86 CHRISTMAS DAY. SERMON V. CHRIST THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. ISAIAH lx. i. "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee." SUCH is the language addressed to us by the event, which we are this day met to celebrate. Yes, to us, my brethren. For in these words the prophet is speaking of things which he did not actually see, and only beheld with the eye of faith. We shall catch his meaning better, if we try to place ourselves in the situation which his words describe, and enter into the thoughts which filled his mind. He speaks as if standing on that eminence to which the Holy Spirit raised him; an eminence from which he could look into future time, and see the bright pros pect of things to come. On a sudden, he appears to behold the Sun arising from the shades of night, or breaking forth from a thick cloud, dispersing the darkness on every side; and bringing into view all that before was hidden in obscurity. And he says, addressing Jerusalem, the holy city which at that time represented the church, the people of God, The darkness is now past; the night of types and shadows, through which you have been hitherto looking, and trying to discover the counsels of God, to understand the way of salvation, and interpret what Moses and all the prophets have foretold. This obscurity is at an end; the Sun has at length appeared, "the Sun of righteousness" so long expected and desired; and calls upon thee also to "arise and shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee." In this manner the prophet, or rather the Holy Spirit who spoke by the prophet, describes the event which we are now celebrating; describes the period in which we are living, and the light which we are enjoying; describes the duties to which, as possessors of such blessings, we are each and all of us bound. The idea which his words suggest, is well calculated to instruct and admonish us. For though much of the accompanying prophecy remains still to be fulfilled, and bids us look forward to a period more glorious than the history of the church has ever yet recorded: alluding probably to the future conversion of the Jews, and the increase of faith which is to follow that event, "when the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth as the waters cover the sea;" still the address contained in the text applies not only to Jerusalem, not only to the church of God at large; but is suited also to every individual congregation which may be this day assembled to commemorate the Nativity suits every individual Christian who is this day reminded of the advantages held forth to him. For on all these the light has shone, and they are alike exhorted to shine," that men may see their good works, and glorify their Father who is in heaven." This is the idea which I shall now endeavour to expand, and enforce in a way that profitable. may be The words of the text comprise an EXHOR TATION, to arise and shine; and a REASON to enforce it, thy light is come. the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. I shall consider the REASON, first; and then proceed to the EX HORTATION. I. There is such a connexion between ignorance and darkness, that the one is constantly put for the other in scripture.1 In the dark ness of night, the useful labours of mankind are suspended. And where ignorance prevails, the proper business of mankind, which is the service of God, cannot be performed. Before we can believe, we must know what is to be believed; before we can please God, we must be acquainted with his will; before we can obey him, we must have learnt his commands. Again, in the darkness of the night, the traveller wanders, at a loss to discover the way which he should pursue. And so when ignorance prevails; he who is engaged in the most important of all journeys, his journey through Some of the illustrations in the first part of this Sermon are taken from an old treatise, entitled (if I remember rightly) the Sun of Righteousness. this world, knows nothing of his course; perhaps seeks after it in vain amidst the clouds of error and superstition; but more probably goes blindly on where the crowd is hurrying, and never perceives to what that way leads, or where it must end, And this was indeed the state of the world, before our Lord appeared. Looking towards it, Isaiah said, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people. And it was so. Darkness did overspread the earth, darkness which might be felt, in every thing relating to morals and religion. Gross darkness did cover the people, who lived as if this world, and its pleasures or its labours were all for which they were born. If ignorance is justly termed darkness, so knowledge is properly compared to light. At the dawn of day, the traveller takes fresh courage; he perceives the path in which he should go, and proceeds on it rejoicing. In the same manner religious knowledge enlightens a man as to his true business in this life, and sets him to work out his salvation. Religious knowledge points out to those who are pilgrims and strangers in the world," the path they must 66 |