PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
Horae Homileticae — Volume 8 of 21
Simeon, Charles, 1759-1836 · 282,151 words · 604 reading sections
588 Isaiah, Lxii. 6, 7. [1010.
Isai. lxii. G, 7. I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusa- lem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night ; ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence ; and give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth. IT is melancholy to reflect, that notwithstanding …
569 wordsSECTION 5421010.1 Duty Of Interceding For The Church. 589
2. That the efficacy of the Gospel should be uni- versally experienced — [In two views especially is the efficacy of the Gospel seen, namely, in comforting, and sanctifying all who embrace it. To what unspeakable comfort it raises an afflicted soul, is declared at large by the Prophet Isaiah b; as its sanctifying…
436 wordsSECTION 543590 Isaiah, Lxii. 6, 7. [1010.
God alone can give the increase." Ministers must pray, yea, must continue instant in prayer " night and day," if they would be successful in their ministrations11.] 2. People of every description — [All who " make mention of the Lord" are bidden to intercede for the Church of God. But in the marginal trans- latio…
484 wordsSECTION 5441011.] Restoration Of The Jews. 591
does not himself need a remembrancer to remind him of his duty ? Let this matter be duly considered amongst us ; and let us no longer, like Jonah, be indulging in sleep, when a whole world of sinners is calling for our utmost exertions0.] 2. For encouragement — [The first verse of this chapter deserves particular …
318 wordsSECTION 545592 Isaiah, Lxil 10—12. [101 1.
Isai. lxii. 10 — 12. Go through, go through the gates : prepare ye the way of the people : cast up, cast up the highway ; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people. Behold, the Lord hath proclaimed unto the end of the toorld, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation, cometh ; behold, hi…
482 wordsSECTION 5461011. J Restoration Of The Jews. 593
" Go through, go through the gates." God says to them, " Go ye forth of Babylon ; flee ye from the Chaldeans ; with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth ; say ye, The Lord hath redeemed his servant Jacob d." " De- part ye ; for the Lord will go before you ; and the God o…
423 wordsSECTION 547594 Isaiah, Lxii. 10—12. [101 1.
[That is the standard which must be erected for the Gen- tile world11, and to that the Jewish people also must resort1. Under that must all mankind be marshalledk, and come up to Zion1. But how shamefully negligent have the Christian world been now for so many centuries, in not unfurling these banners to them, and…
430 wordsSECTION 5481011. J Restoration Of The Jews. 595
all who trust in him. " His reward is with him ;" and it shall be conferred on all who receive him in faith and love. Who can depict the blessings which he will bring to the believing soul ? They are such as " no eye ever saw, no ear ever heard, no heart ever adequately conceived." " The peace" with which he will …
483 wordsSECTION 549596 Isaiah, Lxit. 10-12. [1011.
That I may not overlook the personal interests of those to whom I speak, let me in conclusion say, 1. Take care that you experience these things in your own souls — [In your natural and unconverted state, you are as far off from God as the Jews themselves. You are "in a world that lieth under the power of the wi…
527 wordsSECTION 550Mxii.
Messiah's triumphs. Isai. lxiii. 1. Who is this that cometh from Edam, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength ? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. TO us who are accustomed to view the whole plan of Christianity accomplished, th…
271 wordsSECTION 551598 Isaiah, Lxiil 1. [1012.
this is its real import. It is to Jesus that the questions in our text refer ; and he it is who gives the answer to them. Let us consider then our text, I. In a way of solemn inquiry — There are those who think the person spoken of was Judas Maccabeus ; because he gained a great victory over the Edomites, who wer…
653 wordsSECTION 552Coo Isaiah, Lxiii. 1. [1012.
