PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
Horae Homileticae — Volume 15 of 21
Simeon, Charles, 1759-1836 · 259,427 words · 557 reading sections
1878.1 Predestination Considered. 319
e Acts xiii. 39. h Heb. viii. 12. '1 Pet. iv. 14. k 2 Cor. iii. 18. heaven their felicity will be perfect : there " all that was in part will be done away :" they will " see as they are seen, and know as they are known ;" and will be like, and with, their God, for ever and ever. Here, it may be observed, is no di…
468 wordsSECTION 302320 Romans, Viii. 29, 30. [1878.
it be further asked, Who " hath wrought all his works in him?" it must be answered, Godm. It is God who laid the foundation, and who carries on the spiritual building even to the end : and when the top-stone is brought forth, every sinner in the universe must " cry, Grace, grace unto it"."] 2. All presumption — […
675 wordsSECTION 303322 Romans, Viii. 32. [1879.
god's gift of his son a ground for expecting every other blessing. Rom. viii. 32. He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things ? IF we contemplate the mysterious work of redemp- tion, and the grace of God as displayed in it, we shall be…
688 wordsSECTION 304322 Romans, Viii. 32. [1879.
By way of improvement, 1. Let us endeavour to estimate aright this gift of God— [God's own Son is infinitely above all creatures : all the hosts of angels and all the glory of heaven were nothing in comparison of him. Had he been a mere creature, the Apostle's inference had been inconclusive d. He, against whom t…
351 wordsSECTION 305Mdccclxxx.
Paul's confidence. Rom. viii. 33, 34. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Goa"s elect ? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that con- demneth ? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. OF all the systems that mankind …
658 wordsSECTION 306326 Romans, Viii. 33, 34. [1880.
We are not to understand him as saying, that there is no ground for accusing and condemning the elect ; but, that they are brought into such a state that nothing ever shall be laid to their charge so as finally to effect their ruin. Let us then, with him, give the challenge to all who may be supposed most likely t…
683 wordsSECTION 307326 Romans, Viii. 33, 34. [1880.
2. The perfection of the Redeemer's work — [Every part of Christ's work was considered by the Apostle as a security for the salvation of God's elect. His death, his resurrection, his ascension, his intercession are so many pledges, that no one shall ever trust in him in vain. For what end was it that Christ died, …
414 wordsSECTION 308328 Romans, Viii. 33, 34. [1880.
and his people's, enemies*'. If then he kept his people when he was on earth, so that not one of them was lost2, will he now suffer any to pluck them out of his hand ? No : he has said, that " they shall never perisha:" and he will assuredly fulfil his word. If any thing further be requisite for the comfort of our…
594 wordsSECTION 309330 Romans, Viii. 38, 39. [1881.
Paul's assurance of persevering. Rom. viii. 38, 39. I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, ivhich is in Christ Jesus our Lord.…
667 wordsSECTION 310330 Romans, Viii. 38, 39. [1881.
a Heb. ii. 15. b Satan for once spake truth, Job ii. 4. 1881.]] taul's assurance of persevering. 381 "nothing in the whole creation" shall be able, to separate him from the love of God.] This confidence of the Apostle being so extraordi- nary, let us consider, II. The grounds of his persuasion — These were twofo…
447 wordsSECTION 311332 Romans, Viii. 38, 39. [1881.
might be effectual for the salvation of all whom the Father had given to him : and at the last day he will be able to say, as he did in the days of his flesh, " Of those whom thou hast given me I have lost none." If. he is ever living on purpose to make intercession for them, and is constituted Head over all thing…
703 wordsSECTION 312334 Romans, Ix. 1-4. [1882.
