PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
Horae Homileticae — Volume 9 of 21
Simeon, Charles, 1759-1836 · 243,747 words · 533 reading sections
514 Daniel, V. 30. [1130.
3. Of his warning — [While Belshazzar was indulging in his impious revels, he saw a hand writing upon the wall of the room wherein he sat. Terrified beyond measure at so strange a sight, he called for all his magicians and astrologers to read and explain the words. None of them being able to explain the writing, D…
662 wordsSECTION 482514 Daniel, V. 30. [1130.
2. Not to despise the warnings you receive — [You have not a hand-writing visibly on the wall : but have you not other warnings, equally legible, on every side ? How many are cut off around you, some old, some young, and some in the prime of life ! How many sudden deaths take place, or, if not sudden in respect of…
423 wordsSECTION 483Character Of Daniel.
enter into the kingdom of heaven." Your " conscience must be sprinkled with the atoning blood of Jesus," or your sins will infallibly plunge you into everlasting perdition. Seize then the fleeting hour. Adore your God that you have not been taken away, as thousands of your fellow-creatures have been, with all your…
333 wordsSECTION 4841131. J Character Of Daniel. 517
or fault found in him0." This they were constrained to acknowledge, at the very time that they conspired to take away his life. " Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God." Here they not only acknowledge the astonishing ex-…
330 wordsSECTION 485518 Daniel, Vi. 5. [1131.
And it is from this principle alone that any real good can flow. Nothing but piety can produce a perfect uniformity of conduct. The corruptions of human nature are too strong to be overcome by any thing but the grace of God. A man may indeed be a wise and experienced statesman, though he fail in the practice of re…
488 wordsSECTION 4861131.1 Character Of Daniel. 519
very great offence by their injudicious proceedings ; yes, and involve themselves, too, in many troubles, which they might, by a greater exercise of wisdom, have avoided. Our blessed Lord cautions us on this head : " Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine ; lest they tr…
476 wordsSECTION 487520 Daniel, Vi. 5. [1131.
is often much to blame : for it is but too true, that religious duties, as they are called, often induce a carelessness in those which are personal and domestic. But all this gives just occasion of offence ; and must be sedulously avoided by all who would maintain a consistent conduct, and adorn the doctrine of Go…
435 wordsSECTION 4881131.] Character Of Daniel. 521
God's grace can possibly produce it. But, wherever his grace operates, there, in proportion to the measure of that grace, this character is found. No one can ever " behold such light" as Daniel reflected, but he will be instantly constrained to " glo- rify our Father which is in heaven." Man could as soon create a…
490 wordsSECTION 489Mcxxxii.
Daniel's undaunted piety. Dan. vi. 10. Now when Daniel knew that the writing tvas signed, he went into his house, and, his windows being open in his chamber toioard Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. SUCH is the hatred which ung…
654 wordsSECTION 490524 Daniel, Vi. 10. [1132.
Nor was Daniel inattentive to his posture in prayer : "he kneeled upon his knees and prayed." We do not say that this posture is indispensably necessary to the acceptance of our prayers ; because we find instances in Scripture of persons standing when they prayed : but it is sanctioned by the exam- ple of the most…
667 wordsSECTION 491524 Daniel, Vi. 10. [1132.
> Luke xxii. 41. k Phil. iv. 6. » 1 Thess. v. 16—18. 1132.] daniel's undaunted piety. 525 or man, except of the king only. This writing was signed by the king ; and the law was thereby rendered (according to the absurd custom of the Medes and Persians) unchangeable. But this could not deter Daniel from serving God…
431 wordsSECTION 492526 Daniel, Vi. 10. [1132.
them ; and that they loved their own safety in preference to their God ? No doubt, they would have gloried thus, and have despised both Jehovah and all his servants. But would Daniel give occasion for such profane triumph ? He abhorred the thought ; and therefore he would not relax, or intermit so much as once, hi…
666 wordsSECTION 493526 Daniel, Vi. 10. [1132.
2. Those who are habituated to serve their God — [Be not surprised if you are called to suffer for righteous- ness' sake, " nor think it strange if you be tried with a fiery trial." Should this be the case, we congratulate you upon the honour conferred upon you ; and we exhort you to " rejoice and leap for joy ; f…
301 wordsSECTION 494The Decree Of Darius.
