PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
Horae Homileticae — Volume 11 of 21
Simeon, Charles, 1759-1836 · 216,977 words · 456 reading sections
130 1 Peter, Iii. 15. [1161.
a candid examination of their own state before God. Hence then he should speak " with fear," even as the apostle Paul himself did at Corinth, where, as he himself tells us, '' he was among them in weakness and fear and much trembling ^" By thus combining meekness with fidelity, and fear with zeal, he may hope that…
457 wordsSECTION 122A Worldly Life To Be Relinquished.
[Humility is the root and summit of Christian perfection. If men see you offended and irritated by the unkind usage •which you experience, they will say, " Wherein are their principles superior to ours ; or their conduct better than ours? They pretend to possess a hope that lifts up their sovds in an extraordinary…
366 wordsSECTION 123132 1 Peter, Iv. 3. [1162.
my text ; and then adds, that the time past might well suffice to have lived after the manner of the Gentile world, whose ways it became them hence- forth determinately to renounce. From the words before us I shall take occasion to ghew, I. In what respects we also have wrought the will of the Gentiles — The un…
433 wordsSECTION 1241162.] A Worldly Life To Be Relinquished. 133
the gift of his Holy Spirit to sanctify you, and to transform you into the Divine image ? Have you surrendered up your souls to God as living sacrifices, and accounted an entire dedication of yourselves to him your reasonable service ? If you have not done this, wherein have you differed from the Heathen ; except …
482 wordsSECTION 125134 1 Peter, Iv. 3. [1162.
things or not, still the same charge must he re-iterated against us ; namely, that we have lived to ourselves, and not to God ; and have made our own inclinations the rule of our conduct, instead of adhering to his commands. This is " the course of this world ;" this is the line of conduct which characterizes with…
703 wordsSECTION 126134 1 Peter, Iv. 3. [1162.
Application — [If now you are not convinced that the time past is suffi- cient for such a course, I beg leave to ask. What time you' will think sufficient? I presume you will not say, that the whole life is to be spent in such a way : I conceive that no one is so blind, but that he will acknowledge that God ought …
251 wordsSECTION 127136 1 Peter, Iv. 3. [1162.
sciences, too, are the more seared and hardened ; and tlie more averse are they to he instructed in the way of righteousness. Besides, are we sure that so many years sliall be added to our lives ; or that, if they be, we shall be at all more disposed to serve God then, than w^e are at present ? Are Me sure that th…
480 wordsSECTION 128Nearness To Death A Motive To Watchfulness.
1 Pet. iv. 7. The end of all things is at hand : le ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. THE office of the Gospel is, not to fill the mind with notions, but to renew the heart, and sanctify the life. It is true indeed, that the smallest con- formity to its precepts will cause us to be loaded with obloquy an…
404 wordsSECTION 129138 1 Peter, Iv. 7. [116S.
day : so justly may it be said of all of us, " The end of all things is at hand."] The consideration of this solemn truth may well prepare us for, II. The exhortation grounded upon it — 1. Be sober — [Sobriety does not merely import temperance with rela- tion to meat and drink, but moderation with regard to our …
807 wordsSECTION 130140 1 Peter, Iv. 12— 16. [1164.
'' Here any recent deaths may be adverted to, and the circum- stances of tliem. If pecuHir, be specilied. PERSECUTION FOR CHRISt's SAKE. 1 Pet. iv. 12 — 16. Beloved, think it not strange concerning the Jiery trial which is to try you, as thoi/gh some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are…
815 wordsSECTION 131140 1 Peter, Iv. 12— 16. [1164.
We should rather regard it as a ground of joy— [On this subject there is but one testimony throughout all the holy Scriptures. Our blessed Lord says, " If ye be persecuted for righteousness' sake, rejoice ye, and leap for joy." St. Paul tells us, that the true Christian will " glory in tribulations^:" and that he …
786 wordsSECTION 132144 1 Peter, Iv. 12 — 16. [1164.
