PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
Horae Homileticae — Volume 17 of 21
Simeon, Charles, 1759-1836 · 215,167 words · 500 reading sections
Against Self-Deceit.
Gal. vi. 3 — 5. If a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let every man prove his oivn work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden. SELF-KNOWLEDGE is at the root of all true religion. Without that, …
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them. They never once suspect, that to " walk according to the course of this world is to walk according to the prince of the power of the air," or that " the broad road is that which leadeth to destruction." They have satisfied others; and therefore they have satisfied themselves. But some take a far higher stand…
463 wordsSECTION 243248 Galatians, Vi. 3—5. [2088.
false teachers at Corinth ; " They measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wiseV For what have they to do with others ? It is not by any comparative goodness that their character will be esti- mated. Whether they be better or worse than others, they are in God's sight…
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our eyes to see things as they really are, and give us hearts to judge righteous judgment.] But for this evil there is in our text, II. A remedy prescribed — God has given to us an unerring standard of right and wrong — [In the Holy Scriptures, he has revealed to us his mind and will, and shewn us what is that s…
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By this standard then we should try ourselves — [It is of use to all persons, and under all circumstances. From the king on the throne to the beggar on the dunghill, all may find it suitable to their condition. To it therefore we should refer the whole of our conduct, and by it " every one should prove his own wor…
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is on the whole upright before God, he "has his rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another." He lives not on the testimony of his fellow-creatures: his comfort is independent either of their censure or applause. He rejoices in the testi- mony of his own conscience, as the Apostle Paul did c. He " has the witne…
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their actions to any inferior standard, delude their own souls, and " treasure up wrath against the day of wrath," the careful Christian attains a just knowledge of his own state, and accu- mulates " a weight of glory," which " the Lord, the righteous Judge," shall confer upon him in exact proportion to the servic…
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[Some there are, who, when they see how far they have departed from God, are ready to imagine, that they have sinned beyond the reach of mercy, and that, with respect to them, Christ has died in vain. But no man is warranted to say, that his state is desperate ; nor ought any man to come to such a conclusion after…
514 wordsSECTION 249Mmlxxxix.
faith alone : but by your works will you be judged : and the measure of your works will be the certain measure of your reward.] THE GROUND OF GOD's FINAL DECISION. Gal. vi. 7, 8. Be not deceived ; God is not mocked: for ivhat- soever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of …
653 wordsSECTION 250256 Galatians, Vi. 7, 8. [2089.
c Matt. vii. 13, 14. d Phil. iv. 13. Some " sow to the flesh" — [To sow to the flesh, is to seek in the first place our carnal ease and interests. This we may do notwithstanding we are free from gross sins. Every one comes under this description who " sets his affections on things below."] They whose life is so o…
370 wordsSECTION 251Steadfastness In Duties.
advice or ridicule of the ignorant and supine. Shall we then be discouraged, whose seed-time is so precarious, and whose harvest is so important? Let all go forward, "sowing in tears that they may reap in joy."] Gal. vi. 9. Let us not be weary in well-doing : for in due season we shall reap, if ive faint not. THE…
324 wordsSECTION 252258 Galatians, Vi. 9. [2090.
[Excess of trouble may, for a time, distract and over- whelm the soul. Our Lord himself seems to have experienced somewhat of thisd. Our prayers, perhaps, are never more acceptable, than when they are offered in broken accents, in sighs, and groans e.] But we have reason to apprehend that we are weary in well-doi…
325 wordsSECTION 2532091.] The Cross Of Christ. 259
If we persevere in our exertions, we shall reap the fruit of our labour — [There will be a harvest to all who labour in God's field. It may not come so soon as we would desire ; but it shall come, as the earthly harvests, " in due season." We must, how- ever, wait God's appointed time. If we faint, we shall lose a…
300 wordsSECTION 254260 Galatians, Vi. 14. [2091.
