PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
Horae Homileticae — Volume 5 of 21
Simeon, Charles, 1759-1836 · 242,250 words · 497 reading sections
God The Giver Of Strength And Peace.
Ps. xxix. 10, 11. The Lord sitteth upon the flood ; yea, the Lord sitteth King for ever. The Lord will give strength zinto his people : the Lord will bless his people ivith peace. THIS psalm is supposed to have been written on the occasion of a thunder-storm. It represents the Deity as uttering his voice in those …
363 wordsSECTION 182196 Psalms, Xxix. 10, 11. [541.
Of that same person does he say in my text, " Tlie Lord sitteth upon the flood ; yea, the Lord sitteth King for ever. The Lord will give strength unto his people ; the Lord will bless his people with peace." That my text refers to him, there can be no doubt : for he is '' that Mighty One, upon whom the help of hi…
466 wordsSECTION 183541. J <^Od The Giver Of Strength And Peace. 197
" He sitteth upon the flood;" and be our enemies ever so mighty, " he sitteth King for ever," to control their efforts, and overrule them for our good.] But let us contemplate him, II. As a God of grace — The Lord Jesus Christ, on his ascension to hea- ven, was constituted " head over all things to his Church ;"…
422 wordsSECTION 184The Mercy Of God.
grace Yet praise him, not by words only, but by that perfect affiance which he calls for at your hands ; and which is necessary, in order that you may realize the blessings he is exalted to bestow.] 2, Let his voice control every emotion of your souls — [If he speak by thunders and lightnings, he speaks also by h…
380 wordsSECTION 185542.1 The Mercy Of God. 199
times, and under all circumstances, proper for our consideration. Two things we shall notice from it. I. The mercy of God — The mercy of God will be found to be altogether of a boundless extent, whether we consider it, 1. As existing in his own bosom — [He is indeed angry both at sin itself and at those who com…
434 wordsSECTION 186200 Psalms, Xxx. 5. [542.
into dancing : thou hast put oif my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness "'."] The whole preceding context, whilst it declares God's mercy, sets also before us, II. Our duty in the contemplation of it — As having experienced mercy, we are called to sing, and praise our God. But, as we are not all in the holy f…
697 wordsSECTION 187202 Psalms, Xxx. 5. [542.
In this view of our subject, I would call your atten- tion to the following obvious and salutary reflections — - 1. How deeply to be pitied are the blind impeni- tent world ! [They will not believe that God is angry with them, or that they have any need to dread his displeasure : and, if we attempt to convince th…
654 wordsSECTION 188Cause And Cure Of Spiritual Desertion.
^ Isai. Ixvi, 2. e pg, cxxvi. 6. hasting unto, the coming of that blessed day." But, suppose that your night of weeping were to continue to the very hour of your dissolution, how short would it appear, when once that morning burst upon your view ! Are you not ashamed that you should ever grudge the seed for such a…
410 wordsSECTION 189204 Psalms, Xxx. 6—12. [543.
ultimately perish, is characterized as an evil heart of unbelief: and thus, a godly jealousy over ourselves is discouraged as a sin, and an unfounded confidence respecting our state is encouraged as a virtue. These mistakes arise partly from a blind following of human authorities, and partly from being confined by…
394 wordsSECTION 190543. J Cause And Cure Of Spiritual Desertion. 205
God as the sovereign controller of all events ^. Job himself erred exceedingly in this respect, when he said, " I shall die in my nest*^," The same sense of dependence on God must more especially be maintained in reference to our spiritual life. The very chief of the Apostles, no less than we, needed to preserve v…
483 wordsSECTION 191206 Psalms, Xxx. 6—12. [543.
withdrawment of his presence from them. In proportion as any have become less vigilant, they lose those manifestations of the Divine presence which in the seasons of holy fear they were privileged to enjoy. Nor is it a mere privation of joy which they experience on such occasions; there is a perturbation of mind a…
506 wordsSECTION 192543.] Cause And Cure Of Spiritual Desertion. S07
IV. His speedy recovery — [Many there are who go mourning abnost all their lives. And wherefore ? Is it that God arbitrarily, and without occa- sion, hides his face from them? No : it is owing to this very thing which we have been speaking of, namely, their restrain- ing prayer before God, and not using the jjrope…
489 wordsSECTION 193208 Psalms, Xxx. G— 12. [543.
