PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
Horae Homileticae — Volume 19 of 21
Simeon, Charles, 1759-1836 · 235,702 words · 486 reading sections
2267-1 '^"^ Efficacy Of The Gospel. 129
bowels of the saints were so greatly refreshedP?" And who does not admire the interest which the Apostle took in the welfare of a poor slave who had run away from his master ? Such, beloved, are the offices in which we should delight. None on earth are so low or abandoned, but they deserve notice from us, and shou…
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"of him it was exacted," says the prophet, "and he was made answerable"^:" and he " laid down his own life a ransom for you." To his continual intercession too are you indebted for all that peace which is maintained between God and your souls. Will you not then be thankful to him? or rather, shall there be any bou…
389 wordsSECTION 123132 Hebrews, I. S. [2268.
seen the Father^" But the Father is, in himself, invisible to mortal eyes*^; it is in Christ only that he is seen: on which account Christ is called " the image of the invisible God ^" And as all the glory of the sun is seen in the bright effulgence of its rays, so is all the glory of the Godhead seen in the face …
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2. The danger of those who are yet in unbelief — [In proportion to the dignity of this adorable Saviour must be the guilt of rejecting him. This is frequently insisted on in this epistle p. Let us lay it to heart. To neglect this Jesus is such a mixture of folly and ingratitude, of impiety and rebellion, as involv…
665 wordsSECTION 125136 Hebrews, I. 6. [2269.
Nor must it be forgotten, that to worship Christ is the highest act of obedience to the Father — [It is the Father who enjoins it in the text ; and that, not to men only, but to angels also : " He has committed all judgment to his Son for this very purpose, that all men may honour the Son even as they honour the F…
672 wordsSECTION 126136 Hebrews, I. 6. [2269.
1 Col. i. 1(J. '" 'Aca-«(/K(X((iw(7t(<T0at. Eph. 1. 10. 2269.] Christ's incarnation. 137 innocence. At all events, the restoration of their Lord to the honour of which man by transgression had deprived him, and their communion with man in the benefits conferred upon him, cannot fail of exciting in their breasts th…
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EXCELLENCY OF CHRIST's PERSON AND GOVERNMENT. Heb. i. 8. Unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, 0 God, is for ever and ever : a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. IN the Epistle to the Hebrews, the Apostle's main object is to shew, that the Jewish ritual was com- pletely fulfilled in Christ, and …
321 wordsSECTION 1282270.] Excellency Of Christ. 139
importing the proper Deity of the person to whom it is ad- dressed. But to this it may be observed, that though the word Elohim is applied to magistrates officially, as representatives of" the Deity, it is no where applied to any individual but to Jehovah himself; and that to apply it to any individual besides Jeh…
466 wordsSECTION 129140 Hebrews, I. 8. [2270.
shall the blood of another creature effect the greatest ?" But if Christ be God as well as man, then is the argument clear, and worthy of an inspired Apostle. In a word, if Christ be not God, he cannot be the Saviour revealed in the Old Testa- ment : for of him it is expressly said, " Look unto me, and be ye saved…
424 wordsSECTION 1302270.1 Excellency Of Christ. 141
able to obey them all more perfectly. The very tendency of every law is to make those happy who obey it : and were any man to obey the laws of Christ as perfectly as they do in heaven, he would already in his own soul possess a heaven upon earth. Let any one who is disposed to complain of the strictness of the Gos…
470 wordsSECTION 131142 Hebrews, I. 8. [2270.
the way tliey did, as a strong presumption, that the Scriptures were understood at that time in the very sense in which they cited them : for, had they not been so understood by the Jews of that day, the citation of them would have been nugatory : yea, worse than nugatory ; it would have been absurd in the highest…
640 wordsSECTION 132144 Hebrews, I. 10-12. [2271.
Christ's superiority to angels. Heb. i. 10 — 12. Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth ; aiid the heavens are the works of thine hands : they shall perish ; but thou remainest ; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment ; and as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be c…
795 wordsSECTION 133144 Hebrews, I. 10-12. [2271.
