PART III.

THE CHURCH PRODUCED BY THE GOSPEL.

§ 1. ITS INFLUENCE ON SOCIETY.

Lect. XXI. The light of the world-The Church a blessing.

§ 2. ITS IMPERFECTIONS.

Lect. XXII. The Tares and Wheat-Visible Church imperfect. § 3. TRANSFER.

Lect. XXIII. The Vineyard-Visible Church transferred to the

Gentiles.

§ 4. ITS ULTIMATE DESTINY.

Lect. XXIV. The Mustard-seed-The Church will fill the earth.

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LECTURE XXI.

THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD; OR, THE CHURCH A BLESSING TO

THE supreme object of the infinite, invisible, and ever-blessed God, seems to be the manifestation of his glory to his intelligent creatures. And as material light reveals material things to man, so, whatever manifests God, is called light. If we take this clue to the labyrinth of creation, Providence and revelation, it guides us through them all, relieves us from many perplexing doubts, and suggests expanded conceptions of the unity, grandeur and kindness developed by the stupendous plan. To know God in his works is true science: to know him in his providence is still more important. But to know him in Christ is indispensable. And yet the world in its wisdom knows him not. There is much wisdom among men; but it beholds not his beauty and majesty, his justice, goodness, wisdom, holiness and truth laying the foundations of the earth, and establishing the heavens. Providence still walks among us, but his wonderful footsteps are not seen; his hand is not recognized. His word still

shines; luminous with his unveiled attributes, with the history of his providence, the statutes of his empire, the counsels and purposes of his will, the mediation of his Son, the threatenings of his wrath, the invitations and promises of his mercy ;-and yet these have not satisfied his goodness. There must be one other channel of light. And so he says to the collective Church and to its individual members,-"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." The doctrine of this passage is, that,

Christ's disciples are bound to make God manifest to the world. Their obligation arises from the fact that God desires it; and that this is an end at which he has supremely aimed in every thing he has done on their behalf. That this is his desire and intention appears,

I. FROM HIS DECLARATIONS CONCERNING THE CHURCH AND ITS MEMBERS, AND FROM HIS EMPLOYMENT OF THEM.

Nothing can show this more strongly than the position of the Church in the family of Noah during the deluge. What an exhibition to subsequent generations of the power, goodness, and fidelity of God! So it was with Abraham and the Church in his house. He was a sun rising on those benighted nations; revealing to them the one living and true God, in his holiness, condescension, goodness, and power. Joseph was the light of Egypt; representing Jehovah in the midst of a nation of gross idolaters. Israel marching out of Egypt,

and entering the land of promise, was a light in the desert. Through that people God showed forth his purpose of establishing a kingdom in this world, and of maintaining it against the power and craft of Satan. And even in their captivity they were still God's witnesses. Mordecai, Daniel and his companions, Ezra and Nehemiah were lights shining brightly amid Babylon's darkness. Indeed Daniel was made to catch the light of God's purposes, hidden yet from other men, and reflect it on the proud spirit of earth's greatest despot; and reveal to him, not only what God is, but what he intended to do. See what light shone from the conduct of these children of God when a benighted pagan monarch saw their bold fidelity and dignified reliance on God, and his faithfulness in rescuing them! But we may now pursue this interesting view of the Old Testament Church no farther. "Glorious things were spoken of Zion, the city of the Lord. God was in the midst of her." Her light beamed out, like the lamp of Noah's ark; the only gleaming over a vast, dark, and desolate waste of waters. And yet the light which she was able to reflect was comparatively dim.. When the Sun of Righteousness had once arisen, then the planets that he had set in the spiritual firmament were able to shed a brighter light upon a benighted world. And if saints under the Old Testament were bound to shine brightly, we ought to be as much brighter than Moses, and Abraham, Daniel and Isaiah, as our situation is more favorable than theirs. And it would be a most interesting journey to travel back to the days of the apostles, and see where the New Testament Church received the light, and began to diffuse it; and how through long