And shall not this reconcile us to sufferings ? Or, should any trials be deprecated, which are productive of so great a benefit? If the loss of Christ's bodily presence was a proper ground of joy to theDisciples, because of the presence of THE Comforter, who would come to them in his stead", much more may any loss…
654 wordsSECTION 133144 1 Peter, Iv. 12 — 16. [1164.
We ^ Phil. i. 20 2Cor.i\-. 10,11. 1164.] PERSECUTION Fon Christ's SAKE. 145 We must not bring trials on ourselves by any mis- conduct of our own — [It is possible enough, that a wild enthusiast may fancy himself at liberty to disregard all human laws, and, whilst suffering for the violation of them, may conceive…
461 wordsSECTION 134146 1 Peter, V. 5. [1165.
[Religion, sooner or later, will subject you to trials: for our Lord has plainly warned us, that, " if we will be his dis- ciples, we must deny ourselves, and take up our cross, and follow him." He tells us farther, that, " if we hate not father and mother, and even life itself, for his sake, we cannot be his disc…
349 wordsSECTION 1351165.] Humility Inculcated. 14/
1 Pet. V. 5. Be clothed with humility : for God resisteth the pro7id, and giveth grace to the humble. AS words are nothing more than sounds whereby to convey ideas, it may seem of little importance what words are used, provided that the ideas an- nexed to them are suflftciently distinct. But I con- ceive, that th…
439 wordsSECTION 136148 Ipeter, V. 5. [1165.
be thus extensively considered ; namely, that the Apostle himself here speaks of it in this compre- hensive view. If we look at the words which precede my text, we shall find that humility is spoken of as exercised towards men : but in the words imme- diately following my text, it is connected with our duty to Go…
440 wordsSECTION 1371165.] Humility Inculcated. 149
honour before ourselves'^," and being ready in all places, and on all occasions, to " take the lowest place ^" It is not indeed necessary that we should accuse ourselves of sins which we have not committed, or deny the superiority of virtue to vice : but we should have such a sense of the pecvdiar advantages we ha…
496 wordsSECTION 138150 Ipeter, V. 5. [1165.
II. The considerations with which it is enforced — The declaration, that '* God resisteth the proud, and trivctli grace to the humble," is cited from the book of Proverbs : and, that it deserves especial at- tention, is evident from this ; that St. James, as well as St. Peter, adduces it for the warning and instru…
652 wordsSECTION 139150 Ipeter, V. 5. [1165.
2. He " giveth grace unto the humble" — [What will he not do for those who are of an humble and contrite spirit? If there were but one such object in the whole universe, God would look through all the shining ranks of angels that surround his throne, and fix his eyes on him^: he would even come down to him, and dw…
307 wordsSECTION 140152 1 Petek, V. 10, 11. [1166.
House of God : see it, I say, in the case of king Manasseh ; of whom it is said, " ^^'hen he vas in alHiction, he besought the Lord his God, and humbled him greatly before the God of his fathers, and i)ra} ed unto him :" behold ! of this man it is said, " God was intreated of him, and heard his suppli- cation'." …
306 wordsSECTION 141Mclxvi.
god's goodn'ess an encouuagemext to prayer. 1 Pet. v. 10, II. B//t the God of a/ 1 grace, who hath called us ■unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, ajler that ye have suffered awhile, matte you perfect, stahlish, strengthen, settle you: to Ilim be glory and dominion for ever and evei' ; ylmen. AMONGST the vario…
505 wordsSECTION 142154 1 Peter, V. 10, 11. [1166.
necessary that they should be " established " in the faiths " strengthened " in the pnfessinn, and " settled " in the eiijoy- ment of the Gospel. For these things therefore the Apostle prayed ; knowing, by bitter experience, that they must come from God, the only Author of such inestimable blessings'*. For these t…
409 wordsSECTION 143Mclxvil
welfare of men's souls ! If they think of God in the quality of a Governor and Judge, they are not conscious of any defect, tliough they scarce ever raise their minds to him as their adorable Benefactoi* : and, if they occasionally promote the comfort of men's bodies, they seem to themselves excused for not attend…
392 wordsSECTION 14415G 2 Peter, I. 1, 2. [1167.
