33 No man, when lie hafh lighted a eandle, putteih »< in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a can- dlestick, that they which come in may see the light.
34 The light of the body is the eye : therefore when thine eve is single, thy whole body also is mil of light ; but when thine eye is evil, thy body
also is full of darkness.
35 Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not daikness.
36 If thy whole body therefore be fiill of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of hght, as when the bright shining of a candle doth giye thee light.
We learn from these words of the Lord Jesus, the impor- tance of making a good use of religious light and privileges. We are reminded of what men do when they light a candle. They do not " put it in a secret place," imder a bushel measure. They place it on a candlestick, that it may be serviceable and useful by giving light.
When the Gospel of Christ is placed before a man's soul, it is as if God offered to him a lighted candle. It is not sufficient to hear it, and assent to it, and admire it, and acknowledge its truth. It must be received into the heart, and obeyed in ihe life. Until this takes place the Gospel does him no more good than if he were an African heathen, who has never heard the Gospel at all. A lighted candle is before him, but he is not turning it to aocoxmt. The guilt of such conduct is very great. God's light neglected will be a heavy charge against many at the last day.
But even when a man professes to value the light of the Gospel he must take care that he is not selfish in the use of it. He must endeavour to reflect the light on all around him. He must strive to make others acquainted with the truths which he finds good for himself. He mast let his light so shine before men, that they may see