PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
Horae Homileticae — Volume 7 of 21
Simeon, Charles, 1759-1836 · 280,193 words · 586 reading sections
452 Canticles, Viii. 5. [854.
1 should say, that, in its strictest sense, it appears to express admiration : but we may very properly con- sider it as the language, 1. Of inquiry — [" Who is this?" Is there, amongst ourselves, any one answering to this character ? Am I this happy person ? Do I so live in this world, that the by-standers notic…
734 wordsSECTION 422452 Canticles, Viii. 5. [854.
Is there here a weak believer, who doubts whether such an one as he can ever attain this blessedness? [Let him trust in Christ, and not be afraid : for none ever perished, who trusted in Him. As for a man's own weakness and insufficiency, that can be no bar to his attainment of this felicity ; since the Lord Jesus…
355 wordsSECTION 423Dccclv.
♦* Who is he?" Let every one mquire, " Lord, is it I?" And whoever he may be, let us all regard him as an object of the deepest commiseration. — The Lord awaken all such ere it be too late !] THE church's desire OF CHRIST's LOVE. Cant. viii. 6, 7. Set me as a seal wpon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for l…
743 wordsSECTION 424456 Canticles, Viii. 6, 7. [855.
And it shall be fulfilled to ajl who offer it lii swit . and ni truth — [Christ has solemnly pledged himself to this extent by an f everlasting covenant" And he has fulfilled it to millions of the human race, who were once as guilty, as polluted, and '1 Eph. i. l;5. and iv. 30. e jer. xxii. 24. . T John vi. .37. …
893 wordsSECTION 425158 Canticles, Viii. 6, 7. [855.
Learn from hence, \. What should be the frame of your minds to- wards the Lord Jesus Christ — [Our hearts should be supremely set on him, and we should " count all things but loss for the knowledge of him." So ardent should our love to him be, that no floods of affliction or " Prov, viii. 17. "^ John xiv, 21, 23.…
278 wordsSECTION 426Dccclvi.
god's complaint against his people. Isai. i. 2, 3. Hear, O heavens, and give ear, 0 earth : for Ihe Lord hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. The ox knoweth his oumer, and the ass his master s crib : but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. IT is …
303 wordsSECTION 427460 Isaiah, I. 2, 3. [856.
every succeeding trial, and distrusting God in every difficulty, and in heart going back again to the flesh-pots of Egypt. They were often ready to stone those servants of God who had been the instruments of their deliverance ; they retained their idols which they had worshipped in Egypt ; and even made a golden c…
736 wordsSECTION 428462 Isaiah, I, 4, 5. [857.
In CONCLUSION, we will, 1. Inquire what plea you can offer in your own behalf? [We know that the young, the old, the rich, the poor, have all their appropriate excuses : but what plea have they that will avail them at the bar of judgment ? Will any deny the charge ! Alas ! alas ! Where is there one amongst us tha…
421 wordsSECTION 429857.J The Sinfulness Of The Nation. 4-()3
Isai. i. 4, 5. Ah, sinful 7iation, a jwople laden loitli iniquity, a seed, of evil-doers, children that are corrupters ! they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away hackivard. Why should ye he stricken any more ? ye will revolt more and more. THE end for wh…
508 wordsSECTION 4304G1. Isaiah, I. 10—17. [858.
[Almost every kind of plague, as war, famine, and pesti- lence, has been lately sent us by God'' ; and what are we pro- fited by them ? What national sin has been put away ? I miglit almost ask, What unregenerate man has laid to heart his transgressions, and turned to the Lord ? Does not sin reign amongst us as mu…
293 wordsSECTION 431The Service Which Alone Is Pleasing To God.