I. The Inscription — Here the Apostle describes, 1 . The Writer— [Ills own ])roper name was Simon, or Simeon, as he is called in the oiij^inal and l)y the apostle James*. The name Peter was <T;iven to liini by his Lord on two different occasions; partly, tonTark his characteristic boldness; and partly to inti- m…
677 wordsSECTION 145158 2 Peter, I. 5—9- [1168.
Address — [Receive this as a faithful expression of my regards for you : and pray for me, that what I desire in your behalf, I may richly experience in my own soul.] ••John xvii. 3. 2 Cor. ir. 6. '^ 2 Cor. iii. 18. ' Eph. iii. 18, ip. THE christian's GRACES. 2 Pet. i. 5 — 9. Besides this, giving all diligence, ad…
700 wordsSECTION 146158 2 Peter, I. 5—9- [1168.
To this must " temperance be added." In this term also there is more implied than we generally annex to it. In this catalogue of graces it would appear a small thing to say, that we should abstain " from surfeiting and drunkenness ;" (though that doubtless is necessary for Christians too ^. ) We are, as has been be…
330 wordsSECTION 147160 1 Peter, I. 5—9. [1168.
hath long patience for it, until he receive tlie early and latter rain ; so must we " be patient, and establish our hearts, till the Lord liiinsc'lf shall come," to crown, and to reward ova- labours ™ ^^\^ must not however rest here. " To patience we must add <f()(lliness:" tor without a pious regard to God, all ou…
651 wordsSECTION 148160 1 Peter, I. 5—9. [1168.
On tlie contrary, " he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off; and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins." A speculative knowledge may be pos- sessed to a great extent, without any practical effect : but the circvmistance of its being inoperative, clearly shews, that the person p…
322 wordsSECTION 149162 2 Peter, I. 5—9. [1168.
In further considering the Apostle's exhortation, let us notice, II. Tlie insifrht which it gives us into pure and unde- filed religion — We should not be satisfied with viewing truth in abstract and detached parts : we should endeavour to acc(uire enlarged views of rehgion ; to see it in all its bearings, and t…
864 wordsSECTION 150164 !2 Peter, I. 10, 11. [1169.
I pray you. Brethren, consider this ; and let the truth of it receive a daily illustration from your conduct. Never place religion in any one duty, or in any one set of duties ; but let all " iThess. V. 23. » Eph. vi. 13—17. ' Mark ix. 42 — 48. all the frraccs of the Spirit have their appropriate place, their sea…
331 wordsSECTION 1511169.] Making Our Calling And Election Sure. 165
2 Pet. i. 10, 11. Brethren, give diligence to make yovr calling and election sure -, for, if ye do these things, ye shall never fall : for so an entrance shall be ministered mito you ahun^ dantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. IN the system of religion which the inspired Pen- m…
569 wordsSECTION 152166 2 Peter, I. 10, 11. [1169.
connecting the means with the end, as the joint objects which God, in his eternal purpose, has determined to accomplish.'] The meaning of the text being ascertained, the duty contained in it is clear — [There is a connexion between all the graces of the Spirit : they are so many links in a chain, no one of which …
410 wordsSECTION 1531170.] Importance Of Practical Religion. 16/
from flagrant transgressions ; and shall, in respect of them, " be preserved blameless unto God's heavenly kingdom." Numberless are the promises of God to this eftect'' And O, what encouragement do they afford to those who know their weakness and their frailty ! Surely the hope of being enabled to " do all things …
340 wordsSECTION 154168 2Peter, I. 12 15. [1170.
