PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
Horae Homileticae — Volume 4 of 21
Simeon, Charles, 1759-1836 · 223,595 words · 412 reading sections
204 Psalms, Lvii. 7 — 11. [3T4.
2. He begs of God also to exalt and glorify him- self— [Sensible that, v;ith all his efforts, he could affect but few, he intreats God to shew forth his own glory, and, by augmented displays of it, to " exalt himself above heaven and earth." Thus to the same effect he addresses Jehovah in another psalm ; " Gird t…
617 wordsSECTION 182Advice To The Afflicted.
Ps. Ixi. 2. From the ejid of the earth will I cry unto thecy when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the Rock that is higher than T. IN whatever situation we be, we shall find both consolation in the promises, and direction in the examples, that are recorded for our use in the Sacred Writings. But in seasons of …
741 wordsSECTION 183375.] Advice To The Afflicted. 209
to * Ps. Iv. 4, 5. and perhaps Isai. xxxviii. 10 — 14. ' Hos. V. 14. Isai. xxxi. 3. ^ Isai. Ixv. 24. '' 2 Kin. xx. 1 — Q. • Jonah ii. 1 — 7. '' Ps. cxvi. 3 — 8. ' Jam. v. 10'. '" Ps. 1. 15. ° Phil. iv. 6, 7. "" Ps. Ixxxix. I9. " John vi, 44. p Acts xvi. 29— 31. "^ 2 Cor. xii. 9. to overwhelm us ? we can both do a…
454 wordsSECTION 184God Our Only And All-Sufficient Help.
Ps. Ixii. 5 — 8. My soul, wait thou only upon God : for my ex- pectation is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation : he is my defence ; I shall not he moved. In God is my salva- tion and my glory : the Rock of my strength, ajid my refuge, is in God. Trust m him at all times, ye people ; pour out your heart …
359 wordsSECTION 185S76.] God Our Only And All-Sufficient Help. 211
and therefore " from God alone was all his expectation''." To him he looked in all his troubles, whether of a temporal or spiri- tual nature. When persecuted by Saul, he fled to his invisible Protector, and took refuge under the shadow of Jehovah's wings • In like manner, when assaulted by Satan, his great spiritu…
440 wordsSECTION 186212 Psalms, Lxii. 5 — 8. [376.'.
his promised blessings'' : and, if we ask in faith, he will " do for us exceeding abundantly above all that we either ask or think."] 2. In a way of confident expectation — [We should " not stagger at any of God's promises, but be strong in faith, giving glory to God." If he see fit to delay his answer, we must n…
464 wordsSECTION 187Ccclxxvii.
THE believer's DISPOSITIONS TOWARDS GOD. Ps. lxiii. 1 — 7. 0 God, thou art my God; early iv'ill I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee ; my Jlesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land where no water is; to see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanc- tuary.' Because thy loving-kindness is…
390 wordsSECTION 188214 Psalms, Lxiii. 1 — 7. [37*7.
Christ, and reconciliation with God through him, it is privileged to claim God as its own peculiar por- tion : it is entitled to say of Christ, " My Beloved is mine, and I am his :" " He has loved ^ne, and given himself for me." And to the Father himself also, as now reconciled to him, he can say, " O God, thou a…
728 wordsSECTION 189214 Psalms, Lxiii. 1 — 7. [37*7.
To this determination he is led by the considera- tion of the loving-kindness of his God — [O how wonderful does that love appear to him, which gave no less a person than God's co-equal co-eternal Son to die for him ! which gave him too the knowledge of that Saviour, toge- ther with all spiritual and eternal bless…
622 wordsSECTION 190878.] Stability The Gift Op God. 217
our desires after God are so faint, our purposes respecting him so weak, and our expectations from him so contracted. Let us, each for himself, look at om* experience from day to day, and compare it with his ; and let us not rest, till we have attained somewhat at least of that delight in God, which so eminently d…
286 wordsSECTION 191Stability The Gift Of God.
