The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1886-07-21
LIGHT AND DARKNESS.


LIGHT AND DARKNESS.
An Ea,cient Remedy for Sadness and sor-
rowfulness Of Heart.
Many have been greatly comforted
by the cheering words of the prophet
Isaiah: "Who is among you that
feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the
voice of His servant that walketh in
darkness, and hath no lighte let him
trust in the name of the Lord, and stay
upon his God" A remedy for
sadness and sorrowfulness of heart is
commended to all "whose God is the
Lord" Though ever SO greatly de-
pressed or distressed, they are encour-
aged to cast their burdens on Him
whom the apostle denominates ''the
God of all comfort" Whoever pos
sesses the essential characteristics of a
godly man, described in the prophet s
words as one who fears and obeys
God. is entitled to that support and
solace which will change his darkness
into light
True godliness implanted in the
heart by Divine grace, and developed
in the life, affords good and substan-
tial ground for cheerfulness in the
darkest scenes of earthly experience.
Thus it is declared that 1.-THE work of
righteousness shall be peace; aud the
effect Of righteousness, quietness and
assurance forever. When the
heart is true to God. and the
life devoted to His service; there is an
unequaled and invaluable preparation
for any trial which may come; and all
who thus "fear God and keep His COM
mandments" have within them source
of happiness of which nothing can de-
prive them. In the fear of the Lord
is strong confidence; and His children
shall have u place of refuge"
But Notwithstanding eight is sown
for the righteous: and gladness for the
upright in heart" still those who are
thus favored may sometimes be said to
"walk in darkness and have no light" +"
This, however, is not the ordinary con-
dition of godliness. Light, rather than
darkness. appropriately belongs to
such q state, nothing properly belong
ing thereto less than darkness or more
than light. Those found therein have
been ''called out of darkness into God 8
marvellous light" having been "deliv-
cred fror the power Of darkness and
translated into the kingdom of Gods
dear Son" Concerning that ''dear
Son" it is said: ''ln Him was life, and
the life was the light of men," The
followers of Christ are called the ''chil-
dren of light That great change
which they experienced in becoming
His disciples can not be better de-
scribed than by saying that they were
"enlightened." Many are the rays Of
light which have shined into a true dis
ciple's whole intellectual and moral
being, so that he may be said to ''walk
in the light. 1t has been we'll said Of
him: ''He has the light of Divine
knowledge in his understanding; the
light of truth in his judgment; the
light Of hope in his soul; the light of
joy in his experiences; the light of holi-
ness in his life" .-... {.
While it does not properly belong to
the people of God to walk in dark
ness, yet 1t Is sometimes true Of the
most sincere servants of the Lord that
they have little or no light. Various
are the causes of this deplorable con-
dition. The trials of life may be con-
ducive to obscurity OF light Public
calamity may be as . cloud c0ncealing
the noon-day sun. Bodily intirmities
may lead to saying with Job, when
shall "the night be gomez" Spiritual
declension may result in the hiding OF
Gods face from those who thus for
sake Him. Too many walk IN dark
ness because they live so far from God.
who :" is light. and in whom is no
darkness ut all" 1t Is Q close walk
with God that insures walking in light,
and verifies the declaration that ''the
path of the just is as the shining light,
that shineth more and more unto the
perfect day" All backsliding is GO
ing out of light into darkness. Every
neglected duty puts out light and
brings on darkness. Every inattentiOn
TO the means of grace gives increasing
tendency to taking the steps of those
who walk in darkness and have NO
light. qAN u 10
The remedy for the evil of walking
in darkness and having no light is
trusting in tho name of the Lord and
staying upon God. This is confiding
in the character OF God as revealed in
His word. and relying on Him in every
time of need. God in HIS glorious at.
tributes. a. an object Of trust, is no less
sufficient as deliverer from darkness
at one time than ct another. Though
it may be all dark. yat by trusting N
His name there may be an assurance
that there is light somewhere. and that
in due season the el6Mds will -disperse
and light again be given. All the be-
clouded children 0f God may rest theil
hopes on Him rs up0p sure support
and ever make Him chair an-sufiicien
dependence. In God they may tind al
uafsiling foundation upon which Il