Newport weekly independent., 1902-11-07
CHRIST THE LIGHT.
Reveals and C1eanses Sin and Leads
 the Way Back to God.
Sermon on One of the Six Startling Claims of Jesus by the "High- way and Byway"
 Preacher.
Copyright, 1902, by A. N. Kellogg News
 paper Co.)

The great, glowing sun mounts the heavens, and the darkness fees before it, but Jesus is the Light of the world
 Scientists tell us that the light and heat of the sun will fail some day, but Jesus, the Light of the world, is from everlasting to everlasting
 Gods Word tells us that the heavens and earth shall pass away, but in that new Jerusalem which John saw in prophetic vision there was no sun or moon, for it had no need thereof, 'for the glory of God did tighten it, and the Lamb is the Light thereof"
 Isaiah cries: Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath; for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner; but Gin Jesus the Light Of the world) My salvation shall be for ever, and My righteousness shall not be abolished"
 Jesus, in foretelling future events, declared: "Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken" but then ssthey shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory" Paul bears witness of the literal brightness of the glory of Jesus in his defense before King Agrippa when he says: "At midday, o king, I saw in the way light from Heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me, and I heard voice speaking unto me and He said: l am Jesus, whom thou persecutest.'
 Notwithstanding the light of the sun shines upon the just and the un- just, the people of the world, out of fellowship with God, ''walk in dark ness," flor God is light and in Him is no darkness at all." The natural eye may behold the beauty of the sun of the heavens, but if the minds "eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If, therefore, the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness?" Nowadays we hear so ,lnuch about "this enllght- ened age," Snd the world is rejoicing in its ipteliectualism, it's commercial nism, its electrical and mechanical Achievements, its fraternalism, ana it's ecclesiasticism, and turning from the Heaven-sent Light, it is binding Itself with it's own feeble, fiickerlng flame. The world in the light of it's own imaginings is seeking the way of success and happiness, with Heaven as the intended goal, while the eter- nal truth of God remains that Jesus is the Light of the world and only san reveal the way to God. The Night streams from His cradle, the {. cross and the tomb, and Eff we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sim" Yes, the Light or the world is Jesus.
 Text Setting-What a wonderful snd attractive declaration is that ot eur text: "I am the Light of the world!" According to the twentieth verse of the chapter from which 1t IS taken. Jesus had been sitting in the treasury of the temple teaching. Close beside Him were two colossal ! lamp-stands, gorgeously gilded, on (which hung multitude of lamps, lighted after the evening sacrifice dhring the feast of tabernacles, and diffusing their brilliancy, it is said, ever pll the city. The scene which was fahiliar to the eyes of Jesus is probably accurately described by Canon Farrar, who says: Round these lamps, the people, in their joy nus enthusiasm, and even the state Nest priests and Pharisees, joined in festival dances; while. to the sound of flutes and other music, the Lev aies, drawn up in array on the fifteen steps which led up to the court, rhanted the beautiful Psalms which early received the title of Songs of Degrees' In allusion to these great lamps. on which some circumstance of the moment may have concentrat- I'd the attention of the hearers, Christ exclaimed to them: I am the Light of the world.'"
 Natural and Spiritual Light,-The same hand which hung the great sun in the heavens to give light and life fo the earth sent His Son into the world to become the light and life of the soul of man. Jesus called Himself the Light of the world be cause, His relations to the soul close ly paralleled the relations which the sun sustains to the earth. and thus things and conditions in the natural sphere illustrate and make plain pro found spiritual truth.
 The sun is the one universal source of light to the world. As it rides in the heavens it sheds its beams of light upon every land and every people or the globe. It wakens this land to the activity of another day as its first rays touch the mountain peaks and its ad .e yaacin0 light chases away the dark