Ps, Ixvi. 8,9, 0 hless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to he heard ; which holdeth our soul in life, and suj- fereth not our feet io be moved. THE blessmgs of Providence, v^hen uninter- ruptedly continued, are scarcely noticed : it is only when the loss of them has been painfully appre- hende…
504 wordsSECTION 192378.] Stability The Gift 05" God. 219
fear of man*' — or turned aside by the love of this world*-— or overthrown by unbridled passions ^ What reason than have we to adore the grace that has preserved i/s J] 3. What would be the probable consequence of our falling — [Some who have fallen have been restored speedily S; and some after a lapse of time'^:…
606 wordsSECTION 193J
Nor should we be content with doing this ourselves : we should invite the whole creation, as it were, to join us. We should labour to stimulate all to love and serve him ; and to make his name known to the very ends of the earth". It is in this way that we should endeavour at least, as much as in us lies, to " ren…
330 wordsSECTION 194378."I Stability The Gift Of God. 221
directed us to commit ourselves to him for that purpose*; and assured us, that, if we do so, *' he will establish our goings'." We should commend ourselves therefore to his gracious care and protection. We should say with David, " Hold thou up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not^:" " Hold thou me up…
492 wordsSECTION 195Answers To Prayer Acknowledged.
Ps. Ixvi. 16. Come and hear, all ye that fear God! and I will declare what lie hath do?ie for my soul, ANY person of benevolence who should have dis- covered an antidote, or remedy, to a very fatal dis- order, would feel happy in communicating information respecting it, wherever such knowledge was re- quired \ If…
343 wordsSECTION 196379.1 Answers To Prayer Acknowledged. 223
In discoursing on these words, we will shew, I. What God had done for his soul — David, as we are told in the foregoing context, had been involved in many troubles, from which nothing but a Divine interposition could have deli- vered him*^. But we must not confine the subject to temporal deliverances : he speaks …
705 wordsSECTION 197379.] Answers To Prayer Acknowledged. 225
exalt his name together ""l" Had any reflection been cast on him for these devout acknowledgments, he would have re- plied, as on another occasion, " Is there not a cause'?" or rather would have welcomed the disgrace, and said, " I will yet be more vile than thus"."] 2. From a sense of love to his fellow-creatures…
602 wordsSECTION 198Vol. Iv. Q
St26 PSALMS, ixvi. 16. [379. by the Holy Spirit of promise unto the day of re- demption." But still, great and glorious as these operations of the Spirit are, they are not sufficient oj themselves to prove that God has shewn mercy to our souls : they must have the concurring evidence of good works resulting from …
946 wordsSECTION 199Vol. Iv. Q
him^ ' John ix :il. 228 PSALMS, Lxvi. 16. [379. him, he will be found of us j but if we forsake him, he will for- sake us."] 2. Learn to estimate them by a right standard — [If we judge of our emotions by their intenseness, or by the degree of elevation or depression produced by them, we shall deceive our own s…
503 wordsSECTION 200The Calling Of The Gentiles Prayed For.
Ps. lxvii. 1 — 7. God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon its : that thy ivay may he known upon earth, thy saving health among all natio?is. Let the people praise thee, 0 God ; let all the people praise thee. 0 let the nations be glad, and sing for joy ; for thou shalt judge the peo…
800 wordsSECTION 201The Calling Of The Gentiles Prayed For.
It ^ ver. 6. with Ps. Ixxii. 16. Compare Isai. xxxv. 1, 2. & Iv. 1^, 13. '' Hos. iii. 5. SBC] CALLING OF TtiE GENTILES PEATED FOR. t^t It further shews us, II. What an union there is between piety and phil- anthropy— [The Jews were represented by their enemies as haters of mankind. But this was in no respect ap…
632 wordsSECTION 202381.] The Character Of God. 233
Ps. lxviii. 35. The God of Israel is he thai g'lveth strevgth and power to his people: blessed be God! THE consideration of God's power is to his ene- mies awful in the extreme; but to his friends it affords the richest consolation. The immediate sub- ject of the psalm before us is the carrying up of the ark from…
670 wordsSECTION 203234 Psalms, Lxviii. 35. [381^
* Ps. xlii. 11. as referring to the past, they are an expression of gratitude to God; if, as relating to the future, they denote a cheerful affiance in him. We may pro- perly take them in both these senses, and learn from them to exercise, 1. Gratitude — [While a sense of our own weakness humbles us in the dust,…
443 wordsSECTION 204Sorrows And Sufferings Of Christ.
