PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
Horae Homileticae — Volume 6 of 21
Simeon, Charles, 1759-1836 · 237,329 words · 495 reading sections
62 Psalms, Lxxxi. 10. [637.
II. The consideration with which it is enforced — Surprising encouragement ! Mark it, 1. As referring to God's ancient people — [God had brought them out of Egypt with a mighty hand and a stretched-out arm. What an evidence was this of his poiver / and what a pledge was this of his willingness to do for them all …
448 wordsSECTION 62637.] Prayer Effectual, To Any Extent. 63
of all who are here present, and ask, Have you, my Brethren, and you, and you, really sought after God, and spread your wants before him, and implored mercy at his hands, and wrestled with him, as it were, in prayer, for an out-pouring of his Spirit upon you ? Have you done it this week past ? Have you done it thi…
527 wordsSECTION 63God Giving Up Obstinate Transgressors.
that " He is able to do for you exceeding abundantly above all that you can ask or even think c." Go to him, then, and " pray to him with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit ;" yea, "pray without ceasing," and "give him no rest" till he has answered your requests. But be not hasty to imagine that lie will no…
392 wordsSECTION 64638.1 God Giving Up Obstinate Transgressor'S. 65
He invites us to look to hime, and to come unto himf, and to ask of him whatsoever we will, with an assurance that we shall not be disappointed of our hopeg. There is no limitation or exception, provided only the things we desire be agreeable to his holy will. If we plead with him in earnest, there is no sin that …
438 wordsSECTION 6566 Psalms, Lxxxi. 11,12. [638.
[God gave them up to idolatry, and to their own hearts' lusts ; and left them to " walk in their own counsels0" And this is the curse which he denounces against us also. " His spirit will not always strive with us." If he see that we are bent upon our evil ways, he will abandon us to our own delusions", and will s…
515 wordsSECTION 66639.] Divine Ordinances Lovely. 67
If therefore we have been brought to hearken to his voice, let us remember Who it is that has unstopped our ears. If it be said, We prayed for these blessings ; and therefore we at least may glory that the blessings do not come to us un- solicited ; we would ask, Who inclined or enabled us to pray ? We should neve…
282 wordsSECTION 6768 Psalms, Lxxxiv. 1—4. [639.
Ps. lxxxiv. 1 — 4. How amiable are thy tabernacles, 0 Lord of Hosts ! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth, for the courts of the Lord : my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. Yea, the sparroio hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O L…
597 wordsSECTION 68639.] Divine Ordinances Lovely. 69
every species of mental trouble, approach the Majesty of heaven, to pour out before him their supplications, and to re- ceive from him a supply for their diversified necessities. The weary and heavy-laden sinner sues for pardon and peace : the soul, harassed with temptations, implores strength whereby to cope with…
447 wordsSECTION 6970 Psalms, Lxxxiv. 1—4. [639.
attain, a disposition of mind that is little understood by the world at large, a spirit of praise and thanks- giving, not unlike to that which animates the hosts above. 1. Their occasions for praise will incessantly be renewed — [Not a prayer they offer shall ever go forth in vain. Their access to God will becom…
430 wordsSECTION 70Dcxl.
only upon husks : whereas the true saint, though poor as Lazarus himself, eateth of " angels' food" ] 2. The blessedness of heaven — [If such be God's courts below, what must heaven itself be ? Well may we long to be there. Well may we " desire to depart and be with Christ," where we shall " behold him face to fac…
376 wordsSECTION 7172 Psalms, Lxxxiv. 10. [G40.
heavier, and which was the greater subject of regret. Under these circumstances we read not one word of complaint respecting the loss of his kingdom : his mind was wholly occupied about the ordinances of God, of which he was deprived. " How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of Hosts ! My soul longeth, yea, even…
859 wordsSECTION 7274 Psalms, Lxxxiv. 10. [640.
3. More profitable — [Temporal advancement a man may gain by attending on earthly courts : but how many miss their aim ! and, after all, e See the marginal translation. what does the most successful gain ? what can he possess, more than food and raiment ? Let the most favoured courtier in the universe say, whethe…
812 wordsSECTION 7376 Psalms, Lxxxiv. 11. [641.
