PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
Horae Homileticae — Volume 3 of 21
Simeon, Charles, 1759-1836 · 243,969 words · 482 reading sections
Vol. Iii. P
very sight of him is painful, and occasions a desire, if possible, to bring him down to a level with ourselves. Like Saul, " we shall eye him from that day, and forward." His worth and ex- cellence will be so far from pacifying our wrath, that it will rather augment it ; and the brighter his character shines, the …
429 wordsSECTION 182212 1 Samuel, Xviii. 9. [303.
with what difficulty honours are obtained; with what pain and trouble they are often accompanied; how easily they are blasted; how little they can do for us under pain or sickness; and how soon they are terminated by death ; and we shall see that they are unworthy the anxiety with which they are sought, or the reg…
694 wordsSECTION 183214 1 Samuel, Xx. 3. [304.
P Jam. ill. 14 — 17. '^ Ps. xxxviii. 20. David's fear of saul. 1 Sam. XX. 3. Truly as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is hut a step between me and death. IT is justly said, that " oppression maketh a wise man mad^." One there was, who endured it in every form, and to its utmost possible extent ; an…
737 wordsSECTION 184216 1 Samuel, Xx. 3. [304.
Having thus obtained a just and accurate view of the words before us, we may enter more largely into THE IMPROVEMENT which should be made of them. We may notice from them, 1. How frail the best of men are, when brought into heavy trials — [On the whole, David's faith was remarkably strong : but here it failed ; …
699 wordsSECTION 185216 1 Samuel, Xx. 3. [304.
1 Rom. iv. 20, 21. and Heb. xi. 17, 19. 305.] David's forbearance towards saul. 217 our preparation for the eternal state ! We would call on all of you ; the aged, who know for a certainty that their time cannot be long ; the sick, who are warned by the disorders that are yet upon them ; the young, who are in the …
417 wordsSECTION 186218 1 Samuel, Xxiv. 4—6. [305.
concealed :) but David would not tovich him : yea, though im- portuned b}^ liis own men, and urged to consider Saul's ex- posed situation as an indication of the divine pleasure, he not only would not smite Saul with his own hand, but would not suffer any one else to smite him : and even when, for the fuller disco…
454 wordsSECTION 187David Kept From Avenging Himself On Nabal.
of mind under all his trials; but he committed himself to God in prayer, and looked for deliverance from him alone '\ Thus, however great and complicated our trials be, we should take no hasty step', but " commit ourselves to God as a faith- ful Creator '^," and expect assuredly the final accomplishment of all his…
345 wordsSECTION 188220 1 Samuel, Xxv. 32, 33. [306.
are worthless in themselves, yet contemptuous to- wards others: they are profuse and intemperate in convivial entertainments, but hard-hearted and nig- gardly in reference to the indigent and distressed. But, We are amazed at the cruel resentment of David — [The provocation which he had received was certainly gr…
412 wordsSECTION 189306. J David Kept From Avenging Himself. 221
II. How much we owe to God for his providential restraints — David expresses his obhgations to God for de- livering him from this temptation — [A servant of Nabal, fearing the effects of his master's message, informed his mistress of the whole transaction ; bear- ing testimony at the same time to the kindness and…
425 wordsSECTION 190222 1 Samuel, Xxv. 32, 33. [306.
at any time experienced, and the various methods which God has used for our deliverance, we should behold such evidences of his paternal care, as would fill our hearts with wonder, and our mouths with praise.] Such are the reflections arising from a gene?'al view of our subject. From a more p«r/icz^/«/' in- spect…
455 wordsSECTION 191The Unbelieving Fears Of David.
him the more ; but, if not, let his advice be nevertheless wel- come to our mind ; and let him be highly esteemed by us in proportion to his fidelity'.] 3. What need have we all to pray against tempta- tion— [We may, like David, have withstood the greatest trials, and yet fall, like him, by those wliich are compa…
351 wordsSECTION 192224 1 Samuel, Xxvii. 1. [307.
