PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
Horae Homileticae — Volume 9 of 21
Simeon, Charles, 1759-1836 · 243,747 words · 533 reading sections
254 Jeremiah, Xxxii. 37—42. [1076.
appears, at present, as if the obstacles to the accomplishment of all these promises were absolutely insurmountable : but " if God will work, who shall let it?" He says, " I will plant them in this land assuredly, with my whole heart, and with my whole soul." Shall it then fail of its accomplishment in due season? …
470 wordsSECTION 2421076.] The Future Conversion Of The Jews. 255
2. What encouragement we have to labour for our Jewish brethren — [The object which we have in view is, not their restoration to their own land (that, I conceive, we may well leave in the hands of Providence, without presuming to interfere with it), but their conversion to Christ, and the everlasting salvation of…
450 wordsSECTION 243Salvation Is Of God, From First To Last.
Jer. xxxii. 39 — 41. I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them : and I will make an everlast- ing covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them to do them good ; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall n…
366 wordsSECTION 2441077.] Salvation Is Of God. 257
God puts his fear into our hearts — [While unconverted, we " have no fear of God before our eyes :" we all walk after the imagination of our own hearts, seeking happiness in various ways, according as we are led by our different inclinations or situations in life. But in conver- sion, God " gives us one heart and …
453 wordsSECTION 245258 Jeremiah, Xxxii. 39—41. [1077.
1. The engagements of God's covenant — [God has entered into covenant with his Church and people, and undertaken to preserve them from apostasy. Nor is this covenant liable to be broken, like that which he made with the Israelites in the wilderness1 : it is and will be " ever- lasting," because God himself engages…
481 wordsSECTION 2461077.] Salvation Is Of God. 259
never cease to work, till lie has fulfilled in us all his good plea- sure, and " perfected that which concerneth us:" " he will keep us by his own power through faith unto salvation."] We may observe from hence, 1. How suitable is the way of salvation ! [Foolish and ignorant men would be better pleased with a gos…
461 wordsSECTION 247The Importance Of Prayer.
Jer. xxxiii. 3. Call unto me, and I luill answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. IT is curious to observe in what different estima- tion the same persons are held by their fellow-crea- tures and by God. We may certainly be allowed to say, that there was not, at the time referre…
351 wordsSECTION 2481078. J The Importance Of Prayer. 261
Those who would obtain knowledge from him must seek it by prayer — [This is God's command. He needs not indeed to be pre- vailed upon by our solicitations, as though he were of himself averse to grant us his blessings ; but still it is our duty to pray unto him ; and he teaches us to expect his blessings only in t…
415 wordsSECTION 249262 Jeremiah, Xxxiii. 3. [1078.
themselves desire to look into." It is possible enough that the truths themselves, as a system, may be known to the ungodly : but, in their use, their excellence, their importance, they are known to those only who are taught of God. To these God has revealed the source and depth of their own depravity ; the suitab…
459 wordsSECTION 2501078.1 The Importance Of Prayer. 263
unreasonable, if he denied the possibility of such a thing, and imputed the affirmations of the other to vanity and folly ? Every one knows, that objects dimly seen, may be made clearly visible by the use of glasses : and why may not the acquisition of an humble contrite frame be equally useful to the eye of our m…
487 wordsSECTION 251God And Man.
Jer. xxxiii. 6 — 9. Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and J will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth. And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first. And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereb…
364 wordsSECTION 2521079. J The Conversion Of The Jews. 265
We must therefore, of necessity, look forward to a future period for the full accomplishment of this pro- phecy. In discoursing on this prophecy, I shall consider, I. The event predicted — Respecting the restoration of the Jews to their own land, I say little ; because, though it seems as clearly revealed as any…
426 wordsSECTION 253266 Jeremiah, Xxxi1L 6—9. [1079.
