3. It is light in regard of comfort : Eccles. xi. 7, ' Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun ; ' especially to those that have been shut up in darkness, and kept in a dungeon. Oh, it is a pleasant thing to behold the light again ! So is the word of God light in this sense, to relieve us in all the dark and gloomy passages of the present life.
. [1.] In outward darkness. When all outward comforts fail, and have spent their allowance, the comforts of the word are left ; there is enough to su]-)]iort and strengthen our hearts in waiting upon God : Ps. x"xiii. 4, ' When I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil ; for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.' The staff and rod they are instruments of a shepherd,
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and Christ is onr ppiritnal sliepliercl, so tliat this staff and rod are his word and Spirit, they are the instruments of the spiritual shepherd ; and this comforts us when we are in tlie shadow of death ; in our crosses, in confusions and difficulties, when we have nothing else left but the promises, this is a revivino- to the soul.
[2.] It is a comfort and refreshing to us in spiritual troubles, that arise from the guilt of sin, and want of the sense of God's love : Isa. 1. 10, ' Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light ? Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God.' What shall he do ? Shall he compass himself about in his own sparks ? Oh, how miserable are we then ! No ; but let him depend upon God according to his promise. The word of God is a great part of his name ; let him stay his heart upon the word of God, when he walketh in darkness, and seetli no light.
Now, that the word of God is such a light, such a sure and clear direction, I shall — (1.) Give a direct proof of it from scripture ; (2.) Some types of it ; (3.) Prove it by experience ; (4.) By reason.
1. For the proof from scripture, you have the notions of the text. So Prov. vi. 23, ' The commandment is a lamp, and the law is light.' It is that which keeps us from stumbling. So 2 Peter i. 19, * We have also a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place.' The world is a dai'k place. Ay ! but now here is a light that shines in a dark place, and that is the Holy Scripture, ' the sure word of prophecy; ' it showetli us our way to heaven, and prevents us from stumbling into hell.
2. To prove it by types. Two types I shall mention ; one is, Israel being directed by the pillar of a cloud ; the other is, the lamp of the sanctuary.
[1.] The type of Israel's being directed by the pillar of the cloud by day, the pillar of fire by night, till they came into the land of Canaan, Exod. xiii. 21. Still they moved up and down, hither and thither, as the pillar of cloud and pillar of lire went before them. Thus our whole course is to be ordered by God's direction. See how this type is expressed, Neh. ix. 19, ' The pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day to lead them in the way, neither the pillar of fire by night to show them light, and the way wherein they should go.' Mark, when they were in the wilderness, the pillar of cloud and fire showed them the way where they were to go ; this is an emblem of the safe conduct the churcli may expect from Christ Jesus in all ages ; God's pillar departed not from them by night nor day. So while we are travelling in the wilderness of this our pilgrimage, his word and Spirit is con- tinued to us. When they entered into Canaan, that was a type of heaven, then this pillar of cloud was removed. It is notable, Josh, xiv., when Israel passed over Jordan, we do not read the pillar went before them, but the ark of God was carried before them. So when the church comes to heaven, the resting-place, then this conduct ceaseth; the word hath no more use. Jesus Christ, as the great shepherd, leads his flock into their everlasting fold.
[2.] The other type was the lamp of the sanctuary; we read of that, Exod. xxvii. 20. 21. There was a great lam[) hung upon the veil, to
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distinguish the holy of liolies from the other part of the tahernacle, and was fed with pure oil-olive, and this lamp was prepared and trimmed up by the priest daily. Now what did this lamp signify ? Mark the application. This i)ure olive-oil signified God's pure word ; without the mixture of human traditions ; this hung up in the veil, shined in the church, and every day it was prepared, furnished, set forth by them that are called thereunto, for the use of the faithful.