PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
Horae Homileticae — Volume 10 of 21
Simeon, Charles, 1759-1836 · 271,947 words · 591 reading sections
574 Malachi, I. 2, 3. [1266.
Let us learn, then, from hence, 1. To trace all our mercies to the proper source — [God's love is the true source of all. And if we were in the habit of tracing them to this, how sweet would our smallest and most common mercies appear! Verily, such a habit as this would be a foretaste even of heaven itself. But th…
288 wordsSECTION 542576 Malachi, I. 6. [1267.
loving-kindness has he drawn you : and whereinsoever ye differ from others, " it is He, and he alone, that has made you to differ."] 2. To improve them for their proper end — [The Apostle tells us, " We love him, because he first loved us." And, verily, so it ought to be. The mercies of God ought so to affect our…
296 wordsSECTION 543Relative Duties To God And Man.
Mai. i. 6. A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master : if then I be a father, where is mine honour ? and if I be a master, where is my fear ? saith the Lord of hosts. THE unfolding and enforcing of relative duties, is a very essential branch of the Christian ministry ; and conducive, in a variety of vie…
494 wordsSECTION 544578 Malachi, I. 6. [1267.
III. The performance of duties towards men, in- stead of extenuating, as many suppose, the guilt of neglecting God, is in reality a great aggravation of it. I. There is no duty of earthly dependents towards their superiors, which does not exist in an infi- nitely higher degree towards the Governor of the universe…
362 wordsSECTION 5451267.] Relative Duties To God And Man. 579
men, whether they be right in themselves, and whether a compliance with them be agreeable to the mind and will of God ? But there is no room for such questions respecting any of the commands of God. If God say, " Abraham, take now thy son, thine only son, Isaac, whom thou lovest, and offer him up ; slay him with …
382 wordsSECTION 546580 Malachi, I. G. [1267.
remains any thing to be done. If an arduous service occur, we should not draw back from it, like the Rich Youth in the Gospel; but should rather address our- selves to it with increased energy, and regard it as a favourable opportunity of displaying our zeal and love. If we could be freed from his yoke, we should …
349 wordsSECTION 5471267.] Relative Duties To God And Man. 581
God ? That many are punctual in some outward ob- servances, is readily acknowledged. But we shall do well to remark, that the inquiry in my text does not relate to outward actions so much as to the inward dispositions of the mind ; " If I be a father, where is my honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? sa…
392 wordsSECTION 548582 Malachi, I. 6. [1267.
so partial, as not to confess, that, however attentive men may be to their relative duties, they are not mindful of their duty to God. There is doubtless a considerable difference between some and others : some have respect for religion, while others despise it ; and some endeavour in a self-righteous way to plea…
347 wordsSECTION 5491267.] Relative Duties To God And Man. 583
raise altar against altar, to set God at variance with himself, and to " provoke to jealousy " the Holy One of Israel ? We can scarcely conceive any thing worse than such conduct as this. For, shall God be denied the honour which is paid to man ? Shall he alone be treated with contemptuous neglect ? Shall he be ex…
382 wordsSECTION 550584 Malachi, I. 6. [1267.
us for refusing to our Maker what we concede to our fellow-worms : " A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master : if I then be a father, where is mine honour? if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the Lord of Hosts." We shall more easily enter into this idea, if we sup- pose a child or servant of ou…
645 wordsSECTION 551586 Malachi, I. 8. [1268
god's appeal to self-justifying sinners. Mai. i. 8. If ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? Offer it now unto thy governor ; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person ? saith the Lord of hosts. SELF-VINDICATION is natural to fallen man : it …
678 wordsSECTION 552588 Malachi, I. 8. [1268.
Now we know the same, in relation to our spiritual sacri- fices : we know that God requires the heart : and that whatever we present to him without the heart, is only to mock and insult him. It is an acknowledged truth, that to " draw nigh to God with our lips, whilst our hearts are far from him," is to offer him …
709 wordsSECTION 553588 Malachi, I. 8. [1268.
