PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
Horae Homileticae — Volume 20 of 21
Simeon, Charles, 1759-1836 · 248,754 words · 519 reading sections
Children.
THE DIFFERENT GROWTH AND PRIVILEGES OF GOD's 1 John ii. 12 — 14. / write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I ivrite…
326 wordsSECTION 362894 1 John, Ii. 12—14. [2437.
[In order to come under this title, it is necessary that you should have been " begotten with the incorruptible seed, the Word of God," and been brought into God's family by the renewing influences of his Spirit. It is not supposed that you have grown to any stature in the family of Christ, but, on the contrary, t…
652 wordsSECTION 363894 1 John, Ii. 12—14. [2437.
You then are declared to be " strong :" and in this you differ widely from your former state : for whereas you formerly were liable to be " tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine," and to be overcome by every temptation, you now have obtained a stability both in knowledge and in grace. Not that you are strong…
732 wordsSECTION 364Love Of The World Forbidden.
See then, fathers, that ye improve your knowledge for this end : and soon ye shall " see him as ye are seen, and know him as ye are known " ] Application — 1 . To those who are included under any of the foregoing titles — a Jam. iv. 7. » 1 Cor. iii. 1, 2. Heb. v. 12. Compare John i. 1. with 1 John i. 1. [Let th…
427 wordsSECTION 365398 1 John, Ii. 15—17.
are exposed. As believers, we have been brought out of" a world which lieth in wickedness :" but still Ave are encompassed with temptations, and bear about with us a corrupt nature which is ever liable to be ensnared by them. In persons most advanced in the divine life " the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, as we…
382 wordsSECTION 3662438. J Love Of The World Forbidden. 399
every one puts the construction upon it which suits his own habits and inclinations, and takes for granted that his views of it are correct. But the truth is, that there is in this subject a need for the nicest discrimination, lest, on the one hand, we make the prohibition more strict than Jehovah himself intended…
419 wordsSECTION 367400 1 John, Ii. 15—17. £2438.
it as importing, that we are not to give to any object of time and sense that kind or measure of affection which is due only to things of eternal moment. The Apostle's own explanation of his meaning will throw further light on this matter. " The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life," are v…
477 wordsSECTION 3682438.] Love Of The World Forbidden. 401
and just views of this subject: *' If," says he, " I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence ; if I rejoiced because my loealth ivas great, and because mine hand had gotten much ; this were an iniquity to be punished by the judge, for then I should have denied the God that is …
481 wordsSECTION 369102 1 John, Ii. 15—17. [2438.
be a source of very sublime happiness ; of a happiness which he will possess under the most afflictive circumstances, and which will sooth even the pangs of death itself: and this source of enjoyment, instead of being confined to this present life, will be infinitely enlarged, and afford inexhaustible sup- plies o…
485 wordsSECTION 3702438.] Love Of The World Forbidden. 403
Whilst, however, I cordially unite in this senti- ment, I would add, 1. Be careful in passing judgment upon others — [There is scarcely any subject on which men are so prone to exercise a censorious disposition as this. They are ready to make their own habits, or at all events their own views, a standard for othe…
493 wordsSECTION 371The True Grounds Of A Christian'S Stability.
in its pursuits, how immersed in its enjoyments, how insatiable in their desires after its richest communications. And, if you tell them that they are seeking after a mere phantom, they account you either splenetic or mad. Be ye then firm against those who would deride your pursuit of heavenly objects ; and serve …
373 wordsSECTION 3722439.1 True Grounds Of A Christian'S Stability. 405
But St. John had a further reason for exposing these apostates. It had been foretold by our blessed Lord, that, previous to the destruction of Jerusalem, "there should arise false Christs, and false prophets, who, if it were possible, should deceive the very- elect ;" and that the prevalence of those persons shou…
382 wordsSECTION 373406 1 John, Ii. 19. [2439.