slaughter of ten thousands by David, whilst they ascribed the slaughter of only thousands to him, he " eyed him from that day, and forward^." The benefit which David had conferred in the slaughter of Goliath was of no account in his mind ; so rancorous is " envy, even as rottenness in the bones'^." Even on the ver…
498 wordsSECTION 193307.] The Unbelieving Fears Of David. 225
children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword™." Besides his own immediate servants, Saul had traitors in confederacy with him, and armies to execute his murderous pro- jects. The men of Keilah, a fortified city, which David, with great prowess, had saved from the PhiHstine arm…
502 wordsSECTION 194226 1 Samuel, Xxvii. 1. [307.
same facility that lie had taken them''. On this occasion, Saul, a second time, acknowledged the injustice of his conduct to- wards Da\dd, and foretold that David would ultimately pre- vail ^ But how was it possible for David to place any reliance on the professions of such a man? or, when the enmity of Saul was s…
438 wordsSECTION 195307.J The Unbelieving Fears Of David. 227
come with desponding fears ; and are ready, " in their hearts " at least, " to say, I shall one day perish by the hands of my great enemy." Now it is no uncommon thing to hear the parallel drawn between David and them; and to infer, from the sinfulness of David's fears, a corresponding sinfulness in theirs. That w…
436 wordsSECTION 196228 1 Samuel, Xxvil 1. [307.
[David was confessedly and altogether wrong : for the promises which had been made to him were 'personal, and were irrespective of any moral qualities in him : but those which are made to us, pertain to characters only ; and then alone become ours, when we attain the character to wliich the pro- mises are made. Fo…
752 wordsSECTION 197The Witch Of Endor.
3. Let nothing operate to drive you froin God — [David said, " There is nothing better for me, than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines'":" and for this he is generally condemned, and perhaps justly too : though I cannot forget, that our Saviour, under somewhat similar circumstances, was…
529 wordsSECTION 198308.1 The Witch Of Endor. 231
[Long and obstinately had he contmued to sin against the convictions of his own conscience ; till at last he had provoked God to depart from him. Wliilst he was forsaken of liis God, the Philistines made war against him, and mvaded the land. Then he felt the need of an Almighty Protector, and sought to obtain dire…
430 wordsSECTION 199232 1 Samuel, Xxviii. 15. [308.
[In former days Saul had exerted himself, agreeably to God's command*^, to banish witchcraft from the land ; and now could not prevail on this woman to use her enchantments, till he had profanely sworn that no punishment should be mflicted on her. At his earnest entreaty, she prevailed to bring up Samuel before li…
468 wordsSECTION 200308.] The Witch Of Endor. 233
From the close of the history we learn, III. The misery he brought upon his own soul — Great indeed were his disappointment and dis- tress— [Behold the melancholy train; dejection, desperation, suicide ! He fainted and fell as soon as ever he heard the fate that awaited him : and was with jgreat difficulty persua…
434 wordsSECTION 201Encouragement In God.
over it through the power and grace of God. If not purged out, it will defile and destroy our whole souls.] 2. Of seeking help in the creature — [God is the only refuge of sinful man : wherever we may look, there is no help for us in any other. Not only are men and devils unable to assist us; even aU the angels in…
338 wordsSECTION 202309.] Encouragement In God. 2S5
I. What reason he had to do so — Though reduced to the greatest extremities, David derived encouragement, 1. From the perfections of God as revealed in the word — [He was no stranger to the character of God as it was revealed to Moses ^, or to the unnumbered illustrations of it which the history of his nation af…
730 wordsSECTION 203The Death Of Abner.
s Gen. XV. 1. John i. 12, 2 Cor. vi. 18. •' Ps. xliii. 5, i Ps. Ixxxvi. 7. cccx. 2 Sam. iii. 31 — 34. And David said to Joab, and to all the 2)eo2)le that were loith him, Rend your clothes, and gird you tvith sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself folloived the bier. And they buried Abner in He…
297 wordsSECTION 204238 2 Samuel, Iii. 31—34. [310.
