PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
Horae Homileticae — Volume 8 of 21
Simeon, Charles, 1759-1836 · 282,151 words · 604 reading sections
937.1 Redemption A Motive To Conversion. 191
more moral and decent way, we are all alike in this, that we have lived to ourselves rather than unto God. This we all have acknowledged in the general Con- fession1' and therefore we may all, without exception, consider the invitation as addressed to our- selves : " Return unto me ; " 1. In penitence — [As sinn…
445 wordsSECTION 182192 Isaiah, Xliv. 22. [937.
love. With whatever measure of penitence or faith we may profess to return to him, "it will be in vain to cry, Lord! Lord! if we do not the things which he commandsp."] Whilst we listen to our Saviour's invitation, it will be well to consider, II. The motive with which he enforces it. He might well have enforced …
480 wordsSECTION 183938.] Redemption A Ground Of Joy. 193
universe only return to him in penitence and faith, " and He will have mercy upon him, and abundantly pardon all his mul- tiplied transgressions x."] Application — [Let the careless sinner hear this. When you are in the midst of all your mirth and gaiety, call this to mind : ' My Saviour is here with me ; and in …
320 wordsSECTION 184194 Isaiah, Xliv. 23. [938.
Isai. xliv. 23. Sing, 0 ye heavens ; for the Lord hath done it : shout, ye lower parts of the earth : break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein : for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel. IF the word of God produced its full effect upon the hearts of men, thi…
517 wordsSECTION 185938.] Redemption A Ground Of Joy. 195
2. By power — [The deliverances vouchsafed to the Jews of old were effected by " a mighty hand, and a stretched-out arm." And it is only " in the day of God's power that any are made willing™" to embrace the salvation offered them in Christ Jesus. The " report of the Gospel is believed by those only, to whom the …
464 wordsSECTION 186196 Isaiah, Xliv. 23. [938.
we are found, when he sends his Holy Spirit to apply that re- demption to us : we were fallen after the example of the apostate angels; yet God passed by them, and delivered up his own Son for us : we are still " enemies to God in our minds by wicked works," and are actually fighting against God with all our might…
493 wordsSECTION 187938.] Redemption A Ground Of Joy. 197
our journey we shall take the same review as Joshua did in his last moments ; we shall adore the faithfulness of God and say, " Of all the good things which God hath promised me, not one thing hath failed y." Is the glory of God so blended with the happiness of man ? Surely, III. This is a ground of most exalted …
433 wordsSECTION 188198 Isaiah, Xlv. 8. [939.
[A cold or languid expression of gratitude would be utterly unsuited to the mercy vouchsafed unto us. It calls for all the powers of our souls; yea, "all that is within us should bless God's holy namee." If we would form a just idea of the state in which we should be, let us imagine ourselves, not merely condemned…
297 wordsSECTION 189939.] The Efficacy Of The Gospel. 109
Isai. xlv. 8. Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness : let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together ; I the Lord have created it. IT is generally thought, that doctrines relating to God's sovereignty, and to the divine decree…
472 wordsSECTION 190200 Isaiah, Xlv. 8. [939.
own land, they would, together with an abundance of temporal blessings, again enjoy the blessedness of waiting upon God in the instituted ordinances of his worship. And, inasmuch as this would tend to the advancement of their souls in righteous- ness and true holiness, it might justify the language by which it was…
474 wordsSECTION 191939.] The Efficacy Of The Gospel. 201
II. The peculiar beauty of the image under which it is conveyed — We are no strangers to the benefits arising from the showers which water the earth : and the corre- spondence between those and the benefits accruing from an outpouring of the Spirit of God is obvious and intelligible to all. You will remember, tha…
446 wordsSECTION 192202 Isaiah, Xlv. 8. [#39.