they a temple, an altar, a high-priest, a sacrifice, a sanctuary ? These are all contained in Christ, who is the one great sacrifice for sin, the priest that offers it, the altar on which it is pre- sented, the sanctuary " in which dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily," and in which it comes up with accep…
493 wordsSECTION 2541079.1 The Conversion Of The Jews. 267
greater and mightier than they ; and, above all, how he dwelt in his sanctuary, and manifested to them his favour, so as he never had done to any people upon earth : let us call all this to mind, and then we shall have some faint conception of the blessings which he has in reserve for his outcast people. I doubt n…
529 wordsSECTION 255268 Jeremiah, Xxxiii. 6—9. [1079.
to the completion of their happiness ; " their cup shall be full, and overflow" with joy.] From the event itself, let us proceed to consider, II. The vast importance of it — If we were to contemplate only the happiness of that people, the temporal, spiritual, eternal happiness of millions living, and of millions …
448 wordsSECTION 2561079. J The Conversion Of The Jews. 269
will be seen of all ; because, the Jews being dispersed over all the world, and the motion amongst them being simultaneous throughout the earth, the attention of all will be fixed upon them, and the glory of God appear upon them. In that event shall all his perfections shine forth ; and especially his mercy and lo…
507 wordsSECTION 257270 Jeremiah, Xxxiii. G— 9. [1079.
God who has done such things for them. In every place will the beholders be filled with wonder; and with the deepest conviction will cry out, as the worshippers of Baal did before them, " The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God!" Then will be fulfilled what the Prophet Zechariah has spoken: " Ten men shal…
480 wordsSECTION 258Disobedience To God Condemned.
is, as it were, begun. O, rejoice ye, and shout for joy; and endeavour, in every possible way, to glorify the God of your salvation ] 2. What reason you have to seek the welfare of your Jewish brethren — [Behold with what glorious consequences it will be fol- lowed! Though, for argument sake, I have waved all con…
362 wordsSECTION 259272 Jeremiah, Xxxv. 13, 14. [1080.
obeyed by his servants : and God, acknowledging the equity of those expectations, says, " A son ho- noureth his father, and a servant his master : if I then be a father, where is my honour ? and if I be a master, where is my feara?" It is true, that, in respect of the degree in which these dispositions are requir…
366 wordsSECTION 2601080.] Disobedience To God Condemned. 273
this might be, the complaint which was founded on their obedience, is the same, and is deserving of very peculiar attention. Let us consider this complaint, I. Simply — Jonadab had enjoined on his posterity not to build, or plant, or sow, or even to possess houses or vine- yards ; but to dwell in tents, and to d…
368 wordsSECTION 261"74 Jeremiah, Xxxv. 13, 14. [1080.
enjoined, are venerated even beyond the plainest command- ments of our God. In like manner, amongst us Protestants, every sect has its peculiar dogmas, which are adhered to from generation to generation, with a scrupulous and superstitious exactness. Notwithstanding it is manifest that there are pious men of every…
491 wordsSECTION 2621080.1 Disobedience To God Condemned. 275
required by God: and in this view of our duty, we ask again, ' Has not God the same ground of complaint against us, as he had against his people of old, that however observant we may have been of the commands of men, we have not hearkened unto him ? '] But let us consider the complaint more minutely, II. With its…
430 wordsSECTION 263276 Jeremiah, Xxxv. 13, 14. [1080.
Which of these commands would the person afflicted desire to dispense with ? O ! the horrible ingratitude of despising the Gospel of Christ ! See, Brethren, what sad reason there is for God's complaint against us !] 3. The manner in which they were enforced — [The one injunction of Jonadab, that had been given thr…
729 wordsSECTION 264278 Jeremiah, Xxxvi. 27, 28. [1081.
3,. To those who feel an united regard for both — [It is well indeed if you have learned to " render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's." And we would wish every religious person to attain such a measure of consistency, as to be able to say both to the godly and ungodl…
284 wordsSECTION 265Jehoiakim Burns The Sacred Roll.
