PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
Horae Homileticae — Volume 4 of 21
Simeon, Charles, 1759-1836 · 223,595 words · 412 reading sections
Ccclxi.
months to come, that can sleep at their post, and dream of more convenient seasons, which may never arrive'' In this view then I cannot too earnestly intreat you to offer, each of you for yourselves, the prayer of David, " Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is ; that I may know how…
376 wordsSECTION 122361.] Encouragement To Pray. 137
him in his own name, they will lead me to set be- fore you, I. His conduct in a season of deep distress — What the particular distress was, we are not in- formed. Sometimes the language which he here uses has respect to sufferings under persecution. Thus in the 69th Psalm he says, " I sink in deep mire, where th…
752 wordsSECTION 123361.] Encouragement To Tray. 139
and fiery indignation to consume it" But from this state David was delivered by means of fervent and persevering prayer. Who will say that he was not well repaid for waiting, for waiting patiently upon the Lord, and for the Lord ? Had his supplications been imintermitted for ten thousand years, they would have bee…
624 wordsSECTION 124140 Psalms, Xl. 1 3. [361.
III. The mercy we should make of his experience — • St. Paul tells us, that the mercy vouchsafed to him was intended by God for the instruction and encouragement of others ; for their instruction, that they might know how great was the long-suffering of God ; and for their encouragement, that they from so gloriou…
473 wordsSECTION 125Ccclxii.
The state of David was as desperate as it could well be ; yet from thence was he rescued, to his unutterable joy. Hezekiah also seems to have been in a similar state, and to have experienced a similar deliverance : *' Behold, for peace I had great bitterness : but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the …
389 wordsSECTION 126142 Psalms, Xl. 17. [362.
peated in another place, and formed into a distinct psalm by themselves ^ is a strong reason for referring them also to him principally, or perhaps to him alone. In the words of our text we notice, I. His complaint — David on some occasions was reduced to great straits and difficulties with respect to his tempora…
433 wordsSECTION 127362.1 Consolation To The Distressed. 143
thy servant, O Lord ! for in thy sight shall no man living be jus- tified." Similar to this is the experience of all the saints. All are insufficient of themselves for any thing that is good : and the man who was stripped, and wounded, and left half dead% was but a faint emblem of the man who, feeling in himself in…
462 wordsSECTION 128144 Psalms, Xl. 17. [362.
from him ! — ' — — and, lastly, unchanging faithfulness de- manding on his behalf the accomplishment of all the pro- mises ! The consideration of these things must of ne- cessity check every desponding fear, and constrain him to ex- claim, *' Why art thou cast down, O my soul, and why art thou disquieted within me…
384 wordsSECTION 129Ccclxiii.
David's desire after god. Ps. xlii. 1,2. As the hart panteth after the water-lrooks, so panteth my soul after thee, 0 God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God : when shall I come and appear before GodP GREAT are the vicissitudes of the Christian life: sometimes the soul basks, if we may so speak, in th…
335 wordsSECTION 130146 Psalms, Xlii. ], 2. [363.
and acquire strength for further exertions. Such was David's thirst after God, the Hving God. His circumstances, it is true, were pecuUar — [Jerusalem was the place where God had appointed the ordinances of his worship : and David, being driven from thence, was precluded from a possibility of presenting to the Lor…
418 wordsSECTION 1311. A
363.] David's desire after god. 147 1. A diligent attendance on all the means of grace — [Where shall we look for God, but in his holy word, where he reveals to us all his majesty and his glory ? That word then we shall read with care, and meditate upon it day and night, and listen to the voice of God speaking to…
503 wordsSECTION 132148 Psalms, Xlii. 1, 2. [363.
against God ?" We shall "put away every accursed thing that may trouble our camp :" we shall not only turn from open and flagrant iniquity, but shall " abstain from the very appearance of evil/' We shall search for sin in the heart, as the Jews searched for leaven in their houses, in order that we may be " a new l…
469 wordsSECTION 133Sources And Remedy Of Dejection.
