blinded his eyes \" You perceive that a man may be very confident that he is in the hi>ht ; and yet be so defective in re- spect of love, as to be in utter darkness, and going he knows not whither. I pray you, guard against so fatal a delusion as this ; and never conceive yourselves to be " children of light," till your whole spirit and temper, candidly examined, attest that you are " walking as children of the light V]
It may be that you would wish to have two ques- tions solved. With answering them, I will conclude the subject.
1 . How shall I obtain the change spoken of in the text ?
[]Many directions I might give you ; and all proper in their place : ])ut there is one, which, if it do not supersede all others, will at kiist prove amply sufficient for this occasion. Our blessed Lord says, " I am the light of tlie world : he that fol- loweth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of Ufe "\" Here the direction is from such authority as cannot be withstood, and at the same time so complete, that, if fol- lowed, it cannot but succeed. In truth, all other directions, in comparison of this, are like advising persons to light a taper of their own, when they might come forth at once to the noon-day sun. By the Lord Jesus Christ the whole darkness, whether from without or from within, shall be dispersed at once. The natm-e and perfections of God, the spirituality and extent of the law, the use of the whole of the Mosaic ritual, together with the whole work of Redemption, will all be made visible as the light itself, to one who obtains just views of Christ. The whole system of morals too will be rendered clear and luminous; and all the sublime motives and encouragements to obedience be reflected with irresistible efficacy upon the soul. This then I say ; Go to the Lord Jesus Christ ; follow him : con- template him ; believe in him as having in himself all fulness for tlie supply of those who trust in him : and you shall soon "be guided into all truth," and experience in the richest abund- ance the glory and blessedness of his salvation.]
2. How shall I improve that change, supposing it to have been wrought within me ?
[This is a question which every child of light should ask : and, as our blessed Lord answered the former, so shall the apostle Paul answer this. Speaking to persons who were truly enlightened, he says, " Ye are all the childl-en of the light and of the day : we are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others ; but let us watch and
be
^ rcr. ] 1—13. ' Eph. v. 8. '" John vlii. 12.
1181.] PRIVILEGES OF GOd's CHILDREN. 231
be sober : for they that sleep, sleep in the night ; and they that be drunken, are drunken in the night : but let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breast-plate of faith and love, and for an helmet the hope of salvation"." You can easily perceive that a change of views should be followed by a corresponding change of conduct; and, consequently, that henceforth you should " have no fellowship with the un- fruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them'*." The mercy vouchsafed to you, has not been given for yourselves alone, but for others also ; before whom you ought to " shine as lights in a dark place p," yea so to shine, that all who " be- hold your light may be constrained to glorify your Father that is in heaven."]
" 1 Thess. v. 5—8. • Eph. v. 11. p Phil. ii. 15, 16.