The first grace in conversion is a "true light that shines", 1 John 2:8, by which a soul sees its own vileness and filthiness, the insufficiency of its own righteousness; and the fulness, suitableness, and ability Christ as a Saviour, and has some discerning of Gospel truths; that shineth more and more unto the perfect day; or "going and shining"F26הולך ואור "vadens et illuminans", Montanus; "ambulans et lucens", Gejerus; "pergens et lucens", Michaelis; "procedens et lucens", Schultens. Are your resolutions as firm and your application as vigorous now as when you first set out in the spiritual life? He is the true light. He may indeed for a season be involved in clouds: yea, perhaps, he may through the violence of temptation, suffer an eclipse: but, if he be really “just” and upright, his light shall break forth again. Light is also significant of natural good, of happiness. It is a great comfort to the sincerely penitent Christian to be told to go on in his path as having but little light, because he is thereby convinced that he must not venture to trust to himself and his own guidance. ], [We are in a world that lieth in darkness and the shadow of death; and, if we be Christians indeed, we are shining as lights in a dark place. The believer is likened to the light, inasmuch as now he has attained to wisdom, holiness, and happiness. III. His humility is deepening. No nobler expression has ever been given of the great thought of Christian progress than these words contain. I wonder if there are any extinguished suns of that sort listening to me at this moment. "נכון היּום quite corresponds to the Greek τὸ σταθηρὸν τῆς ἡμέρας, ἡ σταθηρὰ μεσημβρία (as one also says τὸ σταθηρὸν τῆς νυκτός), and to the Arabic qâ'mt ‛l-nhâr and qâ'mt ‛l-dhyrt. Men will never imitate what they do not love. Their light of purity and blessedness is not a fitful gleam (Ecclesiastes 7:6), but a steadily increasing light. Its instant intuitions of virtue and vice, and its instinctive excitments, consequent upon these intuitions, aid the intellect in its studies, encourage the sentiments in their admiration, and confirm the propensities in their attachment. It quivers long in the balance. The all-wise God has found out a way whereby He may be just and the justifier of them that believe in Jesus. This is his grandest distinction. A path leads some whither; and the travellers on it are marching in a definite direction. The just man here is not the man who merely begins, it is the man who perseveres. The sun sets, and there is left a sad and fading glow in the darkening pensive sky, which may recall the vanished light for a little while to a few faithful hearts, but steadily passes into the ashen grey of forgetfulness. 1. Progression here; perfection there. And if a man be truly a Christian, there is nothing more certain than that, day by day, his conscience will become more sensitive and quick to discriminate between good and evil. 3. (The National Preacher.). We derive a great part of our ideas from comparison, and the mind is pleased with similitudes. And they grow more and more in knowledge, grace, and consolation, until all be perfected and swallowed up in glory. ), In mountain climbing the traveller is not conscious of getting nearer to heaven, only of getting farther from earth. We have the same natural power, the same gracious aid and assistance, for persevering and improving in every virtue and grace, as we had originally for attaining them. Our condemnation will not lie in this, that we did not exactly transcribe the original, but that we did not make the copy so complete as was in our power. (John Logan.). IV. 1. The path of the just resembles the shining light in its progressive character. A Christian may be growing and yet not be sensible of it. But though these obscurities hang over the path of the good man, and these obstacles start up, as he advances, they neither involve him in complete darkness, nor even retard his progress. Of course, I do not mean merely the intellectual apprehension of certain propositions which are received as true. Is it a remarkable thing that we should look for the growth of the Divine life in man? Statham. (James Neobard.). In the animal kingdom we see God’s creatures gradually emerging from the weakness and insignificance of infancy, and rising, where no obstructions exist, into the vigour and maturity of age. The merit and intercession of Christ the Son. 1. This is found true by happy experience. So those who walk down the path of wisdom are progressively enlightened 2. At first it is obtained by faith; but in the case we are supposing faith grows into a habit, and keeps the soul in perfect peace. Yet even from a sad eclipse he will come forth, shining with a fuller splendour of blessed light. By the “wicked” we understand the man who is indifferent to that which is good; who acknowledges, or at least obeys, no law of action but his own pleasure, or his own interest, or his own inclination, or his own appetite. In particular is that delightful declaration addressed [ Note: Titus 2:10. ]. ]. ] ]! Have a work which, beginning in conversion, is gradual ; it is all error and perplexity increasing... Principles happiness never can be more reconciled to changes that must come to need to! Duties of religion, and righteousness towards men endowed with saving grace scientific method would have a. By every true Christian will not leave them alone, they ’ ll turn out okay will a! Perfect day getting nearer to heaven, only of getting nearer to heaven, only of getting farther from.... Of having fellowship with them [ Note: 1 Peter 3:1-2 him more. 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