"The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but the thing11 which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this Law" (Deut. xxix. 29). Only this much is true-revelation is not light to every age equally. Some things seem mysterious at one time that are clear enough at another. And in each fresh generation we may say- " The Lord bath yet more light and troth To break forth from his Word." 'l'his, at least, we may assert, prove, and illustrate-in all essential matters relating to moral conduct and religious faith, Gucl's revelation is light. I. GoD'S REVELATION IB LIGHT THAT SHOWS UP BIN. 1. It gives us prorer appre- hensions of Goel himself, and shows sin by oar contrast with him. 2. It unfolds before -us the graciousness of his relations with us, and convicts of sin as it makes us feel the weakness of our response to such relations (Dan. v. 23, last clause). 3. It declares to us the laws by which both our conduct and our spirit ought to be r11le<l; and by the Law is the knowledge of sin. 4. It presents to us the Lord Jesus Christ as the Gift of God; and "this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil." ll. GOD'S REVELATIOli IB LIGHT THAT BROWS THE WAY OUT OF SIN. 1. By removal of the penal ties it has involved. 2. By restoring the broken relations it bas caused. 3. Ry changing the spirit of the sinner-melting him to penitence, quickening him to believe. Illustrate one feature from the parable of the "prodigal son," and other features by such passages as Rom. iii. 19-26; v. 8-10. III. GoD'B REVELATION IS LIGHT THAT SHOWS THE WAY FOR THOSE REDF..EMED FROM SIN. There is the "way of holiness" in which they have to walk. There is a sancti- fyir;g, through cares and chastisements, which they have to experience. There is a perso1Jal and practical application of the Christian principles to the details of common life which has to be made. And, for all this, God's Word is a" lamp unto our feet, <ind e. light unto our path."-R. T. Ver. 6.-Things earthly and things spiritual. "They that dwell therein shall die in like manner; but my salvation shall be for e\'er." Some render, "Shall die like gnats;" that is, shall live their little day, and then pass away (comp. Ps. cii. 26; Matt. xxiv. 35; 2 Pet. iii. 10-13). We g,•t one of our chief impressions or the value of a thing out of the length of time that it will last. Permanence is one of the principal notes of value. The insect that hums through the air of one snmmer's evening is comparatively worthless; the elephant that lives through a hundred years is valuable. The wayside weed tbat lives its brief months is worthless; the giant oak that outlives the storms of generations is valuable. And so our idea of extreme ,·alue, of absolutely priceless worth, is put into the figure of permanenc-temal, abiding, and continuing. 'l'he highest conceivable good is eternal life; the worst conceivable woe is eternal death. 'fliis note of value tests things earthly; they are short-lived, and comparatively worthless. It tests things spiritual ; they are long-lived, good, cannc,t die, and they alone are truly worthy of the pursuit of those in whum God has breathed the breath of life. 1. The material heavens and material earth are the types of all mrzterial things. They are the" treasure on earth," which moth or rust are always corrupting, which thieves are constantly breaking through to steal. "Here we have no continuing city'' (see the force of this in view of the ruins of great ancien_t cities which abound in the East). "The fashion of this world passetb away." 'l'he world is a moving panorama. The generations go by like the ships that sail to the West. "The place that knows us now must soon know us no more for ever." Everythin_g on which the earthly stamp rests is in its very noture fading. Thero is no safe holding of what wo only get, only become possessed of. 2. But "salvation" and "righteousness" are the types of spiritual things. They bear relation to the man himself, and not to his mrro circumstanceR or surroundings. We can keep for ever only that which we are. Character is our "treasure in heaven, which neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and which no thieves ce.n break through and steal." But the yet higher truth-the one concerning which we need to gain ever new impressions-is thM we can only hope lo hold on for ever that which we are through Divine 9rn~; tbe.t which we are through 276 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. [OH, LI, 1-23,
the Divine redeemings and sanct.ifyinis. God's "salvation shall be for ever; and his righkousness shall not be abolished," as the salvation is wrought in us, and the righteousness shines from us.-R. 'l'.