0 Jude, ver. 20, 21. Rom. ix. 1 — 4. / say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my con- science also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, that I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my bre- thren, my kinsmen according to the flesh : who are I…
572 wordsSECTION 3131882.1 The Privileges Of Jews And Christians. 335
But their privileges were only a shadow of those enjoyed by true Israelites — [As, under the Jewish dispensation, " all were not Israel who where of Israel g," so, under the Gospel, " they, who are Christ's, are the true seed of Abraham, and heirs according to the promise11." Now to those who are "Israelites indee…
484 wordsSECTION 314336 Romans, Ix. 1—4. [1882.
1. We should be deeply concerned about their state — [There were various things which grieved and wounded the Apostle's mind, yea, that occasioned him great heaviness, and continual pangs, like those of a woman in her travail q : he was much affected, not only with the numbers of those that were rejecting his mes…
457 wordsSECTION 3151882.] T1I£ Privileges Of Jews And Christians. 337
tening should be executeds. And certainly the Apostle Paul, whose labours and sufferings for the good of his fellow-creatures were unparalleled*, would gladly have submitted to any tem- poral calamity, if it might but operate for the salvation of Israel. And who, that considers what Jesus has done for the salvatio…
439 wordsSECTION 316Our Duty Towards The Jews.
infallibly result from the neglect of them, we should engage with incomparably greater zeal in the work of our salvation ; we should make it our meat and drink to do God's will ; nor would life with all its joys, or death with all its terrors, be suffered to divert us from the prosecution of our purpose.] Rom. ix.…
376 wordsSECTION 3171883. J Our Duty Towards The Jews. 339
this evil, he would submit to any thing to deliver them from it. He calls God to witness, that he had nothing more sincerely at heart, than that, as they had already possessed, so they should ever continue to possess, the most distinguished tokens of God's love and favour. In the words which we have just read, we…
418 wordsSECTION 318340 Romans, Ix. 1—5. [1883.
ever." Yes, when the ever-blessed, the co-equal, the co-eternal Son of God came into the world, that by his own obedience unto death, he might accomplish the redemption of sinful man, he assumed his human nature from them, even from a Jewish Virgin; so that, in a more strict and appropriate sense than any other pe…
457 wordsSECTION 3191883.1 Our Duty Towards The Jews. 341
die in your sinsV Let this then be borne in mind in reference to that unhappy people, yes, and in reference to ourselves also, if we be not truly and unfeignedly devoted to God, as a peni- tent, believing, and obedient people ] 2. What is expressed — [The terms, especially those in the third verse of our text, ar…
493 wordsSECTION 320342 Romans, Ix. 1—5. [1883.
in a state of perfect safety ? Alas ! when have we spent one single hour in prayer for them? What sacrifices have we made, or what exertions, for the enlightening of their minds, and the saving of their souls ? If we should say, " My heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved," would …
707 wordsSECTION 321342 Romans, Ix. 1—5. [1883.
Begin then, all of you, with your own souls; and then extend your concern to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And think not that your labours for them will be in vain ; for the same power which can convert and save you, is able to effect the same blessed work for them. Less than omnipotence will not suffice …
326 wordsSECTION 322Israel In The Midst Of Israel.
in a perishing condition, till we believe in Christ. Till we believe in Christ, "we are accursed from Christ,'" and can be saved only through faith in our incarnate God.) 2. What have we felt in reference to our Jewish brethren? — (We should feel as the Apostle did. But, could we adopt his appeal, and " not lie ? …
333 wordsSECTION 3231884.1 Israel In The Midst Of Israel. 345
were to be cast off, the word of God, which had pro- mised all manner of blessings to Abraham and his seed, would be made void. But to this he replies, that the promises were made to Abraham and his spiritual seed : and that all others, however they might be descended from him after the flesh, would assuredly be …
401 wordsSECTION 324346 Romans, Ix. G. [1884.