Gal. vi. 14. God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. THE Christian, in whatever he does, is charac- terized by singleness of eye and simplicity of mind. s2 All others, even when they appear most zealous for God, hav…
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stumbling-block, and to the Greeks foolishness/' yet he would " know nothing elsea," and " glory in nothing else." He gloried in it, 1. As displaying such wonders of love and mercy to the world at large — [Here was a plan of salvation suited to, and sufficient for, the necessities of the whole world. All were inv…
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doubted of his own salvation, than he did of his existence : and the blessing which was thus imparted to him, he had been the means of imparting unto others, even to hundreds and thousands of the Gentile world. Could he then be insensible of the value of that which had filled his own soul with such j)eace and joy,…
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for the few remaining hours that he had to live, they would have been of no value whatever in his eyes. Now thus the Apostle looked upon the world and every thing in it. There was nothing in it that he desired : " the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life," were all lighter than vanity, in …
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influence. By this then, you, my brethren, may judge whether you be Christians in deed and in truth, or whether ye be such in name only. A nominal Christian is contented with approv- ing of the way of salvation by a crucified Redeemer : the true Christian loves it, delights in it, glories in it, and shudders at th…
394 wordsSECTION 259Thanks To God For His Sovereign Grace And Mercy.
Eph. i. 3 — 12. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ : according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love : having pre- destinated us u…
282 wordsSECTION 260266 Ephesians, 1. 3—12. [2092.
the humility and modesty that become us. It is undeniable that the Apostles mention occasionally, and without the smallest appearance of hesitation, the doctrines of predestination and election : and therefore we are bound to explore the meaning of the inspired writers in reference to these passages, as well as t…
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These spiritual blessings are given to us " in Christ"— [All of them without exception are the purchase of his blood, the fruit of his intercession, and the gifts of his grace. They are all treasured up in him ; and when He is given to us, they are made over to us, as the ore in the mine. They were all given to H…
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2. In a way of holiness — [One ground on which many object to the doctrines of election and predestination is, that these doctrines are hostile to the interests of morality. But for such an objection there is no real foundation. On the contrary, they are the greatest security of a life of holiness, seeing that the…
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Let this be duly considered, and it will remove the greatest obstruction in our minds to the reception of these deep mys- terious truths. When once we see, that they secure infallibly the attainment of holiness in the way to glory, and that no man is entitled to think himself one of God's elect, any farther than t…
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Address — 1. Those who are not able to receive these myste- rious truths — [We are far from thinking that the doctrines of election and predestination are of primary and fundamental importance. We well know that many eminently pious persons have not been able to receive them : and we have no doubt but that a per…
467 wordsSECTION 265The Wisdom Of God In Redemption.
hope for : and get your hearts more in unison with that of the Apostle, when he burst forth into that song of praise, " Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ ! " Then shall you find that these truths, which are a stumbling-block to many, …
359 wordsSECTION 2662093.] The Wisdom Of God In Redemption. 273
great day." The difference between them and us is this : they are actually suffering the punishment of their sins ; we are respited for a season : they are irremediably doomed to per- dition ; for us a remedy is provided, so that we may yet have redemption and forgiveness, if we seek it in God's appointed way. La…
402 wordsSECTION 267274 Ephesians, I. 7, 8. [2093.
predestinated to it by the sovereign and unmerited grace of God From first to last it is all of grace; and designed of God to exhibit to the whole universe, through all ages, " the exceeding riches of his graceV Let any one compare the state of the fallen angels in the lake of fire, and of the redeemed saints that…
427 wordsSECTION 268The Sealing Of The Spirit.
shew how harmoniously every grace may be exercised by you ; and how perfectly all the attributes of the Deity, as far as they can be communicated to so frail a creature, may be transferred to, and illustrated by, his redeemed people ] Eph. i. 13, 14. In whom also after that ye believed, ye tvere sealed with that H…
344 wordsSECTION 269216 Ephesians, I. 13, 14. [2094.
to it ; but there shall always be some in the Church who pos- sess and enjoy it.] We are also informed respecting, II. The manner in which it is effected — The agent is none other than the Holy Ghost — [It is not in man's power to sanctify his own soul : nor can any one assure himself that he is the Lord's. To im…
602 wordsSECTION 270278 Ephesians, I. 15—20. [2095.