them insurmountable : but if we would habituate ourselves more to look at the power of God, we should proceed with confidence and courage. " Let the weak then say, I am strong." Let them " know in whom they have believed, that He is able to keep that which they have committed to him"."] »2Tim. i. 12. Ps. Ixix. 1 …
744 wordsSECTION 205382.] Sorrows And Sufferings Of Christ. 23/
"he '' John ii. 17. " John xv. 25. "^ Rom. xv. 3. * John xix. 29. ' Acts i. 20. ^ Luke xii. 50. " John xii. 27. with ib. ver. 23, 32, 33, 'Matt. xxvi. 37, 38. '' ib. ver. 39—44. " he sweat great drops of blood" from every pore of his body^ To this period in particular we may suppose the petitions in our text to …
537 wordsSECTION 206^38 Psalms, Lxix. 1-^4. [M^.
immaculate Lamb of God condemned to suffer the most efuei arid ignominious of all deaths, even the accursed death of the cross*] 3. Those which were consummated in his death — [From Pilate's bar he was dragged away to execution. Laden with the cross to which he was to be affixed, he saiik under the load, whiph the…
911 wordsSECTION 207240 Psalms, Lxix. 1 — 4. [382.
What an instructive mystery is this! We see in it, I . The proper ground for faith — [To what, or to whom, shall we look to reconcile us to God? Can " Isar. liii. 4. ■* ib. ver. 5,6. "1 Cor. v. 2 1 . ' 1 Pet. ii. 24. & iii. ] 8. e Philem. ver. 18, Ip. Can we '^restore what we have taken away?" or will any one el…
663 wordsSECTION 208Ccclxxxiit.
" Rom. xii. 20, 21. " Matt. vi. 14. P Isai. xliii. 2. *> Rev. vii. 14, 15. THE king's accession. Ps. Ixxi. 7 — ?. I (i^n as a wonder unto many: hut thou art tny strong refuge. Let my mouth be Jilled with thy praise and ivith thy honour all the day. Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not, when my s…
252 wordsSECTION 209Vol. Iv.
R David 242 PSALMS, Lxxi. 7 — 9. [339. David finds himself firmly seated on his throne : on jwjiich occasion, " 1. He acknowledges the mercies he had received — [He felt himself most peculiarly circumstanced: his trials had been great, and his deliverances most extraordinary. His hair-breadth escapes from Saul, …
721 wordsSECTION 210Ccclxxxiv.
Yet have we also peculiar need of prayer, — At this moment our Enemy is disengaged from other contests, and enabled to direct all his force against us. Our own Government also is un- happily disunited, and our aged king begins to find " his strength fail him." What, in such a state, shall we do, if God forsake us …
756 wordsSECTION 211Ccclxxxiv.
2. Richly productive — [The sickly plants, when watered, raise up their drooping head, and bring forth, each according to its nature, their proper fruits. Thus, "in the day of Christ's" descent upon the souls of the " righteous, they flourish:" and "peace," the first-fruit of the Spirit, " abounds within them." Th…
654 wordsSECTION 212Ccclxxxiv.
pendence on him, and of their unreserved devotion to his will*. " He is Lord of lords, and King of kings :" and if any will not bend to the sceptre of his grace, they shall be broken in pieces with a rod of iron ^] Infer, 1 . The folly of refusing submission to him — [The word of Jehovah is pledged, that " the ki…
354 wordsSECTION 213Ccclxxxv.
THE PERPETUITT AND EXCELLENCY OF CHRISt's KINGDOM. Ps. lxxii. 17. Misname shall endure for ever : his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed. NONE of the Prophets, except Isaiah, have written so copiously and so plainly respecting Christ as…
770 wordsSECTION 214Ccclxxxv.
