PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
Horae Homileticae — Volume 9 of 21
Simeon, Charles, 1759-1836 · 243,747 words · 533 reading sections
103G.
c >^^^^^^^ Jill Aff* nrru&ee' -^?^?7te^/y6/n^ NOW FIRST DIGESTED INTO ONE CONTINUED SERIES, AND FORMING A COMMENTARY TO WHICH IS ANNEXED, AN IMPROVED EDITION OF A TRANSLATION OF LONDON: HOLDSWORTH AND BALL, 18, st. Paul's church-yard. $« 3> 1037. 1038. 1039. 1040. 1041. 1042. 1043. 1044. 1045. 104…
277 wordsSECTION 2Jeremiah
1051. xiv. 7. 1052 xiv. 7—9. 1053. xiv. 20, 21. 1054. xv. 16. 1055. xvii. 5 — 8. 1056. xvii. 9. 1057. xvii. 10. 1058. xviii. 6. 1059. xx. 9. 1060. xxiii. 6. 1061. xxiii. 23, 24 1062. xxiii. 28, 29 1063. xxv. 5, 6. 1064. 1065. 1066. 1067. 1068. xxix. 11, 13. xxx. 10, 11. xxx. 17. xxx. 2…
328 wordsSECTION 3Ezekiel
Test- Subject. Page. 1082. xlii. 20, 21. 284 1083. xliv. 16, 17. The Impiety of ungodly Men . 290 1084. xlv. 5. We must not seek great Things 296 1085. xlvii. 6, 7. The Means of terminating War . 300 1086. 1. 4, 5. 304 1087. 1. 20. God's Mercy to his People . . . 307 1088. li. 5. God's Mercy …
293 wordsSECTION 4Daniel
1112. 1113. 1114. 1115. 1116. 1117. 1118. 1119. 1120. 1121. 1122. Subject. 1123.1 1124. 1125. xxxiii. 11. xxxiii. 31, 32. xxxiv. 16. xxxiv. 23, 24. xxxiv. 29. xxxvi. 24—28. xxxvi. 31. xxxvi. 32. xxxvii. 1 — 6. xxxvii. 11 — 13. xxxvii. 15 — 22. ii. 44. iii. 28. iv. 34—37. 1J26.I v. 5, 6. 11…
285 wordsSECTION 5The Ingratitude Of Men.
Jer. ii. 4 — 6. Hear ye the word of the Lord, 0 house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel : Thus saith the Lord, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have ivalked after vanity, and are become vain ? Neither said they, Where is the Lord, that brought us …
256 wordsSECTION 62 Jeremiah, Ii. 4—6. [1026.
And this was the more wonderful, because they be- lieved that Jehovah had brought them out of Egypt, and led them through the wilderness, and established them in Canaan ; and yet they did not, as one might have supposed, desire to know and serve Him, but turned their backs upon him, and sought in preference " the…
428 wordsSECTION 71026. J The Ingratitude Of Men. 3
miseries of hell? And what were the cloudy pillar for their direction, and the manna and water for their support, in com- parison of the in-dwelling of the Spirit of God in our souls, as our Guide, our Sanctifier, and our Comforter? And what was a short possession of Canaan, in comparison of an eternal inheritance…
424 wordsSECTION 84 Jeremiah, It. 4—6. [1026.
[Where is there a truly penitent soul that he ever spurned from his footstool ? Where is there one who ever cried to him for help, and did not find his grace sufficient for him ? Who ever delighted himself in him, and did not experience a reciprocation of his love ? And whom did he ever leave or forsake, provided …
459 wordsSECTION 9The Fountain Of Living Waters.
upon thee ? No : but that) blotteth out thy transgressions for my own sake, and will not remember thy sins. Put me in remembrance (of this promise) : let us plead together : " de- clare thou (thine affiance in it), that thou may est be justified11." Verily, it seems incredible that God, that God whom we have so of…
352 wordsSECTION 10G Jeremiah, Ii. 12, 13. [1027.