Eph. i. 15 — 20. Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers ; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory , may give unto you the Spirit of ivisdom and revelation in the knowledg…
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If then we need the Spirit as much as they did of old, we may expect it as well as they.] 2. The promises relating to the communications of the Spirit, are made to us, as much as to any per- sons whatever — [Those of the Old Testament extend to the Church in every age. Shall we confine to the apostolic age such d…
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of his belly shall flow rivers of living water : This spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive*1." " I will send you another Comforter, who shall abide ivith you for ever1." Hear what his Apostles also say : " Believe on Christ for the remission of your sins ; and ye shall receive the …
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3. Of the work he has wrought in us — [We are apt to undervalue the work that is already wrought in us, because so much remains to be done. But when God shines upon his own work, we entertain very dif- ferent thoughts respecting it. It is no light matter then in our eyes to have been quickened from the dead, and "…
509 wordsSECTION 274Christ The Head Of The Church.
Eph. i. 20 — 23. He raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all prin- cipality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come : and hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to…
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which he is elevated, which we propose for your present consideration. This includes, 1 . A state of dignity — ["The right hand of God" is a metaphorical expression for the place of the highest dignity and glory in the heavenly world. There Jesus sits, exalted " far above all " creatures in earth, in hell, or in …
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he " laughs them to scorn, and has them in derision." He suffers them to accomplish their own will, as far as it may subserve his purposes ; and " the remainder of their wrath he restrains." Full of pride and blasphemy, they boast what great things they will do : but " he puts his hook in their nose, and his bridl…
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did not first " receive out of his fulnessf:" so true is it, in the strongest sense of the words, that " he filleth all in all." Thus is Christ, in his present exalted state, the living, and life-giving Head of all his Church, his Church militant, and his Church triumphant.] 2. The Head over all things for his Chu…
427 wordsSECTION 278Original Sin Stated, And Improved.
[The principal subject of the Apostle's prayer is, that we may know what mighty power God exercises towards his believing people. The exaltation of Christ is introduced by him quite incidentally, and merely for the purpose of illus- trating his main point. But, having introduced the subject, he draws a parallel be…
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I. Explain the terms here used — We may notice them, 1. Separately — [As in the preceding verse the words " children of dis- obedience " mean " disobedient children," so, in our text, " children of wrath " must be understood as importing " children doomed to wrath :" just as a similar expression of St. Peter is …
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Having endeavoured to ascertain the precise import of the words, we proceed to, II. Establish the truth contained in them — In proof of what our text asserts, we appeal, 1. To Scripture — [Consult the declarations of Almighty God. In the Old Testament he has testified, that every human being, without exception, …
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And, as they inherit the corruption of Adam, so do they also his guilt and punishment. Death, we know, was the penalty of Adam's transgression ; "In the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die." But children who have never sinned in their own persons, are subjected to death : we see little new-born inf…
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to appear, it would be universally esteemed a miracle. The truth is, that they who are so strenuous for this opinion, have invariably but very low notions of original sin. It is their low sense of their disease that leads them to rest in such a remedy. But, as " the fault and corruption of their nature is such as …
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Let those also who have the care of children1 endeavour to get their own minds impressed with the thought, that their office is not so much to convey instruction in worldly know- ledge, as to lead the souls of the children to Christ, that they may be partakers of his salvation : and let them engage in their work w…
301 wordsSECTION 284The Riches Of Divine Grace Displayed.
Eph. ii. 4 — 7. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus : that in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches o…
346 wordsSECTION 2852098.] Riches Of Divine Grace Displayed. 295
impulse of compassion towards himf. Hence was it that the Son of God was sent into the world g: hence also were so many offers of mercy made to man; and to this alone is it owing that so much as one has ever found acceptance with God.] But, to judge how great the love was wherewith he loved us, we must trace it, …
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Hannah"! — How has he thus discovered " the exceeding riches of his grace ! "] How worthy of God such a stupendous display of grace is, we shall see if we consider it, III. In its end — God is not only the author, but also the end of all things0; nor would it become him to do any thing but with a view to his own…
315 wordsSECTION 287Salvation By Grace Not Hostile To Good Works.
