PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
Horae Homileticae — Volume 6 of 21
Simeon, Charles, 1759-1836 · 237,329 words · 495 reading sections
Psalms
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311 wordsSECTION 266L
Text. Subject. Page t 651. God's Anger a Reason for turning to 116 652. xc. 14. 653. xc. 17. The Beauty of Jehovah imparted to his 125 654. xci. 1 — 4. The Blessedness of God's People . 131 655. xci. 9, 10. The Security of those who dwell in God 137 656. xci. 14—16. The Character and Privilege of…
307 wordsSECTION 3Psalms
Vll Text. Subject. Page. 084. ex. 1 — 7. The Person and Offices of Christ . 250 085. cxi. 2. The great Work of Redemption . 250 080. cxi. 10. 200 087. cxiii. 5 — 8. Greatness and Condescension of God . 205 088. cxv. 9—13. Trust in God recommended . 269 089. cxvi. 1 — 7. Thanksgiving for Deliver…
300 wordsSECTION 4Psalms
718. 719. 720. 721. 722. 723. 724. 725. 726. 727. 728. 729. 730. 731. 732. 733. 734. 735. 736. 737. 738. 739. 740. 741. 742. 743. 744. 745. 746. 747. 748. 749. 750. 751. 752. cxxv. 4, 5. cxxvi. 1 — 4. cxxvi. 5. cxxvi. 5, 6. cxxx. 1 — 4. cxxx. 5, 6. cxxx. 7, 8. cxxxi. 2, cxxxii…
350 wordsSECTION 5The Goodness Of God To Israel.
Ps. lxxiii. 1. Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. THE aversion which men usually feel to a vindi- cation of God's absolute sovereignty, proceeds from an idea, that the exercise of it would be repugnant to his other perfections of goodness and mercy. But there is no just foundation …
288 wordsSECTION 62 Psalms, Lxxiii. 1. [623.
as are of a clean heart;" and therefore they are such as may reasonably hope to experience the transcen- dent goodness of their God. The words before us will naturally lead us to consider, I. The character of Israel — "All are not Israel, who are of Israel a." The true Israel are widely different from those who …
367 wordsSECTION 7G23.J Tiie Goodness Of God To Israel. 3
[None but those who have embraced the promises of the Gospel have been able to " cleanse themselves from all fleshly and spiritual filthiness :" but " all who are really Christ's, have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." We say not, that Christians have no lusts remaining in them ; (for a man that …
431 wordsSECTION 84 Psalms, Lxxiii. 1. [623.
true Israel" are " a people nigh unto God." It is their delight to draw nigh to God at all times, to make known to him their requests on all occasions, and to walk continually in the light of his countenance. He, on the other hand, like a tender parent, condescends to hear and answer their petitions, and reveals h…
676 wordsSECTION 9(3 Psalms, Lxxiii. 16, 17. [624.
f See Ps. cvi. 4, 5. Ps. lxxiii. 16, 17. When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me ; until 1 went 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 Revelat…
705 wordsSECTION 10(3 Psalms, Lxxiii. 16, 17. [624.
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 Governor of the universe will testify by his present dispensa- tions his love for virtue, and his hatred of iniquity. The friends of Job carried this notion so far, that, without any oth…
365 wordsSECTION 118 Psalms, Lxxiii. 16, 17. [624.
the exaltation of the wicked, and the almost universal depres- sion of the righteous, of whom it may be said, that " they are plagued all the day long, and chastened every morning p?"] But the Psalmist, having stated his difficulty, gives us, II. The solution — To the carnal mind the difficulty is insurmount- ab…
751 wordsSECTION 1210 Psalms, Lxxiii. 16, 17. [624.
too plainly on this subject to admit of any doubt g ■ — Say then, Are these to be envied? Alas! if viewed aright, they must be regarded only as persons accumulating wrath upon their own heads h, or as victims fattening for the slaughter1: and consequently, their superior prosperity in earthly things affords no gro…
661 wordsSECTION 13The Christian'S Experience And Hopes.
k ver. 2, 3. ' Acts viii. 22. m ver. 22. n Mark x. 22. 625.J the christian's experience and hopes. 11 as naked out of the world as we came into it." But, if we possess spiritual riches, we shall carry them with us into the eternal world, and have our weight of glory proportioned to them. The operation of these upo…
368 wordsSECTION 14\2 Psalms, Lxx1Ii. 23, 24. [625.