The mode of expression used by the prophet, naturally leads us to this, as indeed the most appro- priate view. When he asks, "Who is this ?" he in- tends to express his admiration of the object ; just as the prophet Micah does of Jehovah, " Who is a God like unto theem? Let us then contemplate our ado- rable Savi…
653 wordsSECTION 553Coo Isaiah, Lxiii. 1. [1012.
b Tit. ii. 13. c Isai. xlv. 22. d Isai. xl. 9, 10. « Jam. iv. 12. f Heb. vii. 25. 1013.] the loving-kindness of the lord. 601 Address — 1 . Those who believe in him — [Keep your eyes steadily fixed on this glorious Saviour : and remember, that "he trod the wine-press alo7iee;" there was none with him in the conf…
263 wordsSECTION 554602 Isaiah, Lxiii. 7. [1013.
Isai. lxiii. 7. / will mention the loving-kindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestoived on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Lsrael, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his loving- kindnesses. …
523 wordsSECTION 5551013. J The Loving-Kindness Of The Lord. 603
they are left in darkness and the shadow of death, and given up to follow their own delusions? If we prosecute the same inquiry in relation to the distinctions visible amongst ourselves, we shall be constrained to come to the same conclusion ; "By the grace of God we are what we are." It is manifest, that still, a…
467 wordsSECTION 556604 Isaiah, Lx1Ii. 7. [1013.
and certainly not even the greatest of his mercies astonishes us more than the continuance of them to us. Let us but reflect, how numerous our provocations have been, and what ungrateful returns we have made to God for all his loving- kindness, and we shall stand amazed at his patience, and long- suffering, and fo…
444 wordsSECTION 5571013.] The Loving-Kindness Of The Lord. <)(>.")
glorify him on account of them. David stirred up " his soul, and all that was within him, to bless the Lord, who had crowned him with mercy and loving-kindness1." And we are taught by the prophet the precise terms, as it were, in which it becomes us to express our gratitude to Godm. The very words of our text may …
484 wordsSECTION 558Vexing The Holy Spirit.
Behold now, what matter here is, 1. For reproof — [Is it not surprising, that, surrounded as we are with the mercies and loving-kindness of our God, we should be so insensible of all his goodness ? Let us blush for our ingratitude : let us strive henceforth so to " think of his loving- kindness," that we may say …
362 wordsSECTION 559Vexing The Holy Spirit. G07
1014.] We shall find it not unprofitable to consider this passage, I. As fulfilled in the Jewish people — God's expectations from them were reasonable — [The mercies which he vouchsafed to them, when " he took them for his own peculiar people," are well known. They are again and again specified in the Holy Scrip…
409 wordsSECTION 560608 Isaiah, Lxiii. 8, 10. [1014.
reformation ; so that he delivered them up, first into the hands of the Chaldeans, and in process of time into the hands of the Romans; and has now, for these eighteen hundred years, made them a spectacle to the whole world, an awful monument of his righteous indignation.] But wherefore are these things related co…
397 wordsSECTION 561The Love Of God Towards His People.
[Yes, truly: such conduct cannot but "grieve" and "vex his Holy Spirit :" and he might well swear concerning the greater part of us, as he did respecting the Jews, that " we shall never enter into his rest." And what if he should do so? What if, instead of being to us a " Saviour," he should become our " enemy ;" …
384 wordsSECTION 562010 Isaiah, Lxiii. 9. [1015.
take occasion from them to adore the power and faithfulness of Jehovah : but we propose rather to turn your attention to the mercies vouchsafed unto ourselves ; and we would lead you to notice, I. His tender compassion towards ourselves — [Even in our unconverted state he looks on us with an eye of pitya, longing…
719 wordsSECTION 563612 Isaiah, Lxiii. 11—14. [1016.
n Isai. xxxiii. 1G. and xli. 17, 18. ° 1 Pet. i. 5. p ver. 10. i Exod. xxiii. 20, 21. with Matt. vii. 21. r 1 Cor. vi. 20. Isai. lxiii. 11 — 14. Then he remembered the days of old, Moses, and his people, saying, Where is He that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of his flock? Where is He that put h…
539 wordsSECTION 5641016.] God Contemplated. G13
see far more than in any description of the Deity that could be given us. Here we see Jehovah in action, if I may so speak. Every one of his perfections is here painted, as it were, to the very life. Whatever expressions might be used to characterize his condescension and love, we could not form so just a concepti…
471 wordsSECTION 565G14 Isaiah, Lxiii. 11—14. [1016.