Much less was Demas discoverable from others : indeed, so eminent was his profession, that he was twice joined with St. Luke, by the Apostle Paul, in his salutations to the Churches'1 : but we can have no doubt but that the world was really uppermost in his heart during the whole time of his pro- fession, though, …
880 wordsSECTION 374408 1 John, Ii. 19. [2439.
The stability, of which my text speaks, stands on other grounds : it arises from, r John iv. 14. s 1 Pet. i. 23. 1 1 John iii. 9. » 1 Cor. ix. 27. 1. The immutability of God's purpose — [" God's counsel shall stand ; and he will do all his plea- sure x." And this counsel he has exercised in reference to the salv…
534 wordsSECTION 3752439.] True Grounds Of A Christian'S Stability. 409
It may be asked, Wherein does the difference between the two views appear ? [Things often commend themselves more by an easy and familiar illustration, than by a long train of argument. We will therefore, with permission, use the simplest illustration that can well be imagined. Only let it be first remembered wha…
519 wordsSECTION 376410 1 John, Ii. 19. [2439.
There is, indeed, one particular, in which the illustration fails ; namely, that the kite is upheld without any concurrence of its own ; whereas the soul, notwithstanding its entire de- pendence on God, does yet, in fact, " work out its own sal- vation." I grant this: I grant, that what God effects for the soul, h…
462 wordsSECTION 377The Unction Of The Holy One.
told to " come out from the ungodly world, and not to touch the unclean thing," if we would have the presence and the bless- ing of our Godz. Our eyes, our ears, " our hearts, we must keep with all diligence3;" for it is by resisting Satan that we must overcome himb: and then only, when we, on our part, contend ma…
332 wordsSECTION 378418 1 John, Ii. 20. [2440.
From hence we see, I. The distinguishing privilege of true Christians — They "have an unction from the Holy One" — [The Lord Jesus Christ is undoubtedly that " Holy One " from whom the unction proceeds. By this name he is fre- quently designated, both in the Old Testament'1 and the Newe: and, in order to the exec…
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not "walk" acceptably to God, but by the Spirit*: he could " not even pray as he ought" :" he could " not so much as call the Lord Jesus Christ his Lord, but by the Holy Ghost*." To this divine unction he is indebted for the very existence of life in his soul : and the man who has it not, is even dead before God y…
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"We must not, however, misunderstand the Apostle, as though this unction of the Holy One superseded an attention to the word of God, or the necessity of continual diligence on our part. The word of God is, after all, our only directory : and to imagine, as some do, that the light within renders the written word un…
292 wordsSECTION 3812440.] The Unction Of The Holy One. 415
fall, even whilst we think that we are taught by the Holy Ghost. From damning error and apostasy he will keep his people ; but not from all error : for then there would be no room left for diversity of opinion in the Church of God. But we shall never " see eye to eye" in this life. There will still be room left fo…
477 wordsSECTION 382Believers Are Sons Of God.
do all things. It is by your fruits that you must be judged, both by God and man. See to it, then, that you guard against that conceit which so prevails in heretics and apostates. To your latest hour you must retain a childlike spirit, and particularly in the simplicity and docility of your minds. You must guard, …
363 wordsSECTION 3832441.] Believers Are Sons Of God. 4-17
God, there is much which needs to be elucidated. In it are comprehended, 1. An adoption into his family — [By nature, we belong to a far different family : for " we are of our father the devil :" and, being " children of disobedience," we are also " children of wrath." But God takes to himself a people out of tha…
453 wordsSECTION 384Vol. Xx. E E
i joiin, in. i. [2441. When it is said, " WTe are called the sons of God," it means that we are really made so. And this change is altogether the effect of God's unbounded love. Behold, then, what manner of love this is : 1 . How sovereign ! [It is wholly unmerited on our part. There never was, there never could…
496 wordsSECTION 3852441.1 Believers Are Sons Of God. 419
reference to the favours conferred on him, " Is this the manner of men, O Lord God" ?" No ; it is not the manner of men ; nor ought it to be : because man has a claim on his fellow-man ; but we have no claim whatever on God. He might have left us to perish, precisely as he did the fallen angels, and never have sav…
751 wordsSECTION 3862441.1 Believers Are Sons Of God. 419
2. With a becoming zeal to walk worthy of this high calling — [Certainly, this relation brings with it corresponding du- ties. If you are made sons of God, it is that you may serve and honour him as dear children. How this is to be done, St. Paul informs us: " Be blameless, and harmless, as sons of God, without r…
257 wordsSECTION 387The Inestimable Privileges Of Believers.
