PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
Horae Homileticae — Volume 13 of 21
Simeon, Charles, 1759-1836 · 248,782 words · 530 reading sections
522 John, X. 30. [1(366.
that he was a mere man like themselves, they would readily enough have believed that : but when he tells them again that he was " one with his Father," they go about to stone him for blasphemy. Nevertheless, instead of revoking his word, he vindicates his claim ; and establishes the justice of it by an appeal to t…
505 wordsSECTION 4821666.] Christ One With The Father. 523
so great, so benevolent, so demonstrative of a divine agency ? Moses indeed and the prophets wrought some few miracles : but how ? they wrought them uniformly by application to Jehovah for the intervention of his power : but look at my miracles : on some occasions indeed, I also, acting in my mediatorial capacity,…
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2. The virtue of his sacrifice — [On the dignity of his person depends the whole value of his atonement. The Apostle justly observes, that " it is not possible for the blood of bulls and of goats to take away sin :" and the same observation may with justice be applied to every creature, however exalted. But when w…
651 wordsSECTION 484Christ The Resurrection And The Life.
i Isai. lxiv. 4. 1 Cor. ii. 9, 10. r 2 Cor. ix. 15. * Eph. iii. 8. l Phil. iv. 7. " 1 Pet. i. 8. " a height and depth, and length and breadth" that can never be explored x. Respecting the future life, we are still further from being able to appreciate the glories of it. The description of heaven, as a city paved w…
394 wordsSECTION 4851667-1 Christ The Resurrection And The Life. 527
to the disconsolate sisters his own power and glory. Accordingly, when they intimated their persuasion, that, if he would pray to God for the restoration of their brother to life, God would grant his request, he told them that he needed not beseech God to effect it ; for that he himself was the resurrection and th…
398 wordsSECTION 486528 John, Xl 25, 26. [1667.
understanding is enabled to apprehend divine truth, and our will inclined to obey it : and, without him, the soul would be as dead as the body without the soul.] Let us now prosecute our inquiries into, II. That which respects his people — There is a remarkable correspondence between the two latter, and the two f…
434 wordsSECTION 4871667. J Christ The Resurrection And The Life. 529
We must not however fail to notice the description given of those to whom these promises are made — [Twice, in these few words, are these blessings limited to believers : not because our Lord disregards good works, or be- cause they shall not be rewarded ; but because we cannot do any good work unless we first rec…
474 wordsSECTION 488530 John, Xl 25, 26. [1667.
the second death g. Let us not then defer our inquiries into a subject which is of such infinite importance.] 2. That the believing of this record is the most effectual antidote against the troubles of life or the fears of death — [If Martha had felt the full influence of these truths, she would have moderated he…
472 wordsSECTION 4891668.] Sympathy. 531
And one who by faith has been restored to life, shall, by the exer- cise of the same faith, be preserved even to the end : no enemy shall prevail against him, or separate him from the Redeemer's love His body may die even as others : but his soul shall live for ever ; and his body too be raised again to be partaker…
411 wordsSECTION 490532 John, Xl 35. [1668.
John xi. 35. Jesus wept. THE Holy Scriptures are, beyond all comparison, superior to any other book; in that they reveal to us truths which human reason could never have explored, and administer consolations which no human composition could ever have imparted. But it is not merely on these accounts that they are …
369 wordsSECTION 4911668.] Sympathy. 533
also, he could no longer refrain, but had his own cheeks also suffused with tears b. To this principle the spectators ascribed his tears: they all exclaimed, " Behold, how he loved himc!"] 2. From compassion for their remaining infir- mities— [After all that they had seen and known of him, they should have assign…
462 wordsSECTION 492534 John, Xl 35. [1668.