Dan. vi. 25 — 27. Then King Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth ; Peace be multiplied unto you. I make a decree, That in every domi- nion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel ; for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever ; and his kingdom tha…
357 wordsSECTION 4951133.] The Decree Of Darius. 529
We propose to consider, I. His views of Daniel's God — We are quite surprised that a heathen, who had so impiously exalted himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, should have such just views, as he shews himself to have had, of the God of Israel. In describing Jehovah, he speaks of, 1. His e…
428 wordsSECTION 496530 Daniel, Vi. 25—27. [1133.
same distant period. These prophecies, beyond all doubt, were shewn to Cyrus and Darius, as soon as they became masters of Babylon: and the miracle just wrought by Jehovah in favour of Daniel, brought additional conviction to the mind of Darius, that the Messiah's reign should be such as had been predicted. This …
421 wordsSECTION 4971133.1 The Decree Op Darius. 531
1. Its import — [The terms " fear and tremble" seem to import only a dread of God, as a terrible being whom it was dangerous to provoke : but the meaning of them is widely different from this. Throughout all the New Testament these words express rather a holy reverential regard, blended with love to Him who is the…
460 wordsSECTION 498532 Daniel, Vi. 25—27. [1133.
as manifested in the redemption of men by the blood of his only dear Son, and the blessings vouchsafed to them through his all-sufficient grace ; can any one who adverts to this subject question the propriety of surrendering ourselves up, in body, soul, and spirit, to his service? It matters not what rank in socie…
459 wordsSECTION 499The Destruction Of Popery.
embrace the Christian faith, and to enjoy all the blessings of the Gospel salvation ! But we greatly mistake, if we imagine that the influence of any amongst us is small : for if we unite our efforts together, and act in concert with each other, we may do far more than Darius could with all his power. Let any one …
375 wordsSECTION 500534 Daniel, Vii. 9, 10. [1134.
vision of four dreadful beasts : the propriety of these different representations is evident ; for the mind of that haughty monarch was engrossed with the love of earthly grandeur ; whereas the humbler mind of Daniel would view great conquerors rather in the light of ferocious beasts, eager to gratify their own a…
340 wordsSECTION 5011134.] The Destruction Of Popery. 535
persecuting, and presumptuous power. Who that power is we cannot reasonably doubt. The little horn spoken of in the context will appear evidently to be the Papal Hierarchy, if we consider how exactly the characters of that antichristian power are described by the prophet. It arose after that the Roman empire had b…
424 wordsSECTION 502536 Daniel, Vii. 9, 10. [1134.
[There is a state of mind peculiarly proper for the inves- tigation of unfulfilled prophecy. To treat any part of divine revelation with indifference, as though it were an unprofitable task to search into it, would argue a very criminal disregard of Him from whom that revelation proceeds. On the other hand, to be …
494 wordsSECTION 5031134.1 The Destruction Of Popery. 537
and with stating as conjecture whatever has not Divine autho- rity for its support. If we go beyond this, we render the record itself questionable, by adding to it our own conceits, and loading it with circumstances not clearly revealed. It is sufficient for us to know, that both the one event and the other shall …
508 wordsSECTION 504The Reign Of The Saints.
meet our God. Let us then ask ourselves, "What is recorded concerning us in the book of God's remembrance, and what evidence we possess that our names are written in the book of life ? When that hour shall arrive, it will be of small moment to us, what judgments have been executed on the Church of Rome, or what bl…
338 wordsSECTION 5051135.] The Reign Of The Saints. 539
broken into ten smaller kingdoms, represented by ten horns ; amongst which " a little horn, that had eyes, and a mouth speaking very great things," grew up. This little horn (which seems evidently to denote the Papal power) was to make war with the saints ; and, after grievously afflicting them for one thousand tw…
377 wordsSECTION 506540 Daniel, Vii. 18. [1135.
that not only for wrath, but for conscience sake." If they lived even under a Nero, they would, notwithstanding all his cruelty, regard him as God's minister, whom, by any other means than those which the law itself admits, they are bound not to resist e. No man can act as becometh a saint, if he be not found among…
489 wordsSECTION 5071135.] The Reign Of The Saints. 541
assuredly expect : and from the description already given it is easy to anticipate, II. The advantages that will accrue from it — Let us notice, 1. Those of a temporal nature — [The first that occurs to our minds is this, that there will be no more foreign wars. The history of the world for four thousand years h…
468 wordsSECTION 508512 Daniel, Vii. 18. [1135.
then be a national object : men shall not then be " put into the ministry to supply them with a piece of bread," but " to feed the flock of God, over which the Holy Ghost has made them overseers : " and patrons will exercise their power for God, to provide the people with " pastors after God's heart." The people a…
477 wordsSECTION 509Fasting And Prayer.
