PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
Horae Homileticae — Volume 7 of 21
Simeon, Charles, 1759-1836 · 280,193 words · 586 reading sections
130 Proverbs, Xiv. 9. [782.
a house on fire ? Yet in matters relating to the soul and to eternity, no sooner is the importance of salvation felt, and ma- nifested, as it ought to be, than all who have any influence endeavour to quiet the fears, and to discourage the exertions, of the awakened soul. Could this be, if sin were viewed by them a…
456 wordsSECTION 122782.] Folly Of Making A Mock At Sin, 1,31
decree, or to reverse his sentence. He has said, " The soul that sinneth, it shall die":" and die it shall, even " the second death, in the lake that burnetii with fire and brimstone :" nor if the whole universe should combine their efforts to avert the sentence, should they ever prevail in any single instance p. …
492 wordsSECTION 123132 Proverbs, Xiv. 9. [782.
are born of the Spirif^ :" and not even the Lord Jesus Christ himself could escape their reproaches. " If then they called the Master of the house Beelzebub," wonder not if his servants also be designated by reproachful names'. If these things come upon you for righteousness sake, receive them as a token for good"…
465 wordsSECTION 124Dcclxxxiii.
man's experience known to himself alone. Prov. xiv. 10. The heart hnoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy. THE inward experience of men, any further than it is discovered by acts or other outward signs, must of necessity be known to themselves alone. St. Paul puts the question…
377 wordsSECTION 125Misconceptions About The Way Of Salvation.
the experience of God's love shed abroad in his heart, and in the earnest and foretaste of his eternal inheritance, " are un- speakable and glorified'^" These joys are, " the white stone, with a new name written on it, which no man can read, saving he who has received if^" Michal could not understand the exercises…
392 wordsSECTION 126784.] The Way Of Salvation Misconceived. 135
or any of the other mysteries connected with it. More- over, whilst reason can do so Httle in favour of rehgion, all the prejudices, and passions, and interests of man- kind are acting in full force against it. Faith and sense are always at variance with each other, and always striving for the mastery; and unless …
684 wordsSECTION 127784.] The Way Of Salvation Misconceived. 135
II. Of proud formality — [Multitudes there are, who, like the Pharisees of old, are extremely attentive to the established forms of religion, and are observant of morality also, as far as it is approv^ed by the world. In relation to these things they may be said to be blameless : and so good is the opinion which t…
276 wordsSECTION 128784.1 The Way Of Salvation Misconceived. 137
say so much in their own favour as he could : he could appeal to God that he was not guilty of such sins as were common in the world, and that, on the contrary, he was observant of many religious duties, " fasting twice every week, and giving tithes of all that he possessed." Yet, because he viewed his state with …
488 wordsSECTION 129138 Proverbs, Xiv. 12. [784.
whom they serve," even him " who was a murderer from the beginning V' 'ii^d who has been the great instigator of persecu- tion from the time of Cain even to the present hour. Let such persons only see St. Paul's review of his own conduct in rela- tion to this matter, and he cannot doubt one moment whither this pat…
492 wordsSECTION 130784.^ The Way Of Salvation Misconceived. 139
are not conscious of it. Satan so blinds their eyes, that they cannot distinguish between the unallowed infirmities of their nature, and the indulged corruptions of their hearts. Their evil tempers which are unsubdued, are regarded as light and venial frailties : their carefulness about the things of this world is…
502 wordsSECTION 131140 Proverbs, Xiv. 12. [784.
suspect it in ourselves? It is certain tliat a man may " seem to be religious, and yet deceive his own soul, and have all his religion vain," because of some one sin that is unsubdued, and unper- ceived within him ^ ? I can never therefore too earnestly im- press upon your minds the necessity of diffidence in all t…
508 wordsSECTION 132The Vanity Of Carnal Mirth.
