PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
Horae Homileticae — Volume 14 of 21
Simeon, Charles, 1759-1836 · 258,605 words · 560 reading sections
58 John, Xv. 8. [1692.
from our sins0;" delivering us from the present evil world ; and purifying unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works d." The gift of the Holy Spirit, also, was " to convince us of the evil and bitterness of sine;" and to " sanctify us throughout, in body, soul, and spiritf." There is not a pro- mise be…
469 wordsSECTION 621692.] Fruitfulness In Good Works. 59
will any one say that the change, though still very imperfect,- reflects no glory on the Lord? Let the persons themselves judge : Are ye not happier now than in the days of your unregeneracy ? Would ye willingly go back to your former state? Does not every day evince to you the blessedness of the change that has t…
446 wordsSECTION 6360 John, Xv. 8. [1692.
their character, and they are most detestable hypocrites. In the parable of the sower we have the same truth yet more fully delineated ; for persons may bring forth fruit for a season, and prove apostates at last ; yea, they may continue to bring forth fruit to the very end of life, and be found at last to have br…
657 wordsSECTION 6462 John, Xv. 9. [1693.
[If I were to say, that in so doing you will save your souls alive, I should speak what would be amply sufficient to encourage you. But what if I should say, that God would be glorified in you ? Would you need more than that, to ani- mate your endeavours ? I do say it then, yes, and declare it most confidently, th…
653 wordsSECTION 6562 John, Xv. 9. [1693.
4. Without end— The Father's love to Christ shall endure for ever — [He has given him a pledge of this in his exaltation to heaven.] Christ's love to us shall also be everlasting — [He knows no change of mind with respect to what he has bestowed x. Whomsoever he loves he continues to lovey. This truth is a just …
270 wordsSECTION 66Christianity Intended To Promote Our Happiness.
3. To abound in all acts and offices of love to him — [In secret, let us contemplate, admire, and adore his excellencies : in public, let us confess, honour, and obey himg.] It commends to us that duty as resulting from the declaration that precedes it — [The love of Christ towards us is the strongest of all mot…
302 wordsSECTION 671694.] Christianity Promotes Happiness. 65
[He illustrates their union with him by the similitude of a vine and its branches ; and informs them that their fruitful- ness in good works depended entirely upon their receiving of grace from him a. This is the most sublime, and the most im- portant doctrine of our holy religion. It is, alas ! too com- monly ove…
402 wordsSECTION 6866 John, Xv. 11. [1694.
a bridegroom over his bride d. His delight in all his people is as great as language can possibly expresse. As a mother forgets her pangs when she beholds her first-bom, so is our Lord satisfied with the travail of his soul, when he beholds those whom he has redeemed with his blood f. The prospect of saving them w…
464 wordsSECTION 691695.] Love To The Brethren. 67
both from open and secret declensions, and " be to their Lord for a praise, and for an everlasting name that should not be cut off1."] Infer — 1. How erroneous is the idea that religion tends to make us melancholy ! [A religious person may have a constitution that inclines to melancholy as well as any other pers…
365 wordsSECTION 7068 John, Xv. 12. [1695.
John xv. 12. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. THE law and the Gospel are in perfect unison with each other : the law, as a covenant, sends us to the f 2 Gospel, that we may obtain mercy with God ; and the Gospel sends us back again to the law, as a rale of life, that, by obe…
433 wordsSECTION 711695.] Love To The Brethren. 69
toucheth us, toucheth the apple of his eye." In every possible state he sympathizes with us, as a head with the members ; and never fails to succour us with " grace sufficient for us."] 3. How abundant ! [If we regarded only the temporal blessings we receive at his hands, we must confess his love to us to be very …
396 wordsSECTION 7270 John, Xv. 12. [1695.
glory. It should be proportioned to their piety, rather than to any other endowments ; and be occupied in advancing their happiness, not only as much as our own, but oftentimes in preference to our own. It was thus that the love of Christ operated towards us ; and it is proposed for our imitation more especially i…
446 wordsSECTION 731695.] Love To The Brethren. 71
less world, in order to be instrumental in turning some of them from the evil of their ways ; and " to lay down, if need be, even our own lives for the brethren." This was the way in which St. Paul manifested his love'; and in which we also, after the example of our Lord, are called to manifest oursV] This being t…
413 wordsSECTION 74Mdcxcvi.