3. On his side is every man, the very instant he enters into the eternal world — [Think you that there is a man in heaven that is not like- minded with David ? or, that there is one in hell who would not assent to it as a truth which he could no longer doubt ? Here, men are blinded by their love of earthly things …
479 wordsSECTION 74(541.1 Promises To The Upright. 77
Ps. lxxxiv. 11. The Lord God is a sun and a shield: the Lord will give grace and glory : no good thing will be with- hold from them that ivalk uprightly. THE choice which every true Christian makes, affords matter of astonishment to the ungodly world. He prefers a life of godliness with all the odium attached to …
522 wordsSECTION 7578 Psalms, Lxxxiv. 11. [641.
maintenance of his integrity, than to rise from the place of a door-keeper to a throne through the smallest violation of his dutyd. He says with David, I esteem all thy precepts con- cerning all things to be right, and I hate every false waye. And with him also he prays, " O that my ways may be directed to keep th…
475 wordsSECTION 76641.] Promises To The Upright. 79
Whilst God himself thus becomes their light and protection, he informs us further,] What he will do for them — [He will give them grace. Certain it is that he must have given them grace before, or else they never would have been able to attain to real uprightness. But, as their conflicts in- crease, he will give …
469 wordsSECTION 7780 Psalms, Lxxxv. 8. [642.
hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee." How strong must have been the conviction of it in his mind! And can any thing be more clear? To have the Lord God himself for their light and defence, and to have all the blessings of grace and glory ensured to them by the unalterable promise of Jehovah; what can t…
325 wordsSECTION 78642.1 Attention To Gods Word Encouraged. 81
ATTENTION TO GOD's WORD ENCOURAGED. Ps. lxxxv. 8. / will hear what God the Lord will speak. : for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints : but let them not turn again to folly. IF we would obtain any blessing from God, we must seek it in the exercise of fervent prayer. Yet shall we not really obta…
534 wordsSECTION 7982 Psalms, Lxxxv. 8. [642.
but to the humble and contrite soul, that relies on his pro- mises in Christ Jesus, there is not a syllable throughout all the inspired volume that leads to discouragement : grace, mercy, and peace are held forth to all of this character. These, though but in an infantine state, are God's "saints and people;" and …
716 wordsSECTION 8084 Psalms, Lxxxv. 9, 10. [643.
3. The obedient saint — [It is your privilege to have your " peace flowing down like a river." And such it will be, if you apply to your souls the many " great and precious promises " which are given you in the Gospel. Search them out, therefore, and treasure them up in your minds. Hear God himself speaking to you…
787 wordsSECTION 8184 Psalms, Lxxxv. 9, 10. [643.
But, formidable as these obstacles were, we behold in our text, II. The way in which they are removed — All has been done for man that was required of man — [A substitute has been provided for our guilty race. The Son of God himself has come down from heaven, and been made under the law, that, in the very nature …
281 wordsSECTION 8286 Psalms, Lxxxv. 9, 10. [643.
person all that is required of his creatures, is such an exalted honour to the law, that it may well be regarded as a sufficient substitute for the obedience of man, and as an adequate ground for the justification of all who shall trust in itd.] Thus a way is opened for man's salvation, in per- fect consistency wi…
772 wordsSECTION 8388 Psalms, Lxxxvi. 1—5. [644.
2. Terror to the presumptuous — [It is surprising what a measure of confidence some will express, notwithstanding neither their principles nor their conduct at all accord with the Scriptures of Truth. But we must declare to all, that both in the foundation of our hope, and in the superstructure built upon it, " Me…
530 wordsSECTION 84644.1 A Praying Spirit Exemplified. 89
Ps. lxxxvi. 1 — 5. Bow down thine ear, O Lord ! hear me ; for I am poor and needy . Preserve my soul ; for I am holy. 0 thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee ! Be merciful unto me, O Lord ! for I cry unto thee daily. Re- joice the soul of thy servant : for unto thee, 0 Lord, do I lift up my soul. For…
523 wordsSECTION 8590 Psalms, Lxxxvi. 1—5. [644.