inspire us with grace sufficient to carry it into execution ! It is in order to bring all to tliis, that we have been so particular in the foregoing statement. It is vith a view to this that we so earnestly recommend humihation before God under seasons of darkness, rather than an attention to abstract points which …
707 wordsSECTION 194210 Psalms, Xxxi. 15. , [544,
has promised^ — • and you may be as fully assured of its accomplishment to your soul, as the promise and oath of God can make you ™ ] i 2 Chron. xv. 2. k Pg. cxliii. 1—8. » Isai. Ivii. 16—18. m isai. liv, 7—10. with Heb. vi. 17, 18. OUR TIMES IN god's HAND. Ps. xxxi. 15. My times are in thy hand. TO the ungodly …
677 wordsSECTION 195210 Psalms, Xxxi. 15. , [544,
But though these ideas are certainly comprehended in the text, its more immediate scope is to declare, II. Our security in God — We have already observed, that the words of the text were introduced by David as a consolatory reflection, under the cruel treatment which he had received from friends and enemies. We a…
432 wordsSECTION 196212 Psalms, Xxxi. 15. [544.
oui' God shall see good to permit it. " His angels encamp round about usV' and have an especial charge to " keep us in all our ways, that we dash not our foot against a stone '^." " Neither the arrow that flieth by day, nor the pestilence that walketh in darkness, can hurt us. Thousands may fall at our side, and t…
720 wordsSECTION 197214 Psalms, Xxxi. 19, 20. [545.
2 1 Cor. X. 13. Ps. xxxi. 19, 20. Oh how great is thy goodness, ivhich thou hast laid up for them that fear thee ; ivhich thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee, before the sons of men ! Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man : thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion f…
679 wordsSECTION 198214 Psalms, Xxxi. 19, 20. [545.
desires, his purposes, being altogether changed He has the heart of stone taken from him, and a heart of flesh sub- stituted in its place. He has been *' made a partaker of the divine nature," and " been renewed after God's image ; and that, not in knowledge only, but in righteousness also and true holiness." He i…
883 wordsSECTION 199The Godly Encouraged To Trust In God.
g Ps. Ivii. 4, h Ps. xxvii. 5, 6. * Isai. xxxvii. 3, 14, 21, 22. fortress, and looks down on their fruitless efforts with pity and contempt.] Address — 1. Let us seek to attain the character here drawn — [To fear God is the duty, and to trust in him the privi- lege, of every child of man Learn then to tremble for…
365 wordsSECTION 200218 Psalms, Xxxi. 21—24. [546.
regard. Perhaps there never was a man whose cir- cumstances were more varied than his : and certainly there never was a man who committed to writing all the secret motions of his heart with more fidelity than he ; or that labom*ed more to improve them for the benefit of mankind. This appears, as in many other psa…
678 wordsSECTION 201220 Psalms, Xxxi. 21—24. [546.
even as the apple of his eye " But " the proud doer, whosoever he may be, he will plentifully reward" with judg- ments proportioned to his impiety The ungodly may indeed triumph for a time, and the godly be left to groan under the rod of the oppressor : but a day of righteous retribution is at hand, when " God wil…
519 wordsSECTION 202True Blessedness Declared.