Pet. i. 12 — 15. I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in re- membrance ; knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle,…
491 wordsSECTION 155Iito.] Importance Of Practical Religion. 169
in an erroneous manner. To be always aware of the best mode of glorifying God is a very difficult attainment : yet is it that which we should aspire after ; nor should we be ever satisfied, till grace has gained an entire ascendant over the soul, and become to us, as it were, a second nature, easy, uniform, and po…
421 wordsSECTION 156170 2Peter, I. 12 15. [1170.
would be judged in the last day; and according to them would their eternal destinies be fixed. And is not this a reason of equal force in relation to you? Yes verily. To this test must you be brought ; and by this touchstone must you be tried. Do not imagine that the world's standard of holiness will suffice; or t…
489 wordsSECTION 1571170.] Importance Of Practical Religion. 171
things, are gone back again to the world ; whilst others have taken refuge in high principles, (of election, and predestina- tion, and the perseverance of the saints,) and are living with- out any due regard to practical and progressive holiness. Both the one and the other of these are in the utmost danger of peri…
499 wordsSECTION 158The Truth And Certaixtt Of The Gospel.
2 Pet i. 10. IVe have not followed cunningly -devised fall es when we made known unto you the power and coming of our JL/jrd Jesus Christ. AMONGST the various proofs which we have of the truth and certainty of our holy religion, one of great importance is, that amongst all the authors and founders of it no divers…
688 wordsSECTION 159The Truth And Certaixtt Of The Gospel.
Now these things Peter had declared: and they are no other than what every Minister of Christ must declare. His eternal ordination to his office, his complete execution of it for the salvation of a ruined Vvorld, his exaltation to glory, from whence he communicates all blessings to his people, and overrules every …
508 wordsSECTION 160Iiti.] Truth And Certainty Of The Gospel. 175
in him, we shall have occasion hereafter to speak.) But in addition to all these, he himself possessed an evidence which had made the deepest impression on his own mind, an evidence, which no other human being, except James and John, was ever permitted to behold, and which he could not forbear to adduce on this o…
659 wordsSECTION 1611172.] The Testimony Of Prophecy. \7J
[You may see in my text the construction which infidels and blasphemers are wont to put upon the truths of revelation : they pour contempt upon them as " cunningly-devised fables," invented and propagated by designing priests for the ad- vancement of their own interests. But who ' could ever dis- prove the trudi a…
525 wordsSECTION 162178 2 Peter, 1. 19. [1172.
2 Pet. i. 1 9. We have also a more sure word of prophecy, where- unto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts. THAT persons ignorant of the grounds on which. Christianity is established should doubt the truth of it, ough…
513 wordsSECTION 1631172.] The Testimony Of Prophecy. !79
istence, as doubt the truth of Christianity, if only he examined the prophecies with a candid mind. It is my intention to shew you, I. The evidence of our religion as founded on pro- phecy— Verily it is *'a sure word," that may well be de- pended on. Consider the vast collective body of pro- phecies : consider, …
411 wordsSECTION 164180 2 Peter/ I. 19. [1172.
3. Their consistency — [Certainly, when we consider that the prophecies were deUverc'd by ilifltrent persons wholly unconnected with each otiier, at di'stiint times and places, during the space of 3G00 years, and that tiie things which they predicted were in ap- pearance so opposite to each other ; it is inconceiv…
462 wordsSECTION 1651172.1 The Testimony Of Prophecy. 181
II. The use which we should make of that evidence — " We should take heed to it," and consider it well ; 1 . To satisfy our minds respecting the Messiah- ship of Jesus — [In the world at large we have nothing to guide us in relation to this point : and even from Judaism we gain but little light. The whole Mosaic …
481 wordsSECTION 166152 2 Peter, I. 19. [1172.
the description in some particulars. I then follow him to see if other things concur to point him out: and, the more minutely I examine, the more evidence I gain, Mithout one sincrle disappointment. As the lot for the discovery of Achan felf first on the tril)e, then on the family, then on the house- hold and then…
515 wordsSECTION 1671172.] The Testimony Of Prophecy. 183
and then ve shall be able to say to prophecy, as the Sama- ritans did to the woman who had guided them to Jesus, ** Now we believe, not because of thy saying ; for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world'." It is said of heaven, that " the glory of God doth li…
550 wordsSECTION 168People.
