PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
Horae Homileticae — Volume 7 of 21
Simeon, Charles, 1759-1836 · 280,193 words · 586 reading sections
X. 22.
^y{/rt' %: ^v../^.r^> ^ %le..f^^la^,y t/;. ^^^mO NOW FIRST DIGESTED INTO ONE CONTINUED SERIES, AND FORMING A COMMENTARY rPOX EVERT BOOK OF TO WHICH IS ANNEXED, AN IMPROVED EDITION OF A TRANSLATION OF 18, ST. Paul's church-yard. / 3^ ^ Texl. Subject. Pago. 753. i. 20—31. Attending to God 's gracious Invi…
319 wordsSECTION 28M.
Text. TllOVERBb 784. xiv. 12. 785. xiv. 13. 786. xiv. 14. 787. xiv. 26. 788. 789. 790. 791. xvi. 2. 792. xvi. 3. 793. xvi. 23. 794. xvi. 25. 795. xvi. 33. 796. xviii, 10. 797. xviii. 14. 798. xix. 2. 799. xix. 3. 800. 801. 802. 803. xxi. 25. 804. xxiii. 17, 18. 805. xxiii. 23. 80…
328 wordsSECTION 3Canticles
Vll Text. subject. Page. 822. xxix. 25. The Fear of Man 299 823. A Saint's Views of himself .... 304 824. Agur's Wish 311 825. The Self-deceiver exposed . . . . 314 826. xxxi. 10. Usefulness of Schools of Industry . . 318 827. i. 2. The Vanity of the Creature . . . . 322 828. i. 14, 15. The C…
253 wordsSECTION 4Xxv. 9.
Spiritual Sloth reproved 437 852. Transcendent Excellencies of Christ . 442 853. The Excellency of Christ .... 446 854. viii. 5. The Christian's Reliance on Christ . 450 855. viii. 6, 7. The Church's Desire of Christ's Love 454 856. i. 2, 3. God's Complaint against his People . 459 857. i. 4, 5. T…
407 wordsSECTION 5Dccliii.
THE NEED OF ATTENDING TO GOD's GRACIOUS INVITATIONS. Prov. i. 20 — 31. Wisdom crieth ivithnut ; she uttereth her voice in the streets : she crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates : in the city she uttereth her words, saying, IIoiv long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity ? and th…
300 wordsSECTION 62 Proverbs, I. 20—31. [753.
energy or affection than those m the text ; yet God calls them the voice, not of folly and enthusiasm, but of " w isdom ;" and, whatever we may think of them, tliey will be found to be " the words of truth and soberness." We are now " in the chief place of con- course," and it is wisdom itself, or God under the n…
774 wordsSECTION 74 Proverbs, I. 20—31. [753.
But such conduct, if persisted in, will one day meet a suitable reward — [As God cannot be deceived, so neither \^dll he be mocked : if he have a day of grace, so has he also a day of vengeance; and that day is hastening on apace. However secure the sinner may think himself, there is an hour of " desolation, and o…
586 wordsSECTION 8The Way Of Attaining Divine Knowledge.
Let us magnify liim for such distinguished favours ; and turn to him " to-day, while it is called to-day, lest he swear in his wrath that we shall never enter into his rest."] 2. Let all tremble at the divine justice — [Though God be so full of compassion, " not willing that any should perish, but that all should …
395 wordsSECTION 96 Proverbs, Ii. 1— G. [754.
[Tliat which in one verse is called, " Wisdom," and " Understanding," in a subsequent verse is called, " The fecir of tlie J^ord," and " The knowledge of God." The wisdom which unrcgenerate men possess, resides only in the head; but that of which the text speaks is seated in the heart. The former consists merely i…
424 wordsSECTION 10The Way Of Attaining Divine Knowledge.
754.] [This idea is strongly inculcated in the words before us : " we should incline our ear, and apply our heart to under- standing, and seek it as silver, and search for it as for hid treasures." We should consider the inspired volume as an inexhaustible mine, which yields nothing to a superficial observer, but…
423 wordsSECTION 118 Proverbs, Ii. 1—6. [754.
submit to Ills instructions, he will leave them to wander further and further from the right way. He will " take the wise in their own craftiness'"," and "reveal to babes what he hides from the wise and prudent"."] Nor will he suffer us to use the appointed means in vain — [Frequent are the assurances which God h…
335 wordsSECTION 12Piety A Preservative From Evil.