2. Let all endeavour to help forward the expected day— [God will make use of instruments, just as he did in the apostolic age : and we apprehend he is evidently preparing the way for the fuller diifusion of his Gospel by the various efforts which his people are now making in every quarter of the globe. He is caus…
337 wordsSECTION 510544 Daniel, Ix. 3. [113G.
Yet were there many fasts afterwards enjoined on particular occasions. Joshua, when repulsed by the men of Aic; the whole eleven tribes, after their repeated defeats by the tribe of Benjamin d; all Israel, when oppressed by the Philistines; and Jehoshaphat, when invaded by the united armies of Moab and Amnion e; a…
455 wordsSECTION 5111130.] Fasting And Prayer. 545
At such a time, he has to humble himself for all the sins of his former life, and to implore pardon of God for all the guilt he has ever contracted. And can this be done too solemnly, too earnestly, too devoutly? It was in this way that Cornelius obtained favour of the Lord n : and he is a fit example to all who d…
488 wordsSECTION 512546 Daniel, Ix. 3. [1136.
of old, or still abounds in the Romish Church, there is little danger of it amongst us Protestants, who have run into a con- trary extreme, and despise these observances as much as the Papists idolize and abuse them. Yet, as a ground of confidence before God, we, no less than they, are in danger of founding our ho…
479 wordsSECTION 513Mcxxxvii.
Daniel's confession. Dan. ix. 3 — 7. And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes : and I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and …
355 wordsSECTION 514548 Daniel, Ix. 3—7. [1137.
only the observances are laid aside, but the very intention of them is almost forgotten : and instead of complying with the design which is intimated in the names given to the days, we render them perfectly ridiculous, by substituting a trifling change in our food for the most solemn acts of devotion before God. …
663 wordsSECTION 515Observations
[Nothing but equity is ascribed to God; nothing but shame is taken to themselves : " O Lord ! righteousness be- longeth unto thee ; but unto us confusion of face." He does not utter one word in extenuation of their guilt, or one com- plaint against the Divine judgments : he declares rather, that, to whatever extre…
653 wordsSECTION 516Observations
Let us then begin the employment this day, under a full assurance, that "he who thus humbleth himself under the mighty hand of God, shall in due time be lifted up."] 4. If we approach him in the same manner, we shall assuredly obtain the same success — [That which Daniel desired on this occasion was, to obtain an…
335 wordsSECTION 517Humiliation Exemplified And Enforced.
Dan. ix. 3 — 10. And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes : and I prayed, unto the Lord my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep h…
390 wordsSECTION 5181138.] Humiliation Exemplified And Enforced. 553
exercise of fasting and prayer was of great service : for, beyond all doubt, it was the means of strengthen- ing his soul for the trial which he speedily afterwards sustained, when cast into the den of lions c. There is reason to suppose, too, that it prevailed in no small degree to bring down upon the whole natio…
390 wordsSECTION 519554 Daniel, Ix. 3—10. [1138.
merits !" God had shewn himself " great and terrible" in the judgments he had executed upon them ; and to all who shall continue to offend him he will prove " a consuming fired." Yet " to those who should love him, and obey his command- ments," he would shew mercy, according to the full extent of his covenant whic…
473 wordsSECTION 5201138.1 Humiliation Exemplified And Enforced. 555
that mercies and forgiveness, to the utmost extent of their necessities, still belonged to him, notwithstanding they had so grievously rebelled against him."] In all of this we see, with most unquestionable evidence, II. The concern which we should manifest for our own souls — For our nation we ought most assure…
383 wordsSECTION 521556 Daniel, Ix. 3—10. [1138.