the great mass of his hearers, and proved a source of con- tinual sorrow to his soul'.] But in these words we have, also, II. An instructive lesson — Were we to trace this occurrence in all its bearings, we should scarcely know where to begin, or where to end. We shall content ourselves, therefore, with noticing…
404 wordsSECTION 4931668.] Sympathy. 535
very same occasions as at this time presented themselves to our blessed Lord. There are troubles and calamities all around us: and if we have our souls duly impressed with them, we shall be able to say, with holy Job, " Did not I weep for him that was in trouble ? Was not my soul grieved for the poor0?" But if the…
506 wordsSECTION 494Lazarus Raised.
so, that your sins appear to be of more than ordinary enor- mity, because of the circumstances under which they have been committed : shall you therefore despond ? Be assured, that He who wept over the murderous Jerusalem a, has lost none of his compassion, but is alike willing to exercise his mercy towards you. H…
345 wordsSECTION 4951669.] Lazarus Raised. 537
who had died soon after the departure of the messenger, " had been dead and buried four clays c." Martha, hearing of his arrival, went forth to meet him, and expressed her regret that Jesus had not been there whilst her brother was yet alive, since she was confident, that he would have exerted his almighty power t…
461 wordsSECTION 496538 John, Xl 40. [1669.
II. What it speaks to us — To us does the Lord Jesus speak in his word, as truly as he ever spake to Martha, or to his own Disciples. To ourselves then we may apply that question, " Said I not thus and thus unto thee ? and that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?" Yes: and in this repr…
436 wordsSECTION 497The Prophetic Counsel Of Caiaphas,
John xi. 51, 52. This spake he not of himself: but being high- priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation ; and not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. IT is often found that the people who are not humbled …
319 wordsSECTION 498540 John, Xl 51, 52. [1670.
should give way to public, good : this, he said, common policy required ; and therefore it was expe- dient to destroy the author of this benevolent act, lest the popularity which he had acquired by means of it, should excite the jealousy of the Roman govern- ment, and call down their vengeance on the whole nation…
374 wordsSECTION 4991070.1 The Prophetic Counsel Of Caiaphas. 541
Now these miracles proved to demonstration, that Jesus was sent by God himself: they were the broad seal of heaven attesting his Divine commission. What then was the advice, but a direct opposition to God himself? There was not so much as an attempt to cover the impiety : a fear of man's dis- pleasure was the avow…
402 wordsSECTION 500542 John, Xl 51, 52. [1670.
prophecy, when of himself he designed nothing more than to give the most impious advice. And though this was certainly a remarkable instance of God's interposition, it was by no means singular : for none of the prophets fully understood the import of their own words f: some prophesied without any direct intention…
730 wordsSECTION 501544 John, Xix. 23, 24. [1671.
° Heb. ii. 14, 15. our lord's views of his own death. John xii. 23, 24. Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of Man should be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone : but if it die, it bring eth forth much fruit. THE…
686 wordsSECTION 502546 John, Xii. 23, 24. [1671.
If he had not died, he would not have proved a Saviour to any — [If he had not died, there would have been no atonement made, no sin forgiven, no soul of man delivered. There was no other way in which God could have been reconciled to his sinful creatures, consistently with his justice, holiness, and truth In vai…
655 wordsSECTION 503The Benefit Of Following Christ.
should feel no difficulty in pronouncing him honoured and glo- rified, who should be irradiated with a glory, like Moses, or have the Holy Ghost lighting visibly on him, as once he did on the Apostles : with equal confidence then may we pro- nounce him glorified, who bears his cross after Jesus ; for " the Spirit …
353 wordsSECTION 504548 John, Xii. 26. [1672.
hard, the encouragement which our Lord affords us is amply sufficient for the support of our minds. His injunction is, " If any man serve me, let him follow me," even unto death. And for his encouragement I assure him, that where I am there shall also my servant be : yea, if any man serve me, him will my Father h…
336 wordsSECTION 5051672.1 The Benefit Of Following Christ. 519
part" which Mary chose, and which, our Lord as- sured her, should never be taken from her. To inculcate this lesson, and to induce this habit, was the real scope of our Lord's address to the Rich Youth, who desired to know what he must do in order to obtain eternal life. Our Lord told him to " keep the commandmen…
390 wordsSECTION 506550 John, Xii. 26. [1672.