Isai. i. 10 — 17. Hear the toord of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the laro of our God, ye people of Gomorrha, : To tvhatj)urpose is the 7nultitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord : I am full of the hurnt-ojferings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts ; and I delight not in the blood of bulloc…
486 wordsSECTION 432466 Isaiah, I. 10—17. [858.
them ; since, in the midst of all their boasted regard for him, they held fast their besetting sins'* The Jewish ritual being abolished, it may be thought that this address is inapplicable to any of the present day : but it may justly be applied, 1. To self-righteous formahsts — [There is still, as Solomon expres…
447 wordsSECTION 433858.1 The Only Service Pleasing To God. 467
for the use of those who are of their own sect and party. They are fond of prayer-meetings, and rehgious societies ; and perhaps of shewing forth their own talents too in exposition or prayer. But, instead of using these things as means to a farther advance- ment in hoHness, tliey regard them only as sources of pre…
459 wordsSECTION 434468 Isaiah, I. 10—17. [858.
word, however the conduct of men may differ as to the imme- diate line which they pursue, they all, in their natural state, affect pleasure, or riches, or honour, and feel abundantly more satisfaction in the things of time and sense, than they do in the service of their God. Now every man is concerned to lind out …
509 wordsSECTION 435858.] The Only Service Pleasing To God. 4G9
From hence then we may see, 1. The nature of true rehgion — [That there are many who greatly mistake its nature, is evident from our text : but, when duly received into the heart, it neither insists on spiritual exercises to the neglect of moral virtues, nor on moral virtues to the neglect of communion with God: …
451 wordsSECTION 436Crimson Sins Made White.
•white as snow :" and in other places he promised his Spirit to " write his laws upon their hearts," and to " cause them to keep his statutes °." But under the Gospel dispensation, the effi- cacy of the Redeemer's blood to " cleanse from sin," and of his grace to renew the heart, is declared in the strongest terms'…
396 wordsSECTION 437859.1 Crimson Sins Made White. 471
to come and reason with him, and shews them a better way of pleading for themselves. It is by his ministers that he now condescends to reason with mankind. We therefore propose to you on this occasion in God's stead, and will argue with you upon, the two most important of all points, the necessity and the efficac…
470 wordsSECTION 438472 Isaiah, I. 18. [859,
he could have clone for you more than he has ;" or whether, if he had permitted you to ask whatever you would as the price of your services, you could have ventured to have asked a thousandth part of what he has already done for you ? Could you have dared to make such a request as that he would give you his dear S…
460 wordsSECTION 439859.1 Crimson Sins Made White. 473
sinned away their day of grace ; that they have committed the sin against the Holy Ghost ; and that God lias already sealed them up to final impenitence, and to everlasting con- demnation But here, as in the former instance, is nothing but assertion, founded on unwarrantable surmises and groundless fears. We know…
460 wordsSECTION 440God Purifying His People.
withstand these, there is no hope that any others could be urged with effect.] Address — 1. Those who still hold out against God — [We call heaven and earth to witness against you, that you are most unreasonable creatures. The ox and the ass are indeed more rational than you are in relation to your souls. They s…
331 wordsSECTION 441860.] God Purifying Iiis People. 475
From them I shall be led to consider, I. The work which God will accomplish in all his chosen people — The whole passage primarily refers to the Jews ; whom God will, at no distant period, restore to their own land, and elevate in the rank of nations; making them no less conspicuous for piety than in the most fa…
450 wordsSECTION 442476 Isaiah, 1. 25. [860.
heaven, because of the shame and misery it would feel in a place so unsuitcd to its dispositions and desires. Hence, then, God engages for his elect, that he will "turn his hand upon them, purely to purge away their dross, and to take away all their tin ;" so that they may be " meet for the inheritance of heaven p…
485 wordsSECTION 443860.] ^'Od Purifying His People. 477
sorrow to his God. It was tlius that Manasseh's most enor- mous wickedness was purged : " God took him among the thorns ; and bound him with fetters, and carried liim to Babylon : and when he was in affliction, lie besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, and prayed unt…
485 wordsSECTION 444Exhortation To A Holy Walk.