[It is only at certain seasons that we can attend on public ordinances : but tlie Scriptures we may read at all times. In them is contained all that we need to know. And the Holy Spirit is promised us, to guide us into all truths Let the m 1 Cor. i. 19. and in. 19. n Matt. xi. 25. ° Ps. XXV. 9, 12, 14. P Johnvii. …
455 wordsSECTION 1310 Proverbs, Ii. 10, 11. [755.
it is that alone which will prove a sufficient antidote to temptation, or become a perennial source of holi- ness in the life. In confirmation of this sentiment, I will shew, I. What reception divine truth should meet with — The heart is the proper seat of divine knowledge — [Other knowledge is seated in the head…
924 wordsSECTION 1412 Proverbs, Ii. 10, 11. [755.
That we may be stirred up to seek divine truth in this way, let us consider, IL Its salutary influence when duly received — " Discretion will preserve us, and understanding will keep us." This is the testimony of God himself. But it may be asked, ' If common knowledge be not elFectual to keep us, or even divine k…
524 wordsSECTION 15755.] Piety A Preservative From Evil. 13
examine his duties towards God as well as those towards man: he will mark his defects, no less than his excesses : he will observe his thoughts, yea, and " the very imaginations of his thoughts;" and will be more grieved for an evil propensity or desire, than the world at large are for an evil act. He endea- vours…
506 wordsSECTION 1614< Proverbs, Ii. 10, 11. [755.
strictly on his guard, proposing to himself the example of tlie (jodlii, and availing himself of their aid in his walk before God. lie knows, that " he cannot take fire in his bosom, and not be bunicd ;" and therefore he will use the utmost possible circum- spection in the whole of his deportment. The books, the c…
491 wordsSECTION 17756.] Benefits Of True Wisdom. 15
their proper end ? Brethren, only reflect on the office of true wisdom, as delineated in the passage before us, and you will never want either a direction or a motive for a profitable attendance on the means of grace.] 2. With what care we should improve it — [The word we hear will judge us in the last day : and i…
328 wordsSECTION 1810 Proverbs, Ii. 10—22. [756.
Prov. ii. 10 — 22. When wisdom, entereth into thine heart, and knoivledge is pleasant unto thy soul, discretion shall preserve thee, miderstanding shall keep thee; to deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaTceth froivard things : tvho leave the i^aths of uprightness, to tvalk i?i the ways…
571 wordsSECTION 19750.1 Benefits Of True Wisdom. 17
shall come out from among tlicm, and be separate'';" and not have any fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them •-' " ] 2. It will keep us from the snares also of ungodly women — [It is lamentable to think how degraded human nature is, and how assimilated to the very beasts multitu…
436 wordsSECTION 2018 Proverbs, Il 10—2^. [756.
II. The vast importance of seeking after it — Both the promises and threatenings of the Mosaic law were chiefly of a temporal nature ; the people who served God faithfully being encouraged to ex- pect peace and plenty in the land of Canaan ; whilst those who were disobedient to his laws were to be visited with wa…
426 wordsSECTION 21756.] Benefits Of True Wisdom. 19
2. In the world to come — [" There is a rest which remaineth for tlic people of God^;" a rest, into which the true Joshua shall introduce them, as soon as ever they shall have comjjleted the period fixed for their abode in this dreary wilderness : and there shall they " remain" for ever : there shall they be as " …
454 wordsSECTION 2220 Proverbs, Iii. 5, G. [757.
