notwithstanding all our advantages, are, like them, " in darkness and the shadow of death," on the very confines of destruction.]
To dispel this darkness He came into the world —
[Human reason could not break through the clouds with which we were enveloped; still less could the lucubrations of reason convert the soul to God. No way for reconciliation with God could ever have been found out by mortal man. To make reconciliation for him, to reveal it to him, and to render it available for his eternal welfare, were the great objects of the Saviour's incarnation: He visited our world " to give light to them who sat in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide their feet into the way of peace :" and every soul that avails himself of the Saviour's instructions, shall be " turned from darkness unto light, and from the power of Satan unto God.m"]
Already, methinks, you begin to see,
III. The unbounded mercy of God displayed in it —
Well is it traced to " the tender mercy of our God" —
[To what else can we trace it? What could man do to
merit such a gift as that of God's only dear Son? But
the expression in my text deserves particular notice. The words import, " the bowels of mercy," which were moved in commiseration of our fallen state". Conceive of God as looking upon our first parents after the fall, and as saying concerning them, as he did concerning his people Israel ; " How shall I give thee up, Ephraim ? How shall I deliver thee up, Israel ? How shall I make thee as Admah ? How shall I set thee as Zeboim ? Mine heart is turned within me : my repentings are kindled together: I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger0." Yes indeed, this will give a just view of the compas- sion which moved Almighty God to send his Son for the redemption of a ruined world ]
And can we withhold our admiration from this stupendous act of mercy ?
[Let us only contemplate the benefits we receive from the material sun. Suppose we had been from the first moment of our existence in the state in which large districts of the habi- table globe are for one half of the year : suppose we had been in utter darkness even until now ; and God had unexpectedly, and unsolicited, caused the sun to visit us in meridian splendour : AVould there have been any bounds to our admiration or gra- titude? What then shall we say now that he has caused
" the Sun of Righteousness to shine upon us," and "the day-star
m Acts xxvi. 18. " ffirXdyxya eXiovr. ° Hos. ii. 8, 9.
1471.] Christ's incarnation glad tidings. 2ol
to arise in our very hearts p ?" Verily, " if we do not bless him, the stones will cry out against usq" ]
Address —
1. Those who are yet sitting in darkness —
[This is the state of the whole unconverted world. If a man feeling in his bosom the ranklings of anger and hatred, " is in darkness even until now1," what must they be who are living altogether to themselves and to the world ? Think what ye may, ye are " in the shadow of death," and on the very con- fines of destruction I pray you improve the opportu- nity now afforded you, and " whilst you have the light, walk in the light, that ye may be the children of light" ]
2. Those who have been " brought out of darkness
into the marvellous light of the Gospel" —
[Bless ye your God : bless him without ceasing : bless him with your whole hearts. Is it a pleasant thing to behold the sun ? What delight then must ye have in beholding the glory of God as beaming forth in the face of Jesus Christ ! "
See then that ye walk worthy of this great mercy : for
" if ye walk in the light as he is in the light, then shall ye have sweet fellowship with the Father and the Son, and the blood of Jesus Christ shall cleanse you from all sins." Let Christ be your light in this world, and you shall dwell in the beams of his meridian glory for ever and ever.]