II. Its excellency — [The administration of Solomon was attended with great benefit to his people : and such a king as he must be considered as a rich blessing to any nation. But there are many benefits which it is not in the power of anvking to communicate. What can a creature do to mitigate our pains, or to resc…
602 wordsSECTION 215The Goodness Of God To Israel.
that the full accomplishment of this prophecy shall be seen. Then' " a multitude that no man can number, of all nations and kiji'- dreds, and people and tongues, shall stand before him, and cry with united voices. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain ! Salvation to our God, and to the Lamb for ever*!"] We cannot more…
364 wordsSECTION 216252 Psalms, Lxxui. 1. [386.
his peculiar people, and giving them his righteous laws, and expelling seven nations from the land of Canaan in order to give it to his chosen people for their inheritance ? But however freely he exercises his own prerogative in this respect, he will take care that his final appointment of men's states shall acco…
354 wordsSECTION 217The Goodness Of God To Israel. 253
actions will doubtless be holy, and just, and good, and extremely different from those of the ungodly world, yet Pharisees and formalists may " cleanse the outside of the cup and platter," and be as punctual and correct in all external duties as any persons whatever. The true Israelite is known by no external bad…
728 wordsSECTION 218The Goodness Of God To Israel. 253
3. He makes all things to work together for their good — [Many dark and afflictive dispensations do they meet with ; but not one more than shall issue in their good. Under the pressure of their trials they may be ready to say, " All these things are against me : " but they shall at last see reason to con- fess, t…
591 wordsSECTION 219Prosperity Of Sinners Not To Be Envied.
Ps. Ixxiii. 16, 17. When I thoufrht to know this, it was too pain- ful for me ; until I ivent into the sanctuary of God : then understood I their end. TO unenlightened man, there are numberless things in the dispensations of Providence altogether dark and inexplicable : it is the light of Revelation only that ena…
675 wordsSECTION 220Vol. Iv. S
This, to the carnal mind, presents a difficulty not easy to be explained — [There is in the mind of man a general idea that the Go- vernor of the Universe will testify by his present dis])ensations his love for virtue, and his hatred of iniquity. The friends of Job carried this notion so far, that, without any oth…
767 wordsSECTION 221Vol. Iv. S
2. The awfulness of their end — [As God raised up Pharaoh to the throne of Egypt, with an intent to shew forth in him his wrathful indignation against sin% so he loads with temporal benefits many, who shall finally be made objects of his heavy displeasure for their abuse of them. He bears with them for a season : …
668 wordsSECTION 222388.] Benefit Of Drawing Near To God. 261
2. To be satisfied, with our condition — [To Judas was consigned the custody of the stock provided for the daily support of our Lord and his D.^ciples. What it the other Disci[)les had envied liim that honour? would they have been wise? Judas was a thief: and the pre-eminence he enjoyed, afforded him an opportunit…
504 wordsSECTION 223262 Psalms, Lxxiii. 28. [588.
BENEFIT or DRAWING NEAR TO GOD. Ps. Ixxiii. 28. It is good for me to draw near to God. THE dispensations of Providence are often so dark and inscrutable, that proud man is ready to question the wisdom of them, and almost to doubt whether they are the result of design or chance. The prosperity of the wicked is mor…
469 wordsSECTION 224388.] Benefit Of Drawing Near To God. 263
press our minds with the conviction that he discerns our inmost thoughts. In this way we may properly be said to draw near to him ; because, though in fact we are no nearer to him than before, yet we are much nearer in our oivn apprehension ; and the effect upon our own minds is precisely the same as if the approx…
450 wordsSECTION 225264 Psalms, Lxxiii. 28. [38S.
and experience : and people have an easy way of setting both these aside. The words of Scripture are represented as high Eastern metaphors : and the experience of the primitive saints is supposed to be coiitined to tlie earlier ages of the C hurch. And with respect to the experience of Hving saints, that is derided…
492 wordsSECTION 226388.] Benefit Of Drawing Near To God. 265
upon our God. He " would renew our strength as the eagle's™ :*' he would " give us more grace"," even " grace sufficient for us." However weak we are in ourselves, we should l)e " able to do all things through the strength which he would impart unto us°." By drawing nigh to God, our humility is increased, our fait…
689 wordsSECTION 227389.] Despondency Depicted And Reproved. 267
' Ps. cxlviii. 14. "" 1 John i. 3. • Jer. xxx. 21. Ps. lxxvii. 7 — 10. Will the Lord cast off for ever P and will he be favourable no more P Is his mercy clean gone for ever ? doth his promise foil for evermore P hath God forgotten to be gracious P Hath he in anger shit up his tender mercies P And I said, This is …
536 wordsSECTION 228268 Psalms, Lxxvii. 7 10. [389.
with all that agitation of mind that is depicted in the foregoing context. In this view they express, 1 . Disquieting apprehensions in reference to him- self— [He had thought in former times, that he was a monument of God's " mercy," and an object of his " favourable" regard : but now he seems as one cast out, an…
424 wordsSECTION 229389.] Despondency Depicted And Reproved. 269
a grievous infirmity it was. Such questions as his arise, 1. From impatience — [There is great impatience in the mind of man, yea, even of good men, and especially under any dark and mysterious disspen- sation. We are apt to think that God is, as it were, bound to hear us, and to interpose, either for the solutio…
510 wordsSECTION 230270 Psalms, Lxxvii. 7 — 10. [389.