Here we see, the saint with his God, in a way of humble dependence ; and his God with him, in a way of effectual support. 1. The saint with his God — [Numberless are the difficulties with which the Christian is encompassed, whilst yet in himself he has not power to surmount the smallest of them. In fact, he has t…
453 wordsSECTION 15625.1 The Christian'S Experience And Hopes. 13
" Knowing in whom he has believed," he expects — 1. Guidance in all his way — [In addition to all the difficulties of his journey, he knows not which way he is to pursue. He has a general notion of his path : but an infinite variety of circumstances occur from time to time, to render it difficult to discern which …
477 wordsSECTION 1614 Psalms, Lxxiii. 23, 24. [625.
may rejoice, even as if lie were already in possession of the full result h ] See, then, the Christian's life exhibited before you. It is, 1. An arduous life — [The people of the world imagine it an easy thing to get to heaven : but the real saint finds it far otherwise. They glide down the stream in a way of ca…
422 wordsSECTION 17The Christian'S Choice.
brought into closest union with the Deity. What has been said of a father and a son, does but very faintly convey what actually passes between God and him. There is, on the one part, the entire dependence of his soul on God ; and, on the other part, the tender care of a father exercised towards him in every step h…
375 wordsSECTION 1810 Psalms, Lxxiii. 25. [626.
world as the portion in which his soul delighted, but now he renounces it as sincerely as he ever loved it — [He does not indeed treat it with stoical indifference. He knows that wealth and honour are capable of important uses, and that, if God bestow them, they may be richly enjoyedf. But he is weU assured that t…
725 wordsSECTION 1918 Psalms, Lxxiii. 28. [627.
3. He is an eternal portion — [However long we retain earthly things, we must part with them at last. Death will reduce us to a level with the poorest of mankind, nor can we carry any thing along with us into the invisible world x. But, if God be ours, we shall pos- sess him for ever. We are not left without many …
517 wordsSECTION 20627.1 Benefit Op Drawing Near To God. 19
Ps. lxxiii. 28. It is good for me to draw near to God. THE dispensations of Providence are often so dark and inscrutable, that the 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 more particularly a stumbling-b…
482 wordsSECTION 2120 Psalms, Lxxiil 28. [027.
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 own apprehension ; and the effect upon our own minds is precisely the same as if the approximation were real.] 2. With the heart— [The drawing nigh to God is not a work of the …
438 wordsSECTION 22627.1 Benefit Of Drawing Near To God. 21
Scripture and experience : and people have an easy way of setting both these aside. The words of Scripture are repre- sented as high eastern metaphors : and the experience of the primitive saints is supposed to be confined to the earlier ages of the Church. And with respect to the experience of living saints, that…
479 wordsSECTION 2322 Psalms, Lxxiii. 28. [627.
It will moreover strengthen us for duty. We should not so often faint in the way of duty, if we waited more constantly upon our God. He " would renew our strength as the eagle's0:" he would " give us more grace p," even " grace sufficient for us." However weak we are in ourselves, we should be " able to do all thi…
725 wordsSECTION 2424* Psalms, Lxxiv. 22. [628.
d Jam. iv. 8. e Ps. cxlviii. 14. f 1 John i. 3. e Jer. xxx. 21. god's interest in his people. Ps. lxxiv. 22. Arise, 0 God ! plead thine own cause. NO one can have ever heard or read the account given us of Abraham's intercession for Sodom, with- out being struck with the condescension of God in suffering a poor …
895 wordsSECTION 2526 Psalms, Lxxiv. 22. [628.