his sovereignty in the disposal of his blessings is expressly asserted, as the end for which he made the appointment at that precise time : for it was impossible that they should have done either good or evil previous to their birth ; and, consequently, nothing of theirs could be the ground of God's dispensation t…
481 wordsSECTION 3251884.1 Israel In The Midst Of Israel. 317
be thought of, it would not be possible to find one which could more strongly illustrate the sovereignty of God than this. It is here indeed supposed, that all men are alike corrupt and sinful, all one mass of sin ; no part of which has any greater claim upon God for mercy, than the potter's clay has on him for di…
479 wordsSECTION 326348 Romans, Ix. 6. [1884.
spoken to him. Was here no proof of God's electing love ? Take the ministry of this Apostle : some received his testi- mony, and others rejected it. And whence was it, that, at Philippi, a poor woman, named Lydia, embraced the truth, whilst the magistrates and a great mass of the inhabitants joined in persecuting …
498 wordsSECTION 3271884.1 Israel In The Midst Of Israel. 319
in his dispensations, is thus declared in the chapter preceding that which we have been considering : " Whom he did predes- tinate, them he also called ; and whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he justified, them he also glorified*1." And, among those who are exalted to glory, there will be no differe…
455 wordsSECTION 328350 Romans, Ix. 6. [1884.
spirit, and not in the letter ; whose praise is not of men, but of GodV Should we not then fear, lest we deceive ourselves, just as the Jews of old did? Should we not carefully " examine ourselves, and prove our ownselves, whether we be in the faith1?" Should we not compare our character with that of the saints of…
808 wordsSECTION 329352 Romans, Ix. 16. [1885.
4 John vi. 37. u Hab. i. 16. x Luke xvii. 34—36. god's sovereign mercy the source of all our blessings. Rom. ix. 16. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. THE Apostle, being about to declare the rejection of the Jews, and the calling of the Gentiles, introd…
724 wordsSECTION 330354 Romans, Ix. 16. [1885.
But a further, and still stronger, proof of this took place in the children of this very Isaac, to whom the promise was restricted. His wife Rebecca bare him twins: and whilst these children were yet in the womb, and " before they could pos- sibly have done either good or evil, it was said to her, The elder shall …
659 wordsSECTION 331354 Romans, Ix. 16. [1885.
Thus the Apostle has proved beyond all contradiction the unquestionable right of God to give, or to withhold, his bless- ings, according to his own sovereign will and pleasure. e ver. 15. with Exod. xxxiii. 19. 1885.1 god's mercy the source of blessings. 355 But before we proceed to the conclusion which the Apostl…
500 wordsSECTION 332356 Romans, Ix. 16. [1885.
" Ask, and ye shall have ; seek, and ye shall find ; knock, and it shall be opened unto you :" and, " Whosoever cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out :" and, " When said I ever to the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain ? " Know then, that to found any such sentiment on the words of the Apostle, is a gross perv…
701 wordsSECTION 333356 Romans, Ix. 16. [1885.
Nor let any hold them irreverently. Some will speak of these deep things of God as familiarly as if there were no mystery at all in them, or as if they were the uninspired dogmas of some ancient philosopher. But when we enter on " such holy ground," we should, as Moses, " take off our shoes," and pro- ceed with re…
317 wordsSECTION 334Mdccclxxxvi.
and be as read}' to dwell upon the invitations, and precepts, and exhortations of the Gospel, as on these deeper mysteries, which may easily be strained too far, and may give occasion for inferences, plausible indeed, but erroneous, and contrary to the analogy of faith.] 2. How they are to be improved — [The prop…
677 wordsSECTION 335360 Romans, Ix. 19—24. [1886.
To place the matter in its true light, we shall con- sider, I. The point at issue between the objector and St. Paul— [St. Paul had strongly intimated, that the Jews were now to be rejected from the Church of God, and that the Gentiles were to be admitted into it. This he knew was a most offen- sive subject to th…
728 wordsSECTION 336360 Romans, Ix. 19—24. [1886.
