by Charles Hodge
in ePub, .mobi & .pdf formats
‘The Princeton Sermons of Charles Hodge, one of the greatest Christian teachers of the 19th century, are only outlines; but what outlines! They form almost a complete systematic theology, and are extraordinarily suggestive and satisfying. Preachers who would teach, and Christians who would learn, will enjoy this book, though it will not yield much to lazy minds.’ — J.I. PACKER
'These offer Hodge's mature thought on a great many subjects, and they breathe the warmth of devotional fervour. Here is a fund of succinct definition on the great themes of theology as they are related to the most practical concerns of the Christian and of the pastor ... When these outlines are studiously and meditatively used they will prove for the reader to be the means of cultivating that intelligent piety of which the Seminary at Princeton was the nursery... The masterful survey provided by this volume is calculated to rehabilitate in the thinking and practice of the present day those very patterns which are largely lost and which are our clamant need. May it be that by God's grace this may be the fruit.' - Professor John Murray
FROM the time of its foundation it has been the habit of the professors of Princeton Theological Seminary to meet the students every Sabbath afternoon, for prayer and conference on themes relating to the life of God in the soul, and to the practical duties having their root therein. The members of all the successive classes will bear testimony to the unique character and singular preciousness of these Sabbath afternoon Conferences in that sacred old Oratory, whose walls are still eloquent to them with imperishable associations. Here the venerable professors appeared rather as friends and pastors than as instructors. The dry and cold attributes of scientific theology, moving in the sphere of the intellect gave place to the warmth of personal religious experience, and to the spiritual light of divinely illuminated intuition. Here in the most effective manner did these teachers of teachers set the crown upon their work, and herein they exerted by far, their most widely extended and permanent influence. Here they sought rather to build up Christian men, than to form accomplished scholars, and to infuse into their pupils the highest motives, and to instruct them in the wisest methods for their future work of saving souls and of edifying the Church of Christ.
He habitually thought with his pen in his hand. He prepared an analysis of his subject before he wrote his sermons. He did the same before writing his theological lectures, or the several divisions of his Systematic Theology. He also made a written analysis of every important book he read, especially if it presented views of truth antagonistic to his own.
A volume of these papers is now published, not only because they will afford a reminiscence of past sacred scenes, grateful to his surviving pupils, but chiefly because it is believed that in their present form they will be widely useful. Although the brain and heart, which through the beaming countenance and tremulous voice, infused these skeletons with life, are absent, they yet remain in themselves very remarkable examples of that analysis, that logical grouping and perspicuous exhibition of truth which is an essential faculty of the effective preacher. They present in this analytic form an amount and quality of homiletical example and suggestion probably not surpassed in the same number of pages in the English language. As an effective exhibition of the great principle that all genuine religious experience is only the realization in experience of Christian doctrine, and that all true doctrine does immediately go out into the practical issues of the inward and outward life, this volume is eminently fitted to vindicate and supplement the three volumes of Systematic Theology, which were the last work of the author's life.