Jer. xxxvi. 27, 28. Then the word of the Lord came to Jere- miah, (after that the king had burned the roll, and the words which Baruch zurote at the mouth of Jeremiah,) saying, Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah hath bur…
260 wordsSECTION 2661081. J Jehoiakim Burns The Sacred Roll. 279
It is not the act which we propose to dwell upon, but the disposition : the act was insulated, and pecu- liar to this wicked king ; but the disposition is com- mon to all mankind. The very same disposition may be, and frequently is, evinced in a variety of ways : 1. By denying the Divine authority of the Scrip- …
430 wordsSECTION 267280 Jeremiah, Xxxvi. 27, 28. [1081.
avowed infidel : and he must be ignorant indeed, who does not know, that in these pretended believers of the Scriptures there is generally found the most acrimonious hostility against the truth itself, and against all who maintain it.] 3. By entertaining doubts of its utility to the poor — [Would to God that Papi…
474 wordsSECTION 2681081.1 Jehoiakim Burns The Sacred Roll. 281
[There is nothing that shews a more rooted aversion to the word of God than this. The next step to the destroying of Jeremiah's roll was, to send for Jeremiah who dictated, and Baruch who wrote it, to destroy them also : for we cannot doubt but that if the Lord had not hidden them, the enraged monarch would have p…
434 wordsSECTION 269282 Jeremiah, Xxxvi. 27,28. [1081.
both ourselves and others ; but it cannot invalidate the truth of God, or induce him to deviate from one word that he has spoken. He will say to us, " What I have written, I have written;" and " sooner shall heaven and earth pass away, than one jot or tittle of my word shall fail." If by disputing against the word…
490 wordsSECTION 2701081.1 Jehoiakim Burns The Sacred Roll. 283
3. We accumulate on our own heads the judg- ments which we despise — [The contempt with which men treat the word of God is itself a great and grievous sin, and adds exceedingly to that load of guilt which we have contracted by all our other offences. How indignant was God with Saul on this account! " Because thou…
449 wordsSECTION 271284 Jeremiah, Xlii. 20, 21. [1082.
and we should do well to imitate this conduct. To those who possess not the word of God, we should carry it : and as now there are plans for diffusing that word throughout all the world, we should labour, each according to his ability, to advance that blessed work. Moreover we should read it to those who are not a…
313 wordsSECTION 2721082.1 Dissimulation Reproved. 285
Jer. xlii. 20, 21. Ye dissembled in your hearts, when ye sent me unto the Lord your God, saying, Pray for us unto the Lord our God ; and according unto all that the Lord our God shall say, so declare unto us, and we will do it. And now I have this day declared it to you ; but ye have not obeyed the voice of the Lo…
457 wordsSECTION 273286 Jeremiah, Xlii. 20, 21. [1082.
By the prophet, God returned to them a most gracious answer. He directed them what to do ; and encouraged them by the strongest assurances of his own protection ; promising to return in mercy to them himself, as well as to dispose the heart of the king of Babylon to shew mercy to them : at the same time he warned …
438 wordsSECTION 2741082.1 ■ Dissimulation Reproved. 287
exclaim against the Gospel as the invention of priestcraft or enthusiasm : but the truth is, they are too proud to submit to the yoke of Christ, and to receive salvation as the unmerited gift of God.] Once more ; — How awful is the issue of unbelief! [Plain were the warnings which they received ; and bitter was t…
388 wordsSECTION 275288 Jeremiah, Xlii. 20, 81. [1082.
For persons in such a state the faithful minister feels deeply interested : and, whilst he implores the blessing of God upon them, he points out to them the only way of life and salvation. He shews them, that, " if they will be Christ's disciples, they must deny themselves" in reference to all their former lusts a…
463 wordsSECTION 2761082.] Dissimulation Reproved. 289
thus it is with too many also amongst ourselves ; " their good- ness is only as the morning dew, and as the early cloud that passeth away."] 3. At the approach of death — [The most hardened of men are, for the most part, sof- tened at the prospect of death; so that even the most abandoned criminals, under a sente…
428 wordsSECTION 277The Impiety Of Ungodly Men.