Observe how he urges, what he experienced in his own soul. The things which God himself requires from us, in order to the acceptance of our prayers, are, a deep sense of our necessities, an entire surrender of our souls to him, a reliance on him for all needful blessings, and a continual application to him in a wa…
525 wordsSECTION 86644.J A Praying Spirit Exemplified. 91
teous in mercy unto all that call upon him." No mother is so tender towards her new-born child, as God is towards his peni- tent and believing people. He is far more " ready to forgive," than they are to ask forgiveness ; and will multiply his pardons beyond all the multitude of their offences'. " Where sin has ab…
470 wordsSECTION 8792 Psalms, Lxxxvi. 1—5. [644.
This is a lovely state of mind, and as opposite to that which many religious people manifest, as light to darkness. Many whose religious principles differ widely from the self-applauding Pha- risee, resemble him very nearly in his spirit and conduct : but let us, on the contrary, imitate the publican, who, " not ve…
483 wordsSECTION 88645.] How To Walk With God. 93
cient pledge to us, that of those who come to him in his Son's name, he never did, nor ever will, cast out so much as one.] 4. His zeal and earnestness — [The diversified petitions and pleas which we have already considered, together with the renewed urgency of his supplica- tions in the verse following my text s,…
297 wordsSECTION 8994 Psalms, Lxxxvi. 11. [645.
Ps. lxxxvi. 11. Teach vie thy way, 0 Lord! I will walk in thy truth : unite my heart to fear thy name. IN mercy, no less than in judgment, does God see fit to afflict his people : he does it " for their profit, that they may in a more abundant measure be par- takers of his holiness3." And when we are brought nigh…
580 wordsSECTION 90(345.1 How To Walk With God. 95
lead me in thy truth, and teach me : for thou art the God of my salvation : on thee do I wait all the day V] To this must be added, II. A concentration of our souls, that we may walk in it — [Our heart by nature is divided amongst ten thousand vanities, all of which are sought in preference to God. What- ever ca…
478 wordsSECTION 9196 Psalms, Lxxxvi. 11. [645.
Father through him, imploring mercy solely through the blood and righteousness of your adorable Saviour You will soon find that the proud heart of man does not easily stoop to so humiliating a way of approaching God. If you might come in your own name, and in your own righteousness, you would perhaps consent to do…
471 wordsSECTION 92646. J The Glory Of Zion. 97
that you could wish. You yet have flesh, as well as spirit ; and " if the spirit lust against the flesh, so will the flesh still strive against the spirit?." You will yet find a law of sin in your members, warring against the law of your minds, and con- straining you at times to cry out, " O ! wretched man that I …
250 wordsSECTION 93Psalms, Lxxxvii: 3.
Ps. lxxxvii. 3. Glorious things are spoken of thee, 0 city of God. THE city here spoken of, is Zion : of whose praises the whole Scriptures speak. She is repre- sented as " beautiful for situation, and as being the joy of the whole earth a." Even God himself is repre- sented as delighting in her, and as " loving …
647 wordsSECTION 94646.] The Glory Of Zion. 99
the gates of Zion, and render her more lovely in your eyes than all the palaces in the universe !] 3. As an emblem of heaven itself — [Such it really is : for all who are born in her " are come unto Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jeru- salem1." Though she is a spiritual edifice, she has her f…
479 wordsSECTION 95100 Psalms, Lxxxvil 3. [646.
beautful, most glorious. In all that pertains to her, she is " the perfection of beauty1." Her foundations are of the most pre- cious stones : " her walls are salvation, and her gates praise"." Her laws are all holy, and just, and good : her ordinances are a very heaven upon earth : and her members more highly priv…
506 wordsSECTION 96647.1 Distress Of Soul Considered. 101
" the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burnetii V] 3. We should labour to participate in all her pri- vileges— [Is God indeed revealed there in all his excellency and glory ? Is it the place, the only place, where sinners are born to God? Is it an emblem even …
410 wordsSECTION 9710.2 Psalms, Lxxxviii. 14—16. [647.