1268. J god's appeal to self-justifying sinners. 589 to put himself on a footing with an earthly governor ; and to ask, how even such an one would be pleased with the treat- ment which he receives at our hands? Now let us suppose, that, whilst professing allegiance to an earthly monarch, we were as lukewarm in his…
480 wordsSECTION 554590 Malachi, I. 8. [1268.
you have not been able to express, as you could wish, the feelings of your hearts ; but in the very house of God, where all suitable expressions have been provided for you, and put into your mouths, if you had had but a state of mind suited to them : yet even there have the words been repeated by you without one c…
972 wordsSECTION 555592 Malachi, I. 11. [1269.
next words, he has expressly declared : " Either a bullock or a lamb that hath any thing superfluous or lacking in its parts, THAT MAYEST THOU OFFER FOR, A FREE-WILL-OFFERING; but for a vow it shall not be accepted." Here you see the very distinction which your necessities require. If you would present any thing t…
293 wordsSECTION 5561269.J The Calling Of The Gentiles. 593
Mai. i. 11. From the rising of the sun, even unto the going doivn of the same, my name shall be great among the Gentiles : and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering : for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts. THROUGHOUT all the prophetic writings we …
519 wordsSECTION 557594 Malachi, I. 11. [1269.
abolition of the Levitical priesthood, and of the whole law with which it was connected0 : and the same inference is plainly deducible from the prediction contained in our text. This observation shews how mistaken the Jews are in think- ing their ceremonial law to be of perpetual obligation ; since their own proph…
429 wordsSECTION 5581269.] T1Ie Calling Of The Gentiles. 595
1. The calling of the Gentiles — [It is surprising that the Jews should not have seen that the Gentiles were, in God's time, to be called into his Church. The prophecies relating to this subject were innumerable : yet not even the Apostles themselves, for several years after the day of Pentecost, were able to ente…
502 wordsSECTION 559Repentance Glorifying God.
This subject may be yet further improved — 1. For the edification of our own souls — [Let us see how far our calling has been productive of suitable effects. What is the estimation in which our Saviour is held by us ? and, What are the offerings which from day to day we are presenting before him ? Truly if we view…
374 wordsSECTION 5601270.] Repentance Glorifying God. 597
had been very aggravated : the offerers and the priests had been alike implicated ; and in my text they are all called to repentance3. The admonition here given them is extremely solemn. In it we notice, I. The duty prescribed — This, in general terms, was repentance b, which does all that a sinner can do to glor…
775 wordsSECTION 5611271.] The Ministerial Office. 599
e Isai. viii. 14, 15. Luke ii. 34, 35. Matt. xi. 6. f Matt. xi. 21—24. Learn then, 1. What is the proper object of a Christian's am- bition— [You should not be content to avoid gross and open sin : you should seek to "glorify your God^:" and if you have not clone this by a course of holy obedience, you should at…
327 wordsSECTION 562600 Malachi, Ii. 5—7. [1271.
Mai. ii. 5 — 7. My covenant was tvith him of life and peace ; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name. The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips : he ivalked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity. For the …
496 wordsSECTION 5631271.] The Ministerial Office. 601
knew his own children : for they have observed thy word, and kept thy covenant. They shall teach Jacob thy judgments, and Israel thy law : they shall put incense before thee, and whole burnt-sacrifice upon thine altar d." The same grant was re- renewed to Phinehas, on account of his zeal in slaying a prince of Isr…
438 wordsSECTION 564602 Malachi, Ii. 5—7. [1271.
godly sincerity: "the law of truth was to be in their mouth, and no iniquity was to be found in their lips." At the same time, they were so to "walk with God in peace and equity," that their whole life might be a visible lesson to the people, of all that God required of them.] Such " messengers " are the Christian…
481 wordsSECTION 5651271.] The Ministerial Office. 603
if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings s."] But far greater encouragement is given to us under the Christian dispensation — [The Gospel is far more powerful than the law. It is, by way of …
446 wordsSECTION 566The Effects Of Christ'S Advent.