[So far is love to the saints from being the common dis- position of mankind, that almost all are rather filled with hatred against them : and where candour prevails over the enmity of the human heart so as to subdue its workings, there yet is a total want of that disinterested, sympathizing, beneficent, and self-…
654 wordsSECTION 7574 John, Xv. 15. [1696.
1 Heb. x. 14. k Heb. ix. 7. l Rev. i. 6. m It was rent in twain from the top to the bottom at the very time of the evening sacrifice, by means of which it was opened to the view of all the worshippers in the temple. n Heb. x. 19—22. ° Gal. iv. 1—3. p Gal, iv. 6, 7. more clearly revealed them. He has declared them …
459 wordsSECTION 76The Doctrine Of Election Explained.
John xv. 16. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain. IT is of great importance to have a just view of the doctrines contained in Scripture. There are many passages which at first sight appear to contra- dict each o…
359 wordsSECTION 7776 John, Xv. 16. [1697.
The doctrine thus stated is capable of the fullest proof, 1. From reason — [God is a Being of infinite perfection. But he could not be independent if the accomplishment of his purposes depended on our free-will ; nor omniscient, if he did not know how we should act ; nor immutable, because his knowledge must in- …
445 wordsSECTION 781697.] The Doctrine Of Election Explained. 77
all the godly, not excepting even those who are most prejudiced Sh;;: E,ection' r yet read-v to -^ tbSS; salvation to the unmerited grace of God? These tiling strongly corroborate the testimonies of reason and Script ad though there are difficulties attending this docf ne Yet aie there much greater difficulties at…
408 wordsSECTION 79Consolation To The Persecuted.
allow the first choice to arise from ourselves. Have ye then chosen Christ ? Have ye chosen him as your almighty Saviour and your rightful Lord ? If you think you have, consider how much is implied in such a choice. If you acknowledge you have not, " out of your own mouth shall ye be judged."] 2. Those who doubt t…
380 wordsSECTION 801698.] Consolation To The Persecuted. 79
as addressing his own immediate Disciples in the first place : but the grounds on which he teaches them to expect hatred from the world, are such as apply equally to all his people in every age ; and consequently we may consider the words as addressed to all his followers. We shall take occasion from them to cons…
420 wordsSECTION 8180 John, Xv. 18—20. [1698.
but for the distinguishing favour shewn him by Godc? In like manner Esau hated Jacob, not merely for the manner in which he had gained the blessing, but because the birthright was transferred to him. Thus Saul hated David also, be- cause he saw that God was with him : and the Jews sought to destroy our Lord for no…
414 wordsSECTION 821698.] Consolation To The Persecuted. 81
[For the truth of this he appeals to his own Disciples : they had seen how justly he was characterized by the prophet, as " one whom man despised, and whom the nation abhorred11." They had seen how ill he had been treated, notwithstanding his unerring wisdom, his spotless piety, his unbounded bene- volence. Now, …
430 wordsSECTION 83The Great Sin Of Rejecting Christ.
Godm, then may we very cheerfully forego it. If we be appre- hensive of consequences, what is there to fear" ? Man, at the utmost, can only kill the body; whereas God can kill the soul: and therefore God only and exclusively should be the object of our fear0.] 2. Those who have braved and borne the enmity of the …
342 wordsSECTION 841699.] The Great Sin Of Rejecting Christ. 83
sin% nor is any man really excusable in the sight of Godb ; but comparatively some may be said to " have no sin0." Thus it was with those of whom our Lord spake. If he had not come to them, they might have pleaded a want of the necessary means of salvation : but our Lord's preaching rendered them wholly inexcusab…
345 wordsSECTION 8584 John, Xv. 22. [1699.
