PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
Horae Homileticae — Volume 10 of 21
Simeon, Charles, 1759-1836 · 271,947 words · 591 reading sections
Jacob Wrestling With The Angel.
2. How just will be the condemnation of the im- penitent ! [This compassion of God greatly aggravates their back- slidings; and at last it will give way to wrath and indignation". Soon God will not deliberate, but decide ; not relent, but laugh at their calamity ; not resolve to pardon, but swear they shall not e…
314 wordsSECTION 122128 Hosea, Xii. 3, 4, 6. [1172.
God ; and takes occasion from it to urge them to an imitation of his example. We shall consider, I. Jacob's victory — In a season of great distress he betook himself to prayer — [Jacob was greatly alarmed at the tidings that his brother Esau was coming against him with four hundred men to destroy him. He theref…
429 wordsSECTION 1231172.]] Jacob Wrestling With The Angel. 129
how should he effect this ? Conciliating as his measures and his conduct were, he could not ensure success : and therefore he went to God, who has all hearts in his hand, and turneth them whithersoever he will. He well knew, that, if once he could get God on his side, he was safe ; for that " none could be against…
410 wordsSECTION 124130 Hosea, Xiii. 4. [1173.
along with it. Doubtless when Jacob " wept," he did so from a recollection that he had brought all these evils on himself, and had altogether forfeited the Divine favour. And to those in hell, it will be no inconsiderable augmentation of their misery to reflect, that they brought it on themselves. Let us then dete…
309 wordsSECTION 1251173.1 God Alone Deserving Of Confidence. 131
Hos. xiii. 4. Thou shalt know no God but me : for there is no Saviour beside me. IN the Holy Scriptures, every kind of argument is urged that is proper to influence the minds of men : sometimes we are persuaded by the terrors of the Lord, and sometimes are allured by his exceeding great and precious promises. A d…
431 wordsSECTION 126132 Hosea, Xiii. 4. [1173.
[In a subordinate way we may love the creature, but not so as to put it in competition with God. There is nothing in the whole universe which we should desire, or seek, in com- parison of Him ; nor any thing which we should not willingly part with, rather than offend him The state of our minds towards God should b…
472 wordsSECTION 1271173.1 God Alone Deserving Of Confidence. 133
II. The reason with which it is enforced — Though God might well require obedience on the sole ground of his own authority, yet he is graciously pleased to assign a reason for this command; a reason, which, whilst it evinces the equity of the command, shews how deeply we are interested in obeying it. There is not…
464 wordsSECTION 128134 Hosea, Xiii. 9. [1174.
This subject may be improved, 1. For our conviction — [It is an awful truth, that instead of preferring God before every thing, we have preferred every thing before him. Only let us compare the anxiety we have felt about created objects, with that which we have felt in reference to God, and we shall need no furth…
291 wordsSECTION 1291174.] Help In Christ For Sinners. 135
Hos. xiii. 9. 0 Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself ; but in me is thine help. THE great mass of nominal Christians need to be informed respecting their state by nature, and the means by which they are to be delivered from it ; and they who have a theoretical acquaintance with these things, yet need to be put fre…
533 wordsSECTION 130136 Hose A, Xiii. 9. [1174.
But though man's destruction is of himself, we must not suppose that his salvation also is of himself: no ; II. His salvation is of God alone — If we inquire who it is, that thus arrogates to him- self the exclusive power of saving sinners, we shall find that it is the Lord Jesus Christ, who alone is "King" in Si…
382 wordsSECTION 131And In All0."]
transgression, and effecting a reconciliation between God and man? Who besides him could rescue us out of the hands of our spiritual enemies ? He is that stronger man, who alone can vanquish our mighty adversary, and deliver us from our sore bondage h Who besides him can teach us the way of salvation i ? or in- …
450 wordsSECTION 132Directions For An Acceptable Approach To God.
felicity of heaven, we must renounce all self-dependence, and look for our help in Christ alone a.] 2. Those who are desponding on account of it — [When men begin to see their perishing condition, and to feel a consciousness that they have been the authors of their own ruin, they often distress themselves with app…
375 wordsSECTION 1331175.1 An Acceptable Approach To God. 139
suggested any that were more suited to the neces- sities of men, or more satisfactory to their minds, than those recorded in our text. In the words before us, we see, not merely our general warrant for returning to the Lord, but more particularly, I. What petitions to offer — [What would any one who felt the bur…
392 wordsSECTION 134140 Hosea, Xiv. 1—3. [1175.
praise and thanksgiving3. And these are the offerings which all who are looking to him for mercy desire to offer. In fact, the more any persons are bowed down with a sense of sin, the more they are ready to say, ' How shall I praise God, if ever I should obtain mercy at his hands ! If ever God should admit me to a…
457 wordsSECTION 1351176.] Blessings That Penitents May Expect. 141
the invitations, the promises, the expostulations, the com- plaints ; " Wilt thou not be made clean ? O ! when shall it once be?" Mark these, I say; and they form such a plea, as must satisfy the most doubting mind, and turn to transports of joy the apprehensions of every desponding soul ] Address — 1. To those w…
362 wordsSECTION 136142 Hosea, Xiv. 4. [1176.