Prov. xiv. 13. Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful ; and the end of that mirth is heaviness. WE are apt to imagine, that whatever is sanctioned by the approbation and practice of the world at large, must be right : but we cannot have a more erroneous standard than popular opinion. This is sufficiently evi- de…
344 wordsSECTION 133142 Proverbs, Xiv. 13. [785.
of the licart. They who appear sc dehghted to see each other, have frequently no mutual affection : even the nearest relatives, who seem to participate each other's joys, have so little real cordiality at home, that they can scarcely endure each other's conversation ; and would be heartily glad, if the knot which …
446 wordsSECTION 134785.] The Vanity Of Carnal Mirth. 143
present, and the wailings of their eternal state M Would to God that man would learn this from a parable^! but, if they will not, they must realize it in their own experience.] That we may not appear as if we would deprive you of all happiness, we shall — II. Shew how we may attain more solid mirth — There is evi…
418 wordsSECTION 135The Danger Of Backsliding.
it was all " vanity," but also " vexation of spirit." Yet think not, that in dissuading you from these lying vanities, we would deprive you of all happiness : we wish only that you should exchange that which is empty and delusive, for that which will afford you present and eternal satisfaction p. Even your past ex…
720 wordsSECTION 136146 Proverbs, Xiv. 14. [786.
In either of these states we are exposed to the most imminent danger — [There are a variety of ways in which God will punish sin, but none so terrible as that specified in the words before us. If God were to fill the backslider with acute and long-continued pain, or visit him with some other teniporal affliction, …
532 wordsSECTION 137786.] The Danger Of Backsliding. 147
them as he does not unto the world'*:" and the more diligent he sees them in doing his will, the more richly will he impart to them the tokens of his love, and the more abundantly com- municate to them the blessings of grace and peace'.] His prospects, moreover, of the eternal world shall be more bright and glorio…
446 wordsSECTION 138The Fear Of The Lord A Source Of Much Good.
stop the breach at first ; for, if left a little time, it will widen, till it defies our utmost exertions. The present satisfaction, as well as the future salvation, of our souls depends on a stead- fast walk with God. Let vis then " hold fast the profession of our faith, and the practice of our duty, without waver…
329 wordsSECTION 139787.1 Fear Of The Lord A Source Of Much Good. 149
[There we see his assumption of our nature, his death upon the cross as an atonement for our sins, his ascension to heaven, to govern all things for the good of his Church and people. O ! what confidence must such wonders of love and mercy inspire ! Can we turn to him in faith and fear, and doubt his willingness t…
418 wordsSECTION 140150 Proverbs, Xv. 3. [788.
4. From all the penal consequences of sin — [At the very bar of judgment itself they stand with great boldness. The curses of the Law infuse no terror into their minds ; because they can point to " Him who has redeemed them from its curse, having liimself become a curse for them'." " To them there is no condemnati…
315 wordsSECTION 141788.] The Omnipresence Of God, 151
Prov. XV. 3. The eyes of the Lord are in every 'place, beholding the evil and the good. THE omnipresence of the Deity is plain and obvious to all, who have learned to acknowledge the unity of God. The heathens indeed, who worshipped a mul- titude of gods, assigned to each his proper limits. conceiving that they w…
487 wordsSECTION 142152 Proverbs, Xv. 3. [788.
the priests : " All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do^." But let us now turn our attention to God's oiim declarations. He is peculiarly jealous with respect to this attribute. In re- ference to ^'places" and "persons" he says, " Am I a God at hand, and not a God afar off? Can…
486 wordsSECTION 143788.1 The Omnipresence Of God. 153
to confound their daring attempts against liis church and people ^ ; to over-rule for the accomplishment of his own pur- poses the voluntary exercise of their own inveterate corrup- tions'; and finally to justify himself \n the eternal judgments, which he will hereafter inflict upon them". O that the wicked would …
475 wordsSECTION 144The Upright Alone Acceptable To God.
