PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
Horae Homileticae — Volume 19 of 21
Simeon, Charles, 1759-1836 · 235,702 words · 486 reading sections
270 Hebrews, Vii. 19. [2297.
because we are not under the law, but under grace :" on the contrary, we shall be made "new creatures," and " be renewed after the image of God in righteousness and true holiness." This is " that thing which the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh ; and which God, sending his own Son, in the li…
428 wordsSECTION 2422297.1 Superiority Of Christian Dispensation. 271
nigh to Him." On those occasions, " he manifests himself unto us as he does not unto the world :" he " lifts up the light of his countenance upon us," and " sheds abroad his love in our hearts." Hence the Christian accounts prayer not so much a duty as a privilege: he says with the beloved Apostle, " Truly our fel…
433 wordsSECTION 243Mmccxcviii.
Christ's priesthood, and ability to save. Heb. vii. 25. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. THE Mosaic economy was never intended to be either universal or perpetual ; not universal, because many of the principal r…
689 wordsSECTION 244274 Hebrews, Vii. 25. [2298.
1. What is taken for granted — ^ 2 Cor. xiii. 4. ^ Rom. vi. 9. '^ Here a distinct view may be taken of the pleas founded upon his sacrifice, as having been appointed of the Father for certain ends, and offered by the Son in the full confidence of its being accepted of the Father, and of its prevailing for all who …
732 wordsSECTION 245274 Hebrews, Vii. 25. [2298.
This subject, duly apprehended, is replete, 1. With instruction — [If Christians were more in the habit of considering the Jewish law, they would gain a far clearer insight into the nature and principles of their own religion. Ask a Christian, How he is to be saved ? and he will give you some vague and in- distin…
291 wordsSECTION 246276 Hebrews, Vii. 26. [2299.
transacted it here on earth. From heaven he came to ofier a sacrifice for us ; and to heaven is he gone again, to plead that sacrifice in our behalf. Christians do not sufficiently think of a living Saviour : they dwell with pleasure on the thoughts of his death, but scarcely advert to the life which he is now spe…
302 wordsSECTION 2472299.] Christ, A Suitable High-Priest. 277
Heb. vii. 26. Such an High-priest became us, ivho is holy, harmless, undejiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens. WITHOUT the Epistle to the Hebrews, we could never have understood the true scope of the Levitical law, much less its full accomphshment in the Lord Jesus Christ ; we could neve…
477 wordsSECTION 248278 Hebrews, Vii. 26. [2299.
God*^ : and he died also as a victim, an expiation for sin, even for the sins of the whole world '^.] He was " higher than the heavens" — [He was so previous to his incarnation. From all eternity was he " in the bosom of the Father ^," and " had a glory with him before all worlds*^." He was in a sense that the hig…
412 wordsSECTION 2492299.] Christ, A Suitable High-Priest. 279
Having not the slightest imperfection of his oivn to atone for, he could atone for us, and intercede with God for us.] 2. He would have had nothing that he could offer for us — [He could not offer slain beasts, because he did not belong to the tx'ibe to which this office was exclusively assigned. From the tribe o…
426 wordsSECTION 250280 Hebrews, Vii. 26. [2299.
would not have been capable of fulfilling that high office : but, possessing all these requisites, he is accepted of the Father, and is " able to save to the uttermost all who come unto God by him*."] Improvement" — Learn, then, from hence, 1. What is the only means of acceptance with our God — [Is there " a gr…
438 wordsSECTION 251Christ The Mediator Of The New Covenant.
who is altogether suited to you, and sufficient for you. Re- joice in this; and know your privilege : and, " having such an High-priest over the house of God," avail yourselves of the opportunity afforded you, " drawing nigh to him with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having your hearts sprinkled from an…
347 wordsSECTION 252282 Hebrews, Viii. 6. [2300.
