PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
Horae Homileticae — Volume 5 of 21
Simeon, Charles, 1759-1836 · 242,250 words · 497 reading sections
394 Psalms, Li. 4. [586.
groundless claim as this ? Know then, that tve have no claim on God ; and, when he shall exclude us from the inheritance of his saints, " he will be justified " in the judgment that he shall denounce against us. Indeed, in assigning us this portion, he will only give effect to our own wishes, and answer us in the …
490 wordsSECTION 362Sin An Offence Against God. 395
586.] rebellion against God; and that "everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord " is his just desert. Till a man has that view of himself, he will never be thoroughly broken and contrite ; he will never lothe and abhor himself for his ini- quities ; he will never have that " repentance which is unto …
496 wordsSECTION 363Original Sin.
then ? Oh ! ask yourselves, ' What will be my view of this matter in the last day ? ' Then even the sins that now seem of no account, will appear most heinous, and the price paid for a momentary indulgence, most prodigal. The selling of a birth- right for a mess of pottage is but a very faint emblem of the folly o…
372 wordsSECTION 364587.1 Original Sin. 397
for the wickedness he had committed : his intention is, to humble himself before God and man as a crea- ture altogether corrupt, and to represent his wicked- ness as no other than a sample of that iniquity of which his heart was full, a stream issuing from an overflowing fountain. This, we doubt not, is the genui…
391 wordsSECTION 365398 Psalms, Li. 5. [587.
testimony of Isaiah and Jeremiah is altogether to the same effect '^; as is that also of Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes^ And, in the New Testament, our Lord himself teaches us to regard the heart as the proper womb, where every species of ini- quity is generated, and from whence it proceeds^: and St. Paul dec…
517 wordsSECTION 366587.] Original Sin. 399
intimation in the Scriptures that any are saved without him : on the contrary, it is said, that, " as in Adam all died, so in Christ shall all be made alive." In the temple shown to Ezekiel, there was one door for the prince : it was the door by which the Lord God had entered : and was to be for ever closed to all…
474 wordsSECTION 367400 Psalms, Li. 5. [587.
to renounce his error : the other \Yas, filled with self-approbation a7id self -applause., thinking nothing of liis risks and dangers, if he might but help forward the utter subversion of tlie government. Take these two persons, and say, whether, not- withstanding their acts were in appearance the same, there woul…
444 wordsSECTION 368588.3 ^"^ Importance Of Inward Integrity. 401
1. How greatly we need the renewing influence of God's Spirit — n Eph. iii. 8. 1 Tim. i. 15. [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 im…
351 wordsSECTION 369402 Psalms, Li. 6. [588.
Ps. li. 6. Behold, thou 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…
498 wordsSECTION 370588.1 The Importance Of Inward Integrity. 403
[We profess, as persons redeemed by the blood of our in- carnate God, to give up ourselves to him, and to live unto Him who died for us : and, if we are sincere in this, our deter- mination is fixed, that, with God's help, nothing shall ever keep us from executing this intention. We have deliberately counted the c…
472 wordsSECTION 371404 Psalms, Li. 6. [588.
be learned by the heart : and of the heart there is but one teacher, even God ; according as it is said, " Who teacheth hke God"^:" and again, " There is a spirit in man ; and the inspiration of the Ahnighty giveth him understanding ^" Amongst the treasures of wisdom which God will impart to the truly upright, an…
444 wordsSECTION 372588.1 The Impoktance Of Inward Integrity. 405
If that snare do not succeed, he will draw them aside, after some points of less importance, or " matters of doubtful disputa- tion." Multitudes of false apostles has he at his command, who will gladly aid him in this accursed work'", and concur with him in his endeavours to " corrupt their minds from the sim- pli…
499 wordsSECTION 373406 Psalms, Li. 6. [588.
some one point, such as the mortification of the flesh, or alms- giving, or penances of man's invention. Even those who are more enhghtened, are apt to regard only one particular set of graces that are more congenial with their own feelings, and to neglect those which are of an opposite aspect ; one despising ever…
493 wordsSECTION 374588.1 The Importance Of Inward Integrity. 407
the seed by meditation, and of watering it with tears, that has given Satan an opportunity of taking it out of your hearts as soon as ever it has been sown there "=. Get the " honest and the good heart," which truly desires to make a just improvement of the word, and God will yet cause the seed to spring up in your…
450 wordsSECTION 375The Means Of Deliverance From Spiritual Leprosy.
