The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-08-20
CURTST IUE LIGUT or THE UOELD'
Conscience Not q safe Guide. for IT May he
Inenliehtcned.

At Pine-Streot Baptist church Sunday
morning. Rev. r. +. Chambers preached
from the 18th verse of the eighth chap
ter Of John Then spoke Jesus unto
them again. saying, l am the light Of
the world. he that foiioweth me- shaii not
walk in darkness. but shall have the hsht
Of life"
These words, said the speaker, We're
spoken in the temple at Jerusalem. by
Jesfls probably as the great chandeliers
Of the temple were lighted. At the close
of the feast il was customary 10 Ieht
these lights which We're typical OF spirit
ual light. The light Of Judaism was
sinking as it were. Its star had almost
gone out in darkness. The work OF
Judea was accomplished. IL had done
that for which God had sent to prepare
the world for the coming Of the Messiah
and what filter ,ime what more suitable
occasion than i'm this hour Of darkness
and gloom to the Jewish race. for Christ
to stand up and say, Il am the light
Of the WOrld'y
Christ. said Mr. Chambers. is the ply
steal light Of the world. for through him
are all things created, in Him were all
things made; and then lie is the mental
light of the world for through him God
touches the mind OF man; but il is in
a higher sense in which he spoke of him
self as the light of the world" II was
in spiritual sense. lie is to-day the
spiritual light of the world. He is a
light TO the conscience; and just here,
the speaker said. it is safe to ASH is
the conscience a safe guide under all
clrcumstanccs2
lie would say that Il is not. \ man
can bc conscientious and sin. Conscience
OF itself Is IN the dark. and 10 the un-
enlightened conscience. fl SIS e case Of
the blind leading the blind. The knowl-
edge Of Christ or Gods spirit working
by Christ. enlightens the conscience and
leads 10 unto truth. Sin. TO the eye OF
man ln his natural state. is pleasant
vale. in which De delights so dwell. and
Christ as the light 10 his conscience.
reveals il TO him as q horrid chasm.
Christ is the light Of Tho world. reveal
ing Gods love for the world. All ma
turc tells MS there is a God. We ,oOk
at the things that are built here. and
we know that there is a builder. and SO
we know that all the things of nature
did not happen so by chance. but were
created by God. We naturally turn from
the creation to the Creator. We cannot
think OF ourselyes-mOra wonderful than
any creature of human mind-without in
stinctvely turning % the creator of our
selves and Christ is The lshbof the world
revealing Gods love FOR IL. John says:
God so loved the world rs to give his
, only bcgotten SON"
Christ as "a lish: Of the world reveals
Gods justice. Gods justice was such that
il was necessary that His son should die.
We visit Calvary. the speaker said. and
we see Christ stretched on the cross
there and while we feel the greatness
Of Gods love- we recognize the justice of
God, which caused Him 20 punish His
Son. that he might take upon himself
the sins Of the world. Christ is the light
Of the world. revealing TO us the way
back TO God-the way TO Heaven.
But" said Mr.. Chambers. what are
the conditions on when We are to enjoy
the light? Christ says. He that fol-
loweth me- So il is 10 follow Christ.
and we must follow Christ first directly.
We must go right in the way In which
He goes. if we wish 10 get the fun beneht
Of the light II one has a light going on
in front of him. and he chooses TO follow
il in an obiique manner. he will lose the
influence Of that light as he goes on.
We must follow Christ constantly. and
we must follow him continually.
At the close of the service. Mr. Cham
bers made some very tender and impress
sive remarks in regard to his intended
trip TO and labors in China Mr.. Cham
bers is greatly beloved by the people Of
Pine-Stre church. and as he invoked
Gods blessing on them, and begged that
they pray for him and his work in
China. the scene was very affecting, and
after the services the handshaking and
assurances Of love were abundant.
Mr.. Chambers leaves for China about
the first of October.