•' Whether it be right to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge yef." So whatever menaces be used to intimidate us, and to deter us from the path of duty, we must say with St. Paul, "None of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto mes," so that I may but discharge the duty I owe unto my Lord, …
409 wordsSECTION 5071672.] The Benefit Of Following Christ. 551
by the example he then set them, to inculcate the necessity of their performing towards the meanest of their brethren every possible act of condescension and love1. So by St. Peter we are informed, that under still more trying circumstances the Lord Jesus Christ " has set us an example that we should follow his s…
374 wordsSECTION 508552 John, Xii. 26. [1672.
ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven V And after our blessed Lord had completed on earth the work which his Father had given him to do, he was raised from the dead, and exalted to the right hand of God, far above all principalities and powers, and was in…
401 wordsSECTION 5091672.] The Benefit Of Following Christ. 553
the kingdom which he has prepared for us before the foundation of the world. He will place us on the very same throne on which he has placed his Son2: he will assign to us the office of judging the world, yea and of judging angels too, as assessors in judg- ment with him3 : and he will " give to us the very same …
391 wordsSECTION 510554 John, Xii. 26. [1672.
shall behold him not merely as God, but as a Re- deeming God, yea, as our Redeemer, and our God, and our 'portion for ever. Tell me, does not this afford us encouragement to serve him, and to " follow him without the camp, bearing his reproach g ? " Surely not life itself should be of any value, but to honour him…
368 wordsSECTION 5111672.] The Benefit Of Following Christ. 555
acceptance before God ? And have you consecrated yourselves to God as his redeemed people, that, " having been bought with a price, you may glorify him with your body and in your spirit which are his ?" And do those who are around you, behold in you such a resemblance to Christ, as constrains them to acknowledge …
384 wordsSECTION 512556 John, Xii. 26. [1672.
to answer it to your own souls. To the Jews who rejected him, our Lord said, " Whither I go ye cannot come :" so must I say to you who make it not the one end of your lives to serve and honour him : " Ye shall die in your sins ; and where Christ is, ye cannot comep." I pray you, lay this to heart, and give up you…
583 wordsSECTION 513558 John, Xii. 27, 28. [1673.
Christ's resignation. John xii. 27, 28. Now is my soul troubled ; and what shall I say ? Father, save me from this hour : but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify thy name. THE sight of one in affliction necessarily produces some emotion of pity in our breasts, if we be not dead to all the feelin…
652 wordsSECTION 514558 John, Xii. 27, 28. [1673.
II. The grounds of his submission to them — 1. It was with a view to those very sufferings that he had come to that hour — [These sufferings had been foreseen, when he first en- gaged to redeem a fallen world1 ; and he had then stipulated to bear them for our sakesm." It was with a view to them that he had assume…
361 wordsSECTION 515560 John, Xii. 27, 28. [1673.
glory that was to accrue to him from this dark and painful dispensation ? No, by no means ; and therefore he not only acquiesces in the appointment, but even prays, that, whatever he himself might endure, God would glorify his own name.] This subject is capable of most useful improvement — 1. For the awakening of …
400 wordsSECTION 516The Effects Of Christ'S Death.
John xii. 31, 32. Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted tip from the earth, will draw all men unto me. INCONCEIVABLY arduous was the work which Christ had undertaken : yet amidst his heaviest trials his confidence never for a moment forsook him. He…
363 wordsSECTION 517562 John, Xii. 31, 32. [1674.
should be done too, not by the inconsiderate vulgar, but by the rulers themselves, and by the priests and ministers of God's sanctuary ? This shews what human nature itself is, even under the greatest possible advantages : and humiliating is the picture which it exhibits to us. But the desert also of the world is …
450 wordsSECTION 5181674.] The Effects Of Christ'S Death. 563
his crucifixion. The expression refers to the lifting up the brazen serpent in the wilderness, which was a type and emblem of the death of Christ6. The Evangelist himself tells us, that our Lord intended to intimate the peculiar kind of death which he was to suffer : and the people themselves understood him as sp…
427 wordsSECTION 519564 John, Xit. 31, 32. [1674.