Hos. xiv. 4. i" will heal their backsliding ; I will love them freely : for mine anger is turned away from him. MEN who have never seen the evil of sin are ready to imagine that God will not punish : under the idea of advancing the attribute of mercy, they deprive the Deity of all justice, holiness, and truth. On…
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Yet grievous as these wounds are, God will heal them, if we be truly penitent. There are two ways in which he will heal sin : its guilt he will heal, by the blood of his Son ; its poiver and pollution, by the influences of his Spirit. He will heal its guilt, by the blood of his Son : there is no other balm than th…
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I will fix my eyes upon him for good ; I will look upon him with complacency ; though burning seraphs surround my throne, and myriads of angels brighter than the sun encompass me around, I will look through all their shining ranks, nor shall all of them together divert my attention from the contrite sinner : "To t…
519 wordsSECTION 1391176.] Blessings That Penitents May Expect. 145
But there is another ground mentioned in our text: we proceed therefore to notice, II. On what ground they may expect them — [This part of our subject will require peculiar care and attention, lest we be misunderstood. Observe the manner in which the last words of our text are introduced : God says, " I will heal…
509 wordsSECTION 140146 Hose A, Xiv. 4. [1176.
is an evidence of grace: no one can doubt that, unless he sup- poses, that he can repent without the grace of God : but a man must be ignorant indeed to frame any such conception as that: if we believe any thing of the Scriptures, or know any thing of our own hearts, we must know, that "Christ is ascended up on hi…
477 wordsSECTION 1411176. J Blessings That Penitents May Expect. 147
encourage our return : he does not merely say, " I will heal their sins, but I will heal their backsliding ; " thereby obviating at once all their objections. He knows how Satan will take advantage of them ; that he will suggest desponding thoughts, and make them believe their sins are too great to be forgiven ; a…
536 wordsSECTION 142148 Hose A, Xiv. 4. [1176.
suggestions of Satan ; cease to entertain hard thoughts of God ! Only come to Jesus, and see what a gracious Saviour he is ; how freely he will love, how effectually he will heal. Bring all your unworthiness along with you ; bring all your sins, and all your backslidings ; and if only ye desire to have them all he…
461 wordsSECTION 143Mclxxvii.
THE FRUITS OF GOD's FAVOUR. Hos. xiv. 5 — 7. / will be as the dew unto Israel : he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive-tree, and his smell as Lebanon. They that dwell under his shadow shall return ; they shall revive as the co…
371 wordsSECTION 144150 Hosea, Xiv. 5—7. [1177.
Were his communications refreshing only, and not influential on the conduct, we might be afraid of en- thusiasm ; but his favour invariably discovers itself by- II. Its fruits and effects — The effects of the dew are seen by the progress of vegetation : the descent of God's Spirit on the soul also produces growt…
652 wordsSECTION 145152 Hosea, Xiv. 8. [1178.
x Isai. xl. 31. god's notice of penitents. Hos. xiv. 8. Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idoh? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir-tree : from me is thy fruit found. THE conversion of a sinner is a work of infinite difficulty ; no efforts of the creature can accomplish it …
435 wordsSECTION 1461178.] Gods Notice Of Penitents. 153
pity on an impenitent transgressor, we shall not won- der at the gracious declaration which he makes for the comfort of this penitent and returning sinner; " I have heard him, and observed him : I am like a green fir-tree : from me is thy fruit found." In discoursing on these words, we shall be natu- rally led to…
466 wordsSECTION 147154 Hosea, Xiv. 8. [1178.
him : and it is oftentimes a very difficult matter to find it out, by reason of the various shapes which it assumes, and the deep recesses in which it lurks. But it is a distinguishing mark of the true penitent, that, whatever he imagines to be his beset- ting sin, he will be more particularly solicitous to mortify…
536 wordsSECTION 1481178.] God'S Notice Of Penitents. 155
It is with pleasure therefore that I proceed to set before you, II. The notice which God takes of this disposition — [It is impossible that there should be the smallest good in our hearts, and God not observe it : there was but " some good thing toward the Lord God of Israel" in the heart of young Abijah, and the…
509 wordsSECTION 149156 Hosea, Xiv. 8. [1178.
then a burthened sinner travelling towards Zion : see him either trembling from an apprehension of Divine judgments, even of that " fire and brimstone, storm and tempest, which God will rain upon the ungodly ;" or fainting through the heat of temptation and persecution, What a reviving cordial to his soul is here …
513 wordsSECTION 1501178.] God'S Notice Of Penitents. 157
If the drooping sinner were permitted to dictate what God should say to him, could he devise any thing more calculated to comfort and refresh the soul ? My dear brethren, behold your God undertaking for you, not merely to bring you to heaven, (for that would be a small matter, if you were not made holy,) but to de…
546 wordsSECTION 151158 Hosea, Xiv. 8. [1178.