[If your ministers must be careful in the discharge of their duty, so must you also in the discharge of yours : and if they have need to fear lest they contract additional guilt by the neglect of their duty ; so have you, lest you, by not paying due attention to the word, bring upon yourselves an aggra- vated cond…
397 wordsSECTION 5671272.] The Effects Of Christ'S Advent. 605
wicked as much as in the good ; and denied that he would ever put any difference between them; "Where," said they, "is the God of Judgmentb?" It was in answer to that question that the Lord Jesus Christ inspired the prophet to announce his advent in the flesh, and to declare the discriminating effects that should…
417 wordsSECTION 568Gog Malachi, Iii. 1—3. [1272.
The temple was the place to which in a more especial manner he was to come : yes, it was while the second temple was yet standing, that he was to come. And thither was he brought at the purification of his mother, when that holy patriarch, Simeon, took him up in his arms, and blessed God for permitting him thus to…
690 wordsSECTION 569608 Malachi, Iii. 1—3. [1272.
3. Destructive — [A "refiner's fire" will consume the dross, and "fullers' sope" will destroy the filth, of that to which it is applied: so will our Lord eventually destroy many of those to whom he comes ; He will prove to them no other than " a stumbling-block, and a gin, and a snare*1." When he appeared in the d…
637 wordsSECTION 570The Immutability Of God.
Mai. iii. 6. 7, the Lord, change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. THERE is not any thing in the whole creation that is in itself immutable. The angels indeed are, by God's gracious favour, established, so that they are no longer in any danger of sinning : but the fall of the apostate angels suffi…
337 wordsSECTION 571610 Malachi, Iii. 6. [1273.
worse, he would not be perfect now: in either case he cannot be God. His very name, Jehovah, implies and supposes immutability.] 2. In his perfections — [He ever was, and ever will be, the same holy, and just, and good, and merciful Being, that he now is. He was not more just, when he condemned the fallen angels;…
679 wordsSECTION 572612 Malachi, Iii. 6. [1273.
Have we no inivard fire, which, if suffered to burst forth, ivould effect our ruin? We should soon follow Judas and Ahithophel, if God should withdraw from us his restraining grace Have we not at some time or other been, as it were, within a hairs breath of ruin, either from sickness, or accident, or from some fou…
635 wordsSECTION 573Sin A Robbery Of God.
amongst you who are unconverted would consider, for one mo- ment, on what ground they stand ! Beloved brethren, consider this; Either God must change, or you. But will God change? " Is he a man, that he should lie ; or the son of man, that he should repent d ?" Will he alter his very nature, and sacrifice all his …
368 wordsSECTION 574614 Malachi, Iii. 8. [1274.
Hear God's description of it, as existing, 1. In our very nature — ["The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can bea." By " the carnal mind" we are to understand the disposition of every man by nature : and this is not merely inimical to God, but enmity itsel…
456 wordsSECTION 5751274.1 Sin A Robbery Of God. 615
of sanctity render it only the more detestable in his sight, whilst the life corresponds not with his professions. To the Philadelphia!! Church, God says, " I would thou wert cold or hot: but, because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth V To our ears, this very expression …
422 wordsSECTION 576616 Malachi, Iii. 8. [1274.
'Tis a false accusation, a downright calumny.' So again ; " Your words have been stout against me, saith the Lord : yet ye say, Wherein have we spoken so much against thee ?" ' We deny the charge alto- gether.' Now this shews the spirit with which men reply against God himself. But, if we be dared to the proof of…
483 wordsSECTION 5771274.] Sin A Robbery Of God. G17
sight of God. True, it is very humiliating to be designated by the name of thieves and robbers : but, till we feel ourselves deserving of those opprobrious appellations in the sight of God, we shall never attain that contrite spirit which our state so justly demands. Methinks I hear one and another saying, like Ha…
498 wordsSECTION 578Christian Fellowship Approved Of God.
