PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
Horae Homileticae — Volume 12 of 21
Simeon, Charles, 1759-1836 · 246,696 words · 540 reading sections
1475.] Presentation Of Christ In The Temple. 255
portion, and that he may be the lot of thine inheritance. Yes, ye who have travailed in birth with your dear children, let your anxieties for them be summed up in this, that they may be " heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ." If you " travail in birth with them again and again till Christ be formed in them, …
516 wordsSECTION 242Christ The Consolation Of Israel.
that we might serve him : " Christ has redeemed us, that he might purify us unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works." In the name of God then I say, " Ye are not your own ; ye are bought with a price ; therefore ye should glorify God with your bodies and your spirits, which are his." And here let me o…
352 wordsSECTION 2431476.] Christ The Consolation Of Israel. 257
in Christ % even abundant" and everlasting consola- tion0. Our Lord himself, speaking of the Spirit, calls him " another Comforter d," intimating thereby that he himself had sustained and executed this office. But as the Israel of God in that age were in some respects different from the Israel that now is, it will…
460 wordsSECTION 244258 Luke, Ii. 25. [1476.
of the prophets, expected the establishment of a spiritual kingdom, wherein they should not merely be " delivered from all their enemies, but should serve God without fear in right- eousness and holiness before him all the days of their life0." To those who viewed him as the appointed Source of these benefits, his…
509 wordsSECTION 2451476.1 Christ The Consolation Of Israel. 259
In these views " Christ is so precious to those who believe in him," that they " account all things but loss and dung in comparison of the knowledge of himx."] It will not be unprofitable to consider, II. In what manner we are to " wait for" him — In the precise sense in which this expression is used in the text,…
464 wordsSECTION 246260 Luke, Ii. 28—32. [1477.
What a holy glorying would such views of Christ introduce into the soul, even if its distresses were ever so accumulated0! Surely, our consolations should abound not only above, but also in proportion to, our heaviest afflictions p.] 3. In an assured expectation of his promised advent — [That he has promised to c…
321 wordsSECTION 2471477.] Testimony Borne To Jesus. 261
Luke ii. 28 — 32. Then took he him tip in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, notv lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word : for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people ; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Is…
462 wordsSECTION 2482G2 Luke, Ii. 28—32. [1477.
Moreover the Father himself bore testimony to him under that character. Thrice, by an audible voice from heaven, did he point him out to the world in that view ; " This is that my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased : hear him." He con- strained angels (both good and bad), and men (enemies as well as friends), …
496 wordsSECTION 2491477.] Testimony Borne To Jesus. 263
These two points which we have noticed in the text, as distinguishing the character of the Saviour, are united by the prophet ; who represents the Father as addressing his Son in these memorable terms: " It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the pres…
444 wordsSECTION 250264 Luke, Ii. 28-32. [1477.
It is true, that many, who are ignorant of Christ, are enabled to brave death on a field of battle, and even to look forward to it with composure in its more gradual approaches. But in both cases they either put away the thought of God's judgment altogether, or deceive themselves with the idea that they are prepar…
508 wordsSECTION 2511477.] Testimony Borne To Jesus. 265
We may learn from hence, 1. In what manner we should approach God's temple below — [It is particularly noticed respecting this distinguished saint, that " he came by the Spirit into the temple." Thus was his mind prepared for those manifestations of the Saviour which he there received. And what is the reason that…
468 wordsSECTION 252World.
nominal profession ; be not content with calling Christ, Lord, Lord ; but seek such views of him as shall transform you into his image, and make you meet for his glory.] Luke ii. 34, 35. Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (yea, a…
654 wordsSECTION 253263 Luke, Ii. 49. [1479.
0 Scribes, Pharisees, lawyers, Herodians. p In all that he taught about his person, work, and offices, and in all he did, in working miracles, &c. i They came to catch, ensnare, and provoke him. r They would rather ascribe his miracles to Beelzebub, and his doctrines to madness, impiety, and inspiration of the dev…
373 wordsSECTION 254Mcccclxxix.
Christ's early habits. Luke ii. 49. And he said unto them, Hoiv is it that ye sought me ? wist ye not that I must be about my Father s business ? THE prophets and apostles of old are proposed to us as examples in a variety of respects : but we are 1479.1 Christ's early habits. 269 to follow men no further than th…
433 wordsSECTION 255270 Luke, Ii. 49. [1479.