2. The sublime truths contained in it — [The Person here addressed has two attributes ascribed to him ; namely, omnipotence, as the Creator of the universe ; and immutahility, as being ever the same : and both of these belong to the Lord Jesus Christ ; for it was He who created all things, both in heaven and earth…
332 wordsSECTION 134146 Hebrews, I. 10—12. [2271.
his human nature, he is " Jehovah's Fellow," " God manifest in the flesh," " Emmanuel, God with us."] The whole scope of the Apostle's argument leads me, from speaking of the Majesty of Christ, to shew, in the next place, II. The excellency of the Gospel as revealed by him — Why, when the Law was committed to us…
677 wordsSECTION 135148 Hebrews, I. 14. [2272.
1. How worthy of acceptation is the Gospel of Christ ! [When we consider who it is that has proclaimed the Gospel to us, even " the true and faithful Witness," the Lord Jesus Christ, we cannot entertain a doubt either of its truth or excellency. Take all the promises and invitations ; take them in ail their freen…
367 wordsSECTION 1362272.] The Ministry Of Angels. 149
Heb. i. 14. Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation ? THE superiority of Christ to angels occupies the mind of the Apostle throughout this chapter. He has illustrated it already in a very convincing way. He has adduced many passages of Holy Writ which c…
505 wordsSECTION 137150 Hebrews, I. 14. [2272.
Egyptian first-born both of men and beasts ^ By the agency of one of those powerful spirits was the pestilence produced, to which, for the punishment of David's sin, seventy thousand Israelites fell victims™. It was by a sword wielded by a similar messenger from God, that one hundred and eighty-five thousand of t…
377 wordsSECTION 1382272.] The Ministry Of Angels. 151
before God in prayer ? an angel flies from the highest heavens to give him assured intelhgence of the ac- ceptance of his prayers". Under the New Testament dispensation also, we find them alike attentive to the welfare of God's peo- ple. Is the child Jesus in danger of being involved in the common ruin of the inf…
361 wordsSECTION 139152 Hebrews, I. 14. [2272.
They have still, as formerly, a great concern for the Gospel, desiring to get a deeper insight into it themselves S and longing for a diffusion of it through- out the world. As the first promulgation of it was to them an occasion of joy and triumph, insomuch that they left their bright abodes in heaven, and came …
392 wordsSECTION 1402272.1 The Ministry Of Angels. 153
fall from a rich man's table, and so destitute of friends that the very dogs surround him to lick his sores', they will perform the same office for him as freely as for the greatest monarch upon earth. Beyond this life too will they afford us their kind services : for, when our bodies, after having moul- dered in…
367 wordsSECTION 14115-1 Hebrews, I. 14. [2272.
estimation of the world equivalent to hypocrites and fanatics. Such, however, is not the opinion of the holy angels. When once we are brought into that family of which Christ is the head, they love us, they honour us, they serve us ; yea, they account it their highest honour to minister unto us. Let me then exhort…
469 wordsSECTION 1422272.] The Ministry Of Angels. 155
face of my Father ivJiich is in heaven^\" What is the meaning of this ? and what is the force of this menace ? The foregoing- subject will explain it. The meaning is this. The least and meanest of God's people have one or more angels peculiarly interested about them in heaven : and, when they see the injuries done…
495 wordsSECTION 143Greatness Of The Gospel Salvation.
according to your ability ; knowing that, " if ye are to do good unto all men, ye are especially to do it unto them that are of the household of faith >'." Do it then in every possible way^ And the more ye resemble the angels here, the more richly shall ye participate their felicity in a better world.] y Gal. vi.…
306 wordsSECTION 1442273.] Greatness Of The Gospel Salvation. 157
I. The greatness of the Gospel dispensation — To learn xohat the Gospel salvation is, we are re- ferred to the preaching of our blessed Lord and his Apostles — [Our blessed Lord did not systematically lay down the whole nature of the Gospel salvation ; but he opened it with a sufficient clearness, that those who …
450 wordsSECTION 145158 Hebrews, Ii. 3. [2273.
estimate it aright are altogether vain. What shall I say of the incarnation of God's only dear Son, and of his substitution in the place of sinners ? What shall I say of his obedience unto death ; and of his working out a righteousness, wherein every sinner in the universe, if only he believed in Jesus, might stan…
853 wordsSECTION 146Igo Hebrews, Ii. 3. [2273.