Saul : and Abner, filled with resentment, deter- mined to transfer his allegiance to David, and to carry over all the eleven tribes with him. Ishbosheth, knowing that Abner's influence would effect this measure, acquiesced in it, and submitted to the terms prescribed by David as a preliminary to the league which …
329 wordsSECTION 205310.1 The Death Of Abner. 239
had lifted up a hand against him till the last extremity''. They were blinded however by their own passion, and overlooked every thing for the gratification of it. Joab never once reflected on the baseness of the action he was about to perpetrate, nor on the loss which Da\ad and the whole nation would sustain, nor…
455 wordsSECTION 206240 2 Samuel, Iii. 31—34. [310.
the honour of his people that they participated so deeply in his affliction. All approbation of the crime was thus formally dis- avowed ; and the guilt of it was made to rest on him who had committed it. We rejoice that an universal abhorrence of the assassination has been expressed in our land : or, if there have…
469 wordsSECTION 207310.1 The Death Of Abneu. ^41
world ; and that all the efforts which are making for the enlarging of our Redeemer's kingdom, and which were sanc- tioned and aided by him whom we have lost, will yet be honoured with success. " The wall is to be built in troublous times:" " the kingdoms of the world shall become the kingdoms of the Lord and of h…
400 wordsSECTION 208Cccxi.
uzzah's punishment for touching the ark. 2 Sam. vi. 6 — 9. And when they came to Nachons threshing- floor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it ; for the oxen shook it. And the anger of the Lord ivas kindled against Uzzah ; and God smote him there for his error ; and there he died hy the…
809 wordsSECTION 2092U 2 Samuel, Vi. 6—9. [311.
a Numb. iv. 15. ^ Numb, vii. 6 — 9. r2 then was highly criminal, and justly merited the rebuke it met with.] 2. The reason of noticing it with such severity — [Besides the enormity of the offence, there was additional reason for punishing it with severity, arising out of the very nature of that dispensation. God…
745 wordsSECTION 210246 2 Samuel, Vi. 6—9. [311.
2. With unbelieving fear — [He now concluded that God was an hard master, whom it was impossible to serve : he therefore would not venture any more to take to him the ark : " He was afraid of the Lord, and said. How shall the ark of the Lord come unto me?" This was a slavish fear, and utterly unbecoming one who ha…
636 wordsSECTION 211David Dancing Before The Lord.
Holy Spirit, that " we may know what the good and perfect and acceptable will of God is : " then may we hope for success in our imdertakings, and shall have tokens of God's acceptance both in this world and the world to come * ] t This may be applied to Ministers with good effect. 2 Sam. vi. 14. And David danced b…
320 wordsSECTION 212248 2 Samuel, Vi. 14. [312.
whither it had been carried twenty years after its restoration by the Philistines who had taken it captive. David had greatly desired to bring it up to Jerusalem, where he had prepared a tabernacle for its reception. He ordered it to be jjut on a new cart, and drawn by oxen, in the manner in which the Philistines …
461 wordsSECTION 213312.] David Dancing Before The Lord. 249
easy access to Jehovah at all seasons, and bring down, both on himself and all his people, a rich abundance of spiritual blessings. Of this, David himself informs us in the 182d Psalm, which he wrote on that express occasion. He tells us, that he had sworn he would not come up into the taber- nacle of his own hous…
426 wordsSECTION 214250 2 Samuel, Vi. 14. [312.
Here, then, we have already marked for us the nobler grounds of joy which we possess at this time, 1. In the dignity of the person so exalted — [The ark was dignified as a shadotv, and an emblem, of the Lord Jesus : but we commemorate the exaltation of the Lord Jesns himself. And I wish you particularly to notice …
740 wordsSECTION 215252 2 Samuel, Vi. 22. . [313.