But whence arose this extreme need of accuracy ? The whole plan of salvation was laid in the divine mind ; and the tabernacle and temple, with their vessels and their services, were intended to shadow it forth : and the smallest deviation from the model would have led to mistaken apprehensions about the way to li…
358 wordsSECTION 2532300.] Christ, Mediator Of The New Covenant. 283
Neither is it the Abrahamic covenant with which the Chris- tian covenant is compared ; for they are, in fact, the same covenant, and differ only in the measure of light with which they are revealed. Nothing that is subsequent to the Abra- hamic covenant has ever disannulled it*^: and consequently, inasmuch as it n…
457 wordsSECTION 254284 Hebrews, Viii. 6. [2300.
to sins of greater enormity, as adultery and murder. But the Christian covenant purges away all sense of guilt from the conscience, and brings into the soul a peace that passeth all understanding : it extends to every sin that man can commit ; and assui-es the believer, that he shall in due time possess all the gl…
436 wordsSECTION 2552300.1 Christ, Mediator Of The New Covenant. 285
To set forth this is the chief scope and aim of the Apostle in the whole context. And, to illustrate his subject, he points out, 1. The superior dignity of his person — [Christ is the true Melchizcdec, the " King of righteous- ness and peace," without father (as it respected his human nature), without mother (as …
452 wordsSECTION 256286 Hebrews, Viii. 6. [2300.
limited period, but spiritual and eternal blessings, even all^ that man can need, or God bestow ; not coming forth, himself a sinner, delegated to pronounce a blessing, but " appearing without sin to confer by his own authority everlasting salva- tion" on all his believing peopled Such are the views which the Apos…
436 wordsSECTION 2572300.1 Christ, Mediator Of The New Covenant. 287
2. The danger of neglecting it — [The generality of Christians do lamentably neglect their duty in relation to our great High-priest. Instead of relying on that " better covenant," of which he is " the Mediator," they make covenants of their own precisely similar to the Mosaic covenant, which for its unprofitablen…
456 wordsSECTION 258Christ Above The Levitical Priests.
Heb. ix. 11, 12. Christ being come an High-priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building ; neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption f…
325 wordsSECTION 2592301.] Christ Above The Levitu'Al I'Riests, 289
officiating as our great High-priest°, and, in that nature, he both comes from God to us, and goes to God from us.] 2. Their mediation was to be carried on by means of sacrifices — [The precise method in which they were to execute their office is recorded in the 16th of Leviticus : nor could they deviate from it …
389 wordsSECTION 260290 Hebrews, Ix. 11, 12. [2301.
officiated, was his own body, while he continued upon earth ; and the heaven of heavens, when he ascended within the vail''. How infinitely does this exalt him above all the Aaronic priests! We allow that the tabernacle was glorious : but what glory had it, when compared with Christ's immaculate body, in which, no…
476 wordsSECTION 261^301.] Christ Above The Levitical Priests. 291
Well then may he be called " an High-priest of good things ;" foi* there is nothing good in time or eternity, which he does not procure for those who seek an interest in his mediation.] This subject may serve to shew us, 1. What use to make of the Levitical law — [If we read it merely as a system of rites and cere…
494 wordsSECTION 262Mmcccii.
THE JEWISH SACRIFICES TYPICAL OF CHRISt's. Heb. ix. 13, 14. If the blood of bulls atid of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the 2mrifying of the flesh : hoio much more shall the blood of Christ, loho through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your c…
651 wordsSECTION 263294 Hebrews, Ix. 13, 14. [2302.
1. It purifies the conscience — [The legal offerings never could remove guilt from the conscience'^: they were mere remembrances of sins^; and the b Numb. xix. 12. " 'AvWri^Troc. 1 Pet. iii. 21. ^ Heb. ix. 9. « Heb. x. 3, 4. constant repetition of tliem shewed that those, which had been before offered, had not av…
688 wordsSECTION 264296 Hebrews, Ix. 1^, 14. [2302.
3. The suitableness of each to the end proposed — [What was there in the blood of bulls and goats that could wash away the stain of sin ! How could that satisfy the Divine justice, or avert his wrath from sinful man ? there was not the least affinity between the means and the end. But Christ was " bone of our bone…
687 wordsSECTION 265No Remission Without Blood.