" increasing in heavenly wisdom." Not wearied with the seven days that he had spent in spiritual exercises, he was happy to prolong the time, and to sit among the doctors (not with dicta- torial forwardness, but with the modesty of a child) to answer any questions that were put to him, and to ask for information o…
917 wordsSECTION 256272 Luke, Ii. 49. [1479.
b Hos. vi. 6. c Luke xiv. 26. (1 Acts iv. 19. e Josh. xxiv. 15. f 1 Tim. iv. 15. See the force of the Greek. e 1 Thess. v. 16—18. h Rom. xiv. 7, 8. 2. That in serving him, it is not possible for us to engage too early, or too earnestly — [Our Lord was only twelve years of age at this time : and now, after having …
513 wordsSECTION 2571480.] Ministry Of John The Baptist. 273
of your minister, much more will the blood of your children be required at your hands™.] 2. To young people — [You have from the moment you came into the world a business assigned you by your heavenly parent, and you are bound to execute it from the very beginning according to your capacity. If you commence it ea…
263 wordsSECTION 258274 Luke, Iii. 4—6. [1480.
Luke iii. 4 — 6. It is written in the book of the tvords of Esaias the 'prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the zvilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low ; and the crooked shall be made straight, and t…
507 wordsSECTION 2591480.] Ministry Of John The Baptist. 275
Christ's kingdom among them, and proved an almost insur- mountable bar to their conversion. Nor were the Gentiles in a state more favourable than the Jews. They were addicted to the vilest lusts, the grossest superstition, the most confirmed idolatry. The more learned among them were still further from the kingdom…
493 wordsSECTION 260276 Luke, Iii. 4—6. [1480.
These are obstacles which we all feel in a greater or less degree ; and which must be removed, before Christ can enter freely into our hearts.] That a view of these things may not discourage us, let us consider, II. How they are to be removed — As there were some peculiar obstacles in the apo- stolic age, so wer…
416 wordsSECTION 2611480.] Ministry Of John The Baptist. 277
disposed to smite on his breast and cry for mercy. His vain con- ceits of his own goodness all vanish ; and, instead of despising others as inferior to him in sanctity, he accounts himself rather " the chief of sinners." And it deserves particular attention, that the Baptist himself prescribed this as the very firs…
427 wordsSECTION 262278 Luke, Iii. 4—6. [1480.
image of his person." Every eye looked to him : every heart trusted in him : every soul " received out of his fulness grace for grace." He was that object which, if I may so speak, was the centre and circumference of the globe : in him all united ; and beyond him none aspired. " In him the whole body of believers,…
471 wordsSECTION 2631481.] Liberality To The Poor. 279
own goodness? Let this mountain be brought low, comparing your lives with the demands of God's holy law. Is it an in- veterate love of sin, and of this present world? let it give way to penitence and faith, that your path may be plain and smooth. Is it a doubt of the practicability of your salvation ? Rely on Chri…
252 wordsSECTION 264280 Luke, Iii. 10, 11. [1481.
Luke iii. 10, 11. And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none ; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. IN order to understand the true meaning of any part of Scripture, the strictest attention must be p…
538 wordsSECTION 2651481.] Liberality To The Poor. -81
that we are at liberty to disregard it, as though it had no force at all. There can be no doubt but that the Baptist intended to inculcate a very tender compassion towards our indigent fellow-creatures, and a very enlarged exercise of liberality for their relief. To obtain, with as much precision as the subject is…
426 wordsSECTION 266282 Luke, Iii. 10, 11. [1481.
we are not required to burthen ourselves in order to ease others, but so to participate their burthens that they may partake of our easep : thus to " bear one another's burthens is eminently to fulfil the law of Christ C] Having thus marked the import of the injunction in our text, we proceed to shew, II. Its rea…
422 wordsSECTION 2671481.] Liberality To The Poor. 283
stand forth for our relief? Should we not think it reasonable, that their exertions should rise in proportion to our necessities, and that they should almost literally fulfil the precept in our text, the man who had two coats imparting to us who had none, and that he who had meat should do likewise ? Let us adopt …
460 wordsSECTION 268Practical Duties Enforced.
Luke iii. 10 — 14. And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then ? He ansivereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none ; and he that hath meat, let him do liketvise. Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall tve do ? And he …
345 wordsSECTION 2691482. J Practical Duties Enforced. 285
may without any difficulty give something to the poor and indigent : but if he has little more than bare necessaries, he feels little, if any, responsibility for the use of them, and is chiefly occupied in making them subservient to his own comfort. From this selfish disposition innumerable evils proceed : indeed, …
469 wordsSECTION 270286 Luke, Iii. 10-14. [1482.