Prov. XV. 8. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord : hut the prayer of the upright is his delight. THE language of Scripture is often extraordinarily emphatic. This not unfrequently arises from the strength of the metaphors that are used to express the mind of the writer : and frequently from…
333 wordsSECTION 145789.1 The Upright Alone Acceptable To God. 155
1. '' The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord"— [Where so strong an assertion is used in reference to any character, it is obvious, that we ought to understand, very clearly and distinctly, who they are that are designated by that character. For instance, suppose that under this general term, " …
479 wordsSECTION 146156 Proverbs, Xv. 8. [789.
lamb, as if he cut off a clog's neck : he that offereth an obla- tion, as if he offered swine's blood : he that burnetii incense, as if he blessed an idol." I pray you, Brethren, to mark tliese expressions, and to apply them to yourselves whilst living in an unliunibled and unconverted state: for, "whilst you regar…
520 wordsSECTION 147789.1 The Upright Alone Acceptable To God. 157
tree," or in our most secret retirements, and visit us in due season with the most endearing expressions of his love. ".] Such are the truths asserted in our text. We now proceed to suggest, II. Some obvious deductions from them — From these truths it is evident, 1. That God's views of sin are widely different fr…
458 wordsSECTION 148158 Proverbs, Xv. 8. [789.
will find himself fearfully mistaken the moment he comes to the termination of it*.] 2. That the provisions of the Gospel are admh'ably suited to our necessities — [Here is " a wicked man:" he offers " a sacrifice" to his offended God : that very sacrifice is "an abomination to the Lord. Must the man then be left…
497 wordsSECTION 149Instruction To Be Obeyed.
to kill, tliough unsuccessful, has the penalty of murder at- tached to it. Thus at the bar of judgment, the sacrifices of a wicked man, how numerous or costly soever they were, will be regarded as of no value : whilst the mere sighing of an upright soul shall not lose its rew^ard. Let that then which is chiefly ma…
392 wordsSECTION 150Igo Proverbs, Xv. 32. [790.
and experience, and the mere force of reasoning, without any revelation from heaven: but without divine instruction, 1. He can never know the extent of his wants — [He cannot know his fall in Adam, or the depravity of his fallen nature, or his utter incapacity to restore himself to God's favovir. If told that " h…
672 wordsSECTION 151102 Proverbs, Xvi. 2. [791.
3. He casts it away for a thing of nought — [Give to sensual gratifications all the importance you will, they are only as tlie small dust upon the balance when weighed against the soul. Yet for these does the man who refuses in- struction sell his soul. Truly, if Esau " despised his birthright," when he *' sold it…
399 wordsSECTION 152Dccxci.
man's estimate of himself and god's contrasted. Prov. xvi. 2. ^11 the ivays of a man are clean m his own eyes ; hut the Lord iveigheth the sjnrits. AMONGST the purest joys of a Christian is " the testimony of a good conscience ;" and all the labour that can possibly be bestowed on the attainment of it will be wel…
611 wordsSECTION 153164. Proverbs, Xvi. 2. [791.
*' they hate the light, and will not come fairly to it, lest their deeds should be reproved." This is very observable in the con- duct of the Apostles, when our Lord touched upon their mutual contentions about worldly preference and distinction : they in- stantly shifted off the blame, by turning the discourse to a…
772 wordsSECTION 154166 Proverbs, Xvi. 2. [791.
2. Our excuses — [These, for the most part, when put into his scales are found lighter than the dust upon the balance. By means of them we impose upon ourselves, and upon our fellow-creatures ; but we cannot impose on him ; " he cannot be deceived :" and the very excuses which we urge with such confidence, will be…
655 wordsSECTION 155166 Proverbs, Xvi. 2. [791.
peace?" Did you never hear what God replies to those who say, " I shall have peace, though I walk after the imaginations of my heart?" " The Lord, it is said, will not spare that man ; but the anger of the Lord and his jealousy shall smoke against him; and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upo…
507 wordsSECTION 156Trusting In God.
committed,) Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pon- dereth the heart consider it ? and He that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it ? and shall not he render to every man according to his works" ?" Yes : His estimate will not be re- gulated by your opinion of yourselves, but by his perfect know- ledge of yo…
385 wordsSECTION 157792.1 Trusting In God. 1G9
But in all such cases there is abundant consolation, if only we use, II. The remedy prescribed — The remedy is both simple in itself, and invari- ably efficacious : " Commit your works unto the Lord"— [Believing that God both knows your trials, and is willing to afford you the help you need, carry them to him, a…
381 wordsSECTION 158The Benefit Of Experimental Religion.