Ps. xxxii. 1 — 6. Blessed ishetvhose transgression is forgiven, tvhose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto zvhom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. When I kept silence, my boties loaxed old through my roaring all the day long : (for day and night thy hand teas heavy upon me …
381 wordsSECTION 203222 Psalms, Xxxii. 1—6. [547.
are immortal beings, and are hastening to a state, where a period will arrive, at which our present existence, even though it should have been con- tinued a thousand years, will have been only as the twinkling of an eye. In that state either happiness or misery awaits us, according as we enter upon it under the g…
430 wordsSECTION 204547.] True Blessedness Declared. 22S
mere forgiveness : forgiveness exempts from punishment ; but an imputation of the Redeemer's righteousness to us insures to us an eternal great reward ''. O how happy must that man be who is clothed in the unspotted robe of Christ's righteousness, and can, on the footing of that righteousness, claim all the glory …
452 wordsSECTION 205224 Psalms, Xxxii. 1—6. [547,
[Partly through stoutness of heart, and partly through unbelief, he for a long time refused to humble himself for his heinous iniquities. But was he happy during that period? Hear his own representation of his state and feelings : " When I kept silence, my bones waxed old, through my roaring all the day long ; my …
492 wordsSECTION 206547.] True Blessedness Declared. 225
Having stated thus his own experience, David proceeds to tell us, III. What improvement we should make of it — Unspeakably encouraging is the record here given us. We should take occasion from it, 1. To seek the Lord for ourselves — [" The godly" will make their prayer unto God; and the ungodly also should do it…
477 wordsSECTION 207Joy In The Lord Inculcated.
Ps. xxxii. 1 1 . Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous : and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart. THERE is in this world, as there will also be in the eternal state, an inconceivable distance between the righteous and the wicked. The Psalmist tells us, that " many sorrows shall be to the wicke…
332 wordsSECTION 208548.] Joy In The Lord Inculcated. 227
strength. More especially should we pant after God as recon- ciled to us in Christ Jesus, " counting all things but loss for the knowledge of him," and saying, with the Psalmist, " Whom have I in heaven but thee ? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee^" ] 2. Whose affiance in him is entire — [No …
402 wordsSECTION 209228 Psalms, Xxxii. 11. [548.
thing, is God^." Consider, then, how great a blessing this is In comparison of it, crowns and kingdoms would be of no value. For this gift, therefore, you should bless and adore your God with your whole hearts, yea, and shout for joy with your whole souls.] 2. On account of what he has engaged to do for you— [Wo…
567 wordsSECTION 21030 Psalms, Xxxiii. 18—22. [549.
god's care of his people. Ps. xxxiii. 18 — 22. Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy ; to deliver their soul from death, and to kee'p them alive in famine. Our soul ^oaiteth for the Lord : he is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in him, because …
698 wordsSECTION 21130 Psalms, Xxxiii. 18—22. [549.
a ver. 13, 14. 549.] god's care of his people. 231 inbred corruptions are ever watching for an opportunity to be- tray them into the hands of their great Adversary. But God's eye is ever over them, to counteract the devices of their enemies, and to uphold them in his everlasting arms. Not one of them will he ever…
466 wordsSECTION 212232 Psalms, Xxxiii. 18—22. [549.
rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee." And shall tliis be thought too bold an assertion? It is not more bold than true : for God has repeatedly pledged his word, that " none of them that trust in him shall be desolate*^." Nay more…
508 wordsSECTION 213Devotion Exemplified.
pray with David, " Let thy mercy, O Lord, he upon me, according as my hope is in thee?" Verily, were this God's rule of acting towards us all, the greater part of us would never taste of his mercy to all eternity. But, thanks be to God ! he is sovereign in the exercise of his mercy, being " found often- times of t…
393 wordsSECTION 214234 Psalms, Xxxiv. 2, 3. [550.
The godly, on the other hand, " make their boast in the Lord" — [They know, by bitter experience, that in themselves dwelleth no good thing, yea, nothing but what furnishes matter for the deepest humiliation. But they see in God sufficient to excite their devoutest adoration. Whether they contemplate the perfecti…
434 wordsSECTION 215550.] Devotion Exemplified. 235
souls. It is this that endears to them the ministers of God : he who with the clearest evidence and richest unction exhibits to their view the glory and excellency of their God, will be regarded as their best friend : and every one who in sincerity labours to fulfil this office, will be " esteemed by them very hig…
422 wordsSECTION 216Grateful Recollections.