of his. When we can explore the heights and depths of the Redeemer's love, or count the unsearchable riches of his grace, then may we limit our exertions according to the scale which we may derive from them : but, if they surpass all the powers of language or of thought, then may we take the hunted deer for our pa…
360 wordsSECTION 134150 Psalms, Xliii. 5. [364.
occasion: it contains the same complaints*; and ends, like the former, with a third time condemning his own impatience, and encouraging his soul to trust in God. His words lead us to consider, I. The sources of dejection — It cannot be doubted but that temporal afflictions will produce a very great dejection of …
343 wordsSECTION 135364.] Sources And Remedy Of Dejection. 151
racterized as " fiery darts V which suddenly pierce and inflame the soul. We may judge in a measure how terrible his assaults are, when we see the Apostle, who was unmoved by all that man could do against hint% crying out with such agony and distress under the buffetings of iSatan*". We shall have a yet more formi…
409 wordsSECTION 136162 Psalms, Xliii. 5. [S64.
""Eph. vi. 16. ^ Acts XX. 24, '' 2 Cor. xii. 7, 8. ' Prov. xviii. 14, '^ Heb. xi. 33, 34. ' lb. ver. 36, 37 '"Hos. v. 13. " Job V. 6. is the direction which God himself gives us : he reminds us of his wisdom and power to over-rule our trials for good ; and ex- horts us, when weary and fainting to wait on him as ou…
703 wordsSECTION 137162 Psalms, Xliii. 5. [S64.
But, in the next place, it will be proper to check these desponding fears. The text is not a mere inquiry, but an expostulation ; and such an expostulation as you should address to your own souls. For, what benefit can accrue from such a frame ? It only weakens your hands, and discourages your heart, and dishonours…
455 wordsSECTION 138S60^1 Benefits Attendant On Holiness. 155
Ps. xlv. 7. Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness : therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. THIS psalm is a nuptial song; wherein Christ, as the heavenly Bridegroom, is celebrated by his Bride, the Church ; and she also is commended by him as worthy of the…
652 wordsSECTION 139S60^1 Benefits Attendant On Holiness. 155
' See Isai. xi.2. &: Ixi. 1. ■■ Compare ?s. xvi. 10, 11. & xxi. 6. with Acts ii. 27, 28. 156 PSALMS, xLv. 7. [365* invested with a glory as much transcending that of the highest archangel, as the brightness of the sun exceeds the lustre of a glimmering star. This was given him as the reward of his righteousness :…
468 wordsSECTION 140365.] Benefits Attendant On Holiness. 15/
cipate the same heavenly calling. Occasional circumstances of temptation or of darkness may indeed for a time reduce the most eminent Christian below the standard of his weaker brother : but in the general it will be found, that the more we have of the Divine image, the more we shall abound in heavenly consolation …
484 wordsSECTION 141Ccclxvi.
THE church's beauty AND HAPPINESS. Ps. xlv. 13 — 16. The King's daughter is all glorious luitlwi : her clothing is of wrought gold. She shall be hrought unto the King in raiment of needle-work: the virgins her companio?is thatfolloiv her shall be bi ought unto thee: ivith gladness and rejoicing shall they be broug…
703 wordsSECTION 142Ccclxvi.
Suited to these qualities is, II. The felicity prepared for her — In due time " she shall be brought to the King's palace," there to be united to him in indissoluble and everlasting bonds. Whilst she is here, she is to be employed in making herself ready — [In royal nuptials, much time was spent in preparing the…
903 wordsSECTION 143162 Psalms, Xlviii. 12 — 14. [367.
them ? and who will ever make you so rich a return ? Say not, " What is thy Beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us'':" for there is none to be compared with him, either in heaven or on earth. *' He is fairer than the children of men '' :" " He is the chiefest among ten thousand :" " He is a…
470 wordsSECTION 144Ccclxvii.
THE church's security IN GOD. Ps. xlviii. 12 — 14. Walk about Zion, and go round about her : tell the towers thereof: mark ye ivell her bulwarks ; consider her palaces ; that ye may tell it to the generation following. For this God is our God for ever and ever : He will be our guide even unto death. MEN read the …
702 wordsSECTION 145Ccclxvii.