We have not any Jewish prejudices to encounter — [The Jews had received their law from God ; they had been accustomed to expect a temporal Messiah, yet they saw a man altogether destitute and despised, and beheld the law of Moses superseded by a new religion. His works indeed should have obviated all these difficu…
408 wordsSECTION 86Hatred Of Christ Is Hatred Of The Father.
What cloak for your sin will you find when he shall call you to account? Will you plead a want of instruction, evidence, warning, or encouragement? Know that in that day you will be speechless™. Your love of sin and hatred of the light are the true causes of your rejecting Christ", and this will be the ground of a…
333 wordsSECTION 8786 John, Xv. 23. [1700.
1. Those who disregard his Gospel — [The Gospel of Christ ought to be universally received as " glad tidings of great joy :" but the greater part of mankind feel an aversion to it. Some dislike its fundamental doctrine of salvation by faith, and represent it as injurious to the interests of morality. Others hate t…
461 wordsSECTION 881700.] Hatred Of Christ Is Hatred Of The Father. 87
are many at this day who are true descendants of Cain and Tshmael; and, as long as there shall be an unconverted man upon earth, it will be found, that they, who are born after the flesh, will persecute those who are born after the Spirite. If they do not kill the saints, they will " revile them, and sepa- rate th…
425 wordsSECTION 8988 John, Xv. 23. [1700.
easily tolerated, if an outward form would suffice ; but the spirituality and devotion necessary to an acceptable perform- ance of this duty, causes the carnal heart to revolt from it as irksome. If the saints too would countenance the world in its sinful practices, the offence of the cross would cease : but they …
443 wordsSECTION 90The Personality And Office Of The Holy Spirit.
iniquities and abominations : for what our Lord says of us is strictly true, " We have hated both him and his Father m."] 2. What a dreadful place must hell be ! [Here the wickedness of men is restrained by the prevent- ing- grace of God : but in hell it will rage without controul. How will all the miserable spiri…
351 wordsSECTION 9190 John, Xv. 26. [1701.
the time, when the Spirit of God should come down visibly from heaven, and by the most indubitable tes- timony efface every stain, and rectify the mistaken apprehensions of the world respecting him. Let us consider, I. Our Lord's description of his promised messenger — In speaking of the inscrutable mysteries of …
414 wordsSECTION 921701.] Personality And Office Of The Holy Spirit. 91
him, were therefore guilty of lying unto Gode; and they who had him dwelling in them, were therefore the temples of the living Godf.] Nevertheless in some respects he is subordinate both to the Father and the Son — [In the order of subsistence, as the Father is not of the Son, but the Son of the Father, so neithe…
432 wordsSECTION 9392 John, Xv. 26. [1701.
constituted by God the Saviour of others. This was, to all appearance, so absurd an idea that it never could have gained any credit in the world, if it had not been confirmed by the most unquestionable testimony. To overcome these obstacles, the Holy Spirit testified of two things, namely, the righteous- ness of h…
465 wordsSECTION 94Offices Of The Holy Spirit.
in us excites any reluctance in the mind of the Spirit; if Jesus do but speak, it is done. Who then would not wish to have this glorious person for his friend? Who does not desire an interest in him ? Who would not seek him who is so able and willing- to save? Blessed Lord, send thy Spirit now to testify of thee, …
363 wordsSECTION 9594 John, Xvi. 8—11. [1702.
[The sin of rejecting Christ was that which the Spirit was more particularly to reveal to the world ; and he discovered it fully by his miraculous operations on the Disciples a, and wrought an irresistible conviction of it by his gracious in- fluences on the hearts of thousands.] This office too he yet executes in…
396 wordsSECTION 961702.] Offices Of The Holy Spirit. 95
the suitableness and all-sufficiency of Christ's righteousness to all those who trust in itd, and leads them, with holy glorying, to say, " In the Lord have I righteousness and strength e."] He has yet further undertaken, III. To convince the world of judgment — He shewed to the first Christians that Satan was a …
406 wordsSECTION 97The Office Of The Spirit To Glorify Christ.