3. The soldiers — [The grace of God, which nothing can withstand, had reached the hearts of some of these : and they too made simi- lar inquiries. To them also did the Baptist make a similar reply. Unfavourable as the life of a soldier is to the cultiva- tion of piety, he did not tell them to get their discharge, …
396 wordsSECTION 2711482.] Practical Duties Enforced. 287
ance 1 This is the question to which all his answers were directed. If it be thought that he should have begun to "preach Christ unto them/' I answer, This was not his office, at least, not in the plain specific way in which the Apostles preached Christ on the day of Pentecost : he was rather "to prepare the zvay …
423 wordsSECTION 272288 Luke, Iii. 10—14. [1482.
subjected ourselves to God's displeasure ; for then the devils, and those who have died in their sins, would be as great penitents as any : but repentance implies a hatred of sin, and a deter- mination to forsake it: and consequently, the Baptist's injunc- tions afforded the people a proper test, whereby to ascerta…
475 wordsSECTION 2731482.] Practical Duties Enforced. 289
repented, and became partakers of the kingdom of heaven. Did not they bless him? And will they not continue to bless God for him to all eternity ? Do not then be grieved, if your minister lay his axe to the root of your sins, if he "cry aloud, and spare not." It is his duty to do so ; and if he forbear to warn you…
498 wordsSECTION 274The Imprisonment Of John.
ready even to " lay down our lives for the brethren." It does not call us to believe in Christ, in order that we may afterwards indulge in sin ; but that our hearts may be purified by faith, and that we may be transformed into the very image of our God. See then who are the true Antinomians: not they who urge you …
396 wordsSECTION 2751483. J The Imprisonment Of John. 291
his imprisonment by Herod, we feel but little interest, except as we condemn the licentiousness of Herod, and commiserate the fate of his faithful monitor. But if we would divest ourselves of the idea that it passed many centuries ago, and consider the trans- action as having recently occurred in our own neigh- b…
426 wordsSECTION 276292 Luke, Iii. 19, 20. [1483.
their besetting sin they cannot find it in their hearts to mortify, so addicted are they to the commission of it, and, as it were, " tied and bound with it as with a chain," which they cannot breakf Whilst they see, and cannot but acknowledge the sinfulness of their habits, they have a " law in their mem- bers war…
450 wordsSECTION 2771483.] The Imprisonment Of John. 293
[Look at Herod in the midst of all his indulgences : was he happy ? Which of the two, I would ask, was the happier ; Herod, in the midst of his excesses, or John, when bound with chains in prison for righteousness' sake? No one, I think, can entertain a doubt. The truth is, that sin and misery are indis- solubly c…
510 wordsSECTION 278£94 Luke, Iii. 21, 22. [1484.
of contention and sorrow? It is sin, which has established its empire on the ruins of peace and love. Nor is there to be found a nation, or family, or individual, whose happiness has not suffered from this malignant evil.] From this subject we may yet further learn, 1. The danger of indulging sin — [Who shall say…
279 wordsSECTION 2791484.] Descent Of The Spirit Upon Christ. 295
Luke hi. 21, 22. Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened ; and the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, ichich said, Thou art my beloved Son ; in thee I am well pleased. IN every…
548 wordsSECTION 280296 Luke, Iii. 21, 22. [1484.
different occasions did the Father bear testimony to Jesus by an audible voice from heaven ; and every time was either in, or immediately after, prayer b. What an evidence does this afford us of the importance and efficacy of prayer ! And who that lives nigh to God in the exercise of that duty, has not found that …
483 wordsSECTION 2811484.] Descent Of The Spirit Upon Christ. 297
priests, and in some instances the prophets also, were anointed with oil at the time of their consecration to their work : and therefore it behoved Jesus, in whom all these offices were to be combined, to be set apart for them by a nobler unction. Accordingly he was " anointed with the oil of joy and gladness abov…
435 wordsSECTION 282298 Luke, Iii. 21, 22. [1484.
objections infidel professors of Christianity may raise against Jesus, we have the infallible testimony of God himself that Jesus is the Christ.] 2. His acceptableness in that office — [In every view the Father could not but feel complacency and delight in him. As voluntarily undertaking the media- torial work, a…
448 wordsSECTION 283Our Lord'S First Sermon At Nazareth.
Luke iv. 21, 22. And lie began to say unto them, This day is tliis Scripture fulfilled in your ears. And all bare him witness, and ivondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. THE Sabbath was appointed as a day of rest ; yet not altogether for the rest of the body, but that the soul might be …
337 wordsSECTION 284300 Luke, Iv. 21, 22. [1485.
'And this is the commission which lam come to execute — ['"The poor" are the special objects of my attention; they being particularly " chosen of my Father to be rich in faith, and heirs of my kingdom." Yet, if any be " poor in spirit," and sensible of their low and lost estate, to them am I sent ; and to declare …
476 wordsSECTION 2851485.] Our Lord'S First Sermon At Nazareth. 301
This was far different from what might have been expected : yet it will afford much instruction to us — 1 . They listened — [No sooner had he read the passage, than " the eyes of all were attentively fixed on him." The sublimity of the words, and the impressive energy with which they were read, engaged their atte…
436 wordsSECTION 286302 Luke, Iv. 23. [1486.