1 John iii. 2. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be : but ice know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him ; for we shall see him as he is. OUR Lord was hated, reviled, and persecuted unto death : but we see how glorious was his person, and how exalted his char…
678 wordsSECTION 388The Fruits And Effects Of Hope.
* 1 John iii. 1. ' Job xix. 25—27. k 2 Cor. iii. 18. ' John xvii. 2 1. ;11 1 Cor. xv. 49. Col. iii. 4. n John viii. 38, 44. " John i. 12. 2. How bright the prospects of the true Christian ! [The Christian's warfare will soon be over : then will come a blessedness which he cannot now conceive ; another day may bri…
369 wordsSECTION 389424 1 John, Iii. 3. [2443.
Christ. But through him' the believer has a glorious hope ; 1. That he is a child of God — [Christ, having purchased us with his own blood, has reconciled us to God, and made us his children. He teaches his followers to consider themselves as standing in this relation to God, not merely like the angels who are hi…
436 wordsSECTION 3902443.] The Fruits And Effects Of Hope. 425
his duties, in order to fulfil them He will propose to himself the Lord Jesus Christ as his pattern : and though he can never hope to attain absolute perfection in this life, he will not rest satisfied with any thing short of that. He would gladly be " holy as God is holy, and perfect, even as his Father in heaven…
702 wordsSECTION 3912444.1 Christ Manifested To Take Away Sin. 427
m 2 Cor. vii. 1. See the same also by St. Peter, 2 Pet. i. 1. " 1 John i. 9. 1 John iii. 5. Ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins ; and in him is no sin. AMONGST the numberless advantages which the light of revelation has conferred upon us, one of par- ticular importance is, the strength of the mot…
553 wordsSECTION 3921 28 1 .101 In, Iii. 5. [2444.
days before his crucifixion, and underwent the strictest exa- mination at di BR trent tribunals, and was declared innocent, by Pilate his judge, by his fellow-sufferer on the cross, by the Centurion who presided at his execution: all his enemies thus unwittingly attesting, that he was indeed "a Lamb without blemis…
419 wordsSECTION 3932444.] Christ Manifested To Take Away Sin. 429
evil as you judge it to be ? Can you conceive that such means would have been used for your recovery, if the state into which sin had brought you was not beyond measure terrible ? Had no misery awaited you, or a misery only that was light and transient, do you suppose that God would have had recourse to such a met…
497 wordsSECTION 3941 John, Iii. 5. [2111.
Christ ? Docs it never strike you, that whilst you are enter- taining such proud thoughts as these, you arc thrusting the Lord Jesus Christ from his office, and virtually declaring, that, whatever he may be to others, he shall be no Saviour to you? "Why will ye thus presume to set aside the very ends for which He …
484 wordsSECTION 3952445.] The End Of Christ'S Incarnation. .481
deeds, and put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness1*."] 4. Ye who are bowed down with desponding fears — [I must not overlook you ; for the text speaks powerfully to you also. In the habit of your minds you are saying, " My sins are too great to be forgiven ; or, my lusts…
287 wordsSECTION 396The End Of Christ'S Incarnation.