have reason to bless his name, if, by any means, he purge you from your corruptions, and assimilate you to his divine image ? This, then, I say to you: If God send you any affliction, whether personal or domestic, " hear the rod, and Him that hath ap- pointed it^\" Entreat of God to shew you what sin it is that he…
366 wordsSECTION 445861.] Exhortation To A Holy Walk. 479
and labour to the utmost of our power, to hasten it forward. We should even now anticipate it ; yea, we will anticipate it : " O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord !" Let us walk in the light, L Of his truth — His truth now shines in its meridian splendour — [" The darkness is inde…
414 wordsSECTION 446480 Isaiah, Ii. 5. ' [861.
under the endearing relations of a Father and a Friend, to whom we may carry every want, every trial, every difficulty ; and from whom we may expect a supply according to our ueed. He will be not only " our God,'' but " a God unto us'^,'' putting forth all his wisdom, all his love, and all his power, to make us tr…
442 wordsSECTION 447861.1 Exhortation To A Holy Walk. 481
we not be ashamed, when we have respect unto all God's commandments" ] In ADDRESSING " the house of Jacob," we must speak to, 1. Those who are nominally so — [It is but too true, that " all are not Israel, who are of Israel:" and those who are only of the house of Jacob by name and profession, may know it by the…
467 wordsSECTION 448Final State Of Man.
Then, from enjoying God in his courts below, you shall be taken to serve him in his temple above, where your largest desires shall be satisfied, and your utmost capacities be filled^.] e Rev. xxi. 22, 23. Ps. xvi. 11. Isai. iii. 10, 11. Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be loell ivith him : for they shall eat…
370 wordsSECTION 4498()2.'] Final State Of Man. 483
say, They are " righteous," who make religion the great busi- ness of life, and prosecute it upon the principles of the Gospel ; and all others without exception must be numbered amongst *' the wicked." Of course, I must not be understood to say that worldly business is to be neglected. On the contrary, if must be…
447 wordsSECTION 450484 Isaiah, Iii. 10, 11. [862.
but to " comfort his people ^" In obedience to him we will address, 1. The righteous — [That I may not " break any bruised reed," or " make sad the heart" of any one that is truly upright, let me say, that in the first stages of the Christian course we must judge rather by our desires than by our actual attainmen…
572 wordsSECTION 451Notice,
1. The equity of the future judgment — [The decision of the Judge will be grounded entirely on our works. No man that was righteous in this world, shall perish ; nor shall any man that persisted in his wickedness, be saved. The reward indeed that will be given to the righteous, will be the gift of grace for Christ…
389 wordsSECTION 452God The Protector Of His Church.
and to humble believers'' ! Let all stir themselves up without delay, and prepare in earnest to meet their God.] 3. The use and benefit of divine ordinances — [In the vi'orld, we may pass days and years, and never once hear the sentiment, That "it shall go ill with the wicked." On the contrary, we shall hear ten t…
386 wordsSECTION 453863.] God The Protector Of His Church. 487
here considered as "the glory" of God''; by which term its members also are expressly designated by God himself ^ 1. The various " dwelling-places of Mount Zion" are his glory — [Wherever Christianity has gained its full ascendant over any family, God will most assuredly be worshipped and served by every member …
423 wordsSECTION 454488 Isaiah, Iv. 5. [863.
This was intended both to guide them in their jour- neys, and to protect them from their enemies. And in reference to it God promises to his Church to be, 1. Her guide — [The cloud went before the people in all their journeys, moving or resting when it was proper for them to move, or rest". Thus will God direct t…
479 wordsSECTION 455863.] God The Protector Of His Church. 489
as also terror was diffused through the whole camp of the Phi- listines'\ Thus it is with the Church at this time; it is the presence of God in it that renders it the joy of the whole earth'. It is God's glory that is seen upon it, which brings kings to the brightness of its rising ''. There is often a power in the…
501 wordsSECTION 456Dccclxiv.
of you shall ever be disappointed of your hope. With Jehovah for your guide and defence, you have no ground for fear : for " if God be for you, who can be against you ? " Your enemies may be great in might, and many in number : but " they are all but bread for you." In your conflicts with them, you may endure much…
686 wordsSECTION 457492 Isaiah, V. 3—5. [864.