2. Those who are hesitating what course to pur- sue— [Do not " consult with flesh and blood," but go to the Lord your God, who, if you are upright in your requests, will surely make known his will unto you. The counsel of God's ministers may indeed be asked ; but they must no further be followed than they speak a…
386 wordsSECTION 2781083.] The Impiety Of Ungodly Men. 291
a glass you may recognise your own countenances, and fall under the conviction which your judgment calls for at the hands of others. With this view, I will endeavour to set before you, I. The impiety of that people — To behold this in its just light, we must look back to the preceding chapters, and mark distinctl…
440 wordsSECTION 279292 Jeremiah, Xliv. 16, 17. [1083.
what a sudden change took place in all the people ! Instead of fulfilling their engagements, they manifested,] 2. Their deliberate violation of them — [After ten days, God was pleased to declare, by the pro- phet, that Johanan and the people must remain in their own land : at the same time assuring them, that he w…
450 wordsSECTION 2801083.] The Impiety Of Ungodly Men. 293
Not doubting what your judgment must be respect- ing them, I now proceed to point out, II. The resemblance that exists between them and us — Is it asked, Where shall we find any amongst us like them? I answer, Look at, 1. The profane sinner — [See his engagements at the baptismal font : see them voluntarily ren…
466 wordsSECTION 281294 Jeremiah, Xliv. 16, 17. [1083.
that it is sin alone which is the cause of sorrow, and ignorance alone that is the source of melancholy to persons seeking after God. In vain we tell them, that religion, properly understood and practised, is a spring of the purest and most lasting joy. The very comparison which the Jews made between Jehovah and t…
413 wordsSECTION 2821083.] The Impiety Of Ungodly Men. 295
you may vindicate yourselves as you will, and be as confident as you please ; but " God's word shall stand, and not yours ;" and the day shall surely come, when your pride, and unbelief, and rebellion, shall meet with their deserved recompence at the hands of God It was the boast of the Jews that they had antiquit…
486 wordsSECTION 283We Must Not Seek Great Things.
" be sure that your sin will find you out." " Fear not man, therefore, who can only kill the body; but fear Him who can destroy both body and soul in hell: yea, I say unto you, Fear Him." Jer. xlv. 5. Seekest thou great things for thyself? Seek them not. WORLDLINESS is a great and common evil : and it is often m…
293 wordsSECTION 2841084.] We Must Not Seek Great Things. 297
[Things are great or small by comparison only ; since that which would be great for a peasant, would be altogether worthless in the eyes of a king. But they may universally be called " great," when they far exceed our present condition: and, in that case, an aspiring after them subjects us to the censure in the te…
453 wordsSECTION 285298 Jeremiah, Xlv. 5. [1084.
To vindicate the reasonableness of this prohibition, we shairproceed to shew, II. Why we should not seek them — That the reasons may more distinctly appear, we shall shew, 1. Why we should not make great things the objects of our pursuit — [An aspiring after riches or honours necessarily supposes that we expect…
424 wordsSECTION 2861084.] We Must Not Seek Great Things. 299
and a care for our own souls, be our bounden duty, so long must the eager pursuit of any earthly vanity be incompatible with the Christian character.] 3. Why we should not seek any thing merely for ourselves — [We are not our own, but God's. He both formed x and redeemed y us, that we might glorify his name : and…
439 wordsSECTION 287300 Jeremiah, Xlvii. 6, 7. [1085.