[" Behold the heavens dropping down fatness upon the earth, and the skies pouring down righteousness :" Behold, at the same time, " the earth opening" to receive the benefits, and " righteousness and salvation springing up together." Behold this, I say, in the field of nature ; what a change is wrought, almost ins…
488 wordsSECTION 193The Efficacy Of The Gospel. £03
939.] God, the work is his alone. " Paul may plant, and Apollos water ; but it is God that gives the increase"." To him must every thing be traced, as much as the creation itself; even to his will, which ordains it; and to his power, which executes it: so that to him must all the glory be ascribed by every soul, …
493 wordsSECTION 194Striving With Our Maker.
amongst us" in richer abundance than we have ever yet been privileged to behold themq.] 3. To whom we are indebted, if ever it has be- come effectual for our good — [I need not say to whom we are indebted, either for the fertilizing showers, or for the fruits produced by themr. Nor need I say how cordially every …
348 wordsSECTION 195940. J Striving With Our Maker. 205
I. The conduct reprobated — It may be supposed impossible for men to strive with their Maker : but the fact is, that men may do it in a variety of ways : 1. By resisting his will — [He has made known his will in his written Law But men will not obey it Tell them that God has enjoined this, and forbidden that ; a…
466 wordsSECTION 19620G Isaiah, Xlv. 9. [940.
[God, in his Gospel, comes and entreats of man to accept of reconciliation with him through the Son of his love But how do men treat this divine message ? They reject it utterly; and say in their hearts, respecting the Lord Jesus Christ, " We will not have this man to reign over us." In the parable of the wedding-…
406 wordsSECTION 197940.] Striving With Our Maker. 207
would go through them, and burn them up together1." That pointed interrogation, " Who hath hardened himself against God, and prospered ? " must for ever determine this question ; and shew, that to " strive with our Maker" is, to involve our- selves in inevitable and eternal ruin ] Address — 1. In a way of indigna…
385 wordsSECTION 198The Extent And Certainty Of Israel'S Salvation.
Isai. xlv. 17. Israel shall be saved in the Lord zvith an ever- lasting salvation : ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world ivithout end. AS in the dispensations of God's providence we behold a mixture of mercy and judgment, so in the records of his grace we see promises and threatenings continually interwov…
349 wordsSECTION 199941.] Extent And Certainty Of Salvation. 209
2. Who worship God alone — [There were some among the Jews who feared the Lord, and yet served other gods d: so amongst ourselves there are many who would be thought to fear God, while they are endeavouring to reconcile the inconsistent services of God and mammon. But Israel stand directly opposed to such charac- …
460 wordsSECTION 200210 Isaiah, Xlv. 17. [941.
Christ our Lord n. " In him all their fresh springs are found ;" " out of his fulness they receive continually grace for grace:" and if this lock were shorn, they would instantly become weak as other men0. Being fully assured of this, they evince that they are the true Israel, by worshipping God in the spirit, re- …
461 wordsSECTION 201941. J Extent And Certainty Of Salvation. 211
Address — 1. The idolatrous worldling — [It is not only " the maker of idols," but he who " setteth up idols in his heart," that is an idolater in the sight of God: if we " love and serve the creature more than the Creator," we are as truly idolaters, as if we bowed down to stocks and stones; and do not the consc…
492 wordsSECTION 202Jehovah A Just God And A Saviour.
Isai. xlv. 21. There is no God else beside me ; a just God and a Saviour ; there is none beside me. TO us, who have been habituated from our infancy to hear of none but the true and living God, it seems incredible that man should be so stupid and selfish as to bow down to stocks and stones, and to worship them as…
362 wordsSECTION 203942.1 Jehovah A Just God And A Saviour. 213
But Jehovah is alike ahle either to save or to destroy. See whether his justice be not marked in his conduct towards the fallen angels, whom he expelled from heaven for their sin ; and towards the antediluvian world, which, with the exception of a single family of eight persons, he destroyed with an universal delu…
475 wordsSECTION 204214 Isaiah, Xlv. 21. [942.
nothing else ; and which infinitely exceeds any that can be found in a separate and disjointed view of them, as exercised towards our sinful world ] Let us then proceed to contemplate, II. The regard due to him under that character — This part of my subject is altogether inexhaustible. But I will confine myself t…
443 wordsSECTION 205943.] Looking To Christ. 215
he never proceeds, till he has exercised forbearance towards us to the uttermost. Call to mind his exceeding great and precious promises ; and then say, whether any sinner in the universe has reason to despond, provided only he desire mercy at the hands of God? Or rather, consider what God has done in giving his o…
278 wordsSECTION 206216 Isaiah, Xlv. 22. [943.