well refer to the effects, in proof of the truth of that religion which they profess. But it is one thing to refer to practical effects, and another to ground their faith on any transient feelings : This no man of reflec- tion can do : the other, no man of piety can forbear. Feelings may be excited by erroneous no…
427 wordsSECTION 111027.] The Fountain Of Living Waters. 7
in confounding the two kinds of religion. They are distinct ; and they should be kept so. To enter deeply into the theory of religion, much strength of intellect, much general knowledge, and much patient investigation are requisite. To have just, and even enlarged, views of the practical part, little is wanting b…
398 wordsSECTION 128 Jeremiah, Ii. 12, 13. [1027.
another complaint against them was, that, in their straits and difficulties, they were ever looking to Egypt and Assyria for help, instead of relying on the Lord their God, Now if, in respect of gross idolatry, the passage be thought more immediately applicable to them, it will nevertheless, as a charge of spiritu…
366 wordsSECTION 131027. J The Fountain Of Living Waters. 9
to us all those blessings which we have forfeited by our transgressions. Happy would it be for us, if we were duly impressed with this unmerited kindness and unbounded mercy. But, instead of seeking blessedness in him, we forsake him utterly : we cast off his yoke, we trample on his laws, we cast him even out of …
371 wordsSECTION 1410 Jeremiah, Ii. 12, 13. [1027.
rival God in our affections, whatever it may be, is only " a broken cistern." Who will venture to say that he has ever found solid and permanent satisfac- tion in the creature ? Who has lived any considerable time in the world without learning, by his own expe- rience, the truth of Solomon's observation, that " al…
381 wordsSECTION 151027.1 The Fountain Of Living Waters. 11
cistern, and found it incapable of retaining any water: we have then renewed our labour, and hewed out another ; which we have found as unproductive of solid benefit as the former. We have even worn our- selves out with the pursuit of various and successive vanities, yet have persisted in our error, untaught by e…
365 wordsSECTION 1612 Jeremiah, Ii. 12, 13. [1027.
despised redeeming love, trodden under foot the Son of God, counted the blood of the covenant an unholy thing, and done despite to the Spirit of grace ? Should we account it a light matter, if we ourselves were treated thus by our servants and children ; if they cast off all regard for us, and poured contempt upo…
379 wordsSECTION 171027.] The Fountain Of Living Waters. 13
Should we be content with calling it folly ? Should we not soon find for it a more appropriate and humi- liating term ? Let us take this then as a glass wherein to view our own likeness : it is no exag- gerated representation, but the precise view in which God sees our conduct. We are aware, that the idea suggest…
398 wordsSECTION 1814 Jeremiah, Ii. 12. 13. [1027.
law:" And again, " I am horribly afraid for the un- godly that forsake thy law." Indeed, how is it pos- sible to entertain light thoughts of this, if we only consider what have uniformly been the feelings of men, the very moment that they have come to a just sense of their state ? See the jailor's agitation ; or …
384 wordsSECTION 191027.] The Fountain Of Living Waters. 15
source of melancholy ? Surely they who harbour such an opinion have never known what religion is. That a neglect of religion will make us melancholy, is clear enough, as well from the dissatisfaction which, notwithstanding our diversified enjoyments, generally prevails, as from the disquietude which men feel in t…
337 wordsSECTION 20The Evil Of Backsliding.
Jer. ii. 19. Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee : know therefore and see, that it is an evil thing, and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God. SIN and misery are very nearly connected ; and the nearer we are to God by relation or profession, the more immedi…
330 wordsSECTION 211028.] The Evil Of Backsliding. 17
2. They intercept our views of God — [God is exceeding gracious to those who walk circum- spectly before him: but he has warned us that, "if we forsake him, he will forsake usa." This his people of old experienced to their cost, as the prophet told them ; " Your iniquities have separated between you and your God, …
448 wordsSECTION 2218 Jeremiah, Ii. 19. [1028.
Additional light will be reflected on this subject, while we consider, II. The evil and bitterness of a backsliding state — The sinfulness of an ignorant and carnal state, heinous as it is, is by no means comparable to the guilt of backsliding from God. To view backslidings in their real malignity we must remembe…
417 wordsSECTION 23Self-Vindicating Sinners Reproved.