In pursuit of such things, you cannot aim too high ; your eagerness cannot be excessive ; your very selfishness becomes a virtue. Other things that you acquire, are for yourselves and heirs ; these shall be for yourselves alone, and that, for ever and ever.] 2. Those who profess to seek higher and better things —…
287 wordsSECTION 2881085.1 The Means Of Terminating War. 301
Jer. xlvii. 6, 7. O thou sword of the Lord, how long will it be ere thou be quiet ? Put up thyself into thy scabbard ; rest, and be still. How can it be quiet, seeing the Lord hath given it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the sea-shore ? there hath he appointed it. THOUGH the two nations of Judah and Israel…
458 wordsSECTION 289302 Jeremiah, Xlv1L 6, 7. [1085,
amenable, both to God and their fellow-creatures, for the evils, which, by their undue exercise of those passions, they inflict upon the world. But God, who accomplishes his own purposes without at all infringing on the liberty of the human will, renders those passions subservient to his own designs ; and employs …
428 wordsSECTION 2901085.] The Means Of Terminating War. 303
plains of us1, and expresses the deepest regret that we have not suffered him to exercise the mercy which was in his heart towards usk. In a word, his message to the whole world is this, " Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgres- sions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin1."] On the attainment of his en…
412 wordsSECTION 291Repentance Described.
" to be found in him :" and know for your comfort, " if your life be hid with Christ in God," it will be out of the reach of God's avenging sword; and " when Christ, who is your life, shall appear, then shall you also appear with him in glory."] Jer. 1. 4, 5. In those days, and at that time, saith the Lord, the ch…
340 wordsSECTION 2921086.] Repentance Described. 305
who does not need to seek his favour, and to implore mercy at his hands. The king upon the throne is not so elevated, but that he needs to turn to God in this way : nor is the meanest subject in his realm so insignificant, as that this can be dispensed with at his hands.] 2. Of prime and indispensable importance —…
430 wordsSECTION 293300 Jeremiah, L. 4, 5. [1086.
thitherward." There is but one way, that is, the Lord Jesus Christ; who says, " I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me." But we do not readily find that way: we have many paths which nature points out, and which we greatly prefer : we would come to God in a way of self-right…
632 wordsSECTION 294308 Jeremiah, L. 20. [1087.
god's mercy to his people. Jer. 1. 20. In those days, and in that time, saith the Lord, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins ofJudah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them ivhom I reserve. THE promises of God in his word are said to be " exceeding great a…
739 wordsSECTION 295308 Jeremiah, L. 20. [1087.
In further noticing this glorious promise, I must proceed to mark, II. The interest which the Jews have in it — We ought not to overlook this; which is, in fact, the direct object which God himself has in his view — [It is evidently spoken respecting the Jews : and though we do right in applying it to God's elect…
291 wordsSECTION 296310 Jeremiah, L. 20. [1087.
possible means, the destined period. Even supposing that their national conversion were not near at hand, I should say, it is nearer than it was in the Apostle's days ; and that if he, at that distant period, laboured to the utmost to turn to the faith of Christ the remnant of God's hidden ones among them, much mo…
509 wordsSECTION 297312 Jeremiah, Li. 5. [1088.
god's mercy contrasted with our sinfulness. Jer. li. 5. Israel hath not been forsaken, nor Judah of his God, of the Lord of Hosts ; though their land was filled ivith sin against the Holy One of Israel. THE peculiar people of God in their most afflictive circumstances have a sure prospect of a happy deli- verance…
633 wordsSECTION 298Duty Of Acknowledging God'S Mercies.
amongst us the evident tokens of his presence, in that sinners are yet awakened to repentance, and saints are edified in faith and love.] Address — 1. Let the long-suffering of God be gratefully acknowledged — [We should " account the long-suffering of God to be salvation d." Let us not, however, rest in carnal …
320 wordsSECTION 299314 Jeremiah, Li. 10. [1089.
God's chosen people a. It is of that event that the prophet speaks in the chapter before us, as he has also done in the preceding chapter. Having said in the foregoing verses that God would " send fanners to Babylon, to fan," to destroy her, though the event was not to take place for sixty years, yet he says, " T…
828 wordsSECTION 30031G Jeremiah, Li. 10. [1089.
to the state they have forsaken, and are actually fighting for the restoration of their former Governments. Thus has order taken the place of anarchy, and respect for constituted autho- rities banished from amongst us the demon of discontent.] 4. Religious — [With a contempt for all ancient institutions, there wen…
766 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical edition (1832-33); scan/OCR from Internet Archive.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.