PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
Horae Homileticae — Volume 4 of 21
Simeon, Charles, 1759-1836 · 223,595 words · 412 reading sections
420.] True Test Of Religion In The Soitl. 435
and 'Lukeix. 33, 3/. '' Heb. v4. 17, 18. and readily to *' lay down your lives for his sake?" Let " not these commandments be grievous in your eyes ;" but rather " rejoice if you are counted worthy to suffer for his sake." If at any time you be urged to turn aside from the path of duty, do not let the maxims or …
625 wordsSECTION 362Ccccxxvil
THE christian's CHIEF DESIRES. Ps. cxix. 132, 133. Look thou upon me, and be merc'ifid unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name. Order my steps in thy word : and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. TO many, the Psalms are less interesting than most other parts of Scripture, as having in …
699 wordsSECTION 363Ccccxxvil
1. The communications of his grace — [He desired to be delivered, not from guilt only, hut from the power and dominion of sin also. This desire was with- out reserve : he wished not to retain " any iniquity," how- ever pleasant or prohtable, or even justifiable it might be in the eyes of an ungodly world. In this …
686 wordsSECTION 364Davids Desire To Serve God.
We should also be practical Christians. To think that we can be interested in the mercy of God whilst we are continu- ing in sin, is a horrible, a fatal delusion. Let not any one enter- tain such an idea for one moment. Christ's work is finished indeed as it respects himself; but not as it respects us : there is a…
664 wordsSECTION 365Davids Desire To Serve God.
1 . It argues a nobler disposition — [A desire after salvation does not of necessity imply any real love to God. A slave may wish to escape the lash of his master, and yet have no delight in his service : and we also may seek deliverance from condemnation, without any ingenuous feelings towards God. Simon Magus de…
707 wordsSECTION 366Davids Desire To Serve God.
Now this shews us how the renovation and salvation of the soul should be sought by every Child of man. It should occupy our whole mind ; it should engage our whole soul. To seek it in a lukewarm and listless way, is to shew that we have no just value for our souls, and no real delight in God. Examine, we beseech y…
503 wordsSECTION 367Ccccxxix.
BLESSEDNESS OF THOSE WHO LOVE GOd's LAW. Ps. cxix. 165. Great peace have they who love thy law; and no- thing shall offend them. THE force of principle is exceeding great, even where the principle itself is erroneous and vicious, but much more where it is founded upon the unerring word of God. It produces in our …
776 wordsSECTION 368Psalms, Cxix, 165. [429.
In proportion as this character exists in any, is,- II. The blessedness of those in whom it is found — ■ This, as might well be expected, is exceeding: great. We notice it in two respects ; 1. The happiness of their minds — [*' Peace," in the Scripture use of the term, is not a mere absence of trouble, but an act…
864 wordsSECTION 369Psalms, Cxix, 165. [429.
Address-^- 1. To those who possess not this character — ■ [It is indeed a great thing to love God's law. Let not any imagine, that a general approbation of it is that which vvill either satisfy God, or bring peace into the soul. We love it not airight, if we do not love it vn'iversally^ in every thing that it requ…
261 wordsSECTION 370Security Of Those Who Trust In God.
Ps. cxxi. 1 — 8. I will lift 2ip mine eyes unto the hills, from whejice cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to he m,oved : he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper :…
369 wordsSECTION 371430.] Security Of Those Who Trust In God. 449
I. The resolution he formed — The first verse of the psalm is somewhat diffe- rently rendered in the margin of our Bibles : " Shall I lift up mine eyes unto the hills ? Whence should my help come ?" This, whilst it affixes an important sense to the passage, gives it peculiar force and beauty. It represents the Ps…
398 wordsSECTION 372Vol. Iv. G G
450 PSALMS, cxxi. 1 — 8. [430. work of our hands, Ye are our gods : for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy '^." This is the dictate of true piety: and, whilst it ensures to men a constant communication of all necessary good, it renders every blessing ten-fold more sweet, as coming to them through the special int…
395 wordsSECTION 373430.] Security Of Those Who Trust In God. 45 I
to live in a state of dependence upon God. Let us consider them, 1 . In relation to temporal things — [All the different expressions which are here used, have an evident reference to what was wrought for Israel during the forty years of their sojourning in the wilderness. The roughness of their untrodden path wou…
523 wordsSECTION 374452 Psalms, Cxxi. 1 — 8. [430.
