PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
Horae Homileticae — Volume 15 of 21
Simeon, Charles, 1759-1836 · 259,427 words · 557 reading sections
1890.] Gospel Salvation. 3S7
it the obedience it demands. That ground of hope, therefore, being renounced, we must rely simply on the Lord Jesus Christ, and seek salvation altogether by faith in him.] 2. A public confession of him under that character — [No confession of ours can add any thing to his all- finished work. Yet are we required to…
381 wordsSECTION 362388 Romans, X. 8—10. [1890.
faith to faith0:" and " it is unto all, and upon all, them that believe d." From the moment that any one believes in Christ, this righteousness becomes his; yea, "Christ is made unto him righteousness6;" and he is entitled to call the Lord Jesus, " Jehovah our Righteousnessf;" and to say, " In the Lord have I righ…
504 wordsSECTION 3631891.] Universality Of Salvation By Christ. 389
exquisite delight in committing yourselves altogether to him. Nor must this be an occasional act, but the daily habit of your minds: "The entire life which you now live in the flesh, you must live by the faith of the Son of God, who has loved you, and given himself for you p." Nor must there be in you the least be…
301 wordsSECTION 364390 Romans, X. 12—15. [1891.
Rom. x. 12 — 15. There is no difference between the Jew and the Greek : for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Hoiv then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed ? and how sliall they believe in him of whom the…
504 wordsSECTION 3651891.1 Universality Of Salvation By Christ. 391
from the eye of their offended Godb. The prophets all bare testimony to this same truth : Isaiah speaks of Jesus as that " foundation which God has laid in Zion, and declares that whosoever believeth in him shall not be ashamed0:" and Joel, in the words quoted in our text, affirms, that " Whosoever shall call on t…
506 wordsSECTION 366392 Romans, X. 12— 15. [1891.
tion, no exception whatever ; for, " whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord, shall be saved." Behold then in few words the way of salvation. The Lord Jesus Christ, who bare our sins in his own body on the tree, and " made reconciliation for us by the blood of his cross," is the one object of our faith and ho…
669 wordsSECTION 367392 Romans, X. 12— 15. [1891.
Now, in conclusion, we will call upon you, 1. To perform your duty — [Let no Jewish prejudices or heathen infidelity (both of which, alas ! are but too prevalent amongst us) discourage you. You must expect, not only that they who feel no value for their own souls will frown at your attempts to convert the souls o…
256 wordsSECTION 368394 Romans, X. 20, 21. [1892.
Israel : and whatever be the office to which your situation and circumstances appear to fit you, be ready to execute it : and, in answer to God's inquiry, " Who will go for us?" be ready to reply, " Here am I, Lord ; send me."] 2. To enjoy your privileges — [All the blessings of salvation, if only you believe in C…
351 wordsSECTION 3691892.1 Christ Made Known To The Gentiles. 395
Rom. x. 20, 21. Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gain- saying people. IT is scarcely to be conceived to what a degree prejudice …
475 wordsSECTION 370396 Romans, X. 20, 21. [1892.
" the light had risen upon them, and God's glory was seen upon them." "As soon as they heard him, they obeyed his call ;" and within a few years from the publication of the Gospel to them, such multitudes became obedient to the faith, that they filled, as it were, every part of the Roman empire ; so gloriously was…
462 wordsSECTION 3711892.1 Christ Made Known To The Gentiles. 397
Gentiles received these tidings was immediately made mani- fest : " they heard the Apostle with gladness, and glorified the word of the Lord : and as many of them as were ordained to eternal life, believed e." Thus, in reference both to Jews and Gentiles, was this pro- phecy clearly and undeniably fulfilled.] But…
446 wordsSECTION 372398 Romans, X. 20, 21. [1892.
has God been striving with some amongst us, who yet continue alienated from the life of God through the blindness and hard- ness of their hearts ! Think, in what diversified ways he has dealt with us, in order that he might fulfil in us his good pleasure, and accomplish in us the rich purposes of his grace ! From …
487 wordsSECTION 3731892.' Christ Made Known To The Gentiles. 399
past experience of redeeming love, if Christ, in whom his life is hid, were not constantly to impart more grace to him, and grace sufficient for his multiplied necessities. Brethren, it is to this state of conscious and willing depen- dence upon the Lord Jesus Christ that we wish you to be brought : this is what t…
508 wordsSECTION 374The Lord'S People A Chosen Remnant.
from the Jews. Has not God punished them at last ? " Go to Shiloh, and see what he did to them there :" go to Judaea, and see how his anger has burned against them there : look at them in every quarter of the globe ; and know, that, as he has scattered them, so will he fulfil his threatenings upon you : and when h…
801 wordsSECTION 375402 Romans, Xi. 5. [1893.
a Matt. vii. 13, 14. vol. xv. D n by these observations to express an approbation of worldly shame, or of the fear of man : for it is the duty of every Christian to " confess Christ" boldly, and to " follow him with- out the camp bearing his reproach :" but so it is, that, from a variety of causes, some of the Lo…
786 wordsSECTION 376404 Romans, Xl 5. [1893.