3. They disobeyed — [Much as they were struck with the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth, they could not overcome their prejudices. They had but lately seen him following the humble occupation of a carpenter, and they could not conceive that such an one could possibly be the Messiah. Hence they did …
363 wordsSECTION 287I486.] Physician, Heal Thyself. 303
Luke iv. 23. And he said unto them, Ye tvill surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself. WE are told that " Solomon spake three thou- sand proverbs*. " To condense the results of general a 1 Kings iv. 32. observation in some brief sentence, was a mode of communication which wise and learned men of o…
726 wordsSECTION 288I486.] Physician, Heal Thyself. 305
When we see our blessed Lord supposing it applied to himself, it will be desirable to ascertain, II. To whom it may with propriety be addressed — You will bear in mind, that our Lord was supposed to possess and exercise such powers as fully attested his divine mission. These powers the people of Nazareth, therefo…
593 wordsSECTION 28930G Luke, Iv. 28—30. [1487.
multitudes of professing Christians: do you complain of others as carnal and worldly and covetous, and are ye yourselves faulty in these respects ? Do ye complain of pride, anger, and un- charitableness in others, and yet indulge them in yourselves ? Do ye censure others for bigotry and intolerance, and yet betray…
410 wordsSECTION 2901487.] Christ Escapes From His Persecutors. 307
Luke iv. 28 — 30. And all they in- the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill ivhereon their city ivas built, that they might cast him dovm headlong. But he passing through the midst of them went his way. …
423 wordsSECTION 291308 Luke, Iv. 28—30. [1487.
conviction upon their minds, and to shew them, that they were indulging prejudices against him in spite of all they had heard respecting him; and that, if they yielded to their un- belief, they would constrain him to withhold his blessings from them, and even to send them to the Gentile world in preference to them…
429 wordsSECTION 2921487.] Christ Escapes From His Persecutors. 309
infatuated zealots, that they had not been suffered to imbrue their hands in the blood of God's only Son. But it was also judicial : for, by means of his departure, the people of Nazareth were deprived of many temporal benefits, which, if they had received him more worthily, he would have imparted to them : they w…
454 wordsSECTION 293An Unclean Spirit Cast Out.
conversation we condemn the world, though the reproof be tacit, and rather intimated than expressed, the world will be filled with wrath against us ; and, if suffered by God, will persecute us unto death. Let us then know what we are to expect, and stand at all times prepared for the worst.] 2. What a ground of th…
372 wordsSECTION 2941488.1 An Unclean Spirit Cast Out. 311
and proper; for we may be sure that when Satan threw down his poor vassal, he would have hurt, yea, killed him too, if Jesus, by an invisible but almighty agency, had not interposed to prevent it. There being many accounts of evil spirits cast out by our Lord, we shall not advert to every circumstance of this mir…
414 wordsSECTION 295312 Luke, Iv. 33, 34. [1488.
those requests which he offered on other occasions, " Torment me not;" " send me not into the deep," that is, the depths of hell. Hence also that question, in the passage before us, " Art thou come to destroy us V No wonder that, under such cir- cumstances, he should be filled with terror, and ask, as the con- sum…
450 wordsSECTION 2961488.] An Unclean Spirit Cast Out. 313
plainly to the same effect: he represents those who spent their days in wealth and pleasure, as saying to the Almighty, Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways : what is the Almighty that we should serve him ? and what profit should we have if we pray unto him d? It is evident, that not only th…
435 wordsSECTION 297Mcccclxxxix.
also. We never know Jesus aright till we love his presence, and delight in an unreserved compliance with his will.] 2. Endeavour to improve his presence for the good of your souls — [He comes to us in the preaching of his Gospel : he has promised to be with us whenever we are assembled in his name. Shall we then …
670 wordsSECTION 298316 Luke, Iv. 38, 39. [1489.
In what manner she endeavoured to requite this favour we shall see by considering, II. The service she rendered him — We are not to estimate services by the intrinsic worth of them, so much as by the affection manifested in them. In this view her services were as acceptable as any that could be rendered ; " she a…
602 wordsSECTION 2991490.] T1Ie Draught Of Fishes. 317
But if we be too proud to stoop, or too idle to exert ourselves, we violate the plainest law of our nature, and render ourselves unworthy of the Christian namef.] The foregoing history may be improved, 1 . In a way of reproof — [There is not one of us who does not stand indebted to God for an infinite multitude o…
400 wordsSECTION 300318 Luke, V. 8—11. [1490.
Luke v. 8 — 11. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell doivn at Jesus knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken : and so was also James and John, the so?is of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. …
427 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical edition (1832-33); scan/OCR from Internet Archive.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.