The same also we may say in relation to the eternal states of men, if only we consider them, as they really are, one vast mass of guilt and corruption. When Adam fell, God was at liberty to leave him as he was, in all his guilt and corruption, or to redeem him from it, and to make him a vessel of honour by his new…
345 wordsSECTION 337362 Romans, Ix. 19—24. [1886.
But let us turn to the latter part of the Apostle's answer ; wherein he asserts confidently, that if we attend carefully to the way in which God has disposed of men, and has deter- mined still to dispose of them, he is, and ever must be, justified. God has determined to get himself glory upon all mankind, whether…
898 wordsSECTION 338364 Romans, Ix. 19—24. [1886.
But if our proud hearts be yet disposed to rise up against God, and reply against him, the extraordinary caution with which St. Paul gives his answer must silence us for ever. Be- tween the vessels of wrath and the vessels of mercy he makes this striking distinction ; that the vessels of wrath fit themselves for d…
758 wordsSECTION 339364 Romans, Ix. 19—24. [1886.
But there are many among those who pretend to vindicate the ways of God, who are scarcely less worthy of reproof than those who presume to condemn them. There are many who speak of " the deep things of God," as if they were as plain and easy and intelligible as the simplest truth that can be mentioned. They dwell …
339 wordsSECTION 3403G6 Romans, Ix. 19—24. [1886.
merit, it becomes you cheerfully to concede to others the liberty which you arrogate to yourselves. And we are well persuaded, that mutual candour and forbearance among those of opposite principles, would do infinitely more towards the bringing all to just views, than all the angry contentions of violent partisans…
507 wordsSECTION 3411887.] Jews Reject Christ — Gentiles Believe. 367
of honour that shall display, almost beyond all others, the riches of his glory ? O lift up your hearts to him, and pray, that at this time his grace may be magnified in you, and that you may be monuments of his love and mercy to all eternity. But perhaps with others the hour is come, when the measure of your iniq…
266 wordsSECTION 342368 Romans, Ix. 30—33. |_1887.
Rom. ix. 30 — 33. What shall ive say then ? That the Gen- tiles, which folloived not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore ? Because they soug…
490 wordsSECTION 3431887. J Jews Reject Christ Gentiles Believe. 360
with very few exceptions, at all think of seeking after God. Having but little sense of their guilt, and no idea whatever of any way in which their guilt might be removed, they con- cerned not themselves about a future state. The sentiment of the great mass among them was, " Let us eat and drink ; for to-morrow we…
458 wordsSECTION 344370 Romans, Ix. 30-33. [1887.
and heard all his discourses ; who, moreover, were assured on the most infallible testimony respecting his resurrection from the dead; who saw also the very same miracles wrought by his followers as had before been wrought by himself; I say, the probability was, that the Jews would have immediately become his most…
452 wordsSECTION 3451887.1 Jews Reject Christ — Gentiles Believe. 371
the prize, you must not only strive, but " strive lawfully," according to the rules that have been prescribed".] 2. That how regardless soever we have been about salvation hitherto, we shall attain to it the very in- stant we believe in Christ — [The Gentiles at large give us a very just, but awful, picture of ma…
473 wordsSECTION 346Mdccclxxxviii.
when they hear the Gospel evil spoken of; neither let them wonder if it be " to the Jews a stumbling-block, and to the Greeks foolishness," as in the days of old. It is so, and it must be so, as long as man shall continue unhumbled before God : and if you find it so amongst the circle in which you move, know that,…
354 wordsSECTION 3471888.] Pauls Love To His Brethren. 373
the Jew? Much every waya." Proceeding afterwards to shew that the law could not justify any man, and fearing that he might on that account be thought an enemy to the law, he removes all ground for that suspicion ; " Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the lawb." Comparing aft…
373 wordsSECTION 348374 Romans, X. 1. [1888.
