Second Series. WEEK I. FIRST DAY. "THUS SPAKE JESUS AGAIN UNTO THEM, SAYING, I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD."—John viii. 12. LIGHT of the world! by whom alone "The way, the truth, the life," are known; Far from the mark they wander wide, Who think philosophy can tell Where God, the unknown God, doth dwell. They know Thee not, who fail to trace B They know Thee not, whose earthly mind They know Thee not, whate'er they say They know Thee not, who think to bring Their feigned obedience; call thee KING; And yet a selfish end pursue In all they say-in all they do. They know Thee not, who dare draw nigh, They know Thee not, most Holy Lord, They know Thee not, who will not wear Thine easy yoke, thy burden bear; Content their daily cross to take, And all at thy command forsake. They know Thee not, great Lamb of God! O! my blest Saviour! if so few All those whose faith on Thee relies; Thus, Lord, in me, thy light reveal; SECOND DAY. "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. How shall this passage be reconciled with another in Isa. 1. 10; where we read of a person, who, fearing God, and walking in obedience to the voice of his servant, is still said to walk in darkness, having no light? It may be replied, the terms light and darkness, which are often used emblematically in the Scriptures, are not always so used in relation to the same subjects. They are said to be in darkness, on whom the light of the gospel has never shined. They also walk in darkness, who wilfully close their eyes against the truth.-See John iii. 19. They do the same, who, while they make a profession of godliness, are living in a course of sin.--1 John i. 6. Affliction also is called darkness. Ps. cxliii. 3.1 The darkness spoken of in Isa. 1. 10, evi |