2. Of the Christian Church — [Our Zion also has " her towers and her bulwarks," even ihe jinished work of Christ, and the office of the Holy Spirit, and the economy of Redemption from Jirst to last. The Lord Jesus undertook to purchase unto himself a peculiar people, even with the inestimable price of his own bloo…
720 wordsSECTION 146Ccclxvii.
The end of this survey is, '' that we may tell it to the generation following :" which shews, that, both for their sakes and our own, we should con- template, II. The consolation arising from it — What was written so many centuries ago, belongs no less to us than it did to those from whom the im- mediate occasio…
1,151 wordsSECTION 147Ccclxvii.
assured, ° 2 Chron. xx. l6. '^ Isai. xxxi, 4, 5. ''. Ps. xlvi. 1—5. ' 1 Pet. v. 7. 168 PSALMS, xLViri. 12—14. [307. assured, that, " if we only make God our refuge and habitation, no evil shall befall us*,"J Application — 1 . Search then into your privileges, that you may have the true enjoyment of them — [Thi…
501 wordsSECTION 148The Folly Of Worldly Men.
Ps. xlix. 13. This their way is their folly : yet their posterity approve their sayings. IT is generally supposed that wisdom pertains chiefly, if not exclusively, to those who are profi- cients in arts and science : but learning and wisdom are by no means necessarily connected with each other: they may exist sep…
319 wordsSECTION 149170 Psalms, Xlix. 13. [3G8.
[Worldly distinction is the one object of their ambition. For this end chiefly both wealth and honour are pursued*. Having attained these things in any considerable degree, they bless them- selves, as possessing somewhat wherein they may trust'', somewhat that will make them happy for a long time to come, and some-…
836 wordsSECTION 150172 Psalms, Xlix. 13. [368.
2. To follow the footsteps of the saints of old — [There are those who have gone before us, whose ways were not folly, though they might be esteemed foolish by those who were themselves blinded by Satan. " Abraham went out from his kindred and his country, not knowing whither he went':" Moses refused all the wealt…
572 wordsSECTION 151369.] Obedience Preferred Before Sacrifice. 1/3
much less can he the soul from spiritual and eternal death : the price required for that is more than all the creatures in earth or heaven are able to payi. But Christ has paid the mighty ran- som : with his own " precious blood," he has redeemed us from sin and Satan, from death and hell. Seek him then, and you a…
266 wordsSECTION 152174 Psalms, L. 7—15. [369.'
SPIRITUAL OBEDIENCE PREFERRED BEFORE SACRIFICE. Ps. L. 7 — 15. Hear, 0 my people, and I ivill speak; 0 Israel, and I will testify against thee : I am God, even thy God. Iiuill not reprove thee for thy sacrifices, or thy bur7it- offerings, to have been continually before me. I will take no bullock out of thy house…
579 wordsSECTION 153869.] Obedience Preferred Before Sacrifice. 175
But external services are of no value in the sisfht of God, any farther than they are accompanied with vita] piety — [On many occasions God declared his contempt for outward observances, in comparison of spiritual obedience : " I will have mercy, and not sacrifice :" " Behold, to obey is better than sacri- fice ;…
495 wordsSECTION 154176 Psalms, L. 7—15. [369:5
with indignation, which was visibly manifested in all their cqjin- tenances, and which gave occasion to that exceedingly abrupt change in Stephen's address to them ; " Ye stiff-necked, and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost : as your fathers did, so do ye''." Similar offence is give…
455 wordsSECTION 155369.] Obedience Preferred Before Sacrifice. )77
2. Of willing service^ — - [The Jews were, by the very covenant they had entered into at their circumcision, bound to consider themselves as " a holy people, a kingdom of priests :" and we also, by virtue of our baptismal vows, are " a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people"." The…
527 wordsSECTION 156178 Psalms, Li. 4. [370.