Address — 1. Those who have neglected this salvation — [I wish it to be particularly remembered, that whilst I address you, I do not lay to your charge any sin except that which is expressly specified in my text. I will grant, that, as far as any flagrant act of sin, you have been as innocent as you yourselves ca…
719 wordsSECTION 147162 Hebrews, Ii. 6—8. [2274.
Christ's superiority to angels. Heb. ii. 6 — 8. One in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him ? or the son of man, that thou visitest him ? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels ; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the zvorks of thy hands…
764 wordsSECTION 148162 Hebrews, Ii. 6—8. [2274.
If any thing further were wanted to shew that the testimony is here properly adduced, we might observe, that our blessed Lord himself quotes the very words before the text as appli- cable to himself, and as being generally understood to refer to the Messiah^. ^ Having ascertained the meaning of the testimony, let…
279 wordsSECTION 149164 Hebrews, Ii. 6—8. [2274.
to themK They are the fellow-servants of the saints ''j united with them as part of the Church over which Christ presides', and appointed to minister unto them in the capacity of ser- vants™. However venerable therefore they are in themselves, and whatever honour God put upon them in the giving of the law, they ar…
657 wordsSECTION 150166 Hebrews, Ii. 10. [2275.
Surely this subject is full, 1. Of consolation to the godly — [You are weak; and your enemies are mighty: but is this any ground for despondency. If an angel had been set at the head of the Church, you might well be afraid"^; but under the care of Jesus you have nothing to fear. Think with yourselves, is not the …
453 wordsSECTION 1512275.] Sufferings Of The Messiah Necessary. 167
Heb. ii. 10. It became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferi7igs. THE Jews expected, that, at the coming of their Messiah, "all things should be subjected to him." But what kind of a dominion his sh…
533 wordsSECTION 152168 Hebrews, Ii. 10. [2275.
and rather than such a stain should be brought on his moral government, he would exact of his only dear Son the debt that was due from us, and inflict on him the curse which our sins had merited. In this way the authority of his law would be fully vindicated, at the time that the transgressors of it were forgiven …
465 wordsSECTION 1532275.J Sufferings Of The Messiah Necessary. 169
4. For the enabling of his Son to execute every part of his mediatorial office — [There are parts of that office which he could not execute without suffering. As he could not atone for sin without suffering, so neither could he yield obedience to all that the law required of us without suffering. Patience and resi…
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[He has " predestinated his people to be conformed to the image of his Son« :" and this conformity must be in holiness, in sufferings, and in glory. Our blessed Lord has told us, that we must " take up our cross daily, and follow him :" that " the servant cannot expect to be above his Lord :" and that " we must su…
838 wordsSECTION 155172 Hebrews, Ii. 14, 15. [2276.
of his law, must be kept inviolate: in a word, a sentence of death was gone forth against sinners ; and it must be inflicted on them, or on a surety in their stead. Hence, if Jesus would ever bring us back to God, "he must suffer, the just in the place of us the unjust \" If he would redeem our souls, he must " gi…
700 wordsSECTION 156174 Hebrews, Ii. 14, 15. [227G.
1. In the destruction of Satan's empire — [Satan, that " murderer," had introduced sin and death into the world : and by his continual agency he is carrying forward the work of death amongst the sinners of mankind ; and exulting in the multitudes which are daily subjected to his tyrannic sway. But Jesus, we are as…
685 wordsSECTION 157174 Hebrews, Ii. 14, 15. [227G.