e See the verse before the text ; which, stripped of the figure, may be considered as comprehending the two questions contained in this bracket. ^ Could superstition obscure the light ? its clouds have been dis- pelled by the revival of literary and religious knowledge. Could p7-e- judice pervert our judgment? a l…
549 wordsSECTION 458865.] Sinfulness Of Confounding Good And Evil. 493
[He will " take away the candlestick" when we exclude or abuse the light ". Or if he cause not " a famine of the word," he will make his Gospel " a savour of death to us rather than of life"."] 3. He will expose us to the heaviest calamities — [We may easily conceive how the wild boar of the field will desolate a…
325 wordsSECTION 459494 Isaiah, V. 20. [865.
Isaiah v. 20. Wo unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness ; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter. THAT man in his present state is a corrupt and siuful creature, is too plain to be denied: the whole tenour of his conduct proves it beyond a doubt. …
405 wordsSECTION 460865.] Sinfulness Of Confounding Good And Evil. 495
Religion is widely different from this : it is a conver- sion of the soul to God ; it is a resurrection from the dead : it is a new creation. Religion, as it exists in the soul, is a heaven-born principle, that pervades all its powers, and operates in all its faculties. It is to the soul what the soul is to the bo…
377 wordsSECTION 461496 Isaiah, V. 20. [865.
to his former wickedness, and to his present want of more rehgion ? If pain arise to the body during the cure of an inveterate disorder, is that pain to be im- puted to the medicine, or the disease ? to the disease, no doubt : to that therefore must be ascribed all the pain of sorrow and contrition, even supposing…
367 wordsSECTION 462865.1 Sinfulness Of Confounding Good And Kvil. 497
passions a contemptible attainment? Is a superiority to all the pleasures of sense, and the interests of the world, a worthless accpiisition ? Is there any thing mean in love to God, and benevolence to man ? Is the aspiring after heaven a low and pitiful ambition ? Viewing at a distance the conduct of the Apostles…
356 wordsSECTION 463498 Isaiah, V. 20. [S65.
But a forgetfulness of God, a neglect of Christ, a resistance of the Holy Ghost, an indifference about the soul, with ten thousand other sins of omission or of commission, are considered as light and venial, and as affording no ground for sorrow and contrition. If the outward conduct have been decent, it is no mat…
358 wordsSECTION 4648G5.] Sinfulness Of Confounding Good And Evil. Aw
to sweet, and sweet to bitter," before they can have the smallest ground of hope in such a state as theirs. We might easily prosecute this subject in a great variety of views : but enough has been spoken to elu- cidate the words before us : and we trust that no doubt can remain upon your minds, but that all who c…
357 wordsSECTION 465500 Isaiah, V. 20. \_S65.
senses is capable. Yet this is the very manner in which men act with respect to the Scriptures. There is no other directory than that ; and yet they will not only not follow it, but will go on in wilful opposition to it, and still affirm that they are in the way to heaven. Do we speak too harshly of this conduct i…
379 wordsSECTION 466865.] Sinfulness Of Confounding Good And Evil. 501
not proceed in a way which they knew to be wrong; we therefore may safely follow them. By this mode of arguing, all persons lull themselves asleep in their evil ways. Every one upholds his neighbour in the sentiments he has embraced, and in the path he has marked out for himself: and all, in- stead of condemning …
347 wordsSECTION 46750;^ Isaiah, V. 20. [865.
We profess to believe that there is " a day ap- pointed of God, wherein he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained :" and that " every one of us shall stand at the judgment- seat of Christ to receive according to the things done in the body, whether they have been good or evil." No…
377 wordsSECTION 468865.] Sinfulness Of Confounding Good And Evil. 503
ozmi souls, and to those zvho desire to regulate their conduct according to truth. To the former I beg leave to propose one solemn question : God has said. Woe unto them that call evil good, &c. Can you change that woe into a blessing ? Can you prevail on God to retract his word ? Can you make void that sentence,…
598 wordsSECTION 469Dccclxvi.