Mai. iii. 16, 17. Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another : and the Lord hearkened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels : …
338 wordsSECTION 5791275.1 Christian Fellowship Approved Of God. 619
with each other for their mutual support. Their conduct in this respect was such as befitted their circumstances, and became their holy profession. Such conduct is extremely useful — [Those who fear the Lord have the whole world combined against them. They are, however unintentionally on their part, a reproach to…
499 wordsSECTION 580620 Malachi, Iii. 16, 17. [1275.
occasional intercourse with their fellow-saints, who by season- able advice have "strengthened their hands in God'1."] When wisely regulated, too, it is deserving of high commendation — [Doubtless the conversation of those who profess religion may easily degenerate, and not unfrequently does degenerate, into the …
417 wordsSECTION 5811275.1 Christian Fellowship Approved Of God. 621
portrays himself in this posture, and assumes to himself this character? Know then, that whilst we are affectionately communicating our sentiments and feelings to each other, unconscious that any eye is upon us, or any ear within the reach of our voice, our heavenly Father beholds us, and notes down in his book ou…
472 wordsSECTION 582622 Malachi, Iii. 16, 17. [1275.
because it consists in the exercise of our affections upon God himself: but it is impossible so to conceal our piety, that the world shall not discern its operations ; for it must influence us in the whole of our life and conversation : and if any one think to maintain an upright walk before God, and at the same ti…
507 wordsSECTION 583The Sun Of Righteousness Arising.
Mai. iv. 1, 2. Behold, the day cometh that shall burn, as an oven ; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble : and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear my name, shall the Sun of Righteousn…
366 wordsSECTION 584624 Malachi, Iv. 1,2. [1276.
displeasure shall be cast into the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone s. It is asked, Who they are that shall then suffer the ven- geance of eternal fire ? We answer, The proud contemners of God's law, and they who " go about to establish their own righteousness" instead of submitting to the righteousness o…
365 wordsSECTION 5851276.1 The Sun Of Righteousness Arising. 625
To those who answer to this character, shall Christ be a source of the richest blessings — [Christ is " the Sun" of the spiritual world, and the one fountain of light and life to all that believe in him. He is also the Sun of Righteousness, not only as being pure and spotless in himself, but as being the Author of…
446 wordsSECTION 586Elijah To Precede Our Lord.
they " dwell with everlasting burnings?" Who can conceive the anguish with which they will " weep and wail and gnash their teeth?" View, on the contrary, the godly healed of every malady, grown to the full measure of the stature of Christ, and enjoying continually the meridian glories of the Sun of Righteousness. …
373 wordsSECTION 5871277.1 Elijah To Precede Our Lord. 627
annals of the world0. Truly, from that day to this, has " their whole land been smitten with a most dreadful curse." The prophecy before us closes the canon of Scrip- ture under the Mosaic dispensation, and is peculiarly worthy of our closest attention. In two points of view I propose to consider it : I. As evin…
447 wordsSECTION 588628 Malachi, Iv. 5, 6. [1277.
that office? Our Lord referred them to the miracles which he wrought before their eyes, in proof of his Messiahship ; and then expressly declared concerning John, that he was that very " Messenger," whose coming the Prophet Malachi had foretold ; and that very Elias also, of whom the same prophet had spoken as the…
446 wordsSECTION 5891277-3 Elijah To Precede Our Lord. G29
conceived '( If an absolute identity of person be dispensed with in the one case, it may also be dispensed with in the other : and, so far as that is concerned, the objection falls to the ground. But it is said, that John acknowledged that he was not Elias. True ; he did so. The Jews supposed him to be Elijah the …
484 wordsSECTION 590630 Malachi, Iv. 5, 6, [1277.
That which was the primary scope of John's mis- sion was, to bear witness to Christ. But, in conjunc- tion with this, his office was to turn men to God, and thus to prepare them for Christ as his peculiar people. And these are the two great objects of Christianity in the world : 1. To convert men to God — [It wa…
475 wordsSECTION 591London : — U. Cl.Vy, Printer, Bread-Street-Hill.
" Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted, that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white : for the fine linen is the right- eousness of saints u." And may I not say, that we ministers are assi…
231 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical edition (1832-33); scan/OCR from Internet Archive.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.