Isai. xlv. 22. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth : for I am God, and there is none else. MANY consider the Scriptures merely as a history of past events, and imagine that the declarations con- tained in it are to be confined to those persons, for whose immediate use they were written. But su…
559 wordsSECTION 207943.] Looking To Christ. 217
that pervades their souls shall be healed. Yea, more, the favour of God, the beauty of holiness, and all the glory of heaven shall be imparted to them. The salvation here spoken of is justly called, " The salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory :" and in the name of Christ we can promise it to all who …
465 wordsSECTION 208218 Isaiah, Xlv. 22. [943.
unto Jesus: " there is no other name given under heaven whereby we can be saved, but the name of Jesus Christ." Observe then the weight of this argument also : it is as though Jesus had said, " To whom will ye go? I, and I alone, have the words of eternal life g : if you follow after righteousness in any other way…
514 wordsSECTION 209Looking To Christ. 219
my mediatorial capacity is all power committed to me, that I may raise you also to a participation of my own glory : and all that I require of you is, to look unto me: O sinners, turn not a deaf ear to my entreaties ; but let me save you with an ever- lasting salvation.' Are there now any so obdurate as to disrega…
512 wordsSECTION 210Exaltation Of Christ.
Isai. xlv. 23 — 25. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall boiv, every tongue shall swear. Surely, shall one say, In the Lord have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are in- censed against hi…
336 wordsSECTION 211944.] Exaltation Of Christ. 221
was to be insulted by his whole nation ; and his claims of Messiahship were to be made the subject of profane ridicule : he was not only to be rejected, but to be crucified as a malefactor, and to die as one unable to save himself: his enemies were to enjoy a momentary triumph; and his followers to be disappointed…
431 wordsSECTION 212222 Isaiah, Xlv. 23—25. [944.
should either be made to acknowledge with Paul, that they had been " blasphemers, injurious, persecutors, and the very chief of sinners," or to confess the justice of that sentence that con- signed them over to everlasting misery.] 4. The salvation of his people — [His enemies are the seed of profane Esau ; but hi…
428 wordsSECTION 213944.] Exaltation Of Christ. 223
he rose triumphant ; and the affrighted guards fled to relate the wonderful event. Now began his exaltation, which speedily reversed the scenes that had been exhibited. His enemies already stood confounded ; and propagated an absurd falsehood to conceal their shame. The hopes of his disconsolate people were revive…
479 wordsSECTION 214224 Isaiah, Xlv1. 3—5. [945.
Improvement — 1. For conviction — [Nothing surely can be more calculated to awaken the secure than this solemn oath of Jehovah. Methinks the Deity, to fix our attention and obtain belief, stands forth before the assembled universe, and, with his hand lifted up to heaven c, swears, " As sure as I am God, thus and …
286 wordsSECTION 215Dccccxlv.
god's care for his people. Isai. xlvi. 3 — 5. Hearken unto me, 0 house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belli), which are carried from the womb : and even to your old age I am he ; and even to hoar hairs ivill I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I to …
465 wordsSECTION 216226 Isaiah, Xlvi. 3—5. [945.
whole nation in the wilderness. He had borne them in his arms as a father does his child — [In the wilderness, when the people were required to march, it must of necessity happen that many females were not in a condition to carry their new-born infants, and more especially as the journeys were often of long contin…
673 wordsSECTION 217226 Isaiah, Xlvi. 3—5. [945.