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Table of Contents
PREFACE
PART I: GOD AND HIS ATTRIBUTES
1. Omnipresence of God
2. In Him we Live, and Move, and have our Being. Acts 17:28
3. The Sovereignty of God
4. The Lord Reigneth. Ps. 93:1
5. Dependence on God
6. Thy Word is Truth
7. God is Light
8. God is Love. John 4:8 and 14
9. The Love of God to us
10. The Tender Mercies of God. Ps. 146:9
11. God so Loved the World. John 3:16
12. Who will have all Men to be Saved and to come unto the Knowledge of the Truth
13. The Promises of God
14. The Wrath of God against Sinners
15. Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel. Amos 4:12
PART II: CHRIST, HIS PERSON AND OFFICES
16. The Advent
17. The Advent
18. Immanuel
19. For in Him dwelleth all the Fulness of the Godhead bodily. Col. 2:9
20. The Unsearchable Riches of Christ. Eph. 3:8
21. The Love of Christ
22. The Death of Christ
23. The Death of Christ
24. For where a Testament is there must also of necessity be the death of the Testator. Heb. 9:16
25. Who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. 1 Thess. 6:10
26. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up
27. Christ, the Lamb of God
28. The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John 1:7
29. Christ our Priest
30. Christ our Passover
31. Christ the end of the Law for Righteousness. Rom. 10:4
32. The Intercession of Christ
33. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous, etc. 1 John 2:1
34. The Presence of Christ with His Church
35. How is it that Thou wilt manifest Thyself unto us and not unto the world? John 14:22
36. Christ our Life
37. I am the Bread of Life. John 6:48
38. Christ our Example
39. Christ our Physician
40. Christ the Bridegroom
41. The Transfiguration
42. The Memory of Christ, and the Reason it should be Cherished
43. The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Rev. 22:21
44. Jesus crowned with glory and honor. Heb. 2:9
45. The Coming of Christ
PART III: THE HOLY SPIRIT AND HIS OFFICES
46. The Promise of the Spirit. Gal. 3:14
47. Dependence on the Holy Ghost
48. Dependence of the Believer and the Church on the Holy Ghost. Ps. 51:11
49. He will Reprove the World of Sin, because they believe not on me. John 16:8, 9
50. The Necessity of the Spirit's Teaching in order to the Right Understanding of the Scriptures
51. The Indwelling of the Spirit
52. The Spirit giveth Life. 2 Cor. 3:6
53. The Spirit's Intercession. Rom. 8:26
54. As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the Sons of God. Rom. 8:14
55. The Spirit itself Beareth Witness with our Spirit, that we are the Children of God. Rom. 8:16
56. Who hath also sealed us, and given the Earnest of the Spirit in our Hearts. 2 Cor. 12:2. Eph. 1:13; 4:30. 1 Tim. 2:19
57. The Holy Ghost as the Paraclete. John 14:16
58. Grieve not the Spirit
PART IV: SATAN AND HIS INFLUENCE—SIN AND SINS
59. Satanic Influence
60. Temptation
61. Indwelling Sin
62. Indwelling Sin
63. The Deceitfulness of Sin
64. The Sin of Unbelief
65. Doubting in Believers
66. Hardness of Heart. Ps. 31:12. Rom. 2:5
67. Pride
68. Spiritual Pride
69. Ambition
70. The Sacrifice of the Wicked is Abomination. Prov. 21:27
71. Every Idle Word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the Day of Judgment. Matt. 12:36
72. Cleanse Thou me from Secret Faults. Ps. 19:12
73. Backsliding
74. The Unpardonable Sin
PART V: CONVERSION—ENTRANCE UPON THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
75. Salvation by Grace
76. The Value of the Soul
77. The Conversion of Paul
78. Conviction of Sin
79. Conviction of Sin
80. Repentance
81. Except ye be Converted, and become as Little Children, ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Matt. 18:3