souls of men, they are ready to doubt, or even deny, his ope- rations. But who doubts the agency of the wind? yet no man knows whence it comes, or whither it goes. It is visible in its effects, and therefore its operation is acknowledged, notwith- standing it is involved in the deepest mystery. Why then should the…
444 wordsSECTION 520The Duty Of Walking In The Light.
Satan too may harass you : but he is a vanquished enemy : yea, he too "is judged0:" and though, "as a roaring lion, he seeketh to devour you," you are provided with armour, whereby you may withstand himp: and you have the promise of God, that " he shall be shortly bruised under your feeti" ] 0 John xvi. 11. p Eph…
331 wordsSECTION 521566 John, Xii. 35, 36. [1675.
only as being the eternal fountain of light, but as enlightening the world by his doctrines and life.] " In him," under this character, we are to " be- lieve"— [All that he has spoken respecting his person, work, and offices, together with all his promissory, or threatening decla- rations, should be received by u…
409 wordsSECTION 5221676.] Danger Of Loving The Praise Of Men. 567
who have despised the Gospel e. The dai'kness of which the text speaks, is judicial, sent them by God as the punishment of their iniquity ; and the very light that shines around them, serves only to increase their blindness, and to aggravate their guilt f. In this state, " they stumble at the noon-day," and wander…
269 wordsSECTION 523The Danger Of Loving The Praise Of Men.
John xii. 42, 43. Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him ; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue : for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. IT seems astonishing to those who have ever con- sidered the evidence…
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if erroneous, renounce them ; if true, we should regulate our lives according to them. To act contrary to the convictions of our mind is unworthy of a rational Being. We all know in what a contemptible light that man appears, who for the sake of human applause pretends to religion, whilst the world and sin are pre…
466 wordsSECTION 525570 John, Xii. 42, 43. [1676
they, and with a blind confidence to embrace or reject senti- ments solely on the authority of their opinions. Hence the timid dissembler is the means of deceiving many souls; and involves himself in the double guilt of destroying others toge- ther with himself. The man who rejects Christ for want of conviction, w…
445 wordsSECTION 5261676.1 Danger Of Loving The Praise Of Men. 571
bosoms, and have need to be on our guard against its malignant influence.] 2. A foolish principle — [What can the applause of man do for us ? it is a mere breath of air, that vanishes in a moment : but the approba- tion of God is of incalculable importance, since according to that will our eternal state be fixed.…
433 wordsSECTION 527572 John, Xii. 48. [1677.
timidity ; but to intimate, that an essential difference may be found, where none externally appears ; and that God may have his " hidden ones" even among those who are as yet too much entangled by prudential considerations. It is not how- ever by such examples that we are to regulate our conduct. Our duty is clea…
295 wordsSECTION 5281677.1 Men Judged By The Gospel. 573
John xii. 48. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him : the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. THE judgment of the last day is a period to which we must all look forward with the deepest interest, and for which we should be preparing from day to …
560 wordsSECTION 529574 John, Xii. 48. [1077.
Here also we see, II. The rule by which they shall be judged — " The word that Christ spoke, the same shall judge," both those who heard, and us who read it. We shall be judged by, 1. Its declarations — [Nothing can be plainer than his declarations respecting the necessity of a new and heavenly birth h, or the n…
398 wordsSECTION 530[These are no less plain than any of the former8: so that we can never plead ignorance, or a want of faithful admo- nition. And I appeal to you, whether all of these, the more awful as well as the more encouraging parts of Scripture, have not, in their season, been set before you with all fidelity ? These, therefo…
158 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical edition (1832-33); scan/OCR from Internet Archive.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.