To the spiritual Israel also he engages that he will keep them, even to the end — [" His gifts and calling are without repentancef." "Where he has begun a good work, he will carry it on, and perfect it, unto the day of Christg." If " he has laid in our hearts the foundation of his spiritual temple, he will complet…
273 wordsSECTION 218228 Isaiah, Xlvi. 3—5. [945.
keep his engagements with us, uses in one short sentence no less than five negatives ; " He will never, never leave thee ; he will never, never, never forsake theem."] From this statement of his own ways, he teaches us to infer, III. His unrivalled title to our regard — " To whom will ye liken me ?" says he to hi…
741 wordsSECTION 219230 Isaiah, Xlvi. 12, Is. [946.
And let your confidence in him for the future be entire. Lie in his hands precisely as a little infant in its parent's arms ; and look to him, exactly as the Israelites in the wilderness did, to direct your every way, and to supply your every want. It is not possible for your reliance on God to be too simple or to…
353 wordsSECTION 220946.1 Christ The Salvation Of Israel. 231
Isai. xlvi. 12, 13. Hearken unto me, ye stout-hearted, that are far from righteousness : I bring near my righteousness ; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry : and I will place salvation in Zion, for Israel my glory. THEY who deny or doubt the existence of a Supreme Being, may discover his ete…
605 wordsSECTION 221232 Isaiah, Xlvi. 12, 13. [946.
[Christ is undoubtedly that " salvation whom God has placed in Zion," and whom we are commanded to call, " The Lord our righteousness." Him has " God sent into the world to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself" Hearken to this, ye stout-hearted : though ye have despised your God, your God has not despised you …
433 wordsSECTION 222947.] Offices Of The Holy Trinity In Redemption. 233
of a sinner, but rather that he should turn from his wicked- ness and live." But he is a holy God ; nor will his Spirit " always strive with man." He may be provoked at last to " swear in his wrath that you shall never enter into his rest." This he most assuredly does with respect to many, who " grieve his Spirit"…
251 wordsSECTION 223234 Isatah, Xlviil 1G. [947.
OFFICES OF THE HOLY TRINITY IN THE WORK OF REDEMPTION. Isai. xlviii. 16. Now the Lord God, and his Spirit, hath sent me. SO mysterious and important a doctrine as that of a Trinity of Persons in the Godhead ought not to be founded on any grounds which are not clear, strong, adequate, convincing. But it may be ill…
515 wordsSECTION 224947.] Offices Of The Holy Trinity In Redemption. 235
to pervade the Holy Scriptures throughout. Accord- ingly, we do find it more or less clearly intimated from the beginning. Let us trace it in the Scriptures, 1. Of the Old Testament— [In the very first chapter of the Bible, where the creation of all things is declared, there is a plurality of persons men- tioned,…
473 wordsSECTION 225236 Isaiah, Xlviii. 16. [947.
distinctly to acknowledge the Three Persons of the Godhead ; and to pray, that " the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, may be with them V] But this distinction of Persons in the Godhead will more clearly appear, by considering, II. The particular offices wh…
430 wordsSECTION 226947.] Offices Of The Holy Trinity In Redemption. 237
He also " glorified Christ, by taking of the things that were his, and shewing them unto his disciplesy." To this very hour does he, by the mighty operation of his power on the souls of men, " convince them of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment2." He "comforts them" in their sorrows3.; he " sanctifies them thr…
445 wordsSECTION 227238 Isaiah, Xlviii. 16. [947.
the air he breathes ? It is not as worthy that we are to come to God, but as unworthy : and the more we feel our unworthiness, the more acceptable shall we be to God ; who bids us come to him for every thing, " without money and without price." Only reflect on what God has already done for you ; and you may well s…
712 wordsSECTION 228240 Isaiah, Xlviii. 17, 18. [948.
k Rev. v. 13. god's tender concern for his people. Isai. xlviii. 17, 18. Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel : I am the Lord thy God, which teacheth thee to profit, ivhich leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go. O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been …
666 wordsSECTION 229240 Isaiah, Xlviii. 17, 18. [948.