[If we would " know and see" what a " bitter thing" it is to forsake the Lord, let us consult the declarations of God, " the Lord God of hosts," and the experience of his ancient people. What " broken bones" did the fall of David occasion &! And where was the blessedness which the Galatian Church had once enjoyed,…
423 wordsSECTION 2420 Jeremiah, Ii. 23, 24. [1029.
I. The self-vindicating ways of sinners — Ministers are commanded to " shew the house of Israel their transgressions and their sins." And it might be supposed, that, when men's iniquities are so visible and undeniable, they would fall under the accusation, and humble themselves before God. But they, for the most …
442 wordsSECTION 251029.] Self-Vindicating Sinners Reproved. 21
sented by them. Such are the refuges of papists at this day, in all their idolatrous worship : and such the vain excuses of all the votaries of this world.] 3. In a way of hypocritical palliation — [Here we must go back to our first parents, when inter- rogated respecting their eating of the forbidden fruit. The …
445 wordsSECTION 2622 Jeremiah, Ii. 23, 24. [1029.
excuses can you find for this ? What palliations can such cri- minal proceedings admit of?] 2. By a most apt comparison — [The dromedary and the wild ass, when seeking their mate, are so bent upon the attainment of their desires, that all efforts to catch them are in vain : and no one will weary him- self with so…
468 wordsSECTION 27The Folly Of Neglecting God.
Jer. ii. 27, 28. They have turned their back unto me, and not their face ; but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us ! But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee ? Let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble. AMONGST the various powers which distinguish man from …
341 wordsSECTION 2824 Jeremiah, Ii. 27, 28. [1030.
they draw nigh to him in public, it is not really to know his will, or to enjoy his presence, but merely to perform a duty, in which their hearts are not at all engaged b. But the expression in our text imports, not merely a neglect of God, but a contempt of him also. And a most awful mark of contempt it is, to tu…
471 wordsSECTION 291030.] The Folly Of Neglecting God. 25
1. The disappointment it will occasion — [Even now, in the midst of all their pursuits, we would ask the ungodly, Whether they have ever found any solid satis- faction in the vanities of time and sense? and has not the creature invariably proved to them " a broken cistern, that could hold no water1?" Yes assuredly…
500 wordsSECTION 3026 Jeremiah, Ii. 27, 28. [1030.
to believe, that " they who observe lying vanities, forsake their own mercies s !"] 2. The reflections to which it will give rise — [Here we will not give ourselves time for consideration; but when we come into the eternal world, we shall have nothing else to do*: and then how inexpressibly painful will it be to r…
664 wordsSECTION 3128 Jeremiah, Ii. 31,32. [1031.
3. Those who have already begun to seek the Lord — [Say, Whether it has been in vain to seek the Lord ? Has he been " a wilderness to you, or a land of darknesse?" Has he not done more for you than the world ever did, and rendered you happier than you ever were in the days of your vanity ? Be thankful to him then…
651 wordsSECTION 3228 Jeremiah, Ii. 31,32. [1031.
[We, also, have been passing through a dreary wilderness, in our way to the promised land : and has he been inatten- tive to our wants ? Has he not given us his only dear Son to be our Saviour ? Has he not also given his Holy Spirit, to guide, preserve, and sanctify us, and to make us meet for our destined inherit…
462 wordsSECTION 3330 Jeremiah, Ii. 31, 32. [1031.
that God's charge against you is true ; and that, in refusing to come to him as the only source of all good, you have shewn yourselves proud, daring, impious, self-sufficient rebels, and have deserved to be visited with his heaviest judgments.] 2. The contemptuousness of your neglect — [One would have supposed tha…
460 wordsSECTION 341032.] Comparative Criminality. 31
with you. " You have even wearied God by your transgres- sions ; and yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him1?" But in this you only aggravate your guilt, and augment your eter- nal condemnation. For thus saith the Lord : " Thou say est, Because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn away from me. Behold, I wi…
333 wordsSECTION 3532 Jeremiah, Iii. 11. [1032.