2. If this doctrine be true, / may sit still, till God shall come and help me — [Where, we would ask, do the Scriptures countenance any such inference as this ? They invariably enjoin the use of means, and promise a blessing to those who use them in a dependence upon God; " Ask and ye shall have, seek and ye shal…
652 wordsSECTION 3771893.1 The Lord'S People A Chosen Remnant. 405
in him above others, who could venture to cherish any hope at all? Certainly there would be a fearful prospect for those who have long continued in their sins : for they would naturally say, How can God ever look with compassion on such a sinner as me ? The old therefore, and the dying, would at once be driven to …
499 wordsSECTION 378406 Romans, Xl 5. [1893.
continually at the king's table, " he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am"? " How much more then will the child of God abase himself as the most unworthy of mankind, when the King of kings, of his own sovereign love and mercy, tells him, that all the …
492 wordsSECTION 379Of Salvation.
Rom. xi. 6. If by grace, then is it no more of works : other- wise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace : otherwise work is no more work. IN reference to the doctrines of grace, St. Paul maintained a most watchful and " godly jealousy." On points of a less vital nature, he was re…
334 wordsSECTION 380408 Romans, Xl 6. [1894.
1. The truth of it— The observation is simply this, That salvation must be altogether of grace, or altogether of works ; for that the two cannot possibly coalesce ; since each of them excludes the other as much as light and darkness. Now, This observation is true — [The Apostle has before drawn the distinction b…
465 wordsSECTION 3811894.1 Opposition Of Grace And Works. 409
reward to so small a work ; but still the reward so conferred bears, and must ever bear, the character of a debt, and not of a gift. To this it may be objected, that good works are represented in the Scripture as objects of reward, nay more, as forming the measure of that reward. This is true : but it does not in …
494 wordsSECTION 382410 Romans, Xl 6. [1894.
The truth of the Apostle's observation being esta- blished, we proceed to shew, II. The importance of it — We have already called your attention to the way in which the observation is introduced, and which, we conceive, marks very strongly the importance of it in the Apostle's mind. And we may notice the same fr…
409 wordsSECTION 3831894.] Opposition Of Grace And Works. 411
There is not a soul in heaven that must not to all eternity say, " By the grace of God I am what I am."] 2. It secures against all invasion the honour of God— [Men are ever attempting to rob God of his glory : they cannot endure that all the honour of their salvation should be given to God alone. When they see th…
485 wordsSECTION 384412 Romans, Xl 6. [1894.
the jailor, when bidden to believe in Christ. They believe ; they look ; they live.] On the observation thus explained we ground a few words of advice — 1. Accept with gratitude this free salvation — [Do not suffer the pride of your hearts to rise against it. Do not grudge unto God the honour of saving you by his…
434 wordsSECTION 385Gentiles.
[Shew by your lives what the proper tendency and effect of grace is. We are told that " the grace of God which bringeth salvation, teaches us, that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live righteously, and soberly, and godly in this present world." Shew then, by all your dealings with men, what true r…
381 wordsSECTION 386414 Romans, Xl 11, 12. [1895.
even for their own ultimate advantage also. This is strongly asserted in the passage before us, where their fall is said to be " the riches of the Gentiles," as their recovery also will be in a far more signal manner and degree. We presume not to think that we can ever fathom this deep mystery : yet will it be pr…
402 wordsSECTION 3871895.] Gentiles Blest By The Jews' Restoration. 415
Church with the utmost vehemence: that persecution drove multitudes of Christians (almost all except the Apostles) from Jerusalem, and scattered them through all Judaea and Samaria: and the people, so scattered, " went everywhere preaching the word:" so that, instead of suppressing the Gospel, as they hoped, the J…
412 wordsSECTION 388416 Romans, Xl 11, \2. [1895.
God had certainly no such purpose respecting them : that, on the contrary, he had entered into covenant with them to re- store them in due season, and to confer on them, as well as on the Gentiles, all the blessings of redemption. The period he had fixed in his divine counsels was, " When the fulness of the Gentil…
459 wordsSECTION 3891895.] Gentiles Blest By The Jews' Restoration. 417
rejected, blasphemed, and opposed it with all their might : but when they themselves shall be converted by it, they will embrace it most cordially, they will cry mightily to God for the success of it, and they will labour to the uttermost to diffuse the know- ledge of it throughout the world. If then their rejectio…
460 wordsSECTION 390418 Romans, Xl 11, 12. [1895.