John xvi. 14. He shall glorify me : for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. MANY imagine that the doctrine of the Divinity of Christ is founded on some few passages only of Holy Writ, on passages too which may possibly be of doubt- ful interpretation. But the truth is, that that doctrine pervade…
360 wordsSECTION 98170*3.] The Spirit'S Office To Glorify Christ. 97
The whole declaration, if viewed in this light only, is of infinite importance : but, without insisting on this doctrine, which only incidentally arises out of the text, we shall turn our attention to the doctrines more directly contained in it ; and shall shew you, I. The office of the Spirit — The whole of our …
418 wordsSECTION 9998 John, Xvi. 14. [1703.
3. The sufficiency of his grace — [Conflicts innumerable both with sin and Satan will still remain, even such conflicts as may bring the believer some- times to the borders of despair. But then the Spirit again proceeds in his work of glorifying Christ : he shews the soul, that there is, by the Father's own appoin…
812 wordsSECTION 100The Benefit Of Prayer.
2. As private Christians — [Our Lord assigns the same office to all his people ; " All mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them"." All indeed are not called upon to exert them- selves as ministers : but all are to glorify Christ by a holy conversation, and are to take of his virtues and his g…
467 wordsSECTION 1011704.] The Benefit Of Pkayer. 101
2. A reasonable duty — [Man is a dependent creature; and it is but reasonable that he should acknowledge that dependence at a throne of grace, and ask for those mercies which he stands in need of. The very heathens have felt the propriety of supplicating their deities, and have established ordinances whereby they …
433 wordsSECTION 102102 John, Xvi. 24. [1704.
II. Our encouragement to perform it — The promise of acceptance is without any limit or exception — [There is no exception with respect to the persons who may apply to God. The vilest person in the universe, pro- vided he ask in the manner prescribed in the text, shall be heard as readily as the very chief of the…
782 wordsSECTION 103The Objects Of The Father'S Love.
Address — 1. To those who ask without receiving — [Think not that God has violated his promise. The reason of your not receiving is, that " you ask amiss*." Your petitions « Ps. xxx. 8—11. and xl. 1—3. x 2 Cor. iv. 6. y 1 John i. 3. z Gen. xxviii. 17. a Jam. iv. 3. are cold, formal, hypocritical; and you have not…
394 wordsSECTION 1041705.] The Objects Of The Fathers Love. 105
the only source of true happiness. To love him more, and to serve him better, is the daily labour of his soul, and the very summit of his ambition.] They believe in him — [True Christians do not merely assent to this proposition, That Jesus is the Messiah ; but they most cordially acquiesce in his appointment to …
430 wordsSECTION 105106 John, Xvi. 27. [1705.
1. He watches over them by his providence — [The clearest of God's children may appear to others, perhaps also to themselves, to be forsaken of God. But the Father's eye is ever upon them for good, and " runneth to and fro throughout the whole earth, to interpose effectually in their behalf6." They may be suffered…
423 wordsSECTION 1061705.1 The Objects Of The Father'S Love. 107
[If a mere profession of Christianity be a sufficient proof of our faith and love, we may spare ourselves the trouble of addressing any as though they were destitute of those graces. But if none truly love Christ or believe in him, except they who are altogether devoted to him in heart and life, then the persons w…
500 wordsSECTION 107An Inquiry Into The Reality And Degree Of Our Faith.
John xvi. 31. Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe? THE meekness and gentleness of Christ were ma- nifested on all occasions. Even his reproofs were tempered with inexpressible kindness, and fully justi- fied the description given of him by the prophet, " He shall not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smok…
325 wordsSECTION 1081706.] Inquiry Into Our Faith. 109
yet manifested itself in those who had become the stated followers of our Lord.] 2. That many, who have some faith, are yet much under the influence of unbelief — [As for unregenerate men, they have no faith at all, no, not even in the plainest truths of our religion ; for though they assent to many truths, they …
871 wordsSECTION 109Mdccvii.
