Rev. J. BATTERSBY

(Vicar of St. James', Sheffield),

AT VERULAM MISSION CHURCH, KENNINGTON ROAD,

LAMBETH, LONDON,

THURSDAY EVENING, JUNE 7TH, 1883.

In the 5th chapter of the 1st Epistle of St. Paul to the Thessalonians, and at the 5th verse, you will read these words:

"YE ARE ALL THE CHILDREN OF LIGHT, AND THE

CHILDREN OF THE DAY: WE ARE NOT OF THE

NIGHT, NOR OF DARKNESS."

You have already heard the chapter read whence my text is taken, which will, to some extent, familiarise you with the words of the text. In the latter part of the preceding chapter the Apostle had been comforting and encouraging the Thessalonian Christians with the hope that the Lord Jesus Christ would return from heaven, that the saints who should be living here upon the earth at the time would not prevent those who had fallen asleep in Christ from rising again, and that both "shall be caught up together in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the

Lord. Wherefore "-observe what I say,-" comfort one another with these words." (Verses 17 and 18.) The Thessalonians may have made a mistake about the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, and they may have thought that it was immediate, and, consequently, neglect their daily avocations. The Second Epistle seems to have been written to put them right upon this particular point. In the opening of our chapter, he tells them that he has no need to write to them about "the times and the seasons :"-that is about the times when the events, which he had already named would take place. There is no need to mention the year, nor the month, nor the day of the month, nor the hour of the day. You have no need that I write unto you about the times, nor yet about the seasons, as to whether they will take place in summer, or in winter,in spring, or in autumn. These things are to be left in the Hands of Him Who works all things after the counsel of His Own Will. "For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night." The illustration here is to show us that, when the Lord does come, it will be sudden and unexpected. I presume that a thief would not come if he were expected. He comes at a time when he is least expected. Now the Apostle is teaching the Thessalonian Christians that after the same manner the Lord will come. "For when they shall say, 'Peace and safety,'"-for some will say so,-" Then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. I am aware that this portion of Scripture may have some reference to the coming of the Lord in judgment upon the Jews in the destruction of Jerusalem. But the mind is carried forward to another event, when there will be a great destruction of the wicked, and a glorious manifestation of the Son of God. "But ye, brethren, are not in darkness,”—about these things and when they shall happen," that that day"-of judgment, overthrow, and destruction,-" should overtake you as a thief." There is a great difference between those who are the

children of light and of the day; and those who are the children of night and of darkness. God has always made a difference between these two classes. He does now, and He will continue to do so even unto the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Then those that are His are described as being at His Right Hand, and those who are not His are described as being at His Left Hand. I shall not now touch upon the following verses in this chapter; but I shall ask you to look at our text in the following order :—

First, you have a double contrast: "light" and "darkness,"-"day" and "night." Secondly, you have a negation: "We are not of the night, nor of darkness." And, thirdly, you have an affirmation: "Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day." Let us now proceed to consider these particulars, and thus try to open up our text as the Spirit of God may enable us. We shall, therefore, call your attention, in the First place to the double contrast: "light" and "darkness,"

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day" and " night." "Light" and "day" we shall

throw together. There may be light without full day,— or day in its fulness: hence there will be a beauty, I think, in speaking of "light" first, and then of light increasing into "perfect day." We shall have to notice this word "Light" as it is used in the Scriptures. It is used for, and applied to, God Himself. St. John says that "God is Light, and in Him is no darkness at all." (1 John i. 5.) Now what are we to understand by Light when it is affirmed of God? I will tell you what I understand by it. It seems to me that light is a figure to set forth the purity, the holiness, the majesty, and the glory of our God. "In Him there is no darkness": no impurity, no unholiness:-only majesty, and beauty, and glory. He is Light. And then again this word Light is used of the Lord Jesus Christ. said in the Ist of St. John, that when the Lord came into the world, He was the Light. "In Him was life; and the life was the Light of men. And the Light shineth in darkness"-that is, the Lord Jesus Christ shineth in darkness. But "the darkness"-that is

It is

ungodly men and women-" comprehended it not." (Verses 4 and 5.) They perceived not, nor understood the Light. But when we apply the word " Light" to, and find it used of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Scriptures, it is to set Him forth as the other Self of Jehovah Father, as in the 1st chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews: "Who being the brightness of His Glory, and the express image of His Person, and upholding all things by the Word of His Power." Now the Lord Jesus Christ says of Himself:-"I am the Light of the world." (John viii. 12.) What the sun in the heavens is to the natural world, such is the Lord Jesus Christ in the spiritual world of His people, even to the ends of the earth. Christ, the True Light, shines upon all and into all His people. Christ as the Light is set forth by divers titles in the Scriptures: "The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings." (Malachi iv. 2.) "The day spring (the morning star) (the sun rising) from on high hath visited us." (Luke i. 78.) "A Light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the Day Star arise in your hearts." (1 Peter i. 19.) Light is sprung up in the midst of darkness"-that is, in the midst of the people. "Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart." All these titles are given to and are descriptive of the Lord Jesus Christ in His purity, in His holiness, in His majesty, and in His glory. The Lord Jesus Christ is a most wonderful Person, as He is the "Light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of His people Israel." (Luke ii. 32, and Luke i. 79.)

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The

But this word "light" is also applied to the Word of God. It is said in the 119th Psalm and the 130th verse that "the entrance of Thy words giveth light." Thy words are light and they give light, the entrance of them giveth understanding to the simple." Word of God in the letter simply does not give light. But it does when the Holy Ghost causes it to be a "Light shining in dark places," that is, in the hearts of the children of men. And thus it comes to pass as St. Paul has said: "God, who commanded the light to

shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Corinthians, iv. 6.) Thus then, my beloved, God Himself is the fountain of Light to His people; and the Lord Jesus Christ is their Light also. The entrance of the Word of God, which is the Gospel, when spiritually applied is light. It dispels the darkness of ignorance and gives the true light of the knowledge of God. Blessed are they who are called out of darkness into His marvellous light." (1 Peter, ii. 9.) Now do you know, that in all our readings, and in all our meditations, we have to bring everything to the standard of the Word of God? And if we do not, and if we attempt to settle matters without the Scriptures, then we can give no stronger proof than this, that we are yet in darkness. I will give you a passage in confirmation of what I say. It is in the 8th of Isaiah, the 20th verse. "To the law and to the testimony":-" to the law and to the testimony" of God:-"if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." There is neither spiritual light, nor spiritual knowledge in them. They are in darkness and know not the Lord.

Again, this word "light" is applied to God's children. They are not forgotten of the Lord. Hence our Lord said to His disciples: "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." (Matthew v. 14 to 16.) You see that as a Christian man's light shines before an ungodly world, he glorifies his God and Father in heaven. How is it? Because he manifests the light that God has put into his heart by the power of the Holy Ghost. "The sons of God shine as lights in the world." But this light, which is in them, shines "more and more unto the perfect day." (Proverbs iv. 18.) I think that