1 John iii. 8. For this purpose the Son of God ivas mani- fested, that he might destroy the ivorks of the devil. THE author of this epistle survived all the other Apostles ; so that, long before his death, the pro- fessed followers of Christ had had ample opportunity of shewing what the effects of religious princi…
488 wordsSECTION 3972445. J The End Of Christ^ Incarnation. 433
assured our first parents that " they should not die :" but in this he shewed himself " the father of lies :" and by it he became " a murderer from the beginning1"." The very instant they obeyed his voice, they died ' temporal, spiritual, eternal death became their portion, and the portion of the whole human raceg…
450 wordsSECTION 398434 1 John, Iii. 8. [2445.
2. By the operation of his grace — [" Dead as \vc arc in trespasses and sins, we are quickened liv Christ"1 ;" and immediately begin in his strength to conflict with sin and Satan. The warfare we maintain is attended with many diilieulties ; so that we are sometimes ready to cry out, " O wretched man that 1 am ! w…
424 wordsSECTION 399The Christian'S Deliverance From Sin.
must have been if he had not liberated us ; and what a death we must have undergone, if he had not died in our stead ! Verily, if we felt our obligations as we ought, we should scarcely pass a moment without adverting to them, and mag- nifying him with songs of praise and thanksgiving. Let us dwell on the delightf…
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b Eccles. vii. 20. and 1 Kings viii. 40. c Jam. iii. 2. d 1 John i. 8—10. e 1 John ii. 1, 2. f o 7roi<li>v, See the same word used by St. John in his Gospel. John viii. 34, scriptural hope of his adoption into God's family, will " purify himself, even as Christ is pure :" and the person who does not labour to att…
727 wordsSECTION 4012446. J The Christian'S Deliverance From Sin. 437
That this is the true import of the words, is manifest from what is spoken by St. John in the preceding chapter: " I have written unto you, young men; because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one1." Here the same "seed" of which they were born, namely, the word of …
780 wordsSECTION 4022446. J The Christian'S Deliverance From Sin. 437
2. Because he will supply him with grace, that he may not — [This, also, is a part of God's covenant which he has made with us in the Son of his love. If this covenant were kept out of view, there are two things which we might justly appre- hend : the one is, that God would depart from us ; the other is, that we …
352 wordsSECTION 4032446.] The Christian'S Deliverance From Sin. 441
the word, as the stony-ground hearers ; and have produced some kind of* fruit, like the thorny ground : but, inasmuch as I " bring forth no fruit to perfection," I am at this very moment a child of Satan, and an heir of perdition.' Would you have an evidence that you are born of God ? Inquire whether you are deliv…
402 wordsSECTION 404Love Of The Brethren.
1 John iii. 14. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. LOVE is said to be " the fulfilling of the law :" and it certainly is also the great end of the Gospel. But love is of different kinds : there is a love of benevolence, a love of beneficence, and a love of complacency.…
862 wordsSECTION 405Love Of The Brethren.
in l JOHN, in. 11. [2447. consequently, its existence and operation in the soul proves us to be true believers, children of God, and heirs of glory.] Address — 1. Those who are strangers to this peculiar regard — [If the existence of it in the soul prove that we have passed from death unto life, the non-existenc…
465 wordsSECTION 406The Love Of Christ A Pattern For Us, To Each Other.
1 John iii. 16. Hereby perceive toe the love of God, because he laid down his life for us : and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. IN contemplating Christianity as a system, we scarcely know whether to admire more, the depth of its mysteries, or the height of its requirements. Of all mysteries, that…
316 wordsSECTION 407146 1 John, Iii. 16. [2448.
1. What our situation was that rendered such an effort necessary — [We were fallen, after the example of " the angels that kept not their first estate ;" and with them we must have taken our portion to all eternity. To deliver ourselves was abso- lutely impossible : nor could the whole creation afford us any effe…
694 wordsSECTION 408146 1 John, Iii. 16. [2448.