2. How marvellous is the condescension of our God! [From low thoughts of God, we are apt to fear that he will not exert himself for tis. But he will attend to us, if we trust in him, as much as if there were not another creatiure in heaven or on earth to attract his notice. Nor is it in great things only that he w…
394 wordsSECTION 159793.] The Benefit Of Experimental Religion. 171
that " he who runs may read" and understand them. To this effect Solomon speaks in the words before us; in ehicidating which we shall inquire, I. Who are here meant by '' the wise ?" Solomon certainly did not intend to limit his assertion to those who were possessed of literary attainments — [Human knowledge, whe…
437 wordsSECTION 160172 Proverbs, Xvi. 23. [793.
to their real character ^ These are the wise, the only wise in the sight of God. And they are truly wise, even though they should be the most illiterate upon earth. We do not hesitate to say that the fishermen of Galilee possessed more true wis- dom than all the heathen philosophers that ever existed.] Their super…
416 wordsSECTION 161The Benefit Of Experimental Religion. 173
793.] [Here they can point out, as in a map, the country which they themselves have travelled over. They have been con- vinced of sin ; they have seen the refuges of lies which they fled to in succession, one after another, till God sent home the law in all its spirituality to their hearts. They have thus been ma…
414 wordsSECTION 162174 Proverbs, Xvi. 23. [793.
[Others cannot comprehend any one of the foregoing truths. If they should attempt to speak of them, they would only expose their own ignorance. Yea, though they may write well on the theory of religion, they are totally in the dark with respect to the nature of Christian experience. The poorest and meanest of God'…
434 wordsSECTION 163Erroneous Views Of Religion Refuted.
Prov. xvi. 25. There is a way that seemeth right unto a man ; but the end thereof are the ways of death. THE testimony of an inspired prophet respecting the human heart is, that it " is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked." This testimony, as far as it respects the world at large, we all are ready t…
360 wordsSECTION 16417G Proverbs, Xvi. 25. [794.
is applicable to a great variety of cases, or rather, I should say, to every kind of way that is followed by man and condemned by God. Of course we cannot enter into all the cases which might be specified : it will be sufficient to notice two or three ways, which are the most commonly followed, and most fatal in …
355 wordsSECTION 165794.] Erroneous Views Of Religion Refuted. Itt
thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes : but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment^" The general warning given by St. Paul is plainer still ; " If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die*"." Lest we should mistake his meanin…
387 wordsSECTION 166178 Proverbs, Xvi. 25. [794.
unfounded, and their hope delusive. Choose ye the former alternative if ye please : but you must excuse me if I embrace the latter. Believing as I do the word of God to be true, I must believe, and must exhort you also to believe, that they who make hght of sin " shall not inherit the kingdom of God." The drunkard…
366 wordsSECTION 167794. J Erroneous Views Of Religion Refuted. 179
contemners of his Son as in the same predicament with those who receive him ? Nothing of this kind can be found in all the book of God. It may be called candour ; but there is no such candour in the inspired volume. That calls every thing by its proper name, and assigns to every thing its proper character : and t…
385 wordsSECTION 168180 Proverbs, Xvi. 25. [794.
no sin of his own, he was made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." And when he sent his disciples to go and preach this Gospel to every creature, he added, " He that be- lieveth and is baptized shall be saved, and he that believeth not shall be damned." Wh-dt shall we say then ? Sh…
379 wordsSECTION 169794.1 Erroneous Views Of Religion Refuted. 181
not to them of receiving out of his fuhiess, of hving to his glory, or of growing up into his image : such ideas are quite foreign to their minds : they sound only as the reveries of an over-heated imagination : to aspire after such things would be to be righteous over-much: if such exertions were necessary for th…
379 wordsSECTION 170182 Proverbs, Xvi. 25. [794.