Ps. li. 7. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall he clean : wash me, and I shall he whiter than snow. EVERY part of God's word is profitable for our instruction in righteousness ; but, in the Psalms, religion is exemplified, and, as it were, embodied. The workings of genuine repentance are admirably delineated in tha…
346 wordsSECTION 376589.] Deliverance From Spiritual Leprosy. 401)
[The Psalmist evidently refers to the state of a leper, or a leprous house. No disorder was more lothesome than leprosy™. A person infected with it was di'iven from the society of his dearest relatives, and was necessitated to pro- claim his uncleanness to all who approached him". Nor could his disorder ever be cu…
441 wordsSECTION 377410 Psalms, Li. 7. [589.
plainly ascribed to the things here typified^'." It is therefore in reference to Christ that David says, " Purge me with hyssop." In the purification of a leprous house, water was used with the blood ^. This further typified the renewing influences of the Spirit of Christ, and David seems to allude to it, when he …
429 wordsSECTION 378The Operations Of Sin And Of Grace.
[If David did not despair of mercy, who else can have cause to do so ? If the blood of Christ could so purge him, why may it not ks also ? If it had such efficacy a thousand years before it was shed, surely it will not be less efficacious now it has been poured forth. But it is not the mere shedding of Christ's bl…
362 wordsSECTION 379412 Psalms, Li. 8. [590.
[Hear the desponding complaint of Cain : " My punish- ment is greater than I can bear." He feh himself an outcast from God and man ; and was haunted by a guilty conscience, which was ever tormenting him with its accusations, and caus- ing him to anticipate, with terrible apprehensions, his final doom. The state of…
487 wordsSECTION 380590.] The Operations Of Sin And Of Grace. 413
that sin is a tremendous evil, and that, however it may be " rolled under the tongue for a season as a sweet morsel," "it will bite at last like a serpent, and sting like an adder ? "] Let us, not, however, be so intent on the power of sin to wound the soul, as to forget, II. The power of grace to heal it — What …
417 wordsSECTION 381414 Psalms, Li. 10. [591.
that God is still the same, and that his grace is as eifectual as ever for the reviving and the comforting of the contrite soul '^'i Be it known to all, that " God wiH not contend for ever ; neither will he be always wroth ; lest the spirit should fail before him, and the souls which he has made ^."] We may learn …
400 wordsSECTION 382591. J True Renovation Of Heart. 415
Ps. li. 10. Create in me a clean heart, 0 God, and renew a right spirit within me. PARDON and peace are the first blessings which a penitent will seek. But no true penitent will be satisfied with them : he will desire with no less ardour the renovation of his soul in righteousness and true holiness The psalm befo…
451 wordsSECTION 383416 Psalms, Li. 10. [591.
*' His last end will be worse than the beginning"^." He must " be steadfast, immoveable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord^," if ever he would find acceptance at the last. " He must endure unto the end, if ever he would be saved."] Seeing that these things are so necessary, let us inquire, IL How they …
501 wordsSECTION 384591.] True Renovation Of Heart. 417
strengthen, settle us"^." We need only look to David for an illustration of this trvith. What man ever lived, on whom you might depend more fully than on him? He was " a man after God's own heart ; " disciplined in the school of adversity, and honoured with divine communications to as great an extent as the most f…
510 wordsSECTION 385418 Psalms, Li. 10. [591.
" eat and drink his own damnation i." And so may a man render baptism the means of his more aggravated condemnation ; as Simon Magus actually did: for he continued as much " in the gall of bitterness and the bond of iniquity" after his baptism, as he was before, with the additional guilt of his hypocrisy in having…
495 wordsSECTION 386The Penitent Encouraged.
and a right and constant spirit renewed within liim," if ever he would " see the face of God in peace." Yet I would add, that there is nothing impossible with God ; and that he who magnified his mercy in the salvation of an adulterous and murderous David, will " cast out none who come to him " in humility and fait…
372 wordsSECTION 387E E 2
420 PSALMS, hi. 14. [592. Jesus before the world began." He is " a God of salvation," as making the redemption of the world his great concern ; yea, as altogether occupied in it ; so as, if I may so speak, to be swallowed up in it, and to be " a God of it." We read of him as " a God of patience and consolation," y…
437 wordsSECTION 388592.] The Penitent Encouraged. 421
creation ? We should bless God for the faculties bestowed upon us. Are we elevated above any of our fellows by the communication of spiritual blessings to our souls? We are bound to praise God for such " an unspeakable gift." If we forbore to speak His praises, methinks " the very 'stones would cry out against us.…
450 wordsSECTION 389422 Psalms, Li. 16, 17. [593.
