darkness into marvellous light1'." So that they were able to appreciate the necessity and the excellency of the command- ment which was now enjoined.]
But let us contemplate this glorious change,
II. As fulfilled also amongst ourselves —
Certainly, the true light does shine among you —
[The Lord Jesus " Christ is fully preached among you." His person, his work, his offices are set before you. You have seen from time to time the types, as completed in their great Antitype ; and the prophecies, as fulfilled in him to whom they had respect, even " Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of Joseph." The covenant of grace, which was made with him in our behalf, has been opened to you, and all the great and precious pro- mises that are contained in it unfolded to your view. Salvation, in all its freeness, and in all its fulness, has been offered to you ; and all the perfections of God, as pledged for your en- couragement, have been brought in review before you. Nor has the nature of evangelical obedience been either partially or sparingly declared. The distinction between the letter and the spirit of the law has been copiously displayed; and all the high requirements of the Gospel been made known ; and not declared only, but enforced also by every species of argument that could address itself to your understanding, your con- science, or your will. I say not, that these things have been so fully manifested as they ought to have been, or might have been : because, if my own views had been more enlarged, and my own soul been more deeply impressed with these things, my ministrations would no doubt have been more luminous and beneficial : but this I can say, that I have " not knowingly withheld any thing that could be profitable unto you;" nor, according to the measure of light and grace given unto me, " have 1 shunned to declare unto you the whole counsel of God '." In this respect therefore I may say, that, if at any time there have been darkness here, that darkness is past : and the true light shines among you, in such a degree, at least, as is sufficient to " guide all your feet into the way of peace."]
But can it be said that the darkness is passed away from the souls of all ?
[Would to God that my text were true in this extent also. li'loved brethren, are not many of you still in the darkness, if not of Judaism itself, yet of the Judaizing teachers, who insisted on combining some obedience of their own with the merits of Christ? Are not the beauty, and glory, and
h 1 Pet. ii. 9. Uts xx. 20,27.
2436.] THE TRUE LIGHT. o9 1
excellency of our holy religion so indistinctly seen by many amongst you, that it produces scarcely any effect upon your hearts and lives ? If we look at morals, are not your views of them also very imperfect? Read our Lord's Sermon on the Mount, and see whether your heart go along with it in all that it inculcates respecting patience, forbearance, meekness, forgiveness ? Read St. Paul's description of love in the loth chapter of his First Epistle to the Corinthians, and see whe- ther that be the standard at which you aim, and by which you estimate your attainments? Have you any idea of your duty to your brethren requiring, that, if it may subserve their spiritual and eternal interests, you should lay down your life for them ? I will not ask what speculative notions you may have of these things ; for in that respect your views may be correct enough : but what is your practice? it is by that that your character must be tried : and, when tried by that, say whether you are not found altogether wanting. That there is great danger of self-deceit in reference to this matter, is clear from what the Apostle says in the very words following my text : " He that saith he is in the light and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother, abideth in the light ; and there is none occasion of stumbling in him; but he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, be- cause that darkness hath blinded his eyesV You perceive that a man may be very confident that he is in the light ; and yet be so defective in respect of love, as to be in utter dark- ness, and going he knows not whither. I pray you, guard against so fatal a delusion as this ; and never conceive your- selves to be " children of light," till your whole spirit and temper, candidly examined, attest that you are " walking as children of the light1."]