that they were broken off: and it is by faith that we stand. O then, be not high-minded, but fearm." Fear " lest there be in you also an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God." Do not imagine that a mere outward profession of Christianity is of any value : no, it is " a seeing of Him who is invis…
521 wordsSECTION 391Neglect Of The Jews Reproved.
treep?" Despair not then of doing them good; but exert yourselves in every possible way for their conversion to the faith of Christ. You are told, that " if they abide not in unbelief, they shall be graffed in again : for God is able to graff them in againq." Seek then to convince them of the truth of Christianity…
405 wordsSECTION 392420 Romans, Xl 17—21. [1896.
overlooked ; and that is, that God still regards the Jews as to a certain degree, his peculiar people ; and that, notwithstanding their degradation and depravity, there is a holiness about their whole nation, and a halo, as it were, around the head of every individual belonging to it. The offering of the first-fru…
355 wordsSECTION 3931896." Neglect Of The Jews Reproved. 421
have been graffed into their stock, and are with them at this moment partaking of the root and fatness of the olive-tree." This fact it is impossible to deny. They, instead of enjoying the ordinances of God's worship, as in former ages, are scat- tered over the face of the whole earth, and are utterly incapable of…
485 wordsSECTION 394422 Romans, Xl 17—21. [1896.
which is not administered by them ? What hope have we in death, which is not founded upon information derived from them ? What glory can we look for in another world, but that which has been unveiled to us by them ? Take from us the instruction which we have received from them, and we shall be reduced at once to a…
782 wordsSECTION 395424 Romans, Xl 20. [1897.
And attend to the instruction founded upon it — [Hear what the dispensation says to you : " You stand by faith ;" and have the same reason to tremble for fear of God's judgments as they had. If they had continued to ex- ercise faith in God, they had never been cast out : nor shall you, if you " live altogether by …
479 wordsSECTION 396Against Pride And Security.
Rom. xi. 20. Be not high-minded, but fear. THE deep mysteries of our religion are calculated at once to encourage sinners, and to humble saints. The sovereignty of God is a great depth ; and it was awfully displayed in the rejection of the Jews, and the admission of the Gentiles into his Church. This is the subje…
462 wordsSECTION 397426 Romans, Xl 20. [1897.
1. We have no stability in ourselves — [As all our ability and inclination to what is good, are derived from God at first, so must we receive continual supplies from him, even as of light from the sun. Without his con- stant superintendence, both the visible world, and the new creation in the soul of man, would so…
468 wordsSECTION 3981897.1 Against Pridk And Security. 427
found chaff at last n* When therefore we consider how weak our faith is, and that it is " by faith we stand," we have reason to fear, lest a promise being left us of entering into God's rest, any of us should seem to come short of it0.] We shall conclude the subject with some suitable advice — 1. Bear in mind wha…
389 wordsSECTION 399The Dispensations Of God Towards Jews And Gentiles.
[Without this, all our other efforts will be fruitless. All " our fresh springs are in Christ," " without whom we can do nothing." " Except he keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain." Let us then " be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." Then, though weak, " we shall be able to do all things…
693 wordsSECTION 400430 Romans, Xl 22—24. [1898.
a ver. 33. God manifested himself to them by a visible symbol of his presence ; accepting their services, and com- municating to them his richest blessings. In a word, he shewed that he regarded them as his peculiar people, and that he was, in a pre-eminent and appro- priate manner, their God. From time to time h…
752 wordsSECTION 401432 Romans, Xl 22—24. [1898.
c Rom. x. 20. Il Isai. lxii. ;5. eternity exceed those of time and sense. If, then, we observe with awe his " severity" to his ancient people, must we not behold with admiration and gratitude his " goodness" to us? In fact, his mercies to them were mere shadows of those vouchsafed to us : so that we may well excl…
738 wordsSECTION 402434 Romans, Xl 22— 24. [1898.
I conceive to be the true way of reconciling those systems, which are supposed to be so opposite, and which have produced so much contention in the Church of God. I repeat it ; In its commencement, every blessing is the fruit of free and sovereign grace; but in its termination, it is administered to us, not in a …
766 wordsSECTION 403436 Romans, Xi. 22—24. [1898.
f f 2 take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold, therefore, the goodness and severity of God : on them that fell, severity; but towards thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness : otherwise, thou also shalt be cut off" What can be plainer? And how do all human systems vanish before such declarations as…
856 wordsSECTION 404438 Romans, Xl 22—24. [1898.
tree, how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive-tree?" No one need be told this in relation to the engrafting of a natural scion : it carries its own evidence along with it. If a scion will grow on a foreign stock, much more will it, if grafted into its own parent s…
782 wordsSECTION 405440 Romans, Xi. 22—24. [1898.
