things,— -the source of life and light. Of John the Baptist we are told simply, that " there was a man sent from God, whose name was John."
We see, firstly, in these verses, the true nature of a Christian miiiister^s office. We have it in the description of John the Baptist : " He came for a witness, to bear wit ness of the light, that all men through him might believe."
Christian ministers are not priests, nor mediators between God and man. They are not agents into whose hands men may commit their souls, and carry on their religion by deputy. They are witnesses. They are intended to bear testimony to God's truth, and specially to the great truth that Christ is the only Saviour and light of the world. This was St. Peter's ministry on the day of Pentecost. — *' With many other words did he testify.'''' (Acts ii. 40.) This was the whole tenor of St. Paul's ministry. — '' He testified both to the Jews and Greeks repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ." (Acts xx. 21.) Unless a Christian minister bears a full testimony to Christ, he is not faithful to his office. So long as he does testify of Christ, he has done his part, and will receive his reward, although his hearers may not believe his testimony. Until a ministers hearers believe on that Christ of whom they are told, they receive no benefit from the ministry. They may be pleased and interested ; but they are not profited until they believe. The great end of a minister's testimony
15 " that through him, men may believe."
We see, secondly, in these verses, one principal position which our Lord Jesus Christ occupies towards mankind. We have it in the words, " He was the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world."
Christ is to the souls of men what the sun is to the world. He is the centre and source of all spiritual light, warmth, life, health, growth, beauty, and fertility. Like the sun. He shines for the common benefit of all mankind, — for high