3. From the connexion which there is between their prosperity and his glory — [When God threatened to extirpate Israel for their heinous provocations, Moses urged on God the consideration of his own glory, which would suffer, if that threat were carried into exe- cution1". On the other hand, God's honour is repres…
627 wordsSECTION 26629.] God Greatly To Be Feared. 27
1. A word of caution, however, may not be un- seasonable— [It may be supposed, that, whilst we thus consider God as engaged to help us, we are at liberty to sit down in sloth and inactivity. But God will help those only who endeavour, as far as they are able, to help themselves. Hence, when the Church of old crie…
332 wordsSECTION 2728 Psalms, Lxxvi. 7. [629.
Ps. lxxvi. 7. Thou, even thou, art to be feared : and who may stand in thy sight, ivhen once thou art angry? THERE is not only a generally prevailing notion that God is merciful, but the consideration of his niercy is with many a ground and reason for dis- missing from their minds all fear of his displeasure. But…
512 wordsSECTION 28629.1 God Greatly To Be Feared. 29
cities of the plain ; his wonders in Egypt ; his judgments on all his own chosen people in the wilderness ; his extirpation of all the nations that inhabited the land of Canaan : in a word, see his dealings either with nations or individuals, and you must come speedily to this same conclusion, that he is a God ver…
435 wordsSECTION 2930 Psalms, Lxxvi. 7. [629.
God a liarg." Even Job himself says, " If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me : if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse11." But possibly it may be thought that God will never proceed to extremities with all the human race ; and that, consequently, if we are as good as the genera- lity…
446 wordsSECTION 30Despondency Depicted And Reproved.
Ps. lxxvii. 7 — 10. Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more ? Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore ? Hath God forgotten to be gracious ? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies ? And I said, this is my infirmity : but I will remember the years of the r…
365 wordsSECTION 3132 Psalms, Lxxvil 7—10. [630.
God himself must have changed, and have cast off that character, which, in appearance at least, he had on all former occasions exhibited : yea, his darling attri- butes of mercy and truth seemed to have undergone a change, and to have assumed an aspect totally different from that in which they had hitherto been vi…
383 wordsSECTION 32630.] Despondency Depicted And Reproved. 33
been already past, and disregard all means of grace as though it were utterly in vain to use them.] 2. Desponding fears in reference to God — [He properly referred every thing to God as the one source of all good : but instead of deriving comfort from this, he made it an occasion of increased despondency. And thus…
443 wordsSECTION 3334, Psalms, Lxxvii. 7—10. [630.
hast deceived me, and I was deceived1." Alas! what a root of bit- terness is an impatient spirit ! and how greatly does it aggra- vate the calamities under which we suffer ! Surely we should leave times and seasons, whether of trial or consolation, unto God, and say, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in hims."] …
443 wordsSECTION 34630.] Despondency Depicted And Reproved. 35
proclaim His might, who for the space of forty years fed them with bread from heaven, and with water out of the stony rock, and caused their garments never to decay. Be it so then, that our difficulties are great, yea, insuperable by human power : then will God magnify towards us his power so much the more, and sh…
467 wordsSECTION 3536 Psalms, Lxxvii. 7—10. [630.
Egypt to die in the wilderness, yet he brought their children, who they supposed would fall an easy prey to their enemies, into that good land, and gave it them for their inheritance : .and so perfectly did he fulfil his word to them in every respect, that Joshua after many years could appeal to the whole nation, …
487 wordsSECTION 36Jews And Christians Compared.
to unite " the fear of the Lord with the comforts of the Holy Ghost m." Be watchful then, that you do not by any unhallowed dispositions " grieve the Holy Spirit11 ;" but endeavour to " walk in the fear of the Lord all the day long0."] m Acts ix. 31. n Eph. iv. 30. ° Prov. xxiii. 17. Ps. lxxviii. 8. A generation t…
336 wordsSECTION 3788 Psalms, Lxxviii. 8. [631.