Happily the same authority that points out the source of these questions, shews us also, III. How they should be answered — Would we know what God vjill do, we should attentively consider what he hath done. We should mark his wonders of old, and observe all the diver- sified exercises of his perfections towards h…
420 wordsSECTION 231389.1 Despondency Depicted And Reproved. 2^1
[In the space of a few months God had brought his people to the borders of Canaan j and yet for their murmuring and un- behef he turned them back into the wilderness, and caused them to wander there for forty years, till all that generation, except- ing two persons, were swept away. This was most mysterious : yet …
501 wordsSECTION 232272 Psalms, Lxxviii. 8. [390.
exceeding long and tedious, will come at last®. He mny for wise reasons hide his face from us for a time; but it shall not be for ever^. Hear his own answer to the complaints which we are apt to make^*^ And know, that though " heaviness may endure for a night, joy shall surely come to us in the morning":" if only …
257 wordsSECTION 233390.] Jews And Christians Compared. 273
Ps. Ixxviii. 8. ^ geveratioJi that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not sledfast luith God, HISTORY is universally considered as a source of the most valuable instruction, since it sets be- fore us the actions of men under all the most important circumstances of life, and teaches us what to avoid,…
526 wordsSECTION 234274 Psalms, Lxxviii. 8. [890.
their God supremely, and cleave to him stedfastly, and trust in him confidently, and serve him with their whole heasts ? One would think it impossible that they should do otherwise, if we did not know that] The very reverse of this characterized their whole deportment — [Their whole history from the beginning rec…
750 wordsSECTION 235276 Psalms, Lxxviii. 8. [390,
And how is it with the greater part of those who profess godli- ness P As the former " set not their heart aright," so these *^ in their spirit are not stedfast with God." What lamentable insta- bility is found in many who embrace the Gospel as a system, and number themselves amongst the Israel of God ! They " name…
681 wordsSECTION 236Cccxci.
yet ^ Ps. xiv. 5. & cxii. 2. « Prov. xxx. 12. 391.] EXTENT OF GOd's MERCY. 277 yet sworn in his wrath that you shall not enter into his rett." And without delay flee to the Saviour, " whose blood will cleanse you from all sin." Yet be not content to have your sins for- given. When you pray with David, " Purge me …
845 wordsSECTION 237Cccxci.
be ^ ver. 3— G. "^ vsr. 11. «" ver. 18—25. " ver. 17,32. 391.] EXTENT OF GOD's MERCY. 279 be stedfast in it, or perform any of the engagements which it entailed upon them."] And what is this, but a history of ourselves also ? [hi our prosperity, we care not about God ; " he is not in all our thoughts" But under …
656 wordsSECTION 238392.] God Giving Up Obstinate Transgressors. 281
produce this happy effect, we shall have reason to be thankful for them.] 1. What, under all circumstances, should be the chief object of our attention — [The Jews failed, because " their heart was not right with God." Let us look to this, that we indulge not hypocrisy in our hearts. If we call God our God, and o…
610 wordsSECTION 239282 Psalms, Lxxxi. 11, 12. [392.
11. The judgment inflicted on account of it — Consider, 1 . What a loss they sustained— [He would have preserved them in Canaan, and loaded them with all imaginable blessings, even as he had done in former times ° But this was a very faint shadow of what he would do for us. What victory would he have given us ov…
664 wordsSECTION 240282 Psalms, Lxxxi. 11, 12. [392.
If it be said, We prayed for these blessings ; and therefore we at least may glory that the blessings do not come to us unso- licited; we would ask, Who inclined or enabled us to pray? We should never have been inclined to pray, if God had not given us a spirit of grace and of supplication ; " nor should we have k…
270 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical edition (1819); scan/OCR from Internet Archive.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.