P Col. ii. 14, 15. 12 Pet. iii. 12. r 1 Cor. iii. 22. ^ 2 Tim. ii. 26. 2276.] THE ENDS OF CHRIST's INCARNATION. 175 the air, who worketh in all the children of disobedience ?" Do but reflect on the account which you must hereafter give, and on the self-condemnation which you will feel in the day of judgment, when…
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Christ's power to succour the tempted. Heb. ii. 18. In that he himself hath suffered, being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. THERE was in various respects a necessity for Christ's humiliation : on our part, that, an atonement being offered for us, we might find favour with God : on God's part…
310 wordsSECTION 1592277. J Christ Succours The Tempted. 177
put the bitter cup into liis hands, who laid the tremendous load of our iniquities upon him, and " bruised him," that the fragrance of his offering might ascend up as incense with acceptance before him^] But, notwithstanding these sufferings of his, our text assures us of, II. His ability to succour his tempted p…
383 wordsSECTION 160178 Hebrews, Ii. 18. [2277.
but, as man and mediator, he learned much from his own experience. By his own temptations, 1. He learned our need of succour — [He himself, under his own grievous sufferings, " prayed to God with strong crying and tears, and was heard," and strengthened from above ^. Hence then he knows how much we must need assi…
425 wordsSECTION 161Names And Offices Of Christ.
for this end he still on many occasions " transforms himself into an angel of light." But however severe your outward or inward trials may be, you have the comfort to reflect, that Christ endured the same before you, and is able to afford you effectual succour. Think not then your difficulties peculiar, or insurmo…
333 wordsSECTION 162180 Hebrews, Iii. 1. [2278.
The first thing that calls for our attention is the denci'iption which he gives of all true Christians — [Wishing to persuade, he strove by tenderness to conci- liate their esteem: he calls them brethren; which they are, both by relation^ and affection^. They are "holy;" set apart for the service and enjoyment of …
453 wordsSECTION 1632278.] Names And Offices Of Christ. 181
Having spoken what was necessary to unfold the meaning of the exhortation, we proceed to, II. Enforce it — To those who answer the foregoing character we address the exhortation — 1. Consider the object set before you — His names — [As " Jesus," Divine Saviour, he is able to save to the uttermost : As " Christ,…
365 wordsSECTION 164Is2 Hebrews, Iii. 5, 6. [2279.
delight in it — with gratitude, that you may display its influ- ence in your hearts] "■ This subject may be reduced to more of unity and simplicity, thus : — Mark, I. What offices the Lord Jesus Christ sustains for us — Every religion has its apostles, who propagate it, and its priests, who perfoi'm its rites. Of…
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Christ's superiority to moses. Heb. iii. 5, 6. Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which tvere to be spoken after; hut Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. IN or…
508 wordsSECTION 166184 Hebrews, Iii. 5, 6. [2279.
Much he had to try him, and to shake his fidelity : but lie was immoveable. Nothing could for a moment divert him from his duty, or cause him to relax his efforts in his Master's cause. And in this fidelity he stood alone. Aaron and Miriam both turned aside from the path of duty; yea, both confede- rated even agai…
708 wordsSECTION 167186 Hebrews, Iii. 5, 6. [2279.
Improvement — 1. Let us put ourselves under his direction — [Christ is the great Head and Lord of all. From him we must receive directions, as he did from his Father, and as Moses did also. Nothing is to be done by us but according to his word ; nothing to be done which he has forbidden ; nothing to be omitted wh…
668 wordsSECTION 168Against Departing From God.
n Phil. i. 20. ° Heb. xi. 5. p Rom. iv. 16. ') Josh, xxiii. 14. "■ Rom. iv. 18, 20. tribulations be great, let them not for a moment obstruct your rejoicing in him ; but " maintain your glorying firm unto the end." See the utmost desires of a bleeding soul all concen- trated in one short prayer; and, for the accom…
377 wordsSECTION 169188 Hebrews, Iii. 12—14. [2280.