Here let us close, with one obvious reflection — Do ye not see from hence how excellent repent- ance is ? [Whether it be viewed in its nature or its consequences, surely it is a most inestimable blessing. What can be more desirable than to be delivered from those base lusts and idola- trous affections, which rob …
485 wordsSECTION 152Mclxxix.
on earth. God is willing to produce it in you : look therefore to Him ; and he will be as the dew unto you ; he will heal your backslidings, and love you freely ] SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE PECULIAR TO GOd's PEOPLE. Hos. xiv. 9. Who is ivise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them ? for the…
335 wordsSECTION 153160 Hosea, Xiv. 9. [1179.
largely upon the goodness of God, both in his works of providence and grace, concludes the psalm b with saying, " Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the loving-kindness of the Lord." And in nearly the same terms the Pro- phet Hosea, having preached no less than seventy years …
840 wordsSECTION 154162 Hose A, Xiv. 9. [1179.
Who then are the wise? who are the prudent? First, they are those ivhose understandings have been enlightened by the Holy Ghost. True " wisdom is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights." We have not the smallest spark of it by nature : on the contrary, we are blind ; and folly is bound up in our hea…
604 wordsSECTION 1551179.] Spiritual Knowledge Of God'S People. 163
those who are spiritual : David says, (and he himself had expe- rienced the truth of it,) " The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him, and he will shew them his covenant."] But this knowledge is peculiar to the persons above described ; and this leads me to shew you, II. Why this knowledge is peculiar to t…
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they can say with David, " I esteem thy commandments con- cerning all things to be right, and I hate every false way;" that is, " My soul approves the way of duty, therefore would I walk in it, and not for the sake of the reward : I hate sin, and therefore would I avoid it to the uttermost, and not merely because …
508 wordsSECTION 1571179.] Spiritual Knowledge Of God'S People. 165
with them as others of very inferior abilities, who, under the influence of such a disposition, have studied them but a short time : to the one, the Bible is " a sealed book ;" its contents are dark, intricate, and unintelligible : to the other, it is clear, perspicuous, and easy to be understood : the one meets wi…
536 wordsSECTION 158166 Hose A, Xiv. 9. [1179.
contribute greatly to enlighten the one, while the others are confirmed in ignorance and unbelief.] Let us now conclude with an application of the fore- going truths ; 1 . To those who are unacquainted with the truths and ways of God — [Many, it is to be feared, there are among you, who are wise and prudent enou…
446 wordsSECTION 159Repentance Urged.
wisdom and prudence which he has bestowed upon you ! Surely you were once foolish and unwise, even as others ; and perhaps were ready to say of those who felt what you now experience, " Thou art beside thyself: much attention to religion hath made thee mad." Well, bless God that your eyes are opened, and that, tho…
498 wordsSECTION 1601180.] Repentance Urged. 169
sentiment. For, so entirely are the duties of this season neglected, that it will appear to many strange that we take such a subject as that before us, unless indeed on that day with which the season commences, and which is still observed amongst us as a public fast. But, in reality, the exhortation before us is …
441 wordsSECTION 161170 Joel, Ii. 12—14. [1180.
God." And how shall I represent to you this duty ? Methinks it would occupy a long space of time to enter particularly into this part of my subject. But I will set it before you, so that you may comprehend it perfectly, and in an instant. Who amongst you has ever seen a river that is affected with the tide ? At on…
454 wordsSECTION 1621180.]] Repentance Urged. 171
destroy it, that the very worship of God should be set aside for want of an offering to present to him. At this day, also, he often visits sin with temporal calamities, till he has reduced us to the greatest imaginable distress. And, in reference to these visita- tions, it is uncertain whether God will remove them …
480 wordsSECTION 163172 Joel, Ii. 12—14. [1180.
2. Are not the considerations with which the duty is enforced sufficient encouragements to the perform- ance of it ? [I might have enforced the duty with far different argu- ments, and " persuaded you rather by the terrors of the Lord " to turn unto him. But I greatly prefer the views of God, as he is exhibited i…
402 wordsSECTION 164Removal Of Judgments A Ground Of Praise.