82. The Sorrow of the World, and the Sorrow after a Godly Sort. 2 Cor. 7:10, 11
83. Strive to Enter in at the Strait Gate
84. Coming to Christ
85. Come unto me all ye that Labor and are Heavy Laden, and I will give you Rest:—Matt. 11:28
86. My Son give me thy heart. Prov. 23:26
87. Submission to God
88. Work out your own Salvation with Fear and Trembling. Phil. 2:12
89. Work out your own Salvation, &c. Phil. 2:12
90. Regeneration
91. Evidences of Regeneration
92. Confession of Christ
93. Lord, What wilt Thou have me to do?
PART VI: CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCES, CHARACTERISTICS AND PRIVILEGES
94. If any Man be in Christ, he is a New Creature. 2 Cor. 5:17
95. The Christian Race
96. Justification by Faith
97. Sanctified by Faith that is in me. Acts 26:18
98. They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the Affections and Lusts. Gal. 5:24
99. Mortify the Deeds of the Body
100. Living by Faith
101. Walking with God
102. Dying unto Sin, and living unto Righteousness
103. Living Hope through the Resurrection of Christ
104. Now abideth Faith, Hope, Charity; but the greatest of these is Charity. 1 Cor. 13:12
105. Unbelief (or Doubts) in Believers. Matt. 6:30; Mark 6:6
106. Contentment. 1 Tim. 6:6
107. Submission
108. Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus
109. Growth in Grace
110. Growth in Grace
111. Blessed are the poor in Spirit
112. Conscience
113. Conscientiousness
114. Discased Conscience
115. Spiritual-mindedness
116. To be Carnally-minded is death, but to be Spiritually-minded is life and peace
117. Spiritual Discernment. 1 Cor. 2:15
118. Spiritual Consolation
119. The Spirit of Adoption. Rom. 8:15
120. As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the Sons of God. Rom. 8:14
121. The Liberty wherewith Christ has made us free
122. He that is called in the Lord, being a Servant, is the Lord's Freeman. 1 Cor. 7:22
123. Ye Believe in God, Believe also in me
124. Ye are Bought with a Price. 1 Cor. 7:23
125. Who are Kept by the Power of God through Faith unto Salvation, ready to be revealed in the Last Time. 1 Pet. 1:5
126. Security of Believers
127. Ye are Complete in Him. Col. 2:10
128. The Priesthood of Believers
129. The Priesthood of Believers
130. Who is he that overcometh the World, but he that Believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 5:5
131. Ye are Christ's. 1 Cor. 3:23
132. The Lord is my Strength
133. Good Hope through Grace
134. Assurance
135. Hope maketh not ashamed, because the Love of God is shed abroad in our Hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Rom. 5:5
136. Faith as the Source of Love and Joy. 1 Pet. 1:8
137. The Love of God
138. Whom having not seen ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. 1 Pet. 1:8
139. Religious Joy and Despondency
140. Singleness of Heart. Acts 2:46
141. The Beauty of Holiness
142. The Nature and Evidences of Union with Christ
143. The Excellency of the Knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord. Phil. 3:8
144. Ye are not your own: for ye are bought with a Price. 1 Cor. 6:19, 20
145. Do all to the Glory of God. 1 Cor. 10:31
146. Glorying in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Gal. 6:14
147. The Love of Christ constraineth us. 2 Cor. 6:14
148. And this is the victory that overcometh the World, even our Faith. 1 John 5:4
149. It pleased God to reveal his Son in me. Gal. 1:16
150. Humility
151. Humility. 1 Pet. 5:5
152. For we are the Circumcision, which worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the Flesh. Phil. 3:3
153. Hope, the Helmet of Salvation. 1 Thess. 5:3
154. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ. Eph 6:24. If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha. 1 Cor. 16:22
155. That Christ may dwell in our hearts by Faith. Eph. 3:17
156. The Communion of Saints
PART VII: CHRISTIAN RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES
157. Pure Religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this: To visit the Fatherless and Widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the World. Jas. 1:27
158. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the Doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. John 7:17, and John 8:47
159. Be not conformed to this World. Rom. 12:3
160. And he that taketh not his Cross, and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me. Matt. 10:38
161. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. Phil. 2:1–5
162. Living for Christ. Col. 3:24; 2 Cor. 5:14
163. Having therefore these Promises, dearly Beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the Flesh and Spirit, &c. 2 Cor. 7:1
164. And have no Fellowship with the unfruitful Works of Darkness, but rather reprove them. Eph. 5:11
165. Delighting in the Law of God
166. Fidelity in the Service of God
167. Therefore, my Beloved Brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the Work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Cor. 15:58
