was given to him without measure"; because "in him," to use the apostle's highly figurative language, "dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily," that he was enabled to shine with a splendour so steady, and powerful and lasting, as to illuminate mankind.

Nor should we neglect to notice the particular emphasis and propriety with which the term world is introduced into the text: "I am the light of the world." Other lights there were, no doubt, in different ages and nations, some of whom must be admitted to have shone with no ordinary brightness. Philosophers and legislators had appeared amongst mankind, at different times and in different countries, whose instructions and laws had been to a certain extent useful. But, to say nothing of the want of authority by which their efforts were obstructed, if we only look to the comparative narrowness of the sphere within which they were compelled to move, we cannot fail immediately to perceive the propriety of the expression alluded to. As to legislators, their regulations have commonly no further object than to secure the rights of individuals from mutual aggression, and are commonly adapted to the manners and habits of a particular people. Their authority extends, at most, no farther than to the regulation of the

outward conduct. The teaching of philosophers was limited to their immediate friends and disciples. An effort to extend it further, was sure to be looked upon with jealousy, by those whose interests were involved in the perpetuity of existing ignorance, and to endanger the property and the life of the innovator. Without the immediate interposition of the Deity, a general reformation of mankind would seem to have been impracticable. The philosophers and sages of antiquity may be compared to lamps, each of which, within its own little apartment, ministered to a few that had collected round it a feeble and imperfect light, which was valuable in the absence of a better. Not one of them was ever found to devote himself to the dissemination, amongst mankind at large, of a purer system of religion and morality; nor, indeed, was it to have been expected that they should do so, when we consider the doubts which must have existed in their own minds as to the correctness of their conclusions, as well as the mighty obstacles which existed around them to the accomplishment of such an undertaking, and which nothing but the power of God himself could have been sufficient to overthrow.— Jesus Christ, on the contrary, invested as he was with this Divine authority, devoted his labour, and sacrificed his life, to the accomplishment of

this great object. "He gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify us unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." His religion was designed for the poor, the illiterate, the simple. By them it was most wanted, and with them it was in least danger of being corrupted. Amongst them it was most likely to take deep root, and grow up without injury. Amongst them, therefore, it was preached, laboriously and faithfully preached, both by himself and his disciples. His instructions, however, though for wise purposes more immediately addressed to the poor, were designed for the improvement of mankind at large. In like manner, though addressed to the Jewish nation in particular, they were fitted and intended for universal dissemination. The sublime simplicity of his doctrines fitted them for it. The striking and popular form in which his precepts were delivered fitted them for it. The Divine authority with which they were pronounced, and the stupendous miracles by which they were sanctioned, fitted them for it. Who, then, but our Lord Jesus Christ, can lay claim to the appellation of "the light of the world"? Did he not, during his continuance on earth, deliver instructions which were both fitted and designed for universal dissemination? Did he not, after his ascension into heaven, shed forth upon his

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apostles such miraculous gifts as enabled them to impart the benefit of his instructions to a large proportion of the world, and to lay the foundations of a church against which the gates of hell shall not prevail? Does not the light of his instructions still shine for all who are disposed to avail themselves of it; and are they not still adapted to all ranks of society, and to all nations of the world? When compared with this heaven-sent teacher, the wisest and best of the sages of antiquity are but as the stars of the firmament in the presence of that great light, by whose splendour they are all obscured.

We have hitherto, in endeavouring to establish our Saviour's claim to the title which he here assumes, confined ourselves to the consideration of the knowledge which he was sent to communicate. But we may go further. We may say with truth, that he was the "light of the world," no less by his example than by his teaching. In this respect, no less than in the former, he excelled all other teachers; and beautifully illustrated his injunction to his disciples to "let their light so shine before men, that they, seeing their good works, might glorify their Father, who is in heaven." A faithful delineation of the most amiable of characters has been placed by the evangelists within the

reach of the meanest of his disciples; and it must be our own fault, my friends, if we do not, to a greater or less degree, form our own characters after the model with which we have been thus supplied.

There is one other point of view in which our Lord Jesus Christ may, with the greatest propriety, be denominated “the light of the world,” and that is, as having been the source of much pure and solid happiness to his followers. We speak not here, my friends, of that heavenly and everlasting happiness, of which, under God, he must undoubtedly be regarded by all who shall obtain it, as having been the origin, but merely of that happiness which a sincere belief in his religion is calculated to confer, even in this life. We speak of that habitual cheerfulness which a humble, yet steadfast hope of another and a better life hereafter may be expected to produce; of the solid comfort which a belief in this glorious doctrine is calculated to impart under the pains and calamities of life; and of the support which the sincere believer may hope to derive from it, even in the hour of dissolution. Your ideas, my Christian friends, of the propriety with which our Lord here assumes the title of "the light of the world," must necessarily arise, in a