2. Have respect to God under his proper character — [View God not merely as your Creator, your Governor, and your Judge, but as your Covenant God and Saviour. See how David addresses him : " O God, thou God of my sal- vation ! " Thus it will be well for every sinner of mankind to do. See your own interest in him :…
305 wordsSECTION 390593.] A Broken Heart The Best Sacrifice. 423
Ps, li. 16, 17. Thou desirest not sacrifice ; else would I give it : thou delightest not in burnt-offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit : a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. "WHEREWITHAL shall I come before the Lord?" is the first inquiry that will be made by an awakened sin…
443 wordsSECTION 391424 Psalms, Li. 16, 17. [593.
[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 con- solation from any thing but the actual removal of his burthens. Thus far it ma…
481 wordsSECTION 392593.] A Broken Heart The Best Sacrifice. 425
fixed upon him for goocU — 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 him " : and the more abased the man is in his own eyes, the higher will God e…
492 wordsSECTION 393426 Psalms, Li. 16, 17. [593.
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 satis- fied with a little transien…
489 wordsSECTION 394The Afflicted Soul Comforted.
cannot but have seen in otliers, and probably felt within your- selves a disposition to depart from this ground, and to indulge a spirit of self-sufficiency and pride. I entreat you to examhie yourselves with respect to it It is a common evil, and is very apt to lurk in us unperceived. But if we see it not ourselv…
390 wordsSECTION 395428 Psalms, Lv. 6. [594.
I had wings like a dove ! for then would I fly away, and be at rest." This being by no means an uncommon sentiment, I will shew, I. What are the occasions which usually give rise to this wish — The wish itself necessarily presupposes a state of trouble ; and it may arise in the bosom, 1. From temporal troubles …
460 wordsSECTION 396594.1 The Afflicted Soul Comforted. 429
from troubling, and where the weary are at rest." " Where- fore," says he, " is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul ; who long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures ? There the prisoners rest together ; they hear not the voice of the oppressor. T…
505 wordsSECTION 397430 Psalms, Lv. 6. [594.
II. How far the godly are at liberty to indulge it — Certainly we are at liberty to wish for death : for St. Paul " desired to depart, and to be with Christ," which he deemed far better than the happiest state on earth : and we all are encouraged to be " looking for, and hasting unto, the coming of the day of Chr…
438 wordsSECTION 398594.1 The Afflicted Soul Comforted. 431
2. That he should complete his work in his own way — [He calls all his people to bear their cross, in imitation of their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Now " the Lord Jesus, though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered : " and " he was made perfect through suf- ferings ; " and in the …
503 wordsSECTION 399Dxcv.
poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the lieat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall"." Go to him then ; take refuge in him ; cast yourselves upon him ; and let him give you rest, in his own time and way. Then will he walk with you in t…
672 wordsSECTION 400434 Psalms, Lvi. 12. [595.
2. At our confirmation — [As at twelve years of age the Jewish children were pre- sented at the temple, that they might come more fully under the yoke of their Law ; so amongst us, at a somewhat later age, are young people called upon to present themselves unto the Lord, and to take upon themselves those engagemen…
653 wordsSECTION 401434 Psalms, Lvi. 12. [595.
595.] vows TO BE PERFORMED. 43.') The least that we can do is, " to render praises to the Lord :" and this we should do, 1. In a way of devout acknowledgment — [This was the way in which David performed his vows : " I will go into thy house with bumt-oiferings : I will pay thee my vows, which my lips have uttered…
522 wordsSECTION 402436 Psalms, Lvi. 12. [595.
any value. And this is what St. Paul most earnestly recom- mends : " I beseech you, Brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service'"." In presenting volu7itary oblations to the Lord, there were some peculiar en- courageme…
466 wordsSECTION 403Dxcvi.
David's love to god. Ps. Ivii. 7 — 11. My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed : I will sing and give j^/'fiise. Awake up, my glory ; awake, psaltery and harp : I myself will awake early. I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people : I loill sing unto thee among the nations. For thy mercy is great unto tl^e h…
359 wordsSECTION 404438 Psalms, Lvii. 7—11. [596.
God had provided for the redemption of his soul. Not even Isaiah himself prophesied more fully, or more minutely, re- specting the sufferings and glory of the Messiah, than David did. Hence, viewing himself as a redeemed sinner, bought with the blood of God's only dear Son, he could not but adore the boundless ext…
733 wordsSECTION 405440 Psalms, Lvii. 7—11. [596.
But, feeling that his sluggish heart did not obey the call as he could wish, he chides his soul : " Awake up, my glory," my tongue, by which alone I can ascribe to God the honour due unto his name : " awake, psaltery and harp," with which I am accustomed to celebrate his praise : " I myself," with all my faculties…
658 wordsSECTION 406Dxcvil
597.1 god's banner over his people. 441 2. Seek to have the dispositions of your minds suited to his dispensations towards you — [What are the feeHngs which his mercy and truth should generate in your soul? Should they not be those of admira- tion, and love, and gratitude, and affiance ? Should they not be also t…
402 wordsSECTION 407442 ^ Psalms, Lx. 4. [597.
adversity ; and had begun almost to despair of ever seeing their hopes reahzed, respecting the extension and stabihty of their national power. But David tells them, that, in his advancement to the kingdom, and in their recent successes, " God had given them a banner," and had unfurled it, as it vv^ere, before thei…
743 wordsSECTION 408444 Psalms, Lx. 4. [597.
