Rom. xiii. 12. The night is far .spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off' the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
IT is the distinguished privilege of man that he is able to bring to his recollection things that are past, and to anticipate future events, so as to give them a kind of present existence in his mind. This power is of infinite use to him in the concerns of his soul. By means of it he can ascertain his state before God : he has only to compare the records of conscience with the declarations of God's word, and he can foresee the issue of the final judgment ; and derive to himself the strongest arguments for vigilance and zeal. In this view the exhortation before us deserves our deepest attention : and to impress it on our minds, we shall,
I. Confirm the truth of the Apostle's assertion—
[Our Lord, in reference to the season afforded him for accomplishing his Father's work, calls this present life, day, and the future, night*. The Apostle here uses the same me- taphors, only reversing the application of them : the present life he designates by the name of " night „•" and the future, by the appellation of " day."
The present life is called " night," because it is a state of intellectual and moral darkness. The ungodly " world are altogether lying in wickedness," and ignorant of all that it concerns them most to know. The regenerate themselves " see but as in a glass darkly ;" and, though they be light as day in comparison of carnal men, yet have they but, as it were, the twinkling of the stars, just sufficient to direct their course, or at most but as the early dawn, in comparison of the meridian light which they will hereafter enjoy. Much of sin also yet remains within them : much they do, which they would not ; and leave undone, which they would do : by means of which they too often walk in darkness, instead of enjoying the light of God's countenance.
Our future state of existence is called " day," because all, whether godly or ungodly, will behold every thing in its
a John ix. 4. VOL. XV. L L