Ps. lxxxviii. 14 — 16. Lord, why easiest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me ? I am afflicted, and ready to die, from my youth tip : while I suffer thy terrors, I am distracted. TJiy fierce wrath goeth over me ; thy terrors have cut me off. HEMAN the Ezrahite, the author of this psalm, is thought b…
482 wordsSECTION 98647. J Distress Of Soul Considered. 103
[Some there are of a low, nervous, hypochondriac tempe- rament both of mind and body, and who, whether they were religious or not, would of necessity be of a melancholy dispo- sition; that being their constitutional tendency, just as cheer- fulness or confidence are the tendencies of others. Persons of this class …
497 wordsSECTION 99104 Psalms, Lxxxviii. 14— 1G. [647-
and unprotected sheep ? The wonder rather is, that any are enabled to withstand him. But once more : there are some who by God himself are brought into manifold temptations, and are suffered to expe- rience much darkness in their souls. And though at first sight it should seem as if these persons were less beloved…
450 wordsSECTION 100647. J Distress Of Soul Considered. 105
intercourse with his Creator : but, after his transgression, instead of going forth as before to meet his God, he fled from his face, and strove to hide himself. From that moment has the world become a " Bochim," a land of weeping and of mourning K Sorrow is that inheritance to which evei-y child of man is born : …
513 wordsSECTION 101Psalms.
IVIII. 14—lo. 647. 3. How astonishing was the compassion of our Lord Jesus Christ, when he undertook to redeem a ruined world ! [He well kne sthe surety and substitute of siniie: s . he must bear all that the violated law would have inflicted upon them- And. if to us. who are by nature alienated froni God, it s…
501 wordsSECTION 102Dcxlviii.
and call upon him whilst he is near : " then, though we should not enjoy all that we may wish for here, we shall hereafter : and even, by our occasional sorrows here, be fitted for an uninter- rupted fruition of his glory to all eternity.] THE BLESSEDNESS OF GOD"s PEOPLE. Ps. lxxxix. 15, 16. Blessed is the people …
411 wordsSECTION 103108 Psalms, Lxxxix. 15, 16. [648.
to the weary and heavy-laden sinner, when he hears of a free and full salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ ] This " sound" the true Believer " knows" — [A speculative knowledge of the Gospel is possessed hy many who have no personal interest in it, and no desire after its blessings: but the true Believer knows …
446 wordsSECTION 104648.1 The Blessedness Of God'S People. 109
[In the Gospel the Lord Jesus Christ reveals himself to his people as a complete Saviour, who not only obtains a par- don for them, but has provided also a righteousness, wherein they may stand before God without spot or blemish. To him therefore they look in this view: and on him they rely, as " The Lord their ri…
451 wordsSECTION 105The Sufficiency Of Christ To Save.
fulness, and all its excellency ; and rest not till you have attained those rich blessings, which every true Believer is privileged to enjoy.] 3. Those who both know and enjoy the Gospel — [Happy indeed are ye, even though ye be in all other respects the most destitute and distressed. Let then your gra- titude to…
778 wordsSECTION 106112 Psalms, Lxxxix. 19. [649.
But weighty as this office is, we have no reason to doubt, II. His sufficiency to discharge it — To be convinced of this, we need only to consider. 1. His essential perfections— [He is said to be " mighty." But the angels are also called mighty ; yet are they not therefore able to execute such an office as this.…
635 wordsSECTION 107God'S Covenant Engagements With Christ And Us.
Ps. lxxxix. 28 — 35. My mercy ivill I keep for him for ever- more, anal my covenant shall stand fast with him. His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven. If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments ; if they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments ;…
254 wordsSECTION 108114 Psalms, Lxxxix. 28-35. [650.