[This also is twice mentioned, as God's peculiar design in all that he wrought for Israel of old. And surely it should be a primary motive with us in contemplating all which he did for them, and all that he has done for us also, in that more won- derful redemption which he has accomplished for us through the Son o…
481 wordsSECTION 566Pleading With God.
not it which hath dried the sea, the waters of the great deep ; that hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass overk?" Thus may you expect your greatest obstacles to be made the very means of your preservation. Only picture to yourselves the weary beast feeding or reclining in the fertile vall…
370 wordsSECTION 567616 Isaiah, Lxiii. 15, 16. [1017.
accomplishment under the Christian dispensation3. I may well, therefore, lead you to consider, I. To what circumstances God's people may be re- duced— The whole Bible attests, that God's people are more or less " a poor and afflicted people b." They are exposed, like others, to temporal afflic- tions— [They hav…
410 wordsSECTION 5681017.] Pleading With God. 617
But in my text we see, II. To whom we should betake ourselves, under such circumstances — St. James says, " Is any afflicted ? let him pray." Prayer is the great antidote to affliction of every kind. And here we see in what way we should approach our God. We should draw nigh to him, 1. In a way of humble expostu…
436 wordsSECTION 569618 Isaiah, Lxiii. 15, 1G. [1017.
Father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknow- ledge us not: thou art our Father, our Redeemer; thy name is from everlasting." A person may have an evidence in his own soul that he has been adopted by God, yea, and been born of him : he may be sure, in his own mind, that he has been redeemed from dea…
448 wordsSECTION 570Imperfection Of Our Best Services.
Isai. lxiv. 0. We are all as an unclean thing ; and all our righteousnesses are as Jilt hy rags. HUMILITY is that grace which is most suited to our condition as fallen creatures ; and, that we may be assisted in the pursuit of it, God has graciously given us, not only promises for our encouragement, but patterns …
301 wordsSECTION 571620 Isaiah, Lxiv. 6. [1018.
foster some vile affection, some "earthly, sensual, or devilish" inclination ] 3. In a state of separation from God and his people — [We have by nature no delight in God : we are averse to his service, his worship, his people : our " carnal minds are enmity against him," and against every thing that leads to him,…
394 wordsSECTION 5721018.] Imperfection Of Our Best Services. 621
such a disposition as this is harboured in our hearts, we, and all that we do, must be hateful in the sight of God, and render us fit only to be cast, as most abhorred objects, into the fire of hell \] This subject may be improved for, 1. Our conviction — [We are very backward to acknowledge ourselves so deprave…
449 wordsSECTION 573The Consequences Of Neglecting Prayer.
therefore all ye who are conscious of your own depravity, and pray to God that " Christ may be made righteousness unto youk;" and that you, both in time and in eternity, may glory in him as " the Lord your righteousness1."] * 1 Cor. i. 30. > Jer. xxiii. 6. Isai. lxiv. 7. There is none that calleth upon thy name, t…
352 wordsSECTION 5741019.] Consequences Of Neglecting Prayer. 623
thoughts wander, ere we are aware, and in spite of our endea- vours to fix them. We seem to lose the accustomed energy of our minds. We need again and again to stir up our sluggish hearts.] When we consider the duty in this light, we shall see reason to lament, II. The general neglect of it — Many live entirely …
355 wordsSECTION 5756Pa Isaiah, Lxiv. 7. [1019.
[He reveals himself to his people as he does not unto the world1; he shines into their hearts to discover to them his glory. But he will vouchsafe no such mercy to those who call not upon him. His perfections are to them rather an object of terror than of admiration.] He will not manifest to them his love — [He o…
372 wordsSECTION 576Danger Of Disregarding God.