would not neglect the service of God altogether ; nor would they, on the other hand, engage in it with all their might. And what says God unto them ? Does he commend this boasted moderation ? No : he says, *' I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot : I would thou wert cold or hot ! So then because th…
377 wordsSECTION 171794.] Erroneous Views Of Religion Refuted. 183
recurrence of these tliouglits makes them chng to life : not that Hfe is pleasant to them ; but they are afraid to die. Compelled at last by inward uneasiness, they perhaps put to some friend a question respecting the evidences of our acceptance with God. They are then answered in the most confident manner, that, …
372 wordsSECTION 172184 Proverbs, Xvi. 25. [794.
and futility of all its former hopes. Now it sees how erroneous were its views of sin, and its conceptions of true religion. Now it sees that the representations which God had given in his word were true. The self-deceiver now can no longer doubt to what an end his former ways were leading, or whither they will c…
401 wordsSECTION 173God Is The Disposer Of All Events.
will be of no consequence whether we have been honoured for keeping the world in countenance, or despised for putting them to shame. The only thing that will then be of any consequence, will be, whether we be approved of our God. Let this end then be kept in view : let us regulate our ways in reference to it : an…
332 wordsSECTION 174186 Proverbs, Xvi. 33. [795.
[In the government of kingdoms all the powers of the human mind are called forth and concentrated : but the time for their commencement and continuance is altogether under the direction of a superior powers The success of all human plans, whether relating to military enterprises**, or commercial speculations'^, or…
483 wordsSECTION 175795. J God Is The Disposer Of All Events. 187
and destroy it. So it was in regard to this pursuit of the man who had troubled the camp of Israel : the lot fell on the riglit tribe, then on the right family of that tribe, then on the right household, and lastly on the right individual in that house- hold : — and to every human being it speaks in this awful lan-…
453 wordsSECTION 176188 Proverbs, Xviii. 10. [796.
cherib's army", or as Elisha, when surrounded by the army of the king of Syria p. " Having God for us," we may rest assured, that " none can effectually be against us."] Let us SEE from hence, 1. The excellency of faith — [This is the principle which, far beyond any other, ho- nours and glorifies God. By faith we…
314 wordsSECTION 17779G.] The Name Of The Lord A Strong Tower. 189
Prov. xviii. 10. The name of the Lord is a strong toiver : the righteous runneth itito it, and is safe. IN the Proverbs of Solomon we must not expect to find long and accurate statements of Divine truth, nor elevated strains of devotion founded upon it : the scope of the book is rather by brief sentences to fix u…
450 wordsSECTION 178190 Proverbs, Xviii. 10. [796.
name/' /. e. thy character, " will put their trust in thee^" Consider then the character of Jehovah, 1. As described by himself — [God, in infinite condescension, was pleased to make himself known to Moses, and by an audible voice to " proclaim his name^:" " The Lord j)assed by and proclaimed. The Lord, the Lord …
458 wordsSECTION 179796.] The Name Of The Loud A Strong Tower. 191
Such being the name and character of God, let us contemplate, II. The interest we have in it — It is indeed *' a strong tower" — [Consider every perfection of the Deity : there is not one whicli is not " a chamber where we may hide ourselves till every calamity be overpast^." The wisdom, the goodness, the love, …
449 wordsSECTION 180A Wounded Spirit.
[" To know God, and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent, is," as our Lord informs us, " eternal life." All other knowledge is mere vanity in comparison of this. Without this we have nothing to warrant our liopes, or to dissipate our fears " Acquaint then yourselves with God, and be at peace" ] 2. Maintain constant and …
374 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical edition (1832-33); scan/OCR from Internet Archive.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.