Moreover,
II. He was the only true light, also, during his so-
journing on earth —
[So he himself repeatedly and strongly affirms11
He explained the law, which had been obscured and corrupted
by the false glosses of the Scribes and Pharisees !
and made himself known, in the plainest terms, as the only Saviour of the world : "lam the way, the truth, and the life ; no man cometh unto the Father but by mek." Nor was he less a light by his example, " shewing, in the whole of his deportment, how men ought to walk and to please God," even " by following his steps1," and " walking as he walked™." Hence he cautioned the people of that day: "Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you : for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have the light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light"."]
I add, that,
III. He is the only true light at this day —
[" God, in covenant, gave him to be a light to the Gen- tiles ;" " to bring the blind by a way that they knew not, and to lead them in paths which they had not known ; to make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight0." And all this he does at this moment, even as St. Paul has testified respecting himp. What other source of light has any man but the written word, which our blessed Lord has inspired ? or what other teacher has any man but his Holy Spirit, which Christ has promised, " to guide us into all truth?" The heathen philosophers, so far from adding one ray of light to the Scrip- tures of truth, have only " darkened counsel by words without knowledge." " The truth of God has been foolishness to them;" and " their wisdom has been altogether foolishness in the sight of God." Indeed, as the blind cannot see even the meridian sun, so " neither can the natural man, by any faculties of his own, discern the things of the Spiritq." " The eyes of our understanding must be opened by the Spirit of God, before we can be fully brought out of darkness into the marvellous light of his Gospel r." As " the Day-spring from on high hath visited the world, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide their feet into the way of peace s ;" so must " the Day-star arise in our hearts," before
h John viii. 12. ix. 5. and xii. 46. » Matt. v. 21, 22, 27, 28. k John xiv. 6. > 1 Pet. ii. 21. ra 1 John ii. 6.
n John xii. 35, 36. ° Isai. xlii. 6, 7, 16. p Acts xxvi. 23. 'i 1 Cor. ii. 14. ' Eph. i. 18. s I.uke i. 78, 79.