" constrained by love," we must endeavour to " persuade them by the terrors of the Lord." God declared to his people of old, that, if they would not serve him with joyfulness and gladness of heart for the abun- dance of all things which he had so liberally bestowed upon them, they should endure all the curses deno…
360 wordsSECTION 217551.] Grateful Recollections. 237
I. As a grateful acknowledgment — It is not necessary to confine our attention to the immediate occasion of the words, since David uses nearly the same expression in reference to mercies received during the rebeUion of Absalom''. Throughout the whole of his life, David received marvellous mercies at the hands of …
393 wordsSECTION 218238 Psalms, Xxxiv. 6. [55 1.
in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord : the Jmmble shall hear thereof and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me ; and let us exalt his name together / I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and dehvered me from all my fears." Yes, " This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all …
428 wordsSECTION 219Grateful Recollections. 239
552.] as " the very chief of sinners"." And so will divine grace operate on us also. People imagine, that if we profess to have received special answers to prayer, and to have obtained the forgiveness of our sins, we must, of necessity, be elated with pride. But the very reverse of this was the effect pro- duced …
457 wordsSECTION 220Experimental Religion Enforced.
God by him." Thus will you fulfil the design of David in transmitting his experience to future ages ; whilst you confirm his testimony, by your acknowledgment that God is still as gracious as ever, and an imchangeable Friend to all who come to him in his Son's name.] Ps. xxxiv. 8. 0 taste and see that tlie Lord is…
361 wordsSECTION 221552.J Experimental Religion Enforced. 241
does his goodness appear in the great mystery of redemption. Who can reflect on that stupendous act of mercy, the giving of his only-begotten Son to die for us, and to bear our sins in his own body on the tree ? Who can reflect on the sending of liis Holy Spirit to instruct and sanctify us, and on the pro- viding …
459 wordsSECTION 222242 Psalms, Xxxiv. 8. [552.
to him their every concern, and trust him for body and for soul, for time and for eternity ] And need I ask, whether persons so doing shall be *' blessed?" [Verily it is not in the power of language to declare the full extent of their blessedness. What tranquillity possesses their minds! It is well said, that " t…
454 wordsSECTION 223552.1 Experimental Religion Enforced. 243
dare to stand up and say to the Lord Jesus Christ, ' Thou hast declared that thou wouldst " on no account cast out any who came to thee ; " but thou hast falsified thy word in reference to me, and suffered me to seek thy face in vain?' No: there never yet existed an occasion for such a reproach, nor ever shall, as…
460 wordsSECTION 224The Fear Of God Inculcated.
Ps. xxxiv. 1 1 — 16. Come, ye childre7i, hearken unto me; J ivill teach you the fear of the Lord. What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good ? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaJcing guile. Depart from evil, and do good: seek peace, and pursue it. The eyes of the L…
417 wordsSECTION 225553.^ The Fear Of God Inculcated. 245
command over it, however reKgious he may fancy himself, or be thought by others, is a self-deceiver, whose religion is vain^. It is therefore with great propriety that David specifies the control of the tongue as the first evidence of the fear of God ; " Whoso desireth life, let him keep his tongue from evil, and …
479 wordsSECTION 226246 Psalms, Xxxiv. 11—16. [553.
must be for peace. For the preservation of it we should account no sacrifice too great : and we sliould be as studious to promote it amongst others, as to preserve it with ourselves. If we see an unkind spirit prevailing any where, we should endeavour to extinguish the fire, and not, by countenancing it, add fuel …
444 wordsSECTION 227553.] The Fear Of God Inculcated. 247
all tlie richest blessings of redemption, whilst those who cast off the fear of God shall be left inconsolably and for ever desolate^. What inducements are here to seek that holy disposition of mind inculcated in our text !] 2. His indignation against those who fear him not — [God does not merely withhold his bles…
749 wordsSECTION 228The Broken And Contrite In Heart Encouraged.
