cockatrice-den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy moun. tain." Isai. xi, 6, 7, 8, 9.

In those happy days the earth shall yield her increase, and resemble the garden of the Lord before sin entered into the world. It is probable that all climates will be temperate; that the air will be universally salubrious; that the ground will be abundantly prolific; and that violent storms and tempests will no longer disturb any part of the habitable globe. "Then God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him." Ps. lxvii, 7.

It will follow that all men will enjoy solid happiness when they know the Lord; and that God will be glorified by every human being. We may not live to see that happy day; but let us cultivate a saving knowledge of the Lord our God, and serve him with a perfect heart and willing mind. Then, whether we live with him on earth or in heaven, we shall be safe and happy! Amen.

SERMON LXXXII.

JESUS IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.

I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. JOHN viii, 12.

THOSE who rise early in the morning to worship God, either in their closets or in the sanctuary, are well prepared for the duties and the difficulties of the day. Jesus was an early riser, and a morning preacher. "Early in the morning" he went "into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them." How lovely was the place! Surely it was good to be there! Behold the Lord of glory, teaching wisdom in his holy temple; and behold his pious hearers sitting at his feet, while many were slumbering on their beds of down. Eat the scribes and Pharisees, ever vigilant in opposing his plans of mercy, and in hunting for his precious life, rose early to seek an occasion against him. They brought a woman taken in adultery, and, placing her in the midst of his congregation, stated the law of Moses on such cases, and demanded his opinion; but when he had convicted them of sin by their own conscience, and had said to the woman, "Go, and sin no more," he resumed his discourse. It is probable that the sun was then just rising in his light and glory; and that Jesus, pointing to that bright luminary, said, "I am the light of the world.”

I. JESUS IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.

Sin has darkened the understanding of man; and if God had not enlightened him, he would have remained in a state of Egyptian darkness. The light of reason never was a sufficient guide. Look at the heathen

world through every period of its history, and examine the ignorance of the Jews when they departed from the light of revelation. In both cases we have indubitable proofs of the extreme ignorance of man, when he does not walk in the light of the Lord.

All the light of the Patriarchs and Prophets came from Jesus, the promised Messiah, and the Mediator between God and man. Men were placed in his hands when the first promise was made, and he enlightened them by the inspiration of his Holy Spirit; and every ray of divine light which shone in the patriarchal age, and under the legal dispensation of the Jews, was from the Sun of Righteousness. Those rays of light shone through the medium of the holy Prophets, who prophesied until John; but we should never forget, that "prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." 2 Pet. i, 21. But who was the Holy Ghost? Was he not the Spirit of Jesus? Certainly he was that Spirit, of whom Jesus afterwards said, "He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you." John xvi, 14.

When Jesus appeared in our nature, darkness covered the earth, and gross darkness the people. The Gentiles were enveloped in clouds of thick darkness, by philosophy and vain deceit; and the light of the Jews was greatly obscured by vain traditions, and fanciful interpretations of their sacred books. The heathens were idolaters; and the Jews were formal worshippers. The one had gods without number, to whom they paid an impure worship; and the other dishonoured the one God, whom they professed to adore.

Pure religion was but little known in that age. The nations of the world, proud of reason, and well skilled in science, were utter strangers to divine truth in its essential and vital principles; and the people of God's pasture were ignorant of their fallen state, of salvation by a suffering Redeemer, of the work of the Spirit in the heart, and of the spirituality of true religion.

But when Jesus came, the people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death, light" sprang "up." Matt. iv, 16. He taught the people both publicly and privately, and his discourses were committed to writing by the holy Evangelists, for the benefit of the world in all succeeding ages; and those persons who read the Gospels with understanding, are enlightened by him who is emphatically THE LIGHT OF THE WOrld.

The holy Gospels are full of light. If you compare them with the classical writings of the learned heathens on the vital subjects of religion and morality, you will be able to estimate their value and importance. The Gospels pour a flood of light on the intellect of man, and lead his soul to God; but the finest classics, with all their bewitching charms, leave the soul in darkness and in death. The Gospels of God our Saviour are rich displays of infinite wisdom, teaching truth without a mixture of error, and holiness without a mixture of sin.

All the light which shines in the apostolical writings is the light of Jesus, by whose blessed Spirit they were inspired. He taught them, and they teach us; he shone on them, and they shine on the church

and on the world. Thus the moon and the planets give us light; but they shine only by reflection. When the sun shines on them, they shine on us; and in this view we must consider all the inspired writers: then the glory of all our light will be given to God our Saviour.

Christian Ministers are now the light of the world: but they have been taught by the Lord Jesus Christ. When they read the holy Scriptures, and have their eyes opened by the Spirit of the Lord, they are qualified to teach the truth as it is in Jesus both to the learned and to the unlearned; but they do not profess to have received any new revelation. They are guided in all things by the Spirit and the Word; and they give the glory to Jesus, who is the fountain of light, and the author of salvation.

II. WE SHOULD FOLLOW JESUS, WHO IS THE LIGHT OF THE World. Holiness, both in heart and life, is the grand design of Divine illuminations, and if we live in sin with Gospel light, our state in the day of judgment will be worse than that of Sodom and Gomorrah.

To follow Jesus as the light of the world, implies faith in all the doctrines which he taught. Some of these are profoundly mysterious, but we believe them under a conviction that he was an infallible Teacher. For instance, we believe, on his authority, that he was both God and man; but who understands this mystery? We believe in the resurrection of the dead; but does any man understand the nature of the resurrection? We believe that God created the world, and that he governs it by a wise providence, though we neither understand the one nor the other. But our faith in all these great truths is quite satisfactory, when we can prove them by Divine Revelation. "Thus saith the Lord," is the highest authority; and when we have that, we want no more.