2. Our frame of mind should be more spiritual- and more refined — [I will not say that the body is not to participate in the emotions of our minds : for in this our fallen state svich a sym- pathy must of necessity be called forth by any intense feeling, whether of joy or sorrow. But there is a delicacy and refine…
385 wordsSECTION 216313.] David Dancing Before The Lord. 253
2 Sam. vi. 22. / tvill yet he more vile than thus, and will he hase in mine oivn sight. A MEASURE of firmness is necessary in the whole of our intercourse with mankind, to prevent us from being drawn aside from the path of wisdom into a compliance with the prejudices and passions of those around us. But in all th…
637 wordsSECTION 217254 2 Samuel, Vi. 22. [313.
chastened himself with fasting ; and that was turned to his reproach*^." John Baptist came in an abstemious way ; and the people said of him, " He has a de\dl." The Lord Jesus Christ came in a way more suited to the liberty of the gospel dispensation ; and his enemies took occasion from that to revile him as a " g…
444 wordsSECTION 218313.] David Dancing Before The Lord. 255
If religion be decried through the whole land, so that not a second family could be found in all Israel to adliere to God, we should say with Joshua, " As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord™." Reproach for Christ's sake should be re- garded as honoiu'", and, though not coveted, yet be welcomed as the true…
500 wordsSECTION 219256 2 Samuel, Vi. 22. [313.
consider wealth, honour, learning, and influence of every kind, as talents committed to us for the purpose of honouring God with them, and of rendering our example more effectual for the good of others. And, whilst the world is reproaching us for the excess of our piety, we should be ever abasing ourselves on acco…
807 wordsSECTION 220258 2 Samuel, Vii. 18, 19. [314.
k Heb. xi. 38. i Matt, xxiii. 29— 31. "» Matt. x. 32, 33. David's gratitude. 2 Sam. vii. 18, 19. Then went king David in, and sat before- the Lord, and he said. Who am I, 0 Lord God ? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto ? And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord God ; but thou hast…
883 wordsSECTION 221260 2 Samuel, Vii. 18, 19. [314.
2. Particularly, as compared with David — [In no respect are the obligations here specified to be put in competition with those vouchsafed to us. Was he chosen from the low estate of a shepherd? Look at the state from which God has chosen us. We were fallen, guilty, heU- ^ See 1 Chron. xvii. 17. s 1 Sam. ii. 8. '^…
535 wordsSECTION 222315.1 The Promises An Encouragement To Prayer. 261
" Behold then, what manner of love is this wherewith the Father hath loved us!" Vei'ily, if David was quite over- whelmed with the favours conferred on him, much more may we, whose obligations are so infinitely higher, and more per- manent than his.] 2. How faint and cold is our love to him ! [See David coming in…
280 wordsSECTION 223262 2 Samuel, Vii. 27. [315.
2 Sam. vii. 27. Thou, 0 Lord of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house : therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this ■prayer unto thee. IF we were to judge from the infinite distance which exists between the Creator and his creatures, and especially b…
489 wordsSECTION 224315.] The Promises An Encouragement To Prayer. 263
one thing that an immortal soul can need, which is not the subject of an express promise in the word of God Moreover, he permits his sinful creatures to como to him " as his remembrancers." By this very name are Ins suppliant people designated^; and every one of them is authorized to spread his promises before him…
462 wordsSECTION 225264 2 Samuel, Vii. 27. [315.
we must " lay hold on that covenant," and on " Jesus the Mediator of that covenant," before we can possess the bless- ings of it. Let not this be forgotten. Let us not suppose that we are to obtain mercy in ways of our own devising. We must come to God by Clirist : we must plead what Christ has done and suffered f…
575 wordsSECTION 226Cccxvi.
Nathan's parable. 2 Sam. xii. 1 — 7. And the Lord sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were ttvo men in one city ; the one rich, and the other poor. The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds: hut the jmor man had nothing, save one little etce lamb, which he had bought and …
324 wordsSECTION 227266 2 Samuel, Xii. 1—7. [316.
but in our text we behold him sending a prophet unto David to bring him to repentance, after the commission of such crimes as cannot be contemplated without horror and amazement. But " His ways are not as our ways, nor his thoughts as our thoughts." The conduct of David as portrayed in our text, together with the…
657 wordsSECTION 228268 2 Samuel, Xii. 1—7. [316.