[No nation under heaven were ever so distinguished by the Divine favour as they. The wonders that were wrought for them in Egypt — their passage through the Red Sea, in which the enemies who followed them were drowned — their being guided by a cloud which afforded them shade by day, and light by night — their bein…
465 wordsSECTION 38631.1 Jews And Christians Compared. 39
Now from having so complete a knowledge of them, we are ready to imagine, that they were as far beyond all others in depravity as they were in their privileges. But, that we may do justice to the cha- racter of that generation, let us proceed to consider, II. The character of ours — The favours conferred on us ar…
446 wordsSECTION 3940 Psalms, Lxxviii. 8. [631.
are ; performed from a sense of duty, rather than from inclina- tion ; and with a view to satisfy their conscience, rather than to enjoy and glorify their God ! In a word, instead of pointing like the needle to the pole, their heart rests indifferently in any other position than the right ; and never, unless from s…
490 wordsSECTION 40031.1 Jews And Christians Compared. 41
of mind, no entire devotedness of heart to God. But let it be remembered, that " God looketh not at the outward appear- ance, but at the heart :" he " require th truth in the inward parts." And to the heart must we also look: for " as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." I mean not that we should take no notice…
471 wordsSECTION 41The Evil Of Unbelief.
Ps. lxxviii. 19 — 22. They spake against God : they said, Can God furnish a table in the tvilderness ? Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams over- flowed; can he give bread also ? can he provide flesh for his people ? Therefore the Lord heard this, and ivas wroth : so a fire tvas k…
391 wordsSECTION 42(532.] The Evil Of Unbelief. 43
2. From the indignation which he manifested on account of it — [" When he heard these unbelieving doubts, he was wroth: and so a fire was kindled in Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel," and " he smote them with a very great and fatal plague0." Now, it is true, we do not see the same dis- pleasure exerci…
436 wordsSECTION 4344 Psalms, Lxxviii. 19—22. [632
visible manifestations of his power and love. If he delay, we must wait his time : if he appear for a time to have forgotten us, we must regard it only as a call to give him a more abun- dant measure of glory, by a full persuasion, that " in the mount of difficulty he will be seen ; " and that, though he were to s…
460 wordsSECTION 44Obstinacy In Sin Reproved.
people, no one has been so much noticed, and so highly ap- plauded by him, as faith. Even when as bright an assemblage of graces as ever were united, were called forth into exercise by the penitent Mary, nothing but her faith was noticed by our Lord: "Thy faith hath saved thee: go in peace1." In fact, as it is tha…
397 wordsSECTION 4546 Psalms, Lxxviii. 32. [633.
their eyes, and they were brought out with a high hand, no sooner did they see fresh perils arise, than they renewed their murmurings with augmented vehemence, and complained that they had been betrayed to their utter ruinc. Nor did even the passage of the Red Sea, and the sight of all their enemies dead upon the …
475 wordsSECTION 46G33.J Obstinacy In Sin Reproved. 47
1. Our guilt resembles theirs — [The sins of Israel may be comprehended under these two, ingratitude and unbelief. And let me ask, Are not these sins as prevalent amongst ourselves as ever they were in the days of Israel ? Are not we loaded with benefits, even as they were ? What conveniences had they, which are n…
513 wordsSECTION 4748 Psalms, Lxxviii. 32. [633.
3. The aggravations of our guilt are greater far — [We have sinned against greater tight than they. What knew they of the mind of God, in comparison with us ? The poorest person in the midst of us is better informed than they : and, consequently, our violations of duty are proportionally heinous in the sight of Go…
480 wordsSECTION 48634.] The Fruit Of Impenitence And Unbelief. 49
world and you, so that to the whole camp of Israel you are patterns of courage and fidelity0? Be assured, your conduct must resemble theirs : your faith, your hope, your love, your zeal, must operate to the production of a life like theirs, if you would attain the same testimony from God, and the same happy issue …
410 wordsSECTION 4950 Psalms, Lxxvi1L 32, 33. [634.