Let us consider, II. For what end they are displayed unto us — As the banner given to Israel in the time of David was to confirm their faith in his promises, and to assure them of God's faithfulness, so are the banners which God has given to us bestowed, 1. To confirm our confidence in him — [We ought to " know …
645 wordsSECTION 409598.] Advice To The Afflicted. 445
shall be as grass, and forge ttest the Lord thy Maker**? " Beloved Brethren, " sanctify the Lord of Hosts himself in your hearts, and let him be your fear, and let Jiim be your dread''."] 2. Trust in God— [Excellent was that resolution of the Psalmist, " In the name of our God we w^ill set vip our banners y." It i…
339 wordsSECTION 410446 Psalms, Lxi. 2. [598.
Ps. Ixi. 2. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed : lead me to the Rock that is higher than I. 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 …
446 wordsSECTION 411598.3 Advice To The Afflicted. 447
1. To speak generally, we should betake ourselves to prayer — [God is the only source of strength and consolation. If we apply to the creature in our distress, we shall invariably find him but a broken reed^. On the contrary, the pressure that is on our minds will, for the most part, increase : or, if the trouble…
478 wordsSECTION 412418 Psalms, Lxii. 5—8. [599.
Address — 1. Those who experience no overwhelming trou- bles— [However serene the sky at present be, no man knows how soon a storm may arise. But supposing our voyage through hfe be ever so favourable, it must come to an end : and what shall we do in the hour of death without an interest in Christ ? Above all, w…
269 wordsSECTION 413God Our Only And All-Sufficient Help.
Ps. Ixii. 5 — 8. My soul, umit 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, hi God is my sal- vatio7i and my glory : the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times ; ye people, pour out your heart…
547 wordsSECTION 414450 Psalms, Lxii. 5— 8. [599.
manifestly prove, how exceedingly the grace of God was magnified towards him We wonder not at his frequent repetition of the same acknowledgments^, or at the augmented confidence with which he was enabled to look forward to a continuance of the Divine favour even unto death ^.] But from this experience he was full…
705 wordsSECTION 415452 Psalms, Lxiii. 1—7. [600.
° Jer. i. 19. P Lam. iii. 25, 26. Add to this, Lam. iii. 27, 28, 29. 1 Ps. xxvii. 13, 14. r Ps. xlii. 11. Ps. Ixiii. 1 — 7. 0 God, thou art my God: early will I seek thee ; my soul thirsteth for thee ; my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land ivhere no water is; to see thy poiver a7id thy glory, so as …
661 wordsSECTION 416452 Psalms, Lxiii. 1—7. [600.
Its desire therefore is after God alone — [" Early will I seek thee," is the language of every one that is born of God. In the secret chamber his first waking thoughts will be, "Where is God my Maker ? " where is Jesus my Redeemer ? where is the blessed Spirit my Sanctifier and my Comforter ? In the public ordinan…
339 wordsSECTION 417454 Psalms, Lxiii. 1—7. [600.
my heart is fixed ; I will sing and give praise." He knows what God hath said, " Whoso offereth me praise, glorifieth me : " and he determines to offer unto God the tribute that is so justly due. Nor will he do this in a cold and formal man- ner : no ; as a man of warm feelings expresses with his body the emotions…
811 wordsSECTION 418Following After God.
2. What encouragement have all to seek after God ! [It was not only after David had so grievously trans- gressed, but at the very moment that God was chastening him for his transgressions, that he was thus favoured of his God ^. Can we then with propriety say, This mercy is not for me ? it is not possible for such…
512 wordsSECTION 419601.] Following After God. 457
order to attain : " My soul foUoweth hard after thee." But was he discouraged as one that had failed in his endeavours ? No : he regarded the desires which he felt, and the endeavours which he put forth, as evi- dences that God was with him of a truth ; and as grounds of hope that he should ultimately attain all …
425 wordsSECTION 420458 Psalms, Lxiii. 8. [601.
obtain all that he desires: he is content to " tarry the Lord's leisure," assured that he shall not be ultimately cast out, or suffered " to seek the Lord in vain." The whole of this experience may be seen in another psalm, where David places in one view the greatness of liis necessities, and the urgency of his re…
455 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical edition (1832-33); scan/OCR from Internet Archive.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.