[This was well contrived in the parable that Nathan spake. David did not see the drift of the parable as relating to himself, and therefore felt no personal interest in his decision. Hence his judgment was free, and his determination of the cause un- biassed. Had he been aware that he was about to condemn himself,…
761 wordsSECTION 229270 2 Samuel, Xii. 13. [317.
i Isai. Ivii. 17, 18. David's humiliation and acceptance. 2 Sam. xii. 13. And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned agaijist the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. IT is scarcely to be conceived to what a degree sin will blind the eyes, and harden the heart.…
721 wordsSECTION 230270 2 Samuel, Xii. 13. [317.
3. He manifested no displeasure against his re- prover— [Men in general, and great men in particular, are very apt to take offence, when told of their faults. They think themselves at liberty to insult God as much as they please : but no one must take the liberty to maintain the cause of God in opposition to them…
352 wordsSECTION 23127^ 2 Samuel, Xii. 13. [31 7.
therefore, though he thereby published and perpetuated his own shame, he wrote some of his penitential Psalms, and set them to music for the use of penitents in that and all succeed- ing ages. Being " vile in his own eyes," it was a matter of small concern to him that he was vile also in the eyes of others : he lo…
734 wordsSECTION 232Vol. Iii. T
We may learn then from this subject, 1. The benefit of a judicious and faithful Ministry— [The method which Nathan used in order to reach the con- science of David, was extremely judicious : and when he had succeeded in making a breach, then he commenced a direct attack, " Thou art the man." Had he been less cauti…
433 wordsSECTION 233318.] Amnon And Tamar. 275
2 Sam. xiii. 15. Then Amnon hated her exceedingly ; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her, ivas greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. THE word of God will surely take effect in due season ; and every threatening in it, as well as every promise, will be accomplished. God had, with most astonishing …
485 wordsSECTION 234276 2 Samuel, Xiii. 15. [318.
that gratification at the expense of the honour, the mterest, the happiness of the ohject beloved ; and it trampled under foot every law w^hether human or divine. In the case before us this is plain and obvious ; and it will be found that very much of that which is called love and friendship, is of precisely the s…
507 wordsSECTION 235318.] Amnon And Tamar. 277
one of the parties become pious, the change will only produce alienation of heart in him whose attachment was founded on natural qualities or attainments : the correspondence of senti- ment which is essential to love will have ceased ; and the most ardent affection will from thenceforth either be changed into hatr…
448 wordsSECTION 236278 2 Samuel, Xiii. 15. [318.
towards her, he was mstantly inflamed with the most inveterate resentment ; insomuch that, ardent as his love had been, his hatred now far exceeded it. But this change was founded in human nature, and was precisely such as injustice is calculated to produce. We hate those whom we have injured, 1. Because we have …
452 wordsSECTION 237318.] Amnon And Tamar. 279
injured his friend Uriah in the basest manner; and used all possible methods to conceal his shame. Having failed in these, he found that Uriah must of necessity ere long discover the injury he had received ; and therefore he longed for Uriah's death ; yea, he actually laid a snare for his life, and was de- lighted…
459 wordsSECTION 238280 2 Samuel, Xiii. 15. [318.
aggravated it by such cruel treatment. But, being destitute of all religious principle, he was the sport of every lust, and was driven from one extreme to another, as a leaf before the wind. And what can we expect, but to be equally unstable, though we should not commit exactly the same enormities as he? Yes; noth…
468 wordsSECTION 239David Driven From His Throne By Absalom.
Let religious professors in particular remember it ; for if they cast a stumbling-block before men, they will be accountable to God for all the e\dl that ensues. Methinks, in this, and in many subsequent events, David could not but see the sad fruit of his own iniquities ; and that very consideration would add ten…
384 wordsSECTION 240282 2 Samuel, Xv. 25, 26. [319.
in the exercise of all holy duties, and heavenly af- fections. At no period of his life was grace more in exercise within him, as appears from the spirit which he manifested under his afflictions. To exhibit this spirit in its true colours, and to make a suitable im- provement of it for our own souls, is the scope…
427 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical edition (1832-33); scan/OCR from Internet Archive.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.