' Numb. xix. Heb. ix. 22. Without shedditig of blood is no remission. THE external administration of religion has been extremely different in different ages of the world : but the method of acceptance with God has been invariably the same. Before the Mosaic ritual was formed, pardon was dispensed through the bloo…
310 wordsSECTION 266298 Hebrews, Ix. 22. [2303.
others by water: but these were for ceremonial only, and never for moral defilement. Thus the law, with the one exception above mentioned, spake exactly the language of the text.] The same way of salvation still obtains under the Gospel — [The typical sacrifices are indeed superseded by the one sacrifice of Chri…
397 wordsSECTION 2672303.1 No Remission Without Blood. 299
iniquity, make an end of sin, and bring in an everlasting right- eousness^:" yea, he was prophesied of as " a fountain that should be opened for sin and for uncleanness^:" and John, who was more than a prophet, pointed him out as that very Lamb of God, that should take away the sins of the worlds. Now what can be …
408 wordsSECTION 268300 Hebrews, Ix. 22. [2303.
lis then view sin in this light, and we shall no more account it a small and venial evil,] 2. The folly of self-righteousness — [Self-righteousness consists in substituting something of our own in the place of the atonement, or in blending some- thing of our own with it. In either case we utterly make void the de…
450 wordsSECTION 269Use Of Typical Purifications.
angels, he accepted the hard conditions, left the bosom of his Father, put himself in our place, and submitted to endure the penalty due to sin. O what transcendent love! how incon- ceivable its heights, how unsearchable its depths ^l Let our minds dwell upon it continually ; that our hearts being warmed with this…
360 wordsSECTION 270302 Hebrews, Ix. 23. [2304.
covenant, it is well known, was ratified with a sacri- fice ; and the victim must die, before the covenant could be complete. It is equally clear, that a testament is of force only when the testator is dead : so that, in both cases, death must ensue, before the instrument can be valid : in the one case, the death …
401 wordsSECTION 2712304.1 Use Of Typical Purifications. 30,1
cerning all these words ^" To this account the Apostle adds, that the blood was mixed with water ; and that, by means of scarlet wool and hyssop, he sprinkled with it the book, and all the people^. His sprinkling of the book is easily accounted foi", by supposing it to have been laid upon the altar : and his sprin…
470 wordsSECTION 272304 Hebrews, Ix. 23. [2304.
to them the mercy jvhich he had in reserve for them ; and, lastly. He confirmed their expectation of that mercy in his appointed time. What could a sinner think, when he understood that the very altar of God itself, yea, and the most holy place, the immediate residence of the Deity, needed to be purified with blo…
410 wordsSECTION 2732304.] Use Of Typical Purifications. 805
Our services also must, of necessity, partake of all this defilement: for " who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?" Verily, as our common actions in life need puri- fication ; so do our very tears need to be washed, and our repentances to be repented of. But of " the heavenly things" spoken of in my text, …
490 wordsSECTION 274306 Hebrews, Ix. 23. [2304.
by the blood of beasts, so do the things typified need to be purged by the blood of our incarnate God.] Let us, then^ learn from these things, 1. The need we all have of the covenant of grace — [God, as you know, has made a covenant with us. And this covenant we must receive. We must, as all Israel did, declare o…
633 wordsSECTION 275308 Hebrews, Ix. 24. [2305.
Heb. ix. 24. Christ is not entered into the holy places made tvith hands, ivhich are the figures of the true ; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us. IT appears, at first sight, unworthy of God to appoint with such precision every the minutest cir- cumstance relating to the tabernacle…
600 wordsSECTION 2762305.] The Holy Of Holies A Type. 309
3. It was the repository of all the principal memo- rials of God's power and grace — [The Apostle enumerates the various things which were deposited in the holy of holies'^: all of them, either memo- rials of God's providential care, or exhibitions of his covenant love. And are they not all in heaven, concentrated…
710 wordsSECTION 277Mmcccvi.