Ps. lxxviii. 32, 33. For all this, they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works. Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble. IT is a saying of Solomon's, that " he who sovveth iniquity, shall reap vanity a:" and the truth of this is remarkably illustrated throughout all…
397 wordsSECTION 50634. J T1Ie Fruit Of Impenitence And Unbelief. 51
[What were the sins in which we indulged years ago? Take us as a collective body; and it must be said, " In those we continue still." The gay, the worldly, the sensual, the pro- fane, all follow their respective courses as much as ever, equally unallured by mercies, and unawed by judgments Nor have all " the wonde…
469 wordsSECTION 5152 Psalms, Lxxviii. 32, 33. [634.
To the saints, blessings are really blessings ; and even troubles are blessings in disguise. The man who truly believes in Christ, enjoys, in common mercies, a sense of God's love and favour, to which an unbeliever is an utter stranger : and his trials he receives as paternal chastisements, which are the means ord…
456 wordsSECTION 52Dcxxxv.
THE EXTENT OF GOD's MERCY. Ps. lxxviii. 34 — 39. When he slew them, then they sought him ; and they returned and inquired early after God : and they remembered that God was their Mock, and the high God their Redeemer. Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues : …
379 wordsSECTION 5354 Psalms, Lxxyi1I. 34, 39. [635.
brought before us, whilst we notice the conduct of the Israelites towards God, and his forbearance towards them, or, in other words, I. The extent of their wickedness — They were continually provoking God to anger — [They were from the beginning " a rebellious and gain- saying people." Never would they pay any re…
650 wordsSECTION 5454 Psalms, Lxxyi1I. 34, 39. [635.
It is thus also that he hath dealt with us — [" How oft have we provoked him, and grieved him by our transgressions11!" yet on every fresh occasion he has shewn himself " slow to anger and of great kindness." Let every one think with himself how many seasons there have been, when, in heart at least, if not in act,…
254 wordsSECTION 55The Efficacy Of Prayer.
produce this happy effect, we shall have reason to be thankful for them.] 2. 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…
359 wordsSECTION 56636.1 The Efficacy Of Prayer. 57
enemy, who " wasted and destroyed it ;" and it would shortly be entirely rooted out, if God did not speedily interpose for its protection b. By " the man of God's right hand, and the Son of Man whom God had made strong for himself," I suppose the Psalmist intended to specify king Hezekiah, whom he entreated God to…
426 wordsSECTION 5758 Psalms, Lxxx. 17—19. [636.
which I suppose him to be spoken of in the psalm before us. He is that David whom God has anointed to rule over his Church and people, and through whom he will shew himself at all times mighty to save.] Through Him, then, we must seek for God's effec- tual help — [Through him must we look for the acceptance of ou…
436 wordsSECTION 58636.1 The Efficacy Of Prayer. 59
universe stands in need of these ; and on the attainment of it depends our everlasting welfare. Let every one, then, pray, " Quicken me, O Lord ! " Oh! turn me, for thy mercy's sake ! " Turn thou me, and I shall be turned."] 2. The manifestations of his favour — [We should never rest without an evidence in our own…
442 wordsSECTION 59Go Psalms, Lxxxi. 10. [637.
Hence we may see, 1. How little reason there is for any man to de- spond— [Who can be in a more desperate state than that depicted in the psalm before us ? Yet for them was relief solicited and obtained. And is there not the same help for us ? Is not the Saviour as mighty as ever ? Is his hand shortened at all, t…
388 wordsSECTION 60637.] Prayer Effectual, To Any Extent. 01
Ps. lxxxi. 10. / am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt : open thy mouth wide, and I will Jill it. ACCESS to God, and a certainty of acceptance with him, have been amongst the most distinguished privileges of the Lord's people in all ages. To his ancient people the Jews, God said, " What …
449 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical edition (1832-33); scan/OCR from Internet Archive.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.