Serm. CLXXXIX. the ChriftianRevelation 587 Sixthly, The great Guilt of thofe who reje& the Doctrine of the Gofpel ; by this very at of theirs they are condemned, nay they condemn themfelves, becaufe they reje& the only means of their Salvation ; this is the condemnation , this very thing condemnsand argues the height of their folly and guilt, that when light is conic into the world, they preferred darknefs before it. I fhall difcourfe diftindly on thefe particulars. Firfi, We will confider the defcription which is here given ofour Saviour and his Do&rine, they are call'd light ; light is come into the world. Light is a Metaphor frequently ufed in Scripture for Knowledge , efpecially for fpiritual and divine Knowledge and thofc who teach and inftru& others are faid to be Lights. So our Saviour is frequently call'd the light ofthe world, and the true light ; and his Dif- ciples, who were to inftru& the world, are called light, ye are the light of the world ; and the Dodrine of our Saviour is likewife call'd a light; the light of the gloriousGofpel of Chrifl, 2 Cor. q.. 4. And 'tis with refped to his Do&rine, that he is here faid in the Text to be a light come into the world; which Phrafe of coming into the world, does not fo immediately refer to his Nativity, as to his Comtniffion from God, for this Phrafe of coming into the world, is of the fame importancewith that of being fent from God ; as Verfe 17. where he fays of himfelf, that Godfeat him nit into the world, to condemn the world ; and here in the Text, this is the con_ demnatio;a, that light is come into the world ; that is , that when God fent his Son on purpofe to preach fuch a Do&.tine, Men fhould reje& it and fet it at nought : And 'in this fenfe, this Phrafe of coming into the world is I think fre- quently ufed in the New 'Teftament, for coming in God's Naine, uponforce meffrgë to the world. So Chap. 6. Ver. 54. force of the Jews being convine'd of our Savi- our's divine Commiffion, they exprefs it thus; of a truth this is that Prophet which was to cone into the world., So Chap. 12. 46. fpeaking of himfelfas fent of God; fays he, Iam come a light- into the world ; he had laid ¡Lift before, be that feeth me, Teeth him that font me ; and then he adds , I ant a light come into the world. There is one Text indeed, where this Phrafe feems to be taken for being born into the world, Char s. 9. And that was the true light , which enlightens every man that cometh into the world : but feveral of the Fathers, as St. Cyril and St.Auflin; read this Text otherwife, and that with great probability, confidering the uie of this Phrafe every where elfe ; I fay they read it thus. This was the true light which coming into the world, enlighteneth every man ; that is, which was fent from God to enlighten all Mankind : And fo this Phrafe of coming into the world, refers not to Mens being born into the world, but to our Saviour's being fent from God ; and this our Saviour feems to diftinguifh from his birth, iohn 18. 37. To this end was I born. andfbr this caufe came I into the world, that Imight bear witnefs to the truth, meaning that he was not only born, but couuniflìoned by God for this end. But enough for the Explication of this Phrafe, the proper impoiltance whereof is not unworthy our knowledge, efpecially finte a Sed amongft us build their Do- ctrine of a light within theta, and born with them, fufficient to conduct every Man to Salvation, upon that Text I mentioned before, This was the true light, which enlightens every Man that cometh into the world ;for which there is no pre- tence, if we read it, as the Original will very well bear it, this was the true light, which conning into the world, enlighteneth every man. And fo our Saviour fays of himfelf, Chap. t2. 46. I who am the light, am come into the world. But that which I principally intended under this head, is the unfolding of the Metaphor, which runs through the Text, that fo we may come at the plain Senfe and Meaning of ir, namely, why our Saviour, or (which is all one) the Do&rine which he preach'd to the world, is reprefented to us by light. And here I might tell you that t heDo&rineof the Gofpel is call'd a light, with regard to its cheating and reviving nature; for light (fays Soloman) is Tweet, and it is apleafant thing to. the eye to behold the Sun ; fo the Gofpel is glad tidings ofgreat joy. In regard likewife of its purity ; as Light is the pureft of all corporeal Beings g fo the Do- ctrine of the Gofpel Both enjoin a greater holinefs and purity, than any other R6- ligion ever did. And (not to be tedious in flight things) in regard of its fudden communication and fpeedy propagation in the world. As Light darts it felf from F fff 2 Eaft
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