2. The kindness he exercises — [As God gave unto Israel both the moral and ceremonial law for their instruction, and guided them through the wilder- ness for forty years, so is he now the instructor and leader of the Christian Church, who exclusively enjoy the light of reve- lation. But there are a favoured few, "…
296 wordsSECTION 2309A2, Isaiah, Xlviii. 17, 18. [948.
us to obey them or not, as we please : he longs to engage our most affectionate regards to him and his service : and, when all his efforts are in vain, he takes up a lamentation over us, as a father over a disobedient and incorrigible child c. And what abundant occasion has he for regret on our account ! He has co…
464 wordsSECTION 231949. ~] Christ The Light Of The Gentiles. 21 3
[Now God laments over them ; but they regard him not : then they will lament over their own state ; and he will not regard them. Then they will adopt the very language of the text: " O that I had hearkened to God's commandments! then would my peace at this moment have been constant as a river, and boundless as the…
352 wordsSECTION 232244 Isaiah, Xlix. 6. [949.
Isai. xlix. 6. And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel : I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth. THAT the Gentiles were to be received into the …
436 wordsSECTION 233949.] Christ The Light Of The Gentiles. 245
reconciled " many myriads" of them to God. He is also the " Light of the Gentiles" — [Another prophet describes him as " the Sun of Righteous- ness1." In the New Testament also he is repeatedly called " the Light of the worldV Others have enlightened the world by revealing the will of God; but He alone reveals it …
395 wordsSECTION 234216 Isaiah, Xlix. G. [949.
blessing to that nation, and the salvation of a remnant from among them clearly manifested the efficacy of the great sacrifice.] But the dispensation of the Gospel to the whole world is incomparably more glorious — It brings far greater good to men — [We must not disparage the salvation of one single soul ; much …
743 wordsSECTION 235248 Isaiah, Xlix. 7. [950.
<i Isai. xlv. 24. r Ps. lxxxix. 19. s 1 Cor. i. 30. 1 Isai. xlv. 22. u 2 Pet. iii. 18. Christ's future reign. Isai. xlix. 7. Tims saith the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, and. his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of 'rulers ; kings shall see and arise, princes als…
700 wordsSECTION 236250 Isaiah, Xlix. 7. [950.
This, however, was the character of the Lord Jesus Christ— [Never was a being more despised than he. His whole appearance was contemptible in the eyes of those who looked for a temporal prince ; so that he was indeed " a root out of a dry ground, having no form nor comeliness; and they who saw him could find no b…
709 wordsSECTION 237250 Isaiah, Xlix. 7. [950.
g Gal. iii. 13. h 1 Cor. i. 23. I Gal. v. 11. k 1 Cor. iv. 13. 950.] Christ's future reign. 251 Now this I consider as an evidence in favour of the Gospel which we preach. If our doctrine and its professors were generally approved by the world, it would give very just ground to suspect that our sentiments were no…
480 wordsSECTION 238252 Isaiah, Xlix. 7. [950.
Christianity was embraced by the head of the Roman Empire. But a mere nominal subjection to him, such as is now professed amongst the princes of Christendom, is not that allegiance of which my text speaks. No : there shall be a willing and unreserved subjection to him amongst all the kings of the earth, and all th…
886 wordsSECTION 239254 Is At Ah, Xlix. 8—10. [951.
3. How happy are they who truly believe in Christ! [The same things has God decreed respecting you, as con- cerning his dear Son ; and on the same grounds does he assure e Ps. ii. 9. f Isai. lx. 21. e Zech. xiv. 20, 21. h John viii. 5G. ' ver. 13. with Ps. xcviii. 4 — 9. k Isai. lx. 22. N. B. If this be the subjec…
342 wordsSECTION 240The Greatness Of Christ'S Salvation.
Isai. xlix. 8 — 10. Thus saith the Lord : In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I hetyed thee : and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages ; that thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go fort…
551 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical edition (1832-33); scan/OCR from Internet Archive.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.