2. What encouragement have all to embrace and to hold fast this Gospel ! [Were any thing wanting to complete the work of sal- vation for us, we might well hesitate, before we embraced the overtures of the Gospel. But a view of Christ as our High- priest dissipates our fears, and encourages both the weakest and th…
534 wordsSECTION 278S12 Hebrews, Ix. 26. [2306.
must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world. But now o?ice, in the end of the world, hath he appeared to put away sin by the saciijice of hi?nself" From these words I shall take occasion to shew, I. The insufficiency of the Mosaic sacrifices — By *' the end of the world," we are to understand, …
657 wordsSECTION 279314 Hebrews, Ix. 27,28. [2307.
1 ver. 9. ml John h. 2. " Heb. x. 14. ° John xiii. 8. Christ's second coming. Heb. ix. 27, 28. As it is appointed unto men once to die, hut after this the judgment : so Christ was 07ice offered to bear the sins of many ; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time, without sin, unto salvation.…
684 wordsSECTION 280316 Hebrews, X. S. [2308.
The Apostle having introduced God's appointment respecting man to illustrate that respecting Christ, we shall point out, III. The correspondence and connexion between them — The mention of death and judgment as appointed unto man was not at all necessary to the Apostle's argument : but, as an illustration of it,…
458 wordsSECTION 2812308.1 Seasons Of Penitence Recommended. 317
Heb. X. 3. In those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. IN the institutions of the Mosaic law, burthensome as they were, God consulted the best interests of his people. Repentance, faith, and obedience, were inculcated in them all. The daily sacrifices and fre- quent ablutions were in…
380 wordsSECTION 282318 Hebrews, X. 3. [2308.
annual expiation appointed, the people would have been ready to imagine that every offering which they had presented to God had actually taken away the sin for which it had been offered. To guard against this fatal error, a day was appointed annually for a more especial remembrance of their sins, and for a deeper …
464 wordsSECTION 2832308.] Seasons Of Penitence Recommended. 319
the sins which rendered a Saviour necessary ; but a pledo-e that such a Saviour as they needed should in due time be sent them.] 3. To direct their eyes to that Great Sacrifice that should in due time be offered — [In every sacrifice which was offered, they saw the Lord Jesus Christ exhibited before them : and we…
391 wordsSECTION 284320 Hebrews, X. 3. [2308.
sinned at all. But if we had stated seasons for calling our ways to remembrance, our past convictions would be revived, and our humiliation before God be greatly promoted. The sins of early life being thus from time to time set before us, and those of daily incursion being added to them, we should have juster view…
479 wordsSECTION 2852308.] Seasons Of Penitence Recommended. 321
occasions, that, which, if resisted in the first moment, might have been easily overcome, has, by being harboured in the mind, acquired an ascendant over him, and defied his utmost efforts to subdue it. He will have seen, especially, how he has been betrayed, by unwatchfulness, into sins to which he had no na- tur…
477 wordsSECTION 286322 Hebrews, X. 3. [2308.
for mercy through the appointed sacrifices. A sense of sin was not to weaken their hope of God's mercy, on the one hand ; nor was their confidence in God's mercy to weaken their sense of sin, on the other hand : both were to be retained in constant and united exercise ; that so, whilst they " rejoiced with trembli…
472 wordsSECTION 287Christ Superseding The Legal Sacrifices.