I. What it was that the Apostle desired in their behalf — St. Paul had no wish to proselyte men to a party, or to procure followers to himself — His object was to " save" them — [Salvation comprehends not only a deliverance from all the penal effects of sin, but a restoration to the favour and image of God, and …
424 wordsSECTION 3491888.] Pauls Love To His Brethren. 375
II. In what way he directed them to seek it — The whole Epistle to the Romans was written with the express view of setting forth the way of salvation. It shews at large that we are fallen and ruined crea- tures ; that God has sent his only-begotten Son into the world to redeem us ; and that all who would be saved…
432 wordsSECTION 350376 Romans, X. 1. [1888.
look to that Great Sacrifice which Christ was in due time to offer for the sins of the whole world h. Thus plainly did he direct them unto Christ, as their only, and all-sufficient Saviour.] In pointing them thus to Christ, he did most effec- tually consult their everlasting welfare — [The way of salvation by fai…
419 wordsSECTION 351Christ The End Of The Law For Righteousness.
[While we desire, and pray to God for, the salvation of others, we rejoice and bless our God for you. We consider the prosperity of your souls as the richest recompence of our labours. Ye have "received Christ Jesus the Lord:" see to it then that ye " walk in him," and " abide in him," and " cleave unto him with f…
343 wordsSECTION 352378 Romans, X. 4, [1889.
but unhappily they were mistaken in their views of the Mosaic law, which was never intended to afford them a justifying righteousness, but was designed rather to lead them to that very Jesus whom they so hated and despised, and who was indeed " the end of the law for righteousness to every one that be- lieveth." …
385 wordsSECTION 3531889,1 Christ Our Righteousness. 379
it was impossible for man to do, seeing that the penalty was everlasting death ; and man was despoiled of all power to do the will of God. Therefore God was pleased to send his co- equal, co-eternal Son into the world, that, as man's substitute, he might endure the curse which we had merited, and render the obedie…
445 wordsSECTION 354380 Romans, X. 4. [1889.
1 . Of the moral law — [The law, when given to man in innocence, was intended to justify him, if he should continue to obey it to the termination of the period destined for his probation. But when once he had fallen, there was no possibility of his ever obtaining justi- fication by it. We, as partakers of his guil…
504 wordsSECTION 3551889.1 Christ Our Righteousness. 381
ceremonial law making no provision for the expiation of pre- sumptuous sin, shewed that it could not answer the necessities of fallen manm. Hence the Apostle tells us, that the law was only a " shadow of good things to come" ;" a shadow, of which Christ was the body0. Agreeably to this, the most noted types of Chr…
449 wordsSECTION 356382 Romans, X. 4. [1889.
subject : but all the different classes may be safely reduced to these two. Let us pause a moment, to consider whether we ourselves do not belong to the one or other of them. There are many who, as we have said, seek salvation by their works for Christ's sake. They will not go so far as to say, that Christ has do…
502 wordsSECTION 3571889. J Christ Our Righteousness. 383
by newness of life : and then they hope that he will accept them, and present them faultless before his heavenly Father. And if they cannot see in themselves such a measure of peni- tence and reformation as they think necessary to recommend them to him, they dare not go to him : they think it would be presumption …
501 wordsSECTION 358384 Romans, X. 4. [1889.
the only Saviour, they might recommend themselves to him, and confirm their interest in him, by the observance of these rites. Thus, in fact, he adulterated and undermined the Gospel, and endangered the eternal welfare of all his fol- lowers. On this account St. Paul blamed and reproved him before the whole Church…
456 wordsSECTION 3591889.] Christ Our Righteousness. 385
whether you are not rather wishing to find some worthiness in yourselves, that may serve as a ground of confidence in your approaches to him, and as a foundation of your hope of acceptance with him. For be assured, that if you stumble at this stumbling-stone, you will frustrate the grace of God, and cause the deat…
473 wordsSECTION 360Gospel Salvation.
Rom. x. 8 — 10. That is, the word of faith, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt he saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and tvith the mouth confession is made unto salva…
354 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical edition (1832-33); scan/OCR from Internet Archive.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.