[Wherever true wisdom is, there will be " discretion to preserve us, and understanding to keep us^." We conceive this observation to be deserving of peculiar attention ; because the indiscretions of religious people are rarely traced to their proper source, a want of right dispositions in the heart. Where meek- ne…
352 wordsSECTION 23757.] Confidence In God Encouraged. 21
Prov. iii. 5, G. Trust in the Lord zvith all thine heart ; and lean not unto thine own tinder standing. In all thij ivays acknowledge him ; and he shall direct thy paths. THE book of Proverbs is not so much designed to open to us the way of salvation, as it is to regulate our conduct after we have attained the kno…
494 wordsSECTION 2422 Proverbs, Iii. 5, G. [757.
purposes, and uses them as means whereby his ends shall be fulfilled. This was remarkably the case with Joseph, in all his trials : and there is no true believer who will not acknowledge, that in his own experience many things which have been desired by him w^ould have proved injurious, and many things which have …
460 wordsSECTION 25757.] Confidence In God Encouraged. 23
Wonderful is the promise here given for our en- couragement; "He will direct our paths." But how will he direct us ? Will he speak to us in dreams, or visions, or by Urim and Thummim, or by an audible voice ? Or will he go before us in the pillar and the cloud, as he did before his people in the wilderness ; or a…
467 wordsSECTION 2624 Proverbs, Iii. 5, 6. [757.
sense of his duty. A remarkable instance of such an interposi- tion occurs in the life of David. He, being incensed against Nabal for the contemptuous manner in which he had treated his messengers, and for his ungrateful refusal to administer to his necessities'*^, had determined to avenge himself upon him and all…
479 wordsSECTION 27The Reward Of Charity.
greatly erred on one occasion, in his conduct towards the Gentiles ; as Paul also did in reviling God's high priest. You must not therefore conceive that you are certainly and altocjetlwr right, because you have prayed to God for direction: God may have many wise and gracious purposes to answer by leaving you stil…
409 wordsSECTION 2826 Proverbs, Iii. 9, 10. [758.
on other principles he can expect to do. And I say this the more confidently, because the directions which I shall give are not the results of fallible rea- sonings or of uncertain conjectures, but the plain unequivocal declarations of Heaven : " Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of al…
470 wordsSECTION 29758.1 The Reward Of Charity. 27
secured : but rather to honour the Lord first, as the real pro- prietor of all ; and then, trusting him for a supply of our own wants, to employ for ourselves what he shall graciously bestow upon us.] This duty will not appear hard, if we consider what God has spoken for, II. Oar encouragement — It should seem a…
447 wordsSECTION 3028 Proverbs, Iii. 9, 10. [758.
told tliat " godliness has the promise of the life that now is, as well as of that which is to come^;" and that, if we " seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, all needful things shall be added unto us*^." A temporal recompence for our liberality we may not obtain : but a spirittial reward is sure. F…
521 wordsSECTION 31758.1 The Reward Of Charity. 29
made to our wealtli ; yet, if our desires are moderated, and our expenditure restrained, the same effect is ultimately produced: for we are not more truly enriched by the increase of our sub- stance, than we are by the diminution of our wants and our consumption.] Let me now point out the bearings of this subject,…
464 wordsSECTION 3230 Proverbs, Iii. 17. [759.
for the benefit of their fellow-creatures. It is obvious that individuals of small property could not, without assistance from others, relieve the necessities of the poor to any great extent : and if they could not administer some temporal relief, they could not find easy access to the chambers of the sick. But be…
347 wordsSECTION 33,759.] The Pleasantness Of Religion. 31
Prov. iii. 17. Her loays are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. TO be sincerely and eminently religious is consi- dered by the world as a symptom of weakness and folly. But the Scriptures represent such a life as characteristic of true wisdom. Upon such '■' wisdom" Solomon bestows the highest comm…
730 wordsSECTION 34,759.] The Pleasantness Of Religion. 31
Self-denial is another, and a very important, duty. But this, it should seem, precludes, in the very nature of it, the idea of pleasure, because it is a thwarting our own inclinations. We must however include this also among the ways that are ways of pleasantness. That the gratifying of a corrupt inclination is pl…
307 wordsSECTION 35The Pleasantness Of Religion. 33
759.] that the self-denial which religion calls for, is a soui'ce of real pleasure to the soul. The bearing of the cross is another duty inculcated on all the followers of Christ''. And can this be pleasant? Yes, we must affirm that this also is a source of pleasure to the true Christian. Doubtless the contempt a…
447 wordsSECTION 3684 Proverbs, Iii. 17. [759.
