that now is, and of that which is to come." But I shall notice this point in its due order; and must first attend to the words spoken by our Lord, in which he declares himself to be the light of the world: and 2dly, The promise to those who follow him, that they shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life and 3dly, What that life really is: 4thly, The signs or proofs that we participate or partake of it whilst upon earth, as the earnest of our inheritance.

First, then, it will not be necessary here to enlarge or insist on the momentous truth, that Christ was the light of the world; or to show, in this discourse, in what manner he was the light of the world, as we know and are assured that he was that true light foretold by the ancient prophets"The Lord," who is styled by Isaiah "our everlasting light," and "that Kings should come to the brightness of his rising."

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St. John declared him to be that light which should come into the world-and " in him was life, and the life was the light of men." He was ordained as a covenant of the ple, for a light of the gentiles. And his own blessed life and painful death, as set forth in the gospel, sufficiently proclaim it. There we see how he was, and is, and will be, the light and the life of the world; as

he gave himself a ransom for us, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but shall have everlasting life, in those realms where the Lamb will be our light for ever.

It was not then that the Saviour merely declared himself as the light, the way, the truth, and the life; but he proved it by his own life-by his death-his glorious resurrection, and ascension into heaven; there to appear in the presence of God for us. And to those who look for him, will he appear a second time, without sin unto salvation; having left us a written testament how to obtain it.

These divine truths, then, being duly received and acknowledged, I shall proceed to my second head; namely, the promise to those who follow him, that they shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

We certainly know that men will not follow this light in their natural statethey will not even come to this light naturally. There are men now, as there were when Christ was upon earth, who love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil: they hate the true light, they love sin-they have no desire or wish to be holy-they are content without the

knowledge of the glorious gospel, which bringeth salvation-they cannot bear even to be reproved. But he that doeth truth, our Saviour declares, cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God.

To him, then, who cometh to the Saviour, who hath received his Saviour, and hath so received him, that he hath been made a child of God, by adoption and grace, and is complete in Christ, taking up his cross, and following his blessed steps, to him will that divine light be imparted, which shall keep him in all his ways. It will be to him the light of life. "It will be in him as a well of water springing up unto eternal life; in him will be no spiritual darkness: his eye is single, his whole body shall be full of light." And as the sun is the light of the natural world, so will that day-spring from on high, the sun of righteousness, shine into his heart, and illumine his soul. And as the rain descends to renew and sustain the earth, so shall this divine life be daily renewed, and will flow fresher and clearer till he appears with his Saviour in glory, by that living fountain which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

But we have said, that this divine light must be imparted or given to us: we have

it not naturally. The natural man is corrupt, and enmity against God and holiness; neither can he understand those things which are spiritual: and though they are freely offered, it is evident that we must be drawn or induced to partake of the offering: we must be made sensible that we need this divine light, which also gives life. We know that even if the natural light is excluded from a plant, it will fade, sicken, and die how much more, then, does man, who is spiritually dead, need the quickening and reviving power of divine light! That some great change must be wrought in us, there can be no doubt, before we shall so hunger and thirst after righteousness that we shall be filled.

It is by grace and faith that we receive this indwelling principle, whereby we draw out of the well of salvation, and from that living rock from whence flows every blessing-not only what we shall have in reversion, but what we may really possess in this state of being. The divine life must begin here; it is here implanted that it may flourish and grow in us, and abide with us for ever. The life which the true Christian lives, is by faith in the Son of God: and he knows that out of his fulness he shall derive continually, as from a fountain of

life, the health and holy sustenance of his soul, which shall nourish him unto life eternal. And he hath here a foretaste of it, in that inward peace and joy which is the fruit of righteousness; and in the hope and promise of passing from death unto life, and an assurance that sin shall not reign in him, for he shall receive abundance of grace, and of the gift of righteousness. Yes, my friends, this divine life is represented in holy writ as commencing here; it is here possessed and enjoyed by all the true servants of Christ. It is here that we must be spiritualised, that we may be made meet for the inheritance and society of the saints in light. He that believeth hath the witness in himself. The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him, and he will show them his covenant. They are the children of light, and that light shall lead them in the right way; and finally, to glory and immortality.

But, thirdly, we are to inquire further in what this divine life really consists: it is to have that heaven-born principle, the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness: that inward renewal of the spirit, whereby Christ is made unto the penitent sinner, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption it is the kingdom of God