2. In relation to the concerns of the soul — [It is expressly asserted her,e, that God will " preserve our souls." We may be assured therefore, that whatever he does for the body that perishes, shall much more be done for our immortal part. Yes, " he will keep the leet of his saints," nor shall all the powers, whe…
506 wordsSECTION 375God To Be Acknowledged In Our Mercies.
founded than they are, this one answer were sufficient to remove them all, " If God be for you, who can be against you ?" Only rely on God, and you are safe. See how tenderly he chides your unbelieving fears '. If under any circumstances you are tempted to indulge an unbelieving fear, check yourselves instantly, as…
387 wordsSECTION 376454 Psalms, Cxxiv. 1 — 8. [431.
for the occasion, they could not be more suited to it than they are. Two things then we would lead you to consider : I. The great deliverances which we are now met to celebrate — During this long and bloody war, several occa- sions have arisen wherein we have experienced the most signal deliverance. We will call…
421 wordsSECTION 377431.] To Acknowledge God In Our Mercies. 455
been called off to other encounters, there can be no donbt but that they would have attempted to invade us ; and, if they had succeeded in landing only two thirds of the forces which they might have brought against us, there can be no doubt but that they would have seized and plundered the metropolis, and spread d…
475 wordsSECTION 378456 Psalms, Cxxiv. 1 — 8. [431.
for this his name is humbly and gratefully adored "^ ; and he is declared to be henceforth the only hope of his people'^. In like manner should we acknow- ledge hull in all the mercies which we now cele- brate : for, 1 . They do all in reality proceed from him — [We are by no means disposed to withhold our tribut…
662 wordsSECTION 379456 Psalms, Cxxiv. 1 — 8. [431.
3. A view of him in these his providential mercies will encourage us to apply to him for the blessings of his grace — [Great as the dangers were from which Israel had l)een delivered by the interpositions of their God, they were not a whit greater than those to which we are exposed every day and hour. Truly we ha…
361 wordsSECTION 380Ccccxxxii.
the time is short : there are yet but a few more months or years, perhaps but a few more days or liours, before the day of salvation will be closed. We would earnestly wish, that, at the moment of your departure hence, you should be able to look back on all the dangers you have escaped, and with triumphant exultati…
404 wordsSECTION 381432.] .Deliverance From Spiritual Bondage. 451)
Let US consider from the passage, I. The deliverance here celebrated — - Grievous beyond expression was Israel's captivity. They were treated with the utmost cruelty by their Babylonish oppressors'*: and their sufferings were greatly heightened by the derision with which their pious lamentations were regarded''. …
834 wordsSECTION 382432.] Deliverance From Spiritual Bondage. 461
All this too is offered to us as a free 'act of mercy on the part of our great Deliverer. It was one of the most extraor- dinary ^ Compare Isai. xl. 3—3. with Luke iii. 3 — 6. or Isai. lii. 7. with Rom. X. 15. Ezra i. 1 — 11. diiiary parts of the Jews' deliverance from Babylon, that Cyrus should liberate them wi…
931 wordsSECTION 383433.] Benefit Of Christian Unity. 463
2. To those who are yet the bond-slaves of sin and Satan — [This is the state of every man by nature. It is to little purpose to say, that we are not addicted to any gross iniquity; for '^ the whole world lieth in wickedness," or, " in the wicked one :" and if the Captain of our Salvation have not rescued us from…
385 wordsSECTION 384The Benefit Of Christian Unity.
Ps. cxxxiii. 1 — 3. Behold, hoiv good and how pleasant it is for Brethren to dwell together in unity ! It is like the precious ointment iipon the -head, that ran down upon the heard, even Aaron's heard; that luent down to the skirts of his garments ; as the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upoif the mo…
528 wordsSECTION 385433.] Benefit Of Christtan Unity. 465
altogether of Divine original : every ingredient of it is formed by the hand of God himself, and the whole compounded by him in its due proportions : and every one on whom it is poured is from thenceforth sanctified to the Lord. It is in its own nature so flowing, that, when poured t'pon the head, it will descend u…
708 wordsSECTION 386433.] Benefit Of Christtan Unity. 465
And such also is the influence of love on the souls of men — [On Zion, *' God commanded his blessing" in the days of old; and on our Zion also he still commands it, " even life for evermore." But what is the principle whereby he operates this glorious change ? It is love, or "faith working by love:" " Love is of …
283 wordsSECTION 387A Call To Adore God For His Mercy.