" broken cisterns that can hold no water p." All that they possess is mere " vanity and vexation of spirit." " Even in lauffhtcr their heart is sorrowful ; and the end of their mirth is heaviness "i." But is it thus with the true Christian? Has not he peace in his soul, and " joys, with which the stranger intermed…
486 wordsSECTION 37759.1 The Pleasantness Of Religion. 35
he beholds death approaching, he rather chides its tardiness, than deprecates its advent. He " knows in whom he has be- lieved;" and, in the hour of his departure, commits his soul with confidence into the hands of his ever-living and adorable Redeemer. Thus Stephen^, thus Paul% and innumerable others, have died ;…
466 wordsSECTION 3836 Proverbs, Iii. 21—24. [700.
directory to heaven. With respect to the latter idea, namely, that of its countenancing worldly pleasures, surely no one can deliberately put such a construction on our text. If Religion's ways be pleasant, must therefore Pleasure's ways be religion? If so, what can be meant by St. Paul, when he says, " She that l…
398 wordsSECTION 39760.] True Religion Delineated. 37
Prov. iii. 21 — 24. My so?i, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound tvisdom and discretion: so shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. Then shalt thou walk in thy tvay safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. When thou liest doivn, thou shalt not be afraid; yea, thou shalt lie doivn, and t…
488 wordsSECTION 4038 Proverbs, Iii. 21—24. [76O.
Now, compare with this any other mode of salvation that can be devised ; and its wisdom will shine forth as the sun, which eclipses, and, as it were, blots from the firmament, all the lights of heaven ] 2. Discretion in the life — [When once religion occupies the soul, it implants a principle there which thencefo…
466 wordsSECTION 41760.1 True Religion Delineated. 39
religion in the soul, the understanding, the will, the affections, the memory, the conscience, perform their respective offices, in subserviency to God, for the promotion of a man's spiritual and eternal good. The soul, pervading the whole body, acts with ease and regularity, and with so little ostentation, that it…
510 wordsSECTION 4240 Proverbs, Iii. 21—24. [760.
[The man of sound wisdom takes heed to his ways : he desires to see his path clear before him : if he be in doubt, he will take " the word of God as a light to his feet, and a lantern to his paths." If his path be slippery, he will cry unto his God, " Hold thou up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not…
532 wordsSECTION 43760.] True Religion Delineated. 41
when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee ; and when thou awakest, it shall walk with thee."] Application — 1. Are there now any present, who are prejudiced aga'mst religion, ? [Know what true religion is. It is not by any means that thing which prejudiced persons are ready to imagine. " It is wisdom, sound wisdom,…
479 wordsSECTION 44The Rewards Of Wisdom And Of Folly.
men ; so that all who behold you may be constrained to say, *' We will go with you; for we see that God is with you of a truth."] Prov. iii. 35. The ivise shall inherit glory ; hut shame shall he the promotion of fools. A DESIRE of distinction and a fear of shame are powerful incentives to the human mind, and pro…
332 wordsSECTION 45761.1 The Rewards Of Wisdom And Of Folly. 43
Now, who is wise, but he who labours to secure that salva- tion? or who is a fool, but he who neglects it? Suppose that means of escape from a sinking vessel, or a house in flames, were oft'ered to one in danger of instantaneous destruction ; would any person in the universe hesitate to assign the proper and disti…
498 wordsSECTION 4644 Proverbs, Hi. 35. [761.
in their steps : and the names of the Scribes and Pharisees of old are odious to us, whilst we pay respect to those who sustain the same character amongst ourselves. All this clearly shews, that whatever our outivard behaviour may be towards the two dilferent parties, both of them have an inward witness in our own…
478 wordsSECTION 47761.] The Rewards Of Wisdom And Of Folly. 45
which once he so fondly cherished? Yes: we are told that, in hell, men will " weep, and wail, and gnash their teeth" with anguish : and I cannot doubt but that their self-reproach will be one of the bitterest ingredients in the cup which will there be given them to drink. When they see in what their love of " prom…
487 wordsSECTION 48The Nature And Excellence Of True Wisdom.
