but of that ordinary light, which sheweth to the sinner "the glorious gospel of Christ;" as above expressed: and which inspireth him with love to God and with faith in his Redeemer ; which mortifieth evil affections, purifieth the heart, giveth to the soul à peace which passeth all understanding, and a sure and certain hope of the resurrection unto eternal life. We speak of that light, whatever it may be, which is necessary "to open the understanding, that "we may understand the Scriptures." Luke xxiv. 45.

We have asserted, that the spiritual light is not given to a nation or community of men by any system of education; but to individuals: even to those individuals, who obey the divine admonition, and supplicate "the Father of "Lights," for the "GOOD and PERFECT gift."

Let us now proceed to inquire what was the character of those persons whom our Saviour addressed as "the light of the world." For if men say, "We cannot see this spiritual light: " to us it is visible :" we must lead their attention to that which is obvious and visible; namely, the MORAL character of the children of light.

The character of those who are called the Light of the World, is recorded by our Lord himself in his Sermon preached from the Mount; for they are the persons whose virtues are the

subjects of his BEATITUDES.

It was on that oc

casion, when he had finished the enumeration of their peculiar dispositions, that he said "Ye are the light of the world."

In these Beatitudes, our Saviour would exhibit to the world, the character of His disciples.. He would declare the heavenly temper and consequent blessedness of those persons, who should be subjects of his spiritual kingdom, which had now arrived. For, when he saith, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven;" he saith, in effect, "Blessed are ye, my disciples, for ye are poor "in spirit:" and so of all the other dispositions there described; "Blessed are the meek;" -"Blessed are the merciful:"-" Blessed are "the peace-makers:"-" Blessed are the pure " in heart:"-Blessed are they which hunger "and thirst after righteousness." All these inestimable qualities of mind belong to the disciples of Christ; not one of them, but all. They all flow from "the self-same Spirit;" like sweet waters from the same fountain. They are the characters of that great moral change, which our Saviour foretold would be a frequent event under the New Dispensation.

When our Lord had given this record of the pure and heavenly dispositions of his disciples, he said unto them, "Ye are the light of the "world."

At that time, there were many illustrious characters in the world:-men of great eminence, who flourished in Greece and Rome, and enlightened mankind by their science and learning; whose names are renowned at this day. But our Lord said to his unlettered disciples, "YE are the light of the world."

Yet, when our

At that time, too, there were many in Judea, who had the revelation of God in their hands; "to whom were committed the oracles of 66 God," and who conceived themselves to be the church and people of God. Saviour came, he did not find ment for his ministry among the priesthood of the Jewish Church. And he turned to his disciples, and said, "Ye are the light of the "world."

one fit instru

We have introduced this doctrine of the Divine Illumination into the exordium of the Discourse, that it may guide us in our way through the difficult subject which lies before us. You will be now prepared to consider the following propositions :

1

1. If you would be instruments of the light to the world, you will draw it from Christ, and send forth preachers bearing the CHARACTER which He hath delineated.

2. If you be instruments of the true light, you will be diligent in using those MEANS of diffusing it which CHRIST hath appointed.

"

And it will probably appear to you, in the progress of this Discourse, that you ought to adopt more effectual measures for this purpose, than have hitherto been employed. For it is manifest, that a new era in the Church hath arrived. You are therefore required to use

new means.

I. IF YOU WOULD BE INSTRUMENTS OF THE LIGHT TO THE WORLD, YOU WILL DRAW IT FROM CHRIST, AND SEND FORTH PREACHERS BEARING

THE CHARACTER WHICH HE HATH DELINEATED.

They must be men into whose hearts the true light hath shined; such preachers as our own Church approves; who "trust that they "are moved to the work by the Holy Ghost." And, with regard to their outward deportment, they must be men whose dispositions accord with those which are described in the Sermon on the Mount; such as the Hindoo Christians call " Men of the Beatitudes:" that is their proper character; and there are more persons of that description in Great Britain at this day, than there were in Judea, in the time of our Saviour. This is sufficiently evident from the Evangelic History. You ought to be at no loss, then, to find fit Instruments of the Light.

But, in regard to such instruments, there are two important subjects of inquiry at this period of the Church:-first, What degree of

Learning they ought to possess; and, secondly, Whether they ought to be invested with the Sacred Character before they proceed on their mission.

1. Our first inquiry respects the DEGREE OF LEARNING, which Christian Missionaries ought to possess.

The preachers, whom our Saviour sent forth, were men of humble condition, and destitute of human learning. This was ordained, that the divine power of his Gospel might be made manifest, by the apparently inadequate means employed in its promulgation. All learning, however, of whatever kind, which was necessary for their ministry, was imparted to them supernaturally.

But the Apostle Paul-the " chosen vessel" -who was ordained to preach to the Gentiles, was not destitute of human learning, naturally acquired. And we are taught by his Epistles, that we may avail ourselves of every human aid to dispense the blessings of the Gospel; such as rank, wealth, eloquence, and learning. For all these are blessings of God; and are means of persuading men, as much as speech itself. Has it ever been imagined, that a man could preach the Gospel without the gift of speech, by signs alone? All these human aids, I say, are valuable gifts of God; and only cease to be blessings by the abuse of them. It