The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1880-11-03
The Light of the World.

e are TIC Lt - 1
,itv that is set on hill cannot be mo.
Neither do men light candle and put
II under a bushel but on a candlestick;
and it giveth light unto all that are IN
the house. Let your light so shine be-
fore men, that they may see your good |
works, and glorify your Father who is
in heaven" This passage of Scripture,
spoken by the Savior, is full Of interest
to all the disciples of Christ everywhere.
1t contains some strange thoughts when
and viewed a worldly stand
point. But it is all true.
Light and darkness are expressions
very common to the Bible, and are gen
orally used to represent truth and error'
purity and sin. Things which are sin |
full are always represented as being
dark. and those things which are not
sinful are represented as being in the
light. Why this usage obtained in the
Bible we stop not to argue here. That
it is so used in the Bible is enough for
us to know for our present purposes.
Where darkness is there are sorrows,
sin and death. 1t has always bRsn so,
and we presume there will be no Change
in this respect till darkness is destroy
ed. Darkness viii exist so long as the
power which produces it is not subju-
gated. When the Prince of darkness is
robbed of his power then will these evil
influences cease to exist.
A world in darkness is sad, fearful
thought. No light. no hope and no
life. Light and darkness are contrary
TO each other. Frem one radiate life,
ioy, and blessings; from the other come
death, sadness and cursings. One leads
up to home-heaven-and joys ever
lastings; the other leads down to woe
and sorrows eternal. One is life and
the other is death,
Christianity, or Christ, is the true
light of the world. His disciples are the
light of the world in the sense of being
light-bearers for Christ. Have we any
proof that Christianity is the light, the
true light, of the world? We think we
have. When tested, every institution
will prove what it is. Christianity has
claimed certain things. What has it
done to entitle it to respect, and TO sub
stantiate its claims? Much in every
| way. Wherever Christianity has gone,
pure and unauthorized, there has been
a change for the better. Civilization
and Christianity go hand in hand.
There is not today truly civilized
| tribe or nation on the face OF the earth
where the light of the gospel does not
shine. This then speaks volumes for
this light, for this religion. There can
! be no science, no true science, In con
| fict with Christianity. When men
think they see a conflict it is only be-
cause they do not understood the one or
the other. There are some men claim
ing scientific accuracy who are neither
scientists nor theologians. Here IS
where much skeptical trouble germi-
mates, and is nurtured and grown up to
maturity. There can be no true science
arrayed against God and truth. All
must harmonic,
{" Ye are the light Of the world"
how important to every Christian
"That was the true Light which light
eth every man that cometh into the
world" That Light was Christ, our
Savior. Christians get all the light
they have from Him. His light is from
heaven; it is Gods light. and the dis
cIpIes of Christ are Gods light-bearers.
A great trust has been committed to
them. They have assumed the respon-
sibility of holding up Gods light before
the world, that poor, fallen humanity
may be led away from error, darkness
and death, unto Him who is the way,
the truth and the life. To stand be-
tween the living and the dead, and to
hold aloft the lamp of life and truth, is
surely a great responsibility, and yet it
is a great privilege to occupy such a
position. In being hght-bearer for
| Christ there are always sacrifices to be
made. No good thing can any one OBJ
tain without an exertion, without sacri-
fee.
The Christians light must shine or he
will be of no service to the Church and
/ the cause of Christ, If Christians are
! the light Of the world, and they hide
/ their light under bushel, and do not
/ let it shine, how long will it take TO
! convert fthe world to Christ? If 4 dis
! CHILE of Christ fails to let his light shine
it will mott be very long before his light
will be turned into darkness, and he
will be without God and without hope
! in the world. Then one reason why
! Christians should let their light shine
is, that they may save themselves from
| sin and its fearful consequences.
! Church members, who are holding up
the banner of Christ, are not easily
turned back into the world. In fight
ing the battles of the Lord they are de-
Tending themselves, and strengthening
their fortifications for future engage
/ ments
Another object in Christians letting
their light shine before men is, to con-
vert them from the error Of their way
and turn them to Christ, the Lord
Christians can live in such way as te
constrain others to glorify God; or they
can live so as to turn them away from
Christ, and thus keep them out Of the
kingdom Of heaven. How many Chris
tiaps. thoughtless, careless and indifferent
| Spenu All their udyS III iulOIlGSo ''AN NV
er accomplish any good for the cause
they have espousedl Oh, how sad it is
for one to thus live! Better rot to haye
| lived than to live and squander all the
| time and talent the Heavenly Father
hath so richly bestowed. Brother, live
| for a purpose; live so that you may live
| triumphautly when the scenes Of time
have all faded away. This is the way
you ought to live, the way God would
have YOU live. To live thus you will be
happier and better. To do good, to love
mercy and to live righteously is the way
Christians are to let their light shine
Exchange.
"Not every one that saith