Joel ii. 26. Ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you : and my people shall never be ashamed. MOST encouraging is that appellation whereby David addresses the Most High God : " O Thou that nearest prayer ! " It is this view of the Deity…
332 wordsSECTION 165174 Joel, Ii. 26. [1181.
a just ground for joy and thanksgiving. In such a dispensation of mercy we may often behold " wonderful" efforts of Divine goodness: and our acknowledgments should be devout and fervent, in proportion to the occasion that calls them forth. As " the very land," and " the beasts of the field," no less than " the chi…
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is good." There may be want to the lions ; but there shall be none to theme. " Those who seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, shall have a due supply of all needful things added unto them." The extent to which these promises are fulfilled is little understood by those who have much of this world's …
462 wordsSECTION 167Signs Of The Messiah'S Advent.
seek him in a way of penitential sorrow : for he will be " the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel"1." Only pour out your complaints into his bosom, and your prayer shall not go forth in vain. He will give you to eat of the bread of life and be satisfied, and turn all your sorrows into jo…
389 wordsSECTION 1681182.1 Signs Of The Messiah^ Advent. 177
through the light reflected on them in the New Tes- tament. The passage before us would, on a cursory perusal, be deemed incapable of any sober con- struction, or, at least, of any proper application to ourselves : but it plainly declares to us, I. The signs of the Messiah's advent — Numberless were the signs by …
416 wordsSECTION 169178 Joel, Ii. 28—32. [1182.
great noise, and the elements melt with fervent heat, and the earth and the works also that are therein are burnt up," will all the contemners of the Messiah wail because of his wrath and fiery indignation f. It is indeed in the former sense only that this can be a sign to convince the world at present; but in the…
427 wordsSECTION 1701182.1 Signs Of The Messiah^ Advent. 179
blessings of salvation to those who call upon himk. At the same time we must observe that none who comply with this direction are excluded ; " Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord," whatever he may have been, or whatever he may have done in times past, provided he call in sincerity and truth, shall find …
425 wordsSECTION 171The Final Judgment Represented By The Harvest.
Joel iii. 13. Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. THIS is a remarkable prophecy of the destruction of God's enemies. The prophet summons the exe- cutioners of vengeance to come up against thema. They are represented as a field of corn ; the command is given to cut them down ; and the prophet instantly …
370 wordsSECTION 1721183. J Final Judgment Represented. 181
[It unfits the soul for the society of the wicked. It in- duces a " meetness for the heavenly inheritance." It is a source of joys which shall be consummated in glory.] The Holy Scriptures enable us to discern, II. What are the marks of our being ripe — Nothing can be more awful than the thought that a sinner is …
324 wordsSECTION 173182 Joel, Iii. 13. [1183.
When the corn has attained maturity, the sickle is put to it ; thus, when our measure of sin or holiness is complete, we shall be reaped down — [Our existence in the world is entirely dependent upon God1." None can shorten or protract it beyond its appointed bounds"1.] The saints will be "gathered into the garner…
361 wordsSECTION 174The Millennium.
Joel iii. 18. It shall come to pass in that day, that the moun- tains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow loith milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the House of the Lord, and shall water the valley of Shittim. THE return of the Jews to their o…
320 wordsSECTION 175184 Joel, Iii. 18. [1184.
Let us contemplate them a moment. Reconciliation with God through the blood of the cross, is the first that obtrudes itself upon our notice : and O ! who can tell how refreshing this is to a weary heavy-laden soul ? With this, peace is intro- duced into the conscience, even that " peace of God which passeth all un…
493 wordsSECTION 1761184.] The Millennium. 185
blessings do not extend: for "all flesh shall see the salvation of God." The high and the low, the rich and the poor, shall equally he partakers of them ; for " all shall know the Lord, from the least to the greatest." " Kings will be the nursing- fathers of the Church, and queens her nursing-mothers : " and with …
485 wordsSECTION 17718G Joel, Iii. 18. [1184.
and the glory of the Lord be revealed, and all flesh see it to- gether : " yes, " by a voice crying in the wilderness shall all this be done: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken itf." Is it asked then, What shall we do to advance this glorious work? I answer, God has already gone out before us, and shewn us what…
511 wordsSECTION 1781184.] The Millennium. 187
that account: for "God will open for them rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys : he will make the wilderness a pool of water, and dry land springs of water1." What hinders then, but that we should partake of all those mercies ourselves ? If we really believe, as all profess to do, that …
469 wordsSECTION 179188 Joel, Iii. 18. [1184.
joy to those only who live nigh to God, and devote themselves unreservedly to his service. To those who give to God only a divided heart, it can administer no solid comfort. Indeed they are less happy than the ignorant ungodly world; for, whilst their profession keeps them from enjoying the vanities of the world, …
332 wordsSECTION 180190 Amos, Ii. 13. [1185.
god's complaint against us. Amos ii. 13. Behold, I am pressed under you, as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaves. THE effect of long-continued provocations is to weary out our patience. Some few occasional offences we can easily forgive : but when they are repeated from time to time, they gall the mind, and …
657 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical edition (1832-33); scan/OCR from Internet Archive.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.