i-/ Eph. ii. 8 — 10. By grace are ye saved through faith ; and that not of yourselves : it is the gift of God : not of ivorks, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should ivalk in them. ALL God's works, of whatever k…
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the written word : who will arrogate to himself the honour of haying acquired these, or of having contributed to the acqui- sition of them in the smallest degree? It may be thought perhaps, that, because an interest in these things is obtained by faith, we may claim some honour on account of the faith which appreh…
499 wordsSECTION 2892099.] Accordance Of Grace And Works. 299
ourselves, does not faith afford us the same ground of glorying?' I answer, No : for it is of the very nature of faith to renounce all hope in ourselves, and to found our hopes solely on the merits of another : it disclaims all glorying in self, and gives all the glory to Him from whom it derives its blessings. In …
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most fatal delusion. The means and the end are indissolubly connected in the councils of heavenh : and to hope that they shall ever be separated, is to deceive and ruin our own souls. If we are not careful to maintain good works, we entirely counteract all the purposes of God in his Gospel, and cut our- selves off…
474 wordsSECTION 2912099.1 Accordance Of Grace And Works. 301
hence they fulfil their destinies without the smallest inter- mission ; whilst we, alas ! deviate from the path assigned us in instances without number. Still however, in the event, the purposes of God arc at last accomplished, as with them, so with us also : and, notwithstanding, in the estimation of a self-right…
466 wordsSECTION 292Contrasted.
[Be it so ; you are not to be saved by good works : but is there no other motive that you can find for the performance of them ? Do you feel no obligation to Him who sent his only- begotten Son into the world, that you might live through him? When you know that God has " ordained that you should walk in the daily …
397 wordsSECTION 2932100.] Privileges Of The Regenerate. 303
amazed at the Divine goodness, and be quickened to pour out his soul in grateful adorations. To produce this frame, is the scope of the whole preceding part of this epistle, wherein the Apostle extols and mag- nifies the grace of God, as manifested to his re- deemed people. Having shewn what their state had been …
336 wordsSECTION 294304 Ephesians, Ii. 12, 13. [2100.
they, and they only, acknowledge Christ as their governor : they alone yield obedience to his laws, and they alone enjoy the privileges of his people. Now as the Gentiles were " aliens" from the commonwealth of the Jews, so are all uncon- verted men " aliens" from the commonwealth of the converted. They are govern…
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But that all do not continue in that deplorable condition, will appear by considering, II. The state to which they are introduced by the Gospel — Every living man once was in the state above described ; but in conversion, men " who were some- times afar off, are made nigh to God" — [In what the nearness of conve…
629 wordsSECTION 2962101.] Access To God By The Priesthood. 307
humbly, and laboured for it diligently. Have you then this evidence at least that it has been accomplished ? If not, you can have no reason to think that you have ever yet experienced the change, which characterizes all who are made heirs of salvation.] 2. As a ground of humiliation — [If you were the most eminen…
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Eph. ii. 18. Through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. AS there is no question more important, so there is none more beyond the reach of unassisted reason, than that which Balak put to Balaam, " Wherewith shall I come before the Most High God?" Many are the expedients which have been devised …
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intercession. Without the blood of Christ offered in sacrifice for us, no man could ever have found acceptance with God. Nor would that have availed, if he had not also gone within the vail to be " our advocate with the Father, as well as the propitiation for our sins." Even if we had been pardoned in consideratio…
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II. The excellency of this way — Waving many things whereby this topic might be illustrated, we shall content ourselves with observing, that this way of access to God, 1. Gives us a wonderful discovery of God him- self— [What an astonishing view does this give us of the Divine nature ! Here we see manifestly the…
439 wordsSECTION 3002101.] Access To God By The Priesthood. 311
us ? Must the Son atone and intercede for ns ? Must the Holy Ghost descend and dwell in our hearts? Can none of us be saved in any other way than this ? How deep then must have been our fall; how desperate our condition! And how inconceivably dreadful must our state be, if we neglect so great salvation ! On the o…
436 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical edition (1832-33); scan/OCR from Internet Archive.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.