We follow Jesus as the light of the world, when our faith in his doctrines produces obedience to his precepts. Does he command us to repent? We follow him when we repent in dust and ashes. Does he command us to believe? We follow him when we "believe in him with the heart unto righteousness." Does he command us to love the Lord our God with all our heart? We follow him when the Lord God is supreme in our affections. Does he command us to love our neighbour as ourselves? We follow him when we wish our neighbour well, and do him all the good we can. The same may be affirmed of all the other commands of Jesus. For when we believe in him, we love him; and when we love him, we obey him. Thus "faith worketh by love, and purifies the heart."

But we should follow the temper of our Lord and Master. He was humble, and we should follow his humility. He was meek and gentle, and we should cultivate a meek and gentle spirit. He was patient in suffering, and we should exercise patience in all our sufferings. He was devout and zealous, and we should imitate his zeal and devotion. But, above all, we should follow him in the Spirit of love, both to God and man. And let us follow him cheerfully, for all his ways are pleasantness; let us follow him steadily, neither turning to the right hand nor to the left; and let us follow him to the end, that we may obtain eternal salvation.

III. WHILE WE FOLLOW JESUS, WE SHALL NOT WALK IN DARKNESS;

BUT SHALL HAVE THE LIGHT OF LIFE.

Darkness is a common metaphor for ignorance; and to walk in darkness is to walk in ignorance. The followers of Jesus may be ignorant of arts and sciences, and of many works and ways of men; but they are not ignorant of any truth which is necessary to salvation. They are well acquainted with the doctrines, the duties, and the hopes of Christianity; and all things that are necessary to promote their peace and safety, as clear to them as the noonday light. Critical knowledge may be far beyond their reach; but they know their way to happiness and heaven.

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They do not walk in darkness as it relates to Christian experience. Providential events may be dark to the followers of Jesus; but in the darkest night of affliction they know that the Lord is their covenant God. Isai. 1, 10. For, having "received the Spirit of adoption, they can cry, Abba, Father," in the deepest affliction. Rom. viii, 15. The light of Jesus, which shines upon them in the darkest hour of suffering, removes their doubts and fears; and while they walk in the deepest shades of providential darkness, "they rejoice in hope of the glory of God."

As Christian believers, we have "the light of life;" or a light which leads us to a life of grace on earth, and to a life of glory in heaven. This light discovers the necessity of regeneration, and the way in which it is attained; and when we follow its directions, we are born of God, and live to God. It guides all our steps in the Christian life, and leads us on, from a state of childhood and youth, to a state of manhood and maturity. At length, having finished our work in the life of grace, and being fully prepared for a higher state, we enter on a life of glory, and live for ever with the Lord.

How widely different is human learning! Arts and sciences are both useful and ornamental; but their light is not the light of life. The most accomplished scholar who does not follow the light of life is dead in trespasses and sins. The light of science, unaccompanied with Divine light, cannot lead the soul of man to heaven; it is good for this life, but here it ends. He is a wise man who uses the light of science as the handmaid of religion.

Bless God for the light of life. Bless him individually; bless him unitedly; and bless him at all times. What would our state have been at this moment, if we had not been favoured with the light of life? We should have been buried in the clouds and mists of heathenism; and our state would have been as wretched as that of the most benighted nations of the earth.

Improve the light of life. It was not given to amuse the trifler; or to satisfy the curiosity of the curious; but to direct the children of men in the way of purity and holy obedience. When these ends are answered, the Lord is glorified, and we are saved. But how may we improve this light? The answer is easy: when we discover a truth, let us believe it; when we discover a duty, let us instantly perform it; and when we discover a promise, let us seize it for our encouragement.

Lastly, let us endeavour to enlighten other men. Our families, our

relations, and our friends have high claims on our benevolence in this good work. Jews, Heathens, and Mahomedans are in darkness; can we enlighten them, either by our own exertions or by sending out the Word of life? Let us try what we can do; and let us pray to God for help. We hope the day is not distant when "all nations shall know the Lord, and when the whole earth shall be full of his glory." That will be a happy day; we may not live to see it; but may we glorify our God on earth, and find our way to heaven! Amen.

SERMON LXXXIII.

THE PILLAR OF THE CLOUD BETWEEN THE CAMPS.

And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removea and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them. And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these; so that the one came not near the other all the night. EXODUS xiv, 19, 20.

THE Lord wrought many signal deliverances for the children of Israel in the days of old. When they were grievously oppressed in the land of Egypt, he brought them forth "with a mighty hand, and an outstretched arm." That Divine command, "Let my people go, that they may serve me," was repeatedly given to proud Pharoah; but for a long time he obstinately refused to obey the heavenly mandate. At length, being greatly terrified by the death of all the first-born in his dominions, he called for Moses and Aaron, and said, "Rise up, and go ye forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as ye have said. Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone: and bless me also." Ch. xii, 31, 32. But after they had departed, he assembled his army in great wrath, and impiously exclaimed, "I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil: my lust shall be satisfied upon them, my hand shall destroy them." Ch. xv, 9. The timid Israelites were overtaken at the Red Sea, beside Pi-hahiroth, before Baal-zephon; and recollecting the cruelty of the Egyptians, they were sore afraid. But Moses, endued with the spirit of prophecy, said unto the people, "Fear ye not, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will show you to-day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to-day, ye shall see them again no more for ever." The event verified the prediction; for that night all the Egyptians perished in the mighty waters. When Israel left the proud oppressor's land, "the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them in the way; and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light." Ch. xiii, 21. But when the host of Pharaoh pressed upon