South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-02-07
DARKNESS AND LIGHT.

Light i'm Most Men. In Jesus teach
ing he recognizes varying degrees
Of goodness or badness, in men;
some are just bad enough not
TO be good, while others are
filled with evil spirits, and still
others a-e just good enough not to be
classed among the bad, although the
light that is in them may be dim.
The terms light and darkness, in the
text. have reference, of course, to NOR
al good and moral evil, and ii seems
that most men have some light IN
them, and yet with so much darkness
that the light is not able to shine. In
other words. while all men are born
sinners yet some turn out to be great
er sinners than others. In most un-
regenerated men we find an admix-
ture of bad and good. Paul puts into
the mouth of the average sinner these
words. when I would do good, evil is
present with ne. but l see
another law in my members warning
against the law of my mind" Not
only do sinners have this experience
but many also who profess religion.
2. Some Men Appear TO BE All
Dark. Whether all men are born
totally depraved is a question for dis
pute. but there should be no dispute,
on the fact, that some men do attain
10 total depraVity. 1t is a law OF sin,
that the wicked get worse and worse.
deceiving and being deceived. When
evil thoughts are encouraged and de
velop into deeds. and this is kept up
for any length of time, a person be-
comes possessed with evil; his nature
becomes dark and benighted and there
is no light in him. Some are so cruel
they have no bowels OF compassion
they know neither love nor pity. Some
are so greedy for money that it is
their Cod. and their souls have be-
come drOsS Ike that which they Wor-
ship; with .hem it is a crime to be
poor. and a sign of grace to be rich.
Some seek TO inflame their evil pas
sions, to cultivate the bad which is in
them, and seek to excel in deeds which
are vile. Instead of resisting evil
desire. as those who would be good do,
they encourage them, and the greater
degree of wickedness TO which they
attain, the better they are pleased.
Some are as cruel as HerOd of Old
who. to put one little babe out of the
way. whom he thought to be rival
for his throne, gave instructions TO
massacre all the babies in the coun-
try. Some seem to be glad to witness
the defeat, or the sufferingS of others,
and especially when they can tatten
themselves upon their disasters.
3. Those Who Have the Light Must
BE Careful to Watch Against Dark
ness. The powers of darkness are so
subtle that one is never safe except
when watching and praying against
temptation. Jesus addresses the words
Of our text to his disciples. and their
SUCCESSORS, that they are TO watch
whether even the light that is in
them be not darkness. SO deceptive
are some forms of evil that we need
TO watch that we are not unconscious
.ly overcome with them, for they have
been given so many alluring titles that
they sound as If they stood for virtues.
How prone we are TO hypocrisy, how
liable to fall before the seductions OF
our physical senses, and bye and bye.
TO persuade ourselves that as the wine
sparkles in the glass and has pleas
ant flavor, that 1T is right to drink II.
we not experimenting that, lat the last
it biteth like serpent, and stingeth
like an adder" We need to watch and
pray lest we enter into temptation.
Those who pray a good deal are like
" TO notice the first approach OF dark
ness. even if il does appear as pleas
ant as the light. 1t is true that peO-
pie do not always judge us right but
il is good sometimes to stand at dis
lance and watch ourselves as other do.
TO see how our actions look, whether
they appear 10 be partakers of the
light or the darkness. Acid is a test
OF pure gold, and love is the test of
our actions; If we think and act i'm
PEELED by love, we may Saiely cOncluue
that we are the children of light, but
if we are influenced by jealousy. or
selfishness we have a right 10 think
that the light in us is darkness.
4. Some Doubtless Are All Light.
AS a working theory il is perhaps un-
safe 10 conclude that we are ever free
from the danger OF doing wrong, SO
that the best of Us need 10 be on our
guard. There are. however. those
whose characters have become so in
fluenced ard impregnated with love
Of God that their natures are radiated
with the light OF the Holy Spirit. John
speaking OF God, in whom there Is no
darkness at all. urges Christians TO
fellowship with him. and thus walk
in the light as he is in the light" and
that il we do that I'VE have fellowship
one with another. and the blood of
Jesus Christ his son cleanseth Us from
all sin" This then Is our security. TO
walk in the light Of God. TO fellowship
with him. and with enc another. and
the light in us will never be darkness.
Copyright 1913. by Z. :. DaVidson.)