circumstances whatever, ceases to be fruitful after the example of his Lord and Saviour, " shall be cut off," and cast into everlasting fire. This warning is, in the first place, given by the Apostle to the Christian Church : and let every one oius receive it as addressed to his own soul in particular. And may God…
777 wordsSECTION 406The Future Salvation Of All Israel.
to our duty ; determined, at least, to obtain this testi- mony both from God and from our own consciences, that, whether successful or not in our labours for them, " We have done what we could." Our every effort will be pleasing to God : and, though he should refuse to confer on us the honour we affect, of raising…
358 wordsSECTION 4071899.] Future Salvation Of All Israel. 443
The blindness of the Jewish people is most awful — [Their prophecies respecting the Messiah are most clear* And the accomplishment of them in the Lord Jesus Christ is most strongly marked in the New Testament Yet is there " a veil upon their hearts ;" so that they cannot see either what the prophecies imported, or…
409 wordsSECTION 408444 Romans, Xi. 25—27. [1899.
ages, there have been but few that truly feared God : the great mass of the people have been ungodly ; and the saints have been but as a remnant of them. But in that day " a spirit of grace and of supplication will be poured out upon them in a more abundant measure ; and they will look on Him whom they have pierce…
459 wordsSECTION 409Sake.
2. Its proper effect upon your own minds — [It is lamentable to observe how " wise" the generality of Christians are " in their own conceits," in reference to this matter: how contemptuously they speak of the Jews, as if they were by native worse than ourselves ; and as if they were never again to be restored to t…
319 wordsSECTION 410446 Romans, Xi. 28, 29. [1900.
1. " As concerning the Gospel, they are enemies for our sakes" — [That they are enemies to God and his Christ, has been abundantly manifested, by their conduct towards all who pro- phesied of Christ ; by their crucifying of the Lord of Glory, when he had put himself in their power ; and by their deter- mined reje…
476 wordsSECTION 4111900.] The Jews Still Beloved By God. 447
determined to introduce us to the blessings of salvation, he suf- fered them to reject these blessings, that so a way might be made for us, to occupy their place, and to possess their inhe- ritance. This does, I confess, appear a strange and almost incredible statement : and, if it were founded on one particular e…
478 wordsSECTION 412448 Romans, Xl 28, 29. [1900.
instrumentality of the Hebrew New Testament, which to a great extent, is now circulating among them in different quar- ters of the globe : and, as in the covenant made with Abraham, not all his descendants were comprehended, but only those who should proceed from Isaac and from Jacob ; so in the loins of those who…
420 wordsSECTION 4131900.] The Jews Still Beloved Of God. 449
all things after the counsel of his own willm." These are strong expressions, I confess : but they are the declarations of God himself; and they reflect the strongest light on the sub- ject we are now considering. For God is an unchangeable Being; as he has said: " I the Lord change not"." That there have been occ…
476 wordsSECTION 414450 Romans, Xl 28, 29. [1900.
informs us : " God willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it with an oath; that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us3. On thi…
473 wordsSECTION 4151901.1 Tiie Gospel A Deposit For The Jews. 451
Did we but bear in mind this mysterious truth, methinks it would be impossible for us to view a Jew and not weep over him, and pour out our souls in fervent intercession for him, and labour to the uttermost to effect his restoration to the Divine favour.] 3. Is there not also abundant encouragement for our exerti…
304 wordsSECTION 416452 Romans, Xi. 30, 31. [1901.
Rom. xi. 30, 31. As ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. ONE can scarcely conceive how such a chapter as that before us should be in the hands of Christians, and be …
544 wordsSECTION 4171901.1 The Gospel A Deposit For The Jews. 453
great a mystery did he consider it, that, in the contemplation of it, he exclaimed, " O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God ! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding outb!" But consider these four things : the long delay ; the partial bestowment ; the subsequent tr…
443 wordsSECTION 418454 Romans, Xi. 30, 31. [1901.
the operation of another principle, the principle of envy ; if by any means he might prevail upon them to turn unto him. And, doubtless, this was well calculated to impress their minds with penitential sorrow for their past sins, and with an ardent desire to be restored to his favour. They saw all that their most …
478 wordsSECTION 4191901.3 The Gospel A Deposit For The Jews. 455
for you : but, remember, you must not confine it to yourselves. You must make use of it for the instruction and salvation of the Jews. From you I withheld the light which I bestowed on the Jews : but I do not intend that the light which I am now bestowing upon you should be withheld from them : on the contrary, I …
462 wordsSECTION 420456 Romans, Xi. 33. [1902.
had never given us any charge respecting them ; or rather, as if his charge had been, " Into any city of the Jews enter ye not:" when, in fact, the command has never been repealed, " Preach my Gospel, to the Jetvs first, and also to the Gen- tiles." Indeed, my brethren, great guilt attaches to us on this account. …
336 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical edition (1832-33); scan/OCR from Internet Archive.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.