Say whether any thing in the universe can tend so much to the perfection of our nature as this ; or whether there be any thing that will so advance us in a meetness for our heavenly inheritance ? ] Application— [Cultivate then this heavenly principle. If you seek only your own personal happiness, there is nothing…
745 wordsSECTION 388434.] A Call To Adore God For His Mercy. 469
But we must not imagine that the dispensations which have been pleasing to flesh and blood have been our only meieies; for amongst our severest trials will be found, for the most part, our richest ' ver. I. '' ver. 0 — 9. . *- ver. 10 — 22. * ver. 23, 24. * ver 9 — 22. richest mercies. The successive trials of Jo…
485 wordsSECTION 389470 Psalms, Cxxxvi. 26. [434,
have never received ? To this we reply. Have you no temporal mercies for which to give thanks ? and, if you are not yet par- takers of spiritual mercies, have you no reason to thank God for the offer of them, and for not having been yet visited with the judgments which you have so richly merited ? Think what is th…
512 wordsSECTION 390The Omnipresence And Omniscience Of God,
ccccxxxv. Ps. cxxxix. 1 — 12. 0 Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my dowjL-sitting and mine up-rising ; thou understandest my thoughts afar ojf-'. Thou compassest my path, and my lying doivn, and art acquainted with all my ways : for there is not a word in my tongue, hut, lo, O Lord, thou kn…
922 wordsSECTION 391435.] Omnipresence And Omniscience Of God. 4/3
These * Jer. xxiii. 23, 24. *' Heb. iv. 12, 13. Tirgi;v»;X;ff-^ssv«. See also Jer. xvi. 1/. &: Job xxxiv. 22-. These are solemn truths : and the importance of them will forcibly appear, whilst we suggest, II. Some reflections naturally arising from them — On this subject we might multiply reflections v*^ith^ ou…
478 wordsSECTION 3924/4 Psalms, Cxxxix. 1 — 12. [435.
for thy sins, and smiting on thy breast, like the repenting Publi- can, and fleeing to Christ as the manslayer to the city of Refuge ? When did he ever hear thee adoring and magnifying him for the exceeding riches of his grace in Christ Jesus ? Know that He can discern between true and false religion, whether thou …
489 wordsSECTION 393Strict Award Of Justice Deprecated. 475
been kept back by diffidence or other circumstances from join- ing themselves to the Lord's people in an open and ostensible way, who yet shall receive from God the strongest tokens of his appro- bation. They perhaps envied the gifts and talents of some more forward professors, and thought themselves unworthy to jo…
428 wordsSECTION 394Ccccxxxvi.
the strict award of justice deprecated. Ps. cxliii. 2. Enter not into judgment with thj servant ; for in thy sight shall no man living he justified. TRIALS and persecutions are sometimes per- mitted by God, for the purpose of honouring his people. 476 PSALMS, cxLiri. 2. [436. people, and advancing his work in th…
417 wordsSECTION 395436.] Strict Award Of Justice Deprecated. 477
** every mouth must be stopped, and all the world become guilty before God." The man who denies this, is said to be " a self- deceiver," and to " make God himself a liar''." Job, though not possessing the Mosaic writings, had a deep insight into this truth. He saw that it was the necessary consequence of the fall …
501 wordsSECTION 396478 Psalms, Cxliii. 2. [436.
Christ, not having his own righteousness, but the righteousness which is of God by faith in Christ'."] But whilst we view the text as estabhshing the fundamental principles of the Gospel, let us view it also, II. As exhibiting a pattern for our imitation — Who amongst us does not need to deprecate the severity o…
417 wordsSECTION 397Praise To God For His Goodness And Mercy.
as well as for the worst, of our actions to cry out, Enter not into judgment with thy servant, O Lord ; for in thy sight shall no man living be justified ! If David and Job could not answer for the best of their actions, how much less can we'' ?] Address, 1. The self-righteous and self-sufficient — [How unlike ar…
376 wordsSECTION 398480 Psalms, Cxlv. 1, 2. [43T.
subject contained in it has so much of unity, that the whole of it may not unprofitably be brought under our review. In it we observe the disposition of David's mind towards God. He determined to praise God himself, and he wished all others to praise him also. On this he speaks with fixedness of mind, to the same…
400 wordsSECTION 399,43T.] Praise To God For His Goodness And Mercy. 481
jestVj" they are worthy to be contemplated with awe, and to be celebrated with the profouudest adoration ".] 2. His goodness — [This was a favourite topic with the Psalmist ; and therefore in speaking of that he says, " They shall abundantly utter the memory of it." See how every thing in the whole creation bears…
437 wordsSECTION 400482 Psalms, Cxlv. 1, 2. [437.