I. Explain it — [There can be no doubt but that the words, in their literal meaning, refer to the covenant which God made with David respecting the continuance of his posterity on his throne a; mid which seemed to be violated, now that both king and people were carried captive to Babylon ; but which, in fact, sho…
708 wordsSECTION 109Dcli.
3. To dread sin as the greatest of all evils — [Though at first sight this passage may seem to weaken our dread of sin, yet, in reality, it is calculated to impress us with a holy fear of offending God. The covenant made with Christ does indeed secure the salvation of his people : but does it provide them impunity…
758 wordsSECTION 110Dcli.
There are other proofs, less visible indeed, but not less real, of God's anger, which may be found in the horrors of a guilty conscience, or the distresses of a soul that is under the hidings of his face. Hear what was Job's experience under a sense of God's displeasure : " The arrows of the Almighty are within me…
328 wordsSECTION 111Psalms, Xc. 11, 12.
[651. [Of this however we can form but little conception. The terms which are used to depict the misery of the fallen angels, and of those who from amongst the human race have died in their sins, though exceeding terrible to the imagination, fall infinitely short of the reality. But the very circumstance of millio…
717 wordsSECTION 112Psalms, Xc. 11, 12.
But add to this the shortness and uncertainty of human life. Who that considers this, would delay to deprecate God's wrath, and to avail himself of the present hour to secure the proffered mercy ? O beg of God to impress your minds with a sense of the shortness of time, and to " teach you so to number your days, t…
256 wordsSECTION 113Psalms, Xc. 11, 12.
[651 1. Those who make light of God's wrath — [There are, alas ! too many who do this. " The wicked," as David says, " through the pride of his countenance will not seek after God : God is not in all his thoughts. His ways are always grievous : thy judgments are far above out of his sight : and as for all his en…
475 wordsSECTION 114Satisfaction In God Alone.
height and depth and length and breadth of his incomprehen- sible love." And let the stupendous mercy vouchsafed unto you, quicken you to every possible expression of gratitude to your adorable Benefactor.] Ps. xc. 14. O satisfy us early with thy mercy, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days ! WE are told, …
361 wordsSECTION 115122 Psalms, Xc. 14. [652.
he covets ; or some Mordecai, who wounds him by refusing to pay him the homage he demands ] Nor is it to be found in any religious services which are performed with a self-righteous view — [Doubtless a self-righteous man may be gratified for a season with the notion that he has established a ground of con- fidenc…
446 wordsSECTION 116652.] Satisfaction In God Alone. 123
the Lord for mercy, and did not find more satisfaction in that hour than in all the pleasures he ever enjoyed ? Who does not look back to such a period, as the happiest hour of his life ? I will gladly concede to every man the liberty of passing judg- ment on himself; and will venture to abide the verdict which ev…
459 wordsSECTION 117124 Psalms, Xc. 14. [652.
to the full: for of all the ransomed of the Lord it is said, " They shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the Lord, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd ; and their soul shall be as a watered garden ; and they shall not…
600 wordsSECTION 118The Beauty Of Jehovah Imparted To His People.
Ps. xc. 1 7. Let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us ! IT is pleasing to think that in every age the Lord has many " hidden ones:" even as in the days of Elijah, who thought himself the only worshipper of Jehovah, whilst there were in reality " seven thousand men who had not bowed their knee to the image of …
285 wordsSECTION 119Psalms, Xc. 17.
[653. as God never did, nor ever will, reject. " O satisfy us early with thy mercy, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days ! Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil. Let thy work appear unto thy ser- vants, and thy glory unto their children …
948 wordsSECTION 120128 Psalms, Xc. 17. [653.
c Col. i. 15. d 1 Tim. vi. 16. e Heb. i. 3. f 2 Cor. iv. 4. s Ps. lxxxv. 10. iniquity, transgression, and sin, whilst he by no means clears the guilty11;" because their guilt has been expiated, and a righteousness has been wrought out by the Lord Jesus Christ, so that God is " a just God, and yet a Saviour1,'' and…
713 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical edition (1832-33); scan/OCR from Internet Archive.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.