Consider then our duty, 1. Towards " our brethren" of mankind at large — [There is not a human being towards whom we do not owe a debt of love : and were it in our power, there is not a pain which we should not alleviate, nor a want which we should not supply. This is particularly noticed in the words following o…
717 wordsSECTION 409146 1 John, Iii. 16. [2448.
s Rom. xvi. 4. b Phil. ii. 30. 2448. J Christ's love a pattern for us. 449 could say, " If T be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy and rejoice with you all'."] For the further improvement of the subject, 1. Let us contemplate our obligations — [The love of God, which ought to be ever uppe…
481 wordsSECTION 410No Love To God Without Love To Man.
i;,(» 1 joun, in. it. [2449. all mankind. Come, brethren, gird yourselves to the occa- sion. Your God and Saviour demands it at your hands. The whole universe also joins in one common cry, " Come over to us, and help us." And he who most abounds in offices of love to others, shall receive the richest recompence i…
349 wordsSECTION 4112449.] No Love To God Without Love To Man. 451
The Apostle takes this truth for granted ; and makes it the foundation of his appeal. But I lament to say, that it needs to be brought home to our con- sciences with more force than we are wont to assign to it in our own minds. That God deserves our love, cannot be denied — [View him in his works of creation. No …
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r>.' l JOHN, in. n. [2449. calls us to set our love ou him. What then shall I say of the man who complies not with this reasonable demand? I appeal to you, my brethren, whether such a man, supposing such an one could be found, can have any true religion? Perhaps you will say, It is impossible that such a monster …
428 wordsSECTION 4132449. J No Love To God Without Love To Man. 453
Still more particularly is his redeeming love proposed to us in this view both as a motive and a pattern ; a motive which we should in no wise withstand1 ; and a pattern which to the very utmost we should follow, even to " the laying down of our lives for the brethren™." To stimulate us to it the more, he tells us…
563 wordsSECTION 414A Good And Evil Conscience.
1 John iii. '20, 21. Jf our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toivard God. IN the description given us of the day of judgment, we are informed that the Judge will be seated on his throne ; that certain books will b…
661 wordsSECTION 415456 1 John, Iii. 20, 21. [2450.
b 1 Tim. iv. 2. c Matt, xiv. 9. d Matt, xxvii. 3—6, 20, e Acts xxvi. 9. f John xvi. 2. s Rom. xiv. 2, 3, 5, 6. of conscience be just, wc should try them by this touchstone. We should learn from the sacred volume what are the Leading features of conversion; what is essential to the Christian cha- racter ; and what,…
439 wordsSECTION 4162450. J A Good And Evil Conscience. 457
2. A pledge of eternal misery — [When conscience is enlightened, it sees innumerable abominations in the heart : and when sanctified, it feels an utter abhorrence of what it does see. But yet " God is greater than our hearts" both in respect of penetration to discover sin, and of holiness to hate it. He " knoweth …
712 wordsSECTION 4172451. J Faith In Christ Enjoined. 459
Infer — 1. How careful should we be in every part of our conduct ! [Every thing we do is written in the book of God's re- membrance ; and our own consciences will hereafter, if not now, attest the truth of God's testimony. How anxious then should we be, that every day and every hour should record something good,…
396 wordsSECTION 418Faith In Christ Enjoined.
1 John iii. 23. This is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ. SOME Christians, from a mistaken zeal for the Gospel, are ready to associate the idea of legality with the very mention of the term " commandment ;" forgetting that the commandments, if obeyed from love, are of th…
582 wordsSECTION 4192451. J Faith In Christ Enjoined. 461
[A speculative acknowledgment of Christ, without a prac- tical application to him for all the benefits of his salvation, will be of little use. The offices he sustains have respect to the necessities of fallen man : and under a sense of our need, we must look to him to fulfil those offices for us. Is he a Prophet …
858 wordsSECTION 4202451.] Faith In Christ Enjoined. 463
But, alas ! more is necessary : and therefore God, in tender mercy, has enjoined it in a way of positive command — [Y"es, this is his commandment, that we believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ. We are averse to this humiliating way of salvation, and, if we dared, would eternally reject it. ]>ut God sent us …
773 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical edition (1832-33); scan/OCR from Internet Archive.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.