easy to depart from him. We should therefore be on our guard, 1. Against any departure from him — [While men are yielding to temptation, and turning aside from the ways of God, they cherish a hope that they may still preserve their interest in his favour, though they be not studious to do his will. But a departur…
419 wordsSECTION 170S^So."] Against Departing From God. 189
To guard effectually against it we should watch over each other — [Sin, from the foregoing qualities, naturally hides itself from our view, and renders us inattentive to the means of prevention. But ignorant as we often are of our own spirit, we see clearly enough the defects of others ; yea, perhaps we condemn w…
440 wordsSECTION 171190 Hebrews, Iii. 1^—14. [2280.
unbelief," and " lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."] If any thing can stimulate us to caution, surely this must — [Eternity is at stake, and depends on our present con- duct : according as we approve ourselves to the heart-searching God, will our state be fixed for ever. Is it not madn…
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2. Those who are conllicthig with their spiritual enemies — [Much has already been spoken to you both in a way of caution and direction : we beg leave to add a word of encouragement. The thing against which you are chiefly guarded, is unbelief; because that is the true source of all apostasy. We now would say, Be…
304 wordsSECTION 173192 Hebrews, Iv. 1. [2281.
[A soul ignorant of Christ, can have no rest ; but " by believing in Christ it has peace with God :" this is that rest which our Saviour promises to troubled souls '^.J 2. k future rest in heaven — [The rest of the soul is never perfect in this life : tribu- lations are the way through which we are all to pass ; b…
403 wordsSECTION 1742281.1 Typical Meaning Of Canaan. U)3
this world ; nor will they experience any thing but tribulation to all eternity^: there will be an impassable gulf between them and heaven. What fear and caution should this thought excite !] We should fear lest we even " seem" to come short ofit— [To be in suspense about our eternal state is dreadful: God's hon…
359 wordsSECTION 175Mmcclxxxii.
THE REASON WHY MEN ARE SO LITTLE PROFITED BY THE GOSPEL. Heb. iv. 2. Unto us was the Gospel preached, as well as unto them : but the word preached did. not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. IN these words there is a pecuharity of expression, which, till it is explained, seems almost u…
344 wordsSECTION 1762282.1 Why Men Profit Little By The Gospel. 195
of their unbelief, so shall ze^e, if we mix not faith with the truths we hear. Now this view of the Apostle's words limits the term " Gospel " to that which alone is mentioned in the context, the promised rest. Hence, to compare the Gospel, as revealed to the Jews by Moses and the Prophets, with that which is rev…
396 wordsSECTION 177196 Hebrews, Iv. 2. [2282.
Now all this was to the Jews " a shadow of good things to come :" it marked the ways and means of our redemption ; the nature of that life of faith which we are to live, and the happy termination of our labours. And, that it was so under- stood by the more spiritual among them, is evident, as from many other passa…
486 wordsSECTION 1782282.] Why Men Profit Little By The Gospel. 197
arrive in the pi'omised land shall we cease to need these sup- plies, which are to be brought to us by the exercise of a lively faith. There is no substitute for them : the life of the Israelites in the wilderness is a perfect pattern of our life ; and to theirs we are taught to conform our own. To " the rest whic…
399 wordsSECTION 179198 Hebrews, Iv. 2. [2282.
pressing upon their rear, and ready, as they thought, to over- whelm them^. When they had passed through the sea on dry ground, and seen tlieir enemies, who presumed to follow them, dead upon the sea shore, they were still as unbelieving as ever, and regretted that they had ever been induced to leave the land of E…
473 wordsSECTION 1802282.1 ^"^ ^^^ Profit Little By The Gospel. 199
direction, and never to follow my own way ? Why am I to have nothing in myself, but all in Christ ? Why should I be necessitated to seek such a measure of sanctification, as not to entertain a " thought that is not brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ?" We choose to have greater liberty, and an easier…
492 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical edition (1833); scan/OCR from Internet Archive.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.