dom that is established over the face of the whole earth. There is not any thing in the whole creation that is not benefited by his reign ; but most of all his believing people. Hence David says, " All thy works, whether intentionally or not, shall praise thee," (as any thing of curious workmanship praises the ma…
436 wordsSECTION 4014^7.] Praise To God For His Goodness And Mercy. 483
who believe in Jesus ; and sing of it, all ye, who have sworn allegiance to his name.] The Psalmist proceeds yet further to notice, III. The operations of his grace — Here the influences of the Holy Spirit come more immediately to our view. It is he who carries on the whole work of grace in the hearts of men, and…
792 wordsSECTION 402Ccccxxxviii.
2. What loss do they sustain who live far off from God ! [It is the diligent and watchful Christian alone that feels the devout affections exercised in this psalm. Too many of those who profess religion are content with a low state of mind. They look upon the work of praise and adoration as rather to be desired t…
766 wordsSECTION 403Ccccxxxviii.
It is here however supposed^ that we call upon him ''in truth" — [Prayer must be sincere, in order to find acceptance with God. We cannot hope that it shall prevail, if it proceed " from feigned lips." Of what value in the sight of God can a mere formal recital of words be ? " It is in vain that we draw nigh to h…
709 wordsSECTION 404Ccccxxxviii.
sinner," e 3 Chrou, xviii. 30, 31. '' Ps. Ixv. 24. 488 PSALMS, cxLV. 18, 19. [438. sinner," they would, if they could, expatiate upon all their wants, and pour out their souls before him in the most enlarged peti- tions. Henee, in his answers, he regards, not so much their words, as their wants; and enlarges the …
505 wordsSECTION 405Temporal Mercies A Ground Of Praise.*
word, " Ask, and ye shall have," will be a dagger to their souls. Dear Brethren, do but think of this in time. Think on what easy terms, if we may so speak, heaven may be now obtained. If only you truly " fear God," and " call upon him in truth," you may be perfectly assured that you shall never be cast out. If Go…
653 wordsSECTION 4064S9.] Temporal Mercies A Ground Op Praise. 491
2. The blessings with which he has loaded us " within " — [He hath blessed us with ijicrease, so that, notwithstanding the ravages of war, our population has greatly increased. With union of sentiment he hath blessed us to an extent almost unpre- cedented in our history. The whole nation have been fully con- vinc…
650 wordsSECTION 4074S9.] Temporal Mercies A Ground Op Praise. 491
II. Our duty arising from them — Every blessing which God bestows, whether on nations or individuals, calls for a suitable tribute of praise and thanksgiving. Such a tribute are we at this time called to pay : " Praise the Lord, O Jeru- salem ; praise thy God, O Zion." In order that w^e may discharge this debt fo…
479 wordsSECTION 408439.] Temporal Mercies A Ground Of Praise. 493
the nation, we are called to bless God for our national mercies. Now national mercies are of a temporal nature: no nation, as a nation, participates spiritual blessinc^s, any further tlian the mere external enjoyment of tliem : individuals alone have the grace of God in their hearts : and therefore, as members of t…
412 wordsSECTION 409The Duty Of Praising God.
Vs. cl. 6. Let every thing that hath hreath praise the Lord. GREATLY diversified has David's experience been, as depicted in the Book of Psahns. Sometimes we find him bowed down under a sense of sin, and some- times sunk almost in the depths of despondency: but here we view him elevated as on Mount Tabor, and bre…
384 wordsSECTION 410440.] The Duty Of Praising God. 495
ther eternity itself suffice to utter all his praise* ? Surely it is well and justly said, that " his name is above all blessing and h "T praise". J Yes, II. There is not " a thing that breathes" which has not abundant occasion to praise him — We speak not of irrational beings, (though they do praise him accord…
406 wordsSECTION 411496 ' Psalms, Cl. 6. [440.
We shall need no farther inducement to praise our God, if only we reflect, that, III. The more we abound in this blessed exercise, the more exalted will our happiness be — [What employment have we for our breath that can be com- pared with this ? Doubtless there is much happiness in social 'converse : but this is…
441 wordsSECTION 412Printed Inu.S.A.
^.Jf- '/-^ "^^'HSffl m -_,4^i*''''^…
6 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical edition (1819); scan/OCR from Internet Archive.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.