characters in tlie sight of God. If we would not deceive our- selvc's, we must inquire into the sense we have of our obligations to him, the delerminatiun we feel to approve ourselves faithful to liini in the wlicle extent of our duty, and the confidence with \vhich we are enabled to cast our care on him for body a…
377 wordsSECTION 157370.] Sin An Offence Against God. 179
Ps. li. 4. Jgainst thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil ifi thy sight ; that thou mayest he justified when thou speahest, and be clear when thou judgest. THE occasion of this psalm is well known: it refers to one of the most melancholy transactions that ever ever took place in the world. In point of…
418 wordsSECTION 158180 Psalms, Li. 4. [370.
swallow up and annihilate every other consideration of it, as the meridian sun reduces to non-existence, as it were, the twinkling of a star. It is from this consideration of it that every sin derives its chief enormity. Dropping therefore any further reference to David's crime, we shall endeavour to shew in gene…
412 wordsSECTION 159370.] Sin An Offence Against God. 181
* Ps, xclv. 7. ^ Ps. Ixxiii. U. « Job xxii. 13, 14. ' Ps. xii. 4. ^ Exod. v. 2. ^ Luke xix. 14. ' Jer. xliv. l6, I/. " Ezek. xxiii. 35. 3. A disbelief of his truth — [God has spoken frequently respecting his determination to punish sin : lie has said, that " he will by no means clear the guilty \' and that, " tho…
657 wordsSECTION 160370.] Sin An Offence Against God. 181
That God has denounced the heaviest judgments against it, is certain — \_Against sin in general he has denounced eternal misery : " The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the people that forget God^ Against every individual that commits it, he has also denounced his judgments : " The soul that sinneth, it …
768 wordsSECTION 161370.] Sin An Offence Against God. 181
The whole creation will unite in vindicating these judgments as just and good — [Doubtless, if it were possil)!e, siimers would urge at the bar of judgment the objectionsnvhich here they presuiue to bring against the justice of their God. But sin will then appear in all its ^ Ps. xiv. 1. Omitting the words in Ita…
290 wordsSECTION 162See,
1 . The grand constituents of repentance — [Many may be sorry that they have subjected themselves to punishment, just as a criminal may that he has forfeited his life to the laws of his country: but no man can truly re- pent, till he sees, that his whole life has been one continued state of rebellion against God ;…
261 wordsSECTION 163.370.1 Sin An Offence Against God. 185
lasting misery in hell is your deserved portion, you can never lie so low as you ought to lie.] 2. The true preparative for pardon — [Something we must bring with us to the Saviour: but what is that which we ought to bring ? Must we get a certain portion of good works wherewith to purchase his salvation ? No: thi…
442 wordsSECTION 164Original Sin.
Ps. H. 5. Behold) I was shapen hi iniquity ; and in sin did my motlier conceive ine. ONE of the most essential marks of real penitence is, a disposition to see our sins as God sees them ; not extenuating their guilt by vain and frivolous excuses, but marking every circumstance that tends to aggravate their enormi…
350 wordsSECTION 165871.] Original Sin. 187
In prosecuting this important subject, we shall en- deavour to establish, I. The truth asserted — The doctrine of Original Sin is here distinctly affirmed. It is indeed by many denied, under the idea that it would be inconsistent with the goodness and mercy of God to send into the world immortal Beings in any ot…
433 wordsSECTION 166188 Psalms, Li. 5. [371.
as fallen in Adam that he views us, and as inheriting a depraved nature that he abhors us *".] 2. From collateral evidence — [Whence was it that God appointed the painful and bloody rite of circumcision to be administered to infants of eight days old, but to shew that they brought into the world with them a corru…
526 wordsSECTION 167371.] Original Sin. 189
These things then, especially, as taken in connexion with the many express declarations before quoted, are decisive proofs, that David's account of himself was true, and that it is equally true of all the human race.] This truth being established, we proceed to mark, II. The importance of adverting to it in estima…
475 wordsSECTION 168190 Psalms, Li. 5. [371.