will be, when all your present opportunities of turning unto God shall have passed away ? This only do I ask of you : ' Act now, as you will then wish you had acted.' Methinks this is a reasonable request : it is a request which every one acknowledges to be good in reference to the things of time ; and surely it c…
351 wordsSECTION 49762.1 Nature And Excellence Of True Wisdom. 47
Nor are there any means of attaining it so proper, as those prescribed in the Holy Scriptures. To repent of all our sins, to flee to Christ for the pardon of them, and to seek the reno- vation of our hearts by the Holy Spirit, are represented as the only effectual means of salvation. These things, it must be confe…
433 wordsSECTION 5048 Proverbs, Iv. 7. [762.
good abilities, an opportunity of cultivating them to advan- tage. Nor can great industry united with great talents, always ensvu'c success'^; but no man ever sought this in vain. The poor fishermen of Galilee were as capable of comprehending it, as the philosophers of Greece and Rome. We attain it, not by the mer…
673 wordsSECTION 5150 Proverbs, Iv. 18. [763.
^ Prov. xvii. 16. ^ Four times is this repeated, ver. 5, 7. c Prov. viii. 35. '^ If this were the subject of a Commemoration Sermon, the inten- tion of the founder, and the obligations necessarily attaching to every member of the society, might be urged as a fourth and more appro- priate consideration to enforce t…
665 wordsSECTION 5250 Proverbs, Iv. 18. [763.
III. Constant in its progress — The sun invariably pursues its wonted course — [From the instant it rises, it hastens toward the meridian. Sometimes indeed its splendour is intercepted by clouds, and sometimes it may be partially, or even totally eclipsed ; still, however, it proceeds in its appointed path, and is…
397 wordsSECTION 53Keeping The Heart.
fleeting meteor. Our light must be steady and increasing, like that of the sun. The tree is known by its fruit; and the just by their light''; and a false profession will deceive us to our eternal ruin".] 2. For consolation — [There are many true Christians who do not enjoy much comfort, and the darkness of their…
381 wordsSECTION 54764.] Keeping The Heart. 53
ourselves from those things which would destroy life, and use all proper means of preserving it : so neither can we, of ourselves, preserve the life of our souls ; yet are we hound to " keep our heart with all dili- gence ; since out of it are the issues of life." It is indeed supposed here, that a new heart has …
428 wordsSECTION 5554 Proverbs, Iv. 23. [764.
disputing with each other who should be the greatest, and forbidding others to cast out devils, because they followed not with them, and desiring to call fire from heaven to avenge their Master's cause, appeared as faithful as men could be '^r yet were they in reality actuated by pride and envy, in the garb of zea…
479 wordsSECTION 56Keeping The Heart. 55
764.] thou shalt become a plain." See how Paul taught the first Christians to triumph, whilst yet in the midst of all their con- flicts : " Who shall separate us from the love of Christ ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or nakedness, or peril, or sword ? No : in all these things we are more than co…
468 wordsSECTION 5756 Proverbs, Iv. 23. [764.
roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." His wiles and devices are innumerable : and, if once he can find us off our guard, he will assuredly avail himself of the occasion to deceive and, if possible, to destroy us. We therefore must be always " on our watch-tower," according to that direction of our blessed Lor…
435 wordsSECTION 58764.1 Keeping The Heart. 57
[There are many evils to which our corrupt nature is apt to yield ; some are spiritual, and some are fleshly ; but the womb where all are generated, and from whence they proceed, is the heart. Adultery, and murder, and theft, with many other evils, might be supposed to arise rather out of external circumstances co…
516 wordsSECTION 5958 Proverbs, Iv. 23. [764.
his heart bringeth forth that which is good:" in both cases the produce is " from the abundance of the heart '^:" and " the tree is known by its fruits."] 3. By it shall our state be determined in the last day— [Even in courts of judicature amongst ourselves, it is not so much the act, as the heart, that is the o…
551 wordsSECTION 60Dcclxv.
sinner's retrospect. Prov. V. 12, 13. How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof; and have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me ! A TIME of reflection must come to all: if men shake off all thought till the hour of death, they will not be able to d…
267 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical edition (1832-33); scan/OCR from Internet Archive.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.