Jer. iii. 11. And the Lord said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah. THE subject of comparative criminality is one on which we should enter with the greatest care, because it is rarely thought of but in a way of self-preference and self-complacency ; and where these f…
468 wordsSECTION 361032.] Comparative Criminality. 33
ever, was not God's judgment respecting it : he decided rather against the form, which was destitute of the power of godliness; and declared that "backsliding Israel had justified herself more than treacherous Judah."] Now, this decision being of general importance, I will proceed to, II. Confirm it — It is gene…
422 wordsSECTION 3734 Jeremiah, Iii. 11. [1032.
exceed in enormity those committed by a mere worldly character d.] 2. It casts more dishonour upon God— [A man who follows his own will, without restraint, does indeed cast off the yoke of God, and shews that he is deter- mined to brave all the consequences of his transgression. But a religious professor says, in…
612 wordsSECTION 3836 Jeremiah, Iii. 12—15. [1033.
god's invitation to his people. Jer. iii. 12 — 15. Go, and proclaim these words toivard the north; and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord ; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you : for I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger for ever. Only acknowledge thine iniquity, th…
659 wordsSECTION 3936 Jeremiah, Iii. 12—15. [1033.
[God is indeed slow to anger, and " rich in mercy to all who call upon him." When he proclaimed his name to Moses, this was the attribute by which he was to be chiefly known ; " The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffer- ing, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgivi…
371 wordsSECTION 4088 Jeremiah, Iii. 12—15. [1033.
Now this, I conceive, marks particularly the aspect which this passage has on the future restoration of the Jews : for not only is Israel here united with Judah (which shews that the passage was not fully accomplished at their return from Baby- lon), but there were not, previous to our Lord's advent, nor have ther…
703 wordsSECTION 4140 Jeremiah, Iii. 12—15. [1033.
And does he not stand in the relation of a husband to you? Yes, he does ; and will still recognise you as his spouse, not- withstanding ail your past unfaithfulness. You remember that our blessed Lord is frequently called " the Bridegroom" of his Church™. St. Paul, when apparently setting forth the duties of husba…
703 wordsSECTION 4240 Jeremiah, Iii. 12—15. [1033.
1033.] god's invitation to his people. 41 nation ; you are told only to look for them as " the gleanings of an olive-tree, two or three upon the top of the uppermost bough, four or five on the outmost fruitful branches thereof0." And if that satisfy God, shall it not satisfy you? Will ye not endeavour to get in th…
507 wordsSECTION 43The True Source Of Salvation.
accompanied with the most earnest efforts to honour God, and will lead to the highest possible attainments in every grace. So make your light to shine before them, and they will see and know that " God is with you of a truth."] Jer. iii. 19./ said, Hoiv shall I put thee among the children, and give thee a pleasant…
347 wordsSECTION 441034.] The True Source Of Salvation. 43
own evil heart ;" and the ten tribes of Israel will par- take with Judah in all the blessings accorded to themb. Hitherto these events have never occurred. But the time is fast approaching, when, in every particular they shall be fulfilled. True, it appears almost im- possible that they should be realized : but Go…
440 wordsSECTION 4544 Jeremiah, Iii. 19. [1034.
But these obstacles, however formidable, shall be surmounted — [God had before expressed his earnest desire for their restoration to him ; " Wilt thou not at this time cry unto me, My Father, thou art the guide of my youthc ?" And now he determines to effect it by his own Almighty power : " Thou shalt call me My …
422 wordsSECTION 461034.1 The True Source Of Salvation. 45
whom nothing is impossible. He promises to interpose for us in a way of sovereign grace, and by the exercise of his Almighty power. His grace is his own: and he may dispense it to whom- soever he sees fit, according to the counsel of his own will. And he says, " Thou shalt call me, My Father ;" and shalt par- tici…
435 wordsSECTION 47Invitation To Backsliders.
let nothing prevail upon you to " turn away from him." Be ready to sacrifice every earthly consideration, and to lay down even life itself, for him. Under all circumstances, my advice to you is, " Be stedfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord : and you may then be assured, that your labour shal…
316 wordsSECTION 481035.1 Invitation To Backsliders. 47
has not cast off the yoke of God, and said, like Pharaoh, " I know not the Lord, neither will I obey his voice ? " In the latter view, it may describe those who, having begun to serve the Lord, turn back again in some measure to the world and to sin. And where is there a child of God who must not acknowledge himse…
447 wordsSECTION 4948 Jeremiah, Iii. 22. [1035.