well as sins of commission : and then the things which now are accounted light and venial, will appear hateful in the extreme, not merely as blighted " grapes of a degenerate vine," but as " grapes of Sodom, and clusters of Gomorrah :" their enormity will be felt, in proportion to the strength and fixedness of the …
310 wordsSECTION 169872.] Importance Of Inward Integrity. 191
1 . How greatly we need the renewing influence of God's Spirit — [Outward amendment might suffice for outward sins : but, where the heart itself is so corrupt, we must have " a new heart given to us," and " be renewed in the spirit of our minds." With such hearts as ours, it would be impossible for us to enter int…
351 wordsSECTION 170192 Psalms, Li. 6. [372,
Ps. li. 6. Behold, tho2i desirest truth in the inward parts; and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know ivisdom. MANKIND at large are chiefly observant of their outward conduct ; but the Child of God cannot rest in externals : he is anxious about the internal habits of his soul ; and desires to have them co…
624 wordsSECTION 171372.1 Importance Of Inward Integrity. 193
diverted from the path of duty. We are determined, through grace, to put away every thing that may retard our progress heavenward, and to aspire after the highest possible attainments in righteousness and true hoHness. Now God requires, that we should be acting up to this profession, '^ setting our face as a flint…
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1 . The deceits of the heart — [These are very deep, and absolutely unsearchable'' ; yet in a measure will God discover them to those who have truth in their inward parts. The world at large know nothing of them : " they are calling evil good, and good evil ; they put darkness for light, and light for darkness ^ a…
526 wordsSECTION 173372.] Importance Of Inward Integritv. 195
3. The mysteries of grace — [" Great is the mystery of godliness," and great the mystery of grace, whether we consider the work ivroughf for us by Jesus Christ, or the work ivrought in us by his Holy Spirit. These constitute that " wisdom, which is foohshness with man," and which " the natural man cannot receive, …
497 wordsSECTION 174196 Psalms, Li. 6. [372.
and he shines '' in the Divine image in righteousness and true hoHness'^."] From this subject we may learn, 1 . Whence it is that men get so Httle insight into the Gospel — [Many hear the Gospel during their whole lives, and never attain any just knowledge of it. How shall we account for this ? We suppose the Go…
673 wordsSECTION 175198 Psalms, Li. 16, 17. [^7S.
3. How to get the whole work of God perfected 'in our souls — [Come to the Gospel with hearts tender and contrite, that they may be to it as wax to the seal. Then shall you have in your own souls "the witness" of all its most important truths'^: and shall be able to answer from your own experience that question w…
571 wordsSECTION 176373.] A Broken Heart The Best Sacrifice. 199
1. The term — [We all have some idea of what is meant by " a broken heart," when applied to worldly sorrow. It signifies a person overwhelmed with sorrow to such a degree, that he is always bowed down under its weight, and incapable of receiving conso- lation from any thing but the actual removal of his burthens. …
474 wordsSECTION 177200 Psalms, Li. 16, 17. [373.
out that person, and keeping his eye continually fixed upon him for good'' Moreover, God will comfort him; he will not merely view him from heaven, but will come down and dwell in his heart on purpose to comfort and revive him' Nor is this all; for God will surely and eternally save liim'^: and the more abased the…
499 wordsSECTION 178873.1 A Broken Heart The Best Sacrifice. 201
1 . For the conviction of the impenitent — [Worldly sorrow has more or less been the portion of us all: but how few have "sorrowed after a godly sort !" The generality have never laid to heart their sins at all : and they who have felt some compunction, have for the most part been satisfied with a little transient…
637 wordsSECTION 179Ccclxxiv.
David's love to god. Ps. lvii. 7 — 11. My heart is jixed, 0 God, my heart is Jlxed: I will sing and give praise. Awake up, my glory', awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early. I will praise thee, 0 Lord, among the people : I will sing unto thee among the nations. For thy mercy is great unto the hea- ve…
676 wordsSECTION 180204 Psalms, Lvii. 7 — 11. [3T4.
2. The 'Luke vii, 47. ^ Ps. ciii. 11. 2. The inviolability of his truth — [God had promised to David, that in due time he should sit upon the throne of Israel : and the many signal deliverances which he had received, all tended to confirm in his mind an expectation of the promised blessing. And it is remarkable, …
686 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical edition (1819); scan/OCR from Internet Archive.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.