perused. And I call on all of you to lay this matter to heart ; and now with all diligence to " search the Scriptures," in which ye think ye have, and in which assuredly ye have, eternal life revealed to you.] 2. An application to God for mercy with all humi- lity and earnestness — [Daniel was considerably above …
444 wordsSECTION 522The Answer To Daniel'S Prayer.
by faith in Christ™." Be assured that you must do the same : and if you resemble him in this, you shall, like him, experience the mercy of your God abounding towards you, yea, and super- abounding in proportion as your iniquities have abounded. In particular, guard against limiting the mercy of your God, or accoun…
421 wordsSECTION 523558 Daniel, Ix. 17—23. [1139.
are on the very eve of their accomplishment. But it is not by study alone that we shall be able to attain the true interpretation of the prophetic writings. We must pray to God to reflect the true light upon them, and to enable us by his good Spirit rightly to appre- hend them. This was the way which Daniel took, …
805 wordsSECTION 524560 Daniel, Ix. 17—23. [1139.
Instead of dilating much on the circumstances of this instructive history, we have merely glanced at them, that we may more largely dwell upon, II. The instruction to be gathered from it — h ver. 19. ' ver. 15. k ver. 19. 1 ver. 17. m ver. 24 — 2". Behold then here, 1. The nature of prayer — [Prayer is an appli…
863 wordsSECTION 525The Time And Ends Of Christ'S Advent.
Address — [Let every one in his place and station be as Daniel, a man of prayer. Others besides Daniel have had immediate answers to prayer s : and God promises that we also shall be answered as speedily as ever Daniel was, if it will really be for our good '. If any one be discouraged for want of an answer to hi…
520 wordsSECTION 5261140.1 Time And Ends Of Christ'S Advent. 563
Messiah must have long since come into the world ; and the Jews are inexcusable in rejecting so decisive a testimony. The ends of the Messiah's advent, which are here set forth in a rich variety of expression, will form the subject of our present discourse. God sent him, I. To open a way for our salvation — Ther…
404 wordsSECTION 527564 Daniel, Ix. 24. [1140.
closed: thus is man restored to the favour and love of God: thus are all typical sacrifices abrogated and annulled k : and thus are men delivered, no less from the love and practice of sin than from the curse and condemnation due to it1. Sin is no more remembered on the part of God, nor any more prac- tised on the…
657 wordsSECTION 528566 Daniel, Ix. 24. [1140.
Christ is certainly " the Holy One and the Just," to whom the character of " The Most Holy" eminently belongs. It is certain also that he was anointed with the Spirit from his very first designation to preach the glad tidings of salvation m ; and that he received a further unction when the Spirit descended upon hi…
673 wordsSECTION 5291141.1 States Of Men In The Last Judgment. 567
[When the Apostles were asked by our Lord whether they also intended to forsake him, Peter well replied, " Lord, whither shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life." Thus must we say ; for assuredly " there is salvation in no other ; there is no other name given under heaven whereby we must be saved, but the…
282 wordsSECTION 5305G8 Daniel, Xii. 2, 3. [1141,
Dan. xii. 2, 3. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament ; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever. THE immediate connexion of t…
487 wordsSECTION 5311141.] States Of Men In The Last Judgment. 569
will sleep in the dust. But at the sound of the trumpet in the last day, that also shall be raised ; and, in a state of union with the soul, be made a partaker of the doom which the soul had before experienced. It once bore its part on all that was transacted by the soul : and all its powers shall at that day be s…
458 wordsSECTION 532570 Daniel, Xii. 2, 3. [1141.
heaven alone. They say to God, " Draw me, and we will run after thee :" that is, Draw me, and I will bring all I can along with me. This will be the endeavour of every soul that truly turns to God ; and God will bless these labours of love, in whomsoever they may be found. If all are not called to speak in public,…
452 wordsSECTION 533London: — R. Clay. Printeh, Bread Street-Hill.
[Possibly at this time you are objects of reproach to an ungodly world. But this, methinks, should be a small matter in your eyes. O, think what a change will take place in that day, and how the very people who now pour contempt upon you will envy your state ! Think how God is now glorified in you ; and how he wil…
136 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical edition (1832-33); scan/OCR from Internet Archive.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.