pleasures of sin will be suffered to detain us from him. Having " tasted the gall and wormwood of a backslidden state, our souls will have them still in remembrance." We shall deter- mine with the Church of old, " I will return unto my first husband, for then it was better with me than now V I call then on this wh…
660 wordsSECTION 5050 Jeremiah, Iv. 3, 4. [1036.
h Prov. xiv. 14. » Hos. xiv. 4. Jer. iv. 3, 4. Thus saith the Lord to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns. Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, and take aivay the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem ; lest my fury come forth like fir…
605 wordsSECTION 511036.1 Repentance The Preventive Of Ruin. 51
We must have " our hearts circumcised unto the Lord :" we must " mortify our earthly members g," and " put off the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts11." What- ever pain it may occasion us to part with " our besetting sins," (for circumcision was a painful rite,) it must be submitted to, eve…
426 wordsSECTION 5252 Jeremiah, Iv. 8, 4. [1036.
2. But in a way of suitable preparation — [Repentance and amendment are necessary both to an honourable exercise of mercy on God's part, and to a becoming reception of mercy on our part. If God were not to require humiliation in us, and a morti- fication of our sins, what evidence would there be that He is holy; …
469 wordsSECTION 531036.1 Repentance The Preventive Of Ruin. 53
that they should continue any longer in such fatal security. Hear, every one of you, the command of God : "Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep ; let your laughter be turned into mourn- ing, and your joy into heaviness: humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you upq." This, this is the great bu…
524 wordsSECTION 54Importance Of Suppressing Vain Thoughts.
Jer. iv. 14. 0 Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved: how long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee? THE displeasure of God is never raised to such a height, but that he is willing to pardon his offending creatures, and longs for their repentance on purpose that he may exerci…
318 wordsSECTION 551037.] Vain Thoughts To Be Suppressed. 55
might as well attempt to number the sands upon the sea shore :) we must content ourselves with mention- ing a few, which deserve more particular attention. St. Paul speaks of a " filthiness of the flesh and of the spirit : " agreeably to which distinction we may arrange our thoughts under two heads ; 1. Spiritual…
420 wordsSECTION 5656 Jeremiah, Iv. 14. [1037.
all orders and degrees of men, are impelled or distracted by them. Doubtless, it is the duty of every man to attend to the proper business of his calling : but when his mind is so occu- pied with earthly things as that he can find no delight in those which are heavenly, he is sinning against God, who would have hi…
435 wordsSECTION 571037.] Vain Thoughts To Be Suppressed. 57
even by imparting to each other the workings of our hearts, stir up unhallowed passions, and suggest thoughts that may be exceedingly injurious to the soul. We should " set a watch before the door of our mouths," and even "make a covenant with our eyes," in order to shut out evil from our own hearts, and keep from…
474 wordsSECTION 58The Miseries Of War.
not the death of a sinner, sees the fatal tendency of our evil thoughts ? And wherefore this kind impatience in the reproof, but because he sees that the evil, if indulged, will grow upon us ; and that, if not speedily suppressed, it will terminate in our ruin ? Tenderly then would we exhort you all to mark the se…
388 wordsSECTION 591038.] The Miseries Of War. 59
present difficulties : and happy would it be for us, if the people at large laid to heart, as they ought, the calamities which we suffer, or the sins which have brought them upon us ! In the words before us, we may see what ought to be our feelings on this occasion3, and what our conduct. I. What should be our fe…
447 wordsSECTION 60Go Jeremiah, Iv. 19. [1038.
home to our own doors! We entreat you, then, to lay these things to heart, and no longer to indulge a stupid insensibility to the calamities of war.] 2. As a judgment inflicted — [War is one of God's " four sore judgments," wherewith he visiteth a guilty land. It is he who giveth the sword a charge against this o…
471 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical edition (1832-33); scan/OCR from Internet Archive.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.