, the young men sinned in a peculiar manner against God himself: they poured contempt upon the very means which God had provided for their obtaining of pardon and reconciliation …
342 wordsSECTION 103283.1 Danger Of Neglecting The Great Sacrifice. 117
we incur by contemning the only means of forgiveness with God. With the additional light which the New Testament reflects on this passage, we may see that zee are as much interested in this admonition, as the very per- sons were, to whom it was first given : for, though we have not run to their excess of riot, or…
374 wordsSECTION 104118 1 Samuel, 11. 25. [283.
he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite to the Spirit of grace ?" Thus may we ask, in reference to the text. If the infraction of human laws, when substantiated by sufficient evidence, be ever punished with the loss of life, how much more shall a neglect and contempt of Christ meet with due reco…
348 wordsSECTION 105283.] Danger Of Neglecting The Great Sacrifice. 119
after the wisdom of thy God that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river : and whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation…
358 wordsSECTION 106120 1 Samuel, Ii. 25. [2S3.
of our constitution. Who, that has seen insulted majesty proclaiming pardon to mutiny and sedition; who that, when the contemners of that pardon were brought to trial, has seen the very judges becoming counsel for the accused; who, that has seen to what an amazing extent lenity has been carried (not from partiali…
373 wordsSECTION 107283.] Danger Of Neglecting The Great Sacrifice. 121
the decisions of our courts against him. Every member of the community, of whatever denomina- tion or description, is sure to have his cause atten- tively heard, and impartially determined. These things cannot but create a love to our con- stitution in the mind of every man, who rightly appreciates the blessings …
353 wordsSECTION 108\22 1 Samuel, Ii. 25. [283.
them, who by patient continuance in well-doing have sought for glory and honour and immortality, he will give eternal life : but to them that were con- tentious, and obeyed not the truth, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, even upon every soul of man that doeth evil." At that day, we are informed, " …
385 wordsSECTION 109283.] Danger Of Neglecting The Great Sacrifice. 1 ^ '
short ; the Judge is at the door/' and if we be unpre- pared to meet him, woe be unto us ; our sentence will be awful indeed : the very terms, in which it will be expressed, are already told us ; " Depart, ye cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels'." In one respect indeed we differ wi…
367 wordsSECTION 110124 1 Samuel, 11. 25. [283.
none to plead our cause in that day ? May we safely neglect the sacrifice of Christ, because we have abstained from gross iniquities ? Let us not deceive ourselves with any such dangerous imagination : '' We all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God ;" " every mouth therefore must be stopped, and all the…
386 wordsSECTION 111283.1 Danger Of Neglecting The Great Sacrifice. 125
the Father but by me;" and, " If I wash thee not, thou hast no part in me ?" or what can be more awful than that interrogation of St. Peter, " What shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel of God?" We may venture to put the question to the conscience of every considerate man ; If you sin against God in n…
366 wordsSECTION 112Cclxxxiv.
ELl's UNFAITHFULNESS REPROVED. 1 Sam. ii. 30. Them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. HOWEVER the promises of God may be ex- pressed, they are never so to be miderstood, as if they should be fulfilled to us whilst we are in a state of wilful sin : there is always in …
781 wordsSECTION 1131:^8 1 Samuel, 11. 30. [284.
^ Luke xiv. 26. with that expression in the verse before the text, " Thou honourest thv sons above me." Such being the conduct which God requires, let us consider, II. In what hght he will view it — He will account himself "^honoured" by our ob- servance of it — [Often does he speak to us to this effect: and in …
679 wordsSECTION 114130 ' 1 Samuel, Iii. Is. [285.
But those who have despised him shall be despised by him — [Though they may be exalted among men, God will hold them in the utmost contempt. He will not vouchsafe to them so much as one kind look : but, on the contrary, in the hour of their greatest extremity, " he will laugh at their calamity, and mock when thei…
441 wordsSECTION 115Cclxxxv.
ELl's SUBMISSION TO THE DIVINE REBUKES, 1 Sam. iii. 18. And Samuel told him every wliif, and hid nothing from, him. And he said, It is the Lord: let him do 2vhat seemeth him good. IT is of the nature of sin to harden the heart, and to prevent the declarations of God from having their due influence on the mind^. I…
519 wordsSECTION 116132 1 Samuel, Iii. 18. [285.
TI. The resignation of Eli — [If the tidings were painful to Samuel to deliver, much more must they be so to Eli to hear: even to persons far less interested than he, they were sufficient to make " their ears to tingle." Yet Eli did not set himself against them, though de- livered by a child : on the contrary, he …
774 wordsSECTION 117134 1 Samuel, Iv. 13, [286.
g Heb. X. 26, 27. ELl's ANXIETY FOR THE ARK OF GOD. 1 S an. iv. 13. Lo, Eli sat upon a seat hy the loayside watching: for his heart trembled for the arh of God. THE word of God, to whatever it relate, shall certainly in due time be accomplished : it may in- deed, like the seed under the clods, appear to have bee…
656 wordsSECTION 118134 1 Samuel, Iv. 13, [286.
II. The issue of it — [The Israelites were defeated : no less than thirty thou- sand of them perished : the sons of Eh, the priests who bore the ark, were slain : and the ark itself was taken. The awful tidings soon reached the ears of EK. He heard of Israel's defeat, and bowed with meek submission ; as he did als…
343 wordsSECTION 1191^56 1 Samuel, Iv. 13. [286.
that he had obtained mercy of the Lord. Had we not been informed of this closing scene, we might have doubted how far the judgments of God might come upon him in the eternal world : but, with this knowledge of his latter end, we feel no doubt of his acceptance with God, and his exaltation to the realms of bliss.] …
478 wordsSECTION 120The Ark Returned To Beth-Shemesh.
1 Sam. vi. 20. And the meii of Beth-shemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God. ? TILL we come to behold some extraordinary in- terposition of the Deity, we have in general a very slight sense of his majesty and greatness : but when we see any remarkable display of his power, we are apt to forge…
344 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical edition (1832-33); scan/OCR from Internet Archive.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.