2 Peter ii. 4 — 9. Jf God spared not the angels that sinned, bat cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment ; and spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood npon the nor Id of the 7in(rodly, an…
282 wordsSECTION 1691173.] God Punishes And Preserves. 185
denying the Lord that bought them, and bringing both on themselves and their followers, a swift destruc- tion''." One of the most fearful and disgusting traits of such characters is, the boldness and confidence with which they propagate their errors ; professing to expect for themselves, and promising to others, …
384 wordsSECTION 170186 2 Peter, Ii. 4—9- [1173.
On men too, even on the whole world, has God inflicted vengeance on account of sin. Scarcely had the world ejcisted InOO years, before wickedness abounded in it to such a degi-ec, that " God repented that he had made man." On thi's account, he determined to destroy the world: and for" that purpose he sent a deluge…
455 wordsSECTION 1711173.] God Punishes And Preserves. 18/
Storm and tempest ; this shall be then* portion to drink'*." If, after seeing such proofs of the Divine veracity, we will not believe, we shall be constrained to believe when our own bitter experience shall leave no room for a possibility of doubt. The judgments may be delayed, even as the deluge was : but at the …
430 wordsSECTION 172188 2 Peter, Ii. 4—9. [1173.
in which those holy men were Aae\ved by their contem- poraries; yet tliey were dear to God, and were saved by him with a great and glorious salvation: and so shall you be saved alsx) from your trials, whether they regard your temporal or your eternal welfare: nor shall so much as one thing occurj which shall not b…
455 wordsSECTION 173Apostates In A Worse State Than Ever.
2 Pet. ii. '20, 21. If after they have escaped the polhitiovs of the luorld through the hwwledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again intangled therein and overcome, the latter end is luorse with them than the beginning : for it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, t…
338 wordsSECTION 174190 !2 Peter, Ii. 20,21. [1174.
to affirm : he even declares, that the persons so de- ceived l)y them are brought into a worse condition than they v/ere in previous to their first acquaintance with the Gospel salvation. In this statement of the Apostle we have, I. A case supposed — The case which he supposes is simply this ; That a man may hav…
873 wordsSECTION 175192 2 Peter, Ii. 20, 21. [1174.
* 1 Tim. i. 19. ' 1 Tim. iv. 1. ' Gal. iv. 9, U. selves may not become examples of the case that is sup- posed.] Admitting then the possibility of the case sup- posed, let me draw your attention to, II. The evil of it declared — Wherever such a case occurs, the man is indeed in a most pitiable condition : " His …
453 wordsSECTION 1761174.] Bad State Of Apostates. 193
soul, What can be expected but that Satan should re-occupy the post from which he had been driven, and bind in stronger chains than ever his unhappy captive ? This our blessed Lord has taught us to expect. He says, that Satan, under such cir- cumstances, " will bring with him seven other spirits more wicked, if po…
470 wordsSECTION 177194 2 Peter, Ii, 20, 21. [1174.
Application — There arc, it is to be feared, many here present, who have never yet been dehvered from the pollu- tions of the world. [In h-utli, of this description are the great mass of nominal Christians throughout the world. If you take men's victory over the world as a criterion whereby to judge of their piet…
469 wordsSECTION 1781174.] Bad State Of Apostates. 195
the knowledge of Christ, been delivered from the world — [It is well you have thus far answered one end for which our blessed Saviour died : for " he gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil workP^" But you will do well to bear in mind the caution in our text. A change of situati…
513 wordsSECTION 179Mclxxv.
THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. 2 Pet. iii. 10 — 14. The day of the Lord will come as a thief in them»ht; in the which the Iwauens shall pats away with a great noise^and theelements shall melt with fervent heat ; the earth also, and the works that are therein, shall be burnt up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dis…
382 wordsSECTION 1801175.] The Day Of Judgment. ' 19/
and marrying and giving in marriage, as securely as at any former period of the world : and would not believe that they were in any danger, till, on the entrance of Noah into the ark, the flood came and destroyed them all. So, at the last day, the inhabitants of this globe will be as little occupied with the thoug…
500 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical edition (1819); scan/OCR from Internet Archive.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.