Charles Simeon: Be Bible Christians, not systems Christians

Justin Taylor shared information about a video of John Stott speaking about the life and work of Charles Simeon (September 24, 1759 – November 13, 1836), a faithful pastor of God's people and preacher of God's Word.

For good biographical introductions to Simeon, consider the following by John Piper:

- Brothers, We Must Not Mind a Little Suffering: Meditations on the Life of Charles Simeon (audio and text file)

- The Roots of Endurance: Invincible Perseverance in the Lives of John Newton, Charles Simeon, and William Wilberforce (downloadable PDF book)

To read for free or purchase Simeon's 21-volume commentary collection, Horae Homileticae, visit the following sites:

- Internet Archive (files available in several formats)

- Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae Commentary (Logos Bible Software)

Logos: These 21 volumes, featuring Simeon’s collected sermons, represent the fruit of his fifty-four years of preaching. Published originally in 1832 for the benefit of younger pastors seeking practical improvement at the task of sermon creation, Horae Homileticae reflects the rich source of Biblical understanding of its author, a towering figure in the history of evangelical theology.

These expository outlines (or “skeletons”) are not a verse-by-verse explanation of the English Bible. Rather, they are a chapter-by-chapter study with explanations of the most important and instructive verses in each chapter. Simeon’s aim with this commentary is “Instruction relative to the Composition of Sermons.” To this end, his exposition of the Scriptures is designed to maintain a focus on the more general aspects of a passage over and above possible treatments of particulars. His test for a sermon, as he teaches in Horae Homileticae, is threefold: does it humble the sinner, exalt the Saviour and promote holiness?

Opposing all human systems of divinity, Simeon’s commentary is also marked by an avoidance of any possible systemization of God’s Word and entanglement with theological controversies. A self-described “moderate Calvinist” or, more plainly, a “Biblical Christian,” Simeon believed that the Bible should speak for itself. “Be Bible Christians, not systems Christians” was his maxim; "My endeavor is to bring out of Scripture what is there, and not to thrust in what I think might be there. I have a great jealousy on this head; never to speak more or less than I believe to be the mind of the Spirit in the passage I am expounding." With Horae Homileticae this conviction is soundly applied.

[emphasis mine]