168. Walking with God
169. Walk in Wisdom towards them that are without, Redeeming the Time. Col. 4:5
170. Earnestness in the Service of God
171. Self-Knowledge
172. Self-examination, (No. 1.)
173. Self-examination, (No. 2.)
174. Gravity
175. Fasting
176. Responsibility arising from the Possession of special Privileges
177. Take heed What ye hear. Mark 4:24. Take heed How ye Hear. Luke 8:18
178. Brotherly Love
179. It is good neither to eat Flesh, nor to drink Wine, nor anything whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. Rom. 14:21
180. Christian Forbearance
181. Judge not that ye be not judged. Matt. 7:1
182. Christian Rebuke
183. Forgiveness of Offences
184. Let not then your Good be evil spoken of. Rom. 14:16
185. Waiting on God
186. Fight the Good Fight of Faith. 1 Tim. 6:12
187. Rejoice in the Lord
188. Zeal
PART VIII: THE MEANS OF GRACE—THE SCRIPTURES, MINISTRY, SACRAMENTS, &C
189. The Means of Grace
190. The Word of God as a Means of Grace
191. Search the Scriptures
192. Mighty in the Scriptures. Acts. 18:24
193. Prayer as a Means of Grace
194. Prayer
195. The Prayer of Faith
196. Intercessory Prayer
197. Prayer for Colleges
198. Meditation as a Means of Grace
199. Meditation
200. The Sabbath
201. The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Mark 2:27
202. Praise
203. The Unity of the Church
204. Aggressive Character of Christianity
205. Call to the Ministry
206. Woe is me if I preach not the Gospel. 1 Cor. 9:16
207. Proper views and motives in seeking the Gospel Ministry
208. A savor of life unto life and of death unto death. 2 Cor. 2:14–16
209. Ministerial responsibility
210. Preaching Christ
211. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. Matt. 10:20
212. Ministers Soldiers of Christ. 2 Tim. 2:4
213. Be thou faithful unto Death and I will give you a Crown of Life. Rev. 2:10
214. Thy Kingdom Come
215. Domestic Missions
216. The knowledge of the Gospel necessary to the Salvation of the Heathen
217. Call to the Work of Foreign Missions
218. The Harvest truly is plenteous, but the Laborers are few. Matt. 9:37
219. Preparation for the Lord's Supper
220. The Lord's Supper as a Means of Grace. (No. 1)
221. The Lord's Supper as a Means of Grace. (No. 2)
222. Christian Fellowship as expressed in the Lord's Supper
223. The Lord's Supper in relation to Christ's Death
224. Retrospect of the Lord's Supper
225. Revivals of Religion
226. Evidences of a Work of Grace. John 3:3
227. Method of dealing with Inquirers
PART IX: DEATH, AND THE CONSUMMATION OF REDEMPTION
228. Time
229. So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Ps. 90:12. (No. 1)
230. So teach us to number our days that we may, &c. Ps. 90:12. (No. 2)
231. Death
232. Triumph over Death. 1 Cor. 15:54, 55
233. Let us therefore fear, lest a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. Heb. 4:1
234. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God
235. But we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. 1 John 3:2
236. For we know that if our Earthly House of this Tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens. 2 Cor. 5:6
237. O Death where is thy sting? O Grave where is thy Victory? 1 Cor. 15:55
238. Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. 1 Cor. 2:9
PART X: LAST WORDS—PAPERS PREPARED DURING THE LAST YEAR OF HIS LIFE
239. The Lord reigneth, let the Earth rejoice
240. As I am allowed of God to be put in trust with the Gospel. 1 Thess. 2:4
241. Let every one please his neighbor for good to edification. Rom. 15:2
242. Above all these things put on Charity, which is the bond of perfectness. Col. 3:14
243. Christian stability
244. But grow in Grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 2 Pet. 3:18
245. Cast not away, therefore, your Confidence, which hath great recompense of Reward. Heb. 10:35
246. Occupy till I come
247. My Lord and my God. John 20:28
248. Fight the good fight of Faith. 1 Tim. 6:12
249. The very Last. The Administration of the Lord's Supper to the Graduating Class, April 21st, 1878