Heb. X. 5 — 10. When he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou ivouldest 7iot, hut a body hast thou prepared me : m hurnt-offerings and sacrifices for si7i thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come {in the volume of the hook it is tvrittoi of me,) to do thy tvill, O God. Jhove token …
347 wordsSECTION 288324> Hebrews, X. 5-10. [2309.
must be remembered that the sins of the whole world were Christ's by imputation^; and therefore they might justly draw from him that complaint. In the Psalm David speaks in the person of Christ, whom he represents as addressing the Father to this effect: ' Thou didst 7iever design the legal sacrifices to take away…
468 wordsSECTION 2892309.] Christ Superseding The Legal Sacrifices. 855
all that was designed to be revealed in these words : but we are informed by God himself, that " when it was said, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God," it ivas desigiied to intimate, that all the legal sacrifices should he swept away, and the whole Jeivish economy he superseded hy the Christian dispensation : " He t…
432 wordsSECTION 290326 Hebrews, X. 5—19. [2309.
for any such plan to have originated with any other than God himself. When God's dealings with the fallen angels were considei'ed, who would have imagined that man, partaking of their iniquity, should yet be rescued from their doom? Sup- posing that such a thought could have entered into the mind of man, who could…
788 wordsSECTION 291Mmcccx.
2. What encouragement have all to devote them- selves to God through Christ ! [We have the united testimony of Prophets and Apostles that God willeth the salvation of men through the sacrifice of his own Son, and that Christ as willingly offered himself a sacrifice in order to effect their salvation. What more can…
662 wordsSECTION 292330 Hebrews, X. 14—17. [2310.
It is in this last view that his office is spoken of in the passage before us. The Aaronic priests offered often because their offerings could never take away sin : but he, " by his one offering, hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified : whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us." The peculiar solem…
695 wordsSECTION 293330 Hebrews, X. 14—17. [2310.
*> Rev. xix. 10. 2310.1 PERFECTION OF CHRIST's SACRIFICE. 331 regard all that the prophets have written. We should consider their words, not merely as the words of the Holy Ghost, but as a testimony given by the Holy Ghost, in order to shew us what we should believe respecting the Lord Jesus, and to in- crease ou…
462 wordsSECTION 294332 Hebrews, X. 14—17. [2310.
[It is not merely of his Messiahship that the prophets speak: they enter fully into every part of his character, and work, and offices. There is not any thing which we are con- cerned to know respecting him, which is not revealed in the Old Testament. The revelation of him is indeed less clear than in the New Test…
672 wordsSECTION 295334 Hebrews, X. 19—22. [2311.
f John xiii. 8 — 10. Heb. X. 19 — 22. Havmy therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the vail, that is to say, his flesh ; and having an High-priest over the house of God ; let us draiv near with a true heart i…
621 wordsSECTION 2962311. J Access To God Through The Vail. 335
carried thither, if it were not sprinkled before the mercy-seat, and accompanied with the clouds of incense. Thus not even the death of Christ is, of itself, a sufficient warrant for us to draw nigh to God. But his intercession added to it gives us boldness, and access with confidence ^ We may go to God upon this …
421 wordsSECTION 297336 Hebrews, X. 19—22. [2311.
A good conscience — [The conscience of every man has been more or less defiled. Nor could the offerings under the law perfect a man with re- spect to if". But the blood of Jesus will cleanse it from its defilement". And, if we heartily endeavour to keep it void of offence in future, we shall enjoy the testimony of…
552 wordsSECTION 298338 Hebrews, X. 23—25. [2312.
STEADFASTNESS AND ACTIVITY IN GOD's SERVICE INCULCATED. Heb. X. 23 — 25. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; {for he is faithful that promised ;) and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of …
651 wordsSECTION 299338 Hebrews, X. 23—25. [2312.
' Acts iv. 19, 20. e Dan. iv. 18. and vi. 10. 2312.1 STEADFASTNESS IN GOd's SERVICE. 339 We are " not to put our light under a bushel or a bed." When once we become united to Christ by faith, we become members of the body, of which he is the Head. To that body we from henceforth have duties, even as the members o…
436 wordsSECTION 300340 Hebrews, X. 23—25. [2312.
are some good works which all may perform : and all should be penetrated with a desire to do what they can. It is by the unwearied exertion of all their powers that the designs of God are to be accomplished, both in the Church and in the world. But, as all are apt to be remiss, all should exhort and animate one an…
749 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical edition (1833); scan/OCR from Internet Archive.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.