2. To cultivate a child-like spirit — [We have addressed you as " children:" though there may be many present who are " young men and fathers," yet must we say, that an advance towards Christian perfection will always be manifested by a proportionate growth in humility. Our blessed Lord told his Apostles, that who…
590 wordsSECTION 229250 Psalms, Xxxiv. 18. [554.
abominable * : yea, to their dying hour do they retain this humihatuig' sense of their own corruptions, notwithstanding they have a hope that God is pacified towards them ; and even the more on account of that very mercy which they have experienced at his hands ^. Shall it be thought that such a sense of sin can b…
509 wordsSECTION 230554.J Broken And Contrite In Heart Encouraged. 251
On the contrary, the man whose heart is broken bears a very different testimony. He acknowledges that he deserves God's wrath and indignation ; and that, whatever sentence the Judge shall pass upon him, he will be fully justified as not inflicting more than his iniquities have deserved^. Above all, the contrite pe…
470 wordsSECTION 231252 Psalms, Xxxiv. 18. [554.
Is any one disposed to ask, " How can these things be?" " How is it that God will manifest himself to his people, and not unto the world ? " This is the very question which one of the Apostles put to our Lord ; who, in reply, confirmed the truth he had asserted ; saying, " If any man love me, he will keep my words…
480 wordsSECTION 232554.] Broken And Contrite In Heart Encouraged. 2,53
Who shewed to thee thy sins? V/ho opened thine eyes? Who softened thy heart? Who disposed thee to condemn thyself, and to justify thy God? Is this thine own work, or the work of any enemy ? Does not the very nature of the work itself constrain thee to say, " He that hath wrought me to this self-same thing, is God?…
441 wordsSECTION 233Dlv.
heart ; and to give to those who " mourn in Zion, to give," I say, " beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness"?" And, if the greatness of your past sins appear an obstacle in your way, has he not told you, that " where sin has abounded, his grace shall mu…
723 wordsSECTION 234256 Psalms, Xxxv. 3. [555.
Now this was the sure way to succeed in prayer. Nothing so secures the interposition of God in our behalf, as the magni- fying of him in our hearts : " Them that honour him, he will honour." If we limit his mercies, he will limit his gifts. If we doubt his power or willingness to help, he will withhold such a ver.…
796 wordsSECTION 235256 Psalms, Xxxv. 3. [555.
There is yet another adversary, who is lying in wait for our souls, and, like a roaring lion, going about, seeking to devour us ; and that is Satan : nor can we have any conception of the wiles and devices to which he has recourse, in order to accomplish his malignant purpose. Even in Paradise he pre- vailed to en…
293 wordsSECTION 23625H Psalms, Xxxv. 3. ^555.
He is waiting every moment to execute his commission against us ; well knowing, that the instant he can inflict the stroke he meditates, all hope of our deliverance is at an end for ever. He has his eye steadily fixed on persons of every age and station : and the instruments he has at his command are as numerous a…
722 wordsSECTION 23725H Psalms, Xxxv. 3. ^555.
Go then to him for it in David's ivords ; " Lord, say unto my soul, I am thy salvation." Offer this petition humbly: oiler it earnestly : offer it in faith Never, from the foundation of the world, did he cast out one who came to him in sincerity and truth. If you plead with him in faith, all these enemies shall be…
295 wordsSECTION 238Compassion To The Sick.
For what happiness can you possess in this tvorld, whilst your soul, your immortal soul, is in such imminent danger? If you were only, like David, encompassed with armed hosts that were seeking to destroy you, you would be full of alarm and terror : and can you enjoy a moment's ease, while it is doubtful whether i…
385 wordsSECTION 239556.'] Compassion To The Sick. 261
cution of an unoffending servant, were stricken with any disease by God himself, so far from rejoicing at it, or even being miconcerned about it, he laid it to heart, and set himself by fasting and prayer to obtain for them a removal, or at least a sanctified improve- ment of their sufferings : in a word, he felt …
352 wordsSECTION 240262 Psalms, Xxxv. 13, 14. [556,
complimentary inquiries, but they cannot sympathize with the afflicted, and, by participation, lighten their biu:thens. If they come to visit their friend, they have nothing to speak of but vanity, nothing that can strengthen his weak hands, or sustain his troubled mind. " Miserable comforters are they all, and ph…
452 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical edition (1832-33); scan/OCR from Internet Archive.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.