[Unless we stir up ourselves continually, we shall soon lose the Divine presence. We cannot guard too much against for- mality in prayer. Let us be encouraged by God's gracious declaration q — ] <J Prov. xv. 8. God is not more pleased with the songs of angels than with the sighs and groans of a contrite soul. lsa…
330 wordsSECTION 577626 Isaiah, Lxv. 12—14. [1020.
" they forsook the Lord, and forgot his holy moun- tain," where they ought to have worshipped him: and " offered sacrifices to a whole troop" of worthless idols. In this respect we, through mercy, stand on higher ground than they. Yet, though free from gross idolatry, we have acted altogether on the same rebellio…
434 wordsSECTION 5781020.] Danger Of Disregarding God. 621
From the evil which they committed, we proceed to notice, II. The judgments denounced against them — Under the Jewish dispensation, the commands of God were enforced with temporal rewards and pu- nishments : but to us he holds forth rather such as are spiritual and eternal. Certain it is that God will put a diff…
429 wordsSECTION 579628 Isaiah, Lxv. 17, 18. [1021.
servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty ; behold, my ser- vants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed; behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit."] Address — 1. Those who disregard the warnings of their God — [What excuse ha…
365 wordsSECTION 5801021.1 The New Heavens And The New Earth. G^9
Isai. lxv. 17, 18. Behold, I create new heavens, and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create : for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. WHEN our blessed Saviour came into the world, his advent was…
465 wordsSECTION 581030 Isaiah, Lxv. 17, 18. [1021.
so as no more to be remembered: " The ark of the covenant itself, that peculiar symbol of the divine presence, shall no more be visited by them, or remembered amongst them ; Jerusalem itself being the throne of the Lord'1," and " God himself the light and glory thereofe."] This may fitly be called " new heavens, a…
464 wordsSECTION 5821021.] The New Heavens And The New Earth. 63 1
love, he will joy over them with singing1'." Surely then it becomes us to rejoice also, yea, and to shout for joy, 1. For the benefits that will be conferred on God's ancient people — [Long have they been the most degraded and despised of all people. At this very day are they classed with swine, in an impost lai…
450 wordsSECTION 583632 Isaiah, Lxv. 17, 18. [1021.
their unfruitfulness, break off the branches, and graft us Gen- tiles in ? And will he, in that day, graft in again his afflicted people, and cause the whole tree to flourish in unrivalled beauty to endless ages? Will he thus display before the whole universe the greatness of his power, and the immuta- bility of h…
479 wordsSECTION 584The Efficacy Of Prayer.
Isai. lxv. 24. It shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer ; and while they are yet speaking, J will hear. THERE is scarcely any thing less justly appre- ciated than the efficacy of prayer. As a Christian community, we acknowledge the duty of prayer ; but we regard it rather as a service to be perf…
343 wordsSECTION 585634 Isaiah, Lxv. 24. [1022.
I. To whom it is made — To the Millennial period, in the first instance, it most undoubtedly refers — [The whole preceding context clearly shews this. In the beginning of the chapter, God denounces the heaviest judg- ments against his " rebellious people." But, having deter- mined not utterly to destroy them, he …
474 wordsSECTION 5861022.] The Efficacy Of Piiayer. 635
" Ye shall call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart1'." Of the instances of such gracious communications there would be no end, if I were to attempt to enumerate all that are recorded in the Scrip…
526 wordsSECTION 587G36 Isaiah, Lxv. 21. [1022.