Application — h 2 Cor. xiii. 5. ' John xvi. 8, 9. k 1 John v. 4. Gal. v. 6. Acts xv. 9. ' 2 Thess. iii. 2. •" Rom. iv. IS— 20. " 1 Thess. i. 3. 1 707.] OUR lord's prayer to be glorified on earth. Ill [Trials must ere long come upon every soul amongst us : and then nothing but faith will support us0. And even now …
364 wordsSECTION 110112 John, Xvii. 1. [1707.
2. That he should support him under it — [As man, our Lord needed the supports of Divine grace: and these he was to obtain, like ourselves, by fervent prayer. Nor was his application for them made to his Father in vain. Under his most accumulated distresses, both of body and soul, he was kept unspotted with the sl…
656 wordsSECTION 111114 John, Xvii. 2. [1708.
Let us in like manner be resigned to the trials that are allotted us — [When our hour shall come, let us look to him as our example. Let us consider Him, lest we be weary and faint in our minds. Let us welcome whatever comes to us by the Divine appointment. Let us desire that God may be glorified in us, whether b…
727 wordsSECTION 112114 John, Xvii. 2. [1708.
And for the accomplishment of this end he both received and exerts his power — [It would have been to little purpose to have received from the Father an elect people, if he had not been invested also with power to secure them to himself. The Father well knew how many obstacles there would be to their salvation ; …
267 wordsSECTION 113Mdccix.
[Jesus both possesses and exerts omnipotence in their behalf. What then have they to fear? Let them only secure his aid, and they defy both men and devils. "If he be for them, none can effectually be against them."] 3. What obligations do we lie under to love and serve the Lord ! [Is Jesus incessantly exerting hi…
353 wordsSECTION 1141709.1 Our Lord'S Dying Appeal To God. 117
which had been devoted to the executing of his will, and to the promotion of his glory*. He had glorified him especially in his doctrine. Never once had he sought his own glory, but, on all occasions, the glory of Him who sent himb: and when he testified of himself, it was only as the person bearing a com- mission…
495 wordsSECTION 115118 John, Xvii. 4,5. [1709.
Further, he was to introduce and establish a new dispen- sation. And this, too, he did ; fulfilling and abrogating every part of the Mosaic Law : and erecting " a kingdom, which consisted not in meats and drinks and carnal ordinances, but. in righteousness and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghostg." In a word, there w…
760 wordsSECTION 116120 John, Xvii. 9, 10. [1710.
2. The object of their life — [Every Christian has the very same end in view as Jesus himself had ; even to " glorify God on earth, and to finish the work which God has given him to do." In these respects Christ is an example to us ; and every one of his followers is bound to " walk as he walked." See then, brethr…
360 wordsSECTION 1171710.] The Objects Of Our Lord'S Intercession. 121
John xvii. 9, 10. I pray for them : I pray not for the world, bid for them tvhich thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine ; and I am glorified in them. THE Apostles were but weak in knowledge or in grace till the day of Pentecost; nevertheless, they were greatly beloved …
587 wordsSECTION 118122 John, Xvii. 9, 10. [1710.
whom the whole universe is as nothing in his eyes. Hence our Lord interested himself more particularly on their behalf. His zeal for his Father's glory would not suffer him to be for one moment unmindful of their interests.] 2. Christ himself has an equal propriety in them, " All mine," &c. [They belong to Christ…
406 wordsSECTION 119Mdccxi.
PRESERVATION FROM SIN MORE DESIRABLE THAN DELI- VERANCE FROM AFFLICTION. John xvii. 15. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. WE admire the solicitude which a dying parent expresses for the future and eternal welfare of his children ; nor can w…
360 wordsSECTION 120124 John, Xvii. 15. [1711.
would lose the benefit of their instructions and prayers. What an inconceivable loss would this have been both to Jews and Gentiles ! Yea, in what a state of ignorance should we our- selves have been at this moment ! Next, it would have been inexpedient on God's account, if I may so speak. The Disciples were to be…
435 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical edition (1833); scan/OCR from Internet Archive.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.