Isaiah's vision of christ. Isai. vi. 5 — 7. Then said I, Woe is me ! for I am undone ; be- cause I am a man of unclean lips, and I dioell in the midst of a people of unclean lips : for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he …
606 wordsSECTION 470.506 Isaiah, Vi. 5—7. [866.
love. It is in that view alone that " the earth " can be said to be " full of his glory." In the whole creation indeed there is a marvellous display of wisdom and power ; but in redemp- tion alone are seen the mercy, and truth, and faithfulness of our God. And though the seraphims are not interested in that work a…
924 wordsSECTION 471.'508 Isaiah, Vi. 5—7. [866.
2. That the more lowly we are in our own eyes, the richer communications we shall receive from him — [Behold how speedily the angel was sent to comfort the mind of the dejected prophet ! This was a faithful represen- " Isai. xxxiii. 17. ° Luke vii. 26 — 28. tation of the care which Jesus takes of all his afflicted…
561 wordsSECTION 472A Missionary Spirit Described.
less salubrious. No : we should stand forth and say, " Here am I ; send me." O that we all felt this holy zeal, and that we did not so lamentably "confer with flesh and blood," when, if called to it, we should leave even the vision of God himself, to execute his will towards sinful man ! ^ But, in whatever line of…
357 wordsSECTION 473510 Isaiah, Vi. 8. [867.
[In the first instance, tlie proposal referred solely to a mission which God intended to send to his people. And, in this view, it may justly be a2:)plied to any call which may be given to undertake the ministry of the Gospel, either in our own country or in foreign parts ^ But we may consider the call as given to…
400 wordsSECTION 474867.] A. Missionary Spirit Described. 511
expect assuredly, that God will enable us to perforin whatever we undertake for him, and will give a successful issue to our endeavours ] 2. Without reserve — [We should not draw back from any labour, nor hesitate to make any sacrifice. The loss of life itself should be regarded as no loss, yea, rather as a gain,…
386 wordsSECTION 4755\2 Isaiah, Vi. 8. [867.
partial in comparison of those wliich are given to the Christian Church : so that none of us need to draw back from tl;e greatest ■work; since the weakest of true Believers may say, " I can do all things through Christ, who strengtheneth me*^."] 3. More certain assurances of the forgiveness of our sins — [Doubtle…
695 wordsSECTION 476514 Isaiah, Viii. 12^14. [868.
As to excuses for withholding or delaying a general surren- der of ourselves to God, they are lighter than vanity itself. Think not that they can stand one moment, when you come before your God. To serve God instantly, and with our whole hearts, is the duty of every child of man : and therefore, to the proposal wh…
622 wordsSECTION 477868.] God The Only Proper Object Of Fear. 515
Israel by their representations of the promised land, and of the difficulties which must be overcome, before it should be possessed "*. We know also the commendations given to Caleb and to Joshua for their manly opposition to such degrading- fears^. This shews us of what spirit ive should be, whatever confederacie…
485 wordsSECTION 47851G Isaiah, Viii. 12—14. [Sbs.
o would give to every drooping and desponding soul : " Fear none except the Lord of Hosts himself." Him you can never fear too much : " Let him therefore be your fear and your dread." But, having him for your Protector, you need fear none else : for " if He be for you, who can be against you ? "] Hear ye then as …
487 wordsSECTION 479Believers Are For Signs And Wonders.
Lord has nothing else to fear : and the man who " sanctifies the Lord," may be assured, that under all circumstances God will preserve him even as the apple of his eye. But take eternity into the account, and how happy is the Believer then . O what a sanctuary is the Lord to him from the terrors of a guilty consci…
387 wordsSECTION 480518 Isaiah, Viii. 18. [869.
declaring to that people God's intentions respecting them ; and the children were therefore both signs of what God had pur- posed respecting the land, and pledges that he would carry that purpose into effect. The ungodly people of that day, not believing the purposes of God, turned both the prophet and his childre…
440 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical edition (1832-33); scan/OCR from Internet Archive.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.