Seeing, then, that the promise is made to God's people in every age, let us consider, II. What it speaks to us — It plainly declares, 1. How wonderful is the condescension of Almighty God— [When God promised to dwell in the temple which Solo- mon had built, the pious monarch exclaimed, " Will God in very deed d…
451 wordsSECTION 5881022.] The Efficacy Of Prayer. G.J7
Liturgy, know the contrary. But no real saint ever lived with- out pouring out before God, from time to time, many " cries and breathings" which proceeded from the state of his own mind, and which no written form could have furnished. And if this be not our habit, we are as truly prayerless, as if we had never use…
498 wordsSECTION 589Mxxiii.
they called, he answered ; and while they were yet speaking, he heard." Know ye, then, your privilege : Carry to the Lord your every want, your every fear ; and " cast all your care on him, who careth for you." " Commit your way to him, and" not only shall your trials be alleviated, but " your very thoughts," the …
356 wordsSECTION 5901023.] The Objects Of God'S Favour. 639
spiritual wisdom d. They are constrained to acknowledge that they have no righteousness of their owne, and that they are "without strength" for obedience f. They unfeignedly adopt the language of St. Paulg — Nor do they hope for mercy but as the free gift of Godh.] 2. They bewail the many evils they have committed…
381 wordsSECTION 591(540 Isaiah, Lxvl 2. [1023.
everr. His reception of the prodigal is an eternal monument of the regard he will shew to every repenting sinner.] 2. Care over them — [Wherever they go, his eye is upon them for good8. He watches them in order to deliver them from danger*. He watches them in order to comfort them in trouble11. He watches them in…
439 wordsSECTION 592God Delights To Comfort His People.
[The poor and contrite are exclusively beloved of God. If he look on others, it is only as he did on the Egyptians1. And how dreadful must it be to have such an enemy ! But how delightful to have an almighty, omnipresent guardian ! Above all, how awful must it be to have him turn his face from us in the day of jud…
402 wordsSECTION 593Vol. Viii. T T
Cm ISAIAH, LXVI. 10—13. [1024. a clay." To this period we should look forward with joy : and whatever occasions there may be for sorrow, on account of existing circumstances, the prospect of such a glorious event should fill us with heavenly consolation. That we may enter more fully into the exhortation in our t…
393 wordsSECTION 5941024.] God Delights To Comfort His Peotle. 613
things and sureV There is not any thing we desire, but there is the most abundant provision made for it by many and repeated promises, all of which he has confirmed to us by the most solemn oath. Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth ! Jehovah covenants ; Jehovah swears ! And wherefore does he so condescend to th…
500 wordsSECTION 595614 Isaiah, Lxv1. 10—13. [1024-
speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem0: " Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees, and say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not ; your God will come and save youp." He chooses to speak to us by men, rather than by angels ; because they, by their own experience of the bitterness o…
436 wordsSECTION 5961024.] God Delights To Comfort His People. G45
of Jehovah towards his people ; yet will we assert, that the whole creation does not present an image that will more adequately convey this sentiment to our minds. It suggests to us, 1 . His attention to our wants — [How great and manifold are the wants of a little child ; no one of which he himself is ahle to su…
474 wordsSECTION 597G46 Isaiah, Lxvi. 10—13. [1024.
3. His forbearance towards us in our perverseness — [Few things perhaps are more trying to the temper than the untowardness of a perverse child : it requires all the love of a parent to support it, when it is great and of long con- tinuance. But what parent ever had to endure a thousandth part of the perverseness …
476 wordsSECTION 5981024.] God Delights To Comfort His People. 647
be found? You may go and search for it through the whole creation in vain : " The depth saith, It is not in me ; and the sea saith, It is not in me. It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof e :" it is in Christ only that the nations of the earth either are, or can be, bles…
510 wordsSECTION 599The Jews To Convert The Gentiles.
all the pangs of travail renewed in his soul, when the miscon- duct of some in the Galatian Church caused him to stand in doubt of them ! On the other hand, no words could express the joy which John, the beloved disciple, felt, " when he saw his children walk in truth." Be watchful then over your whole spirit and …
415 wordsSECTION 6001025.1 The Jews To Convert The Gentiles. 649
where sin hath hitherto maintained an undisputed sway. The prospect of this period, which is now fast approaching, and speedily to commence, was the great support of the Church under the distresses to which she was reduced in the Babylonish captivity ; and it still forms the richest source of consolation to all w…
395 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical edition (1832-33); scan/OCR from Internet Archive.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.