Ye are the Light of the World by John Norton Loughborough

Publishing Committee · Rochester, N. Y. · May 23, 1854

“Ye are the Light of the World.”

By John Norton Loughborough

AMONG other instructions of our Saviour to his disciples on the mount, this is a matter of interesting reflection.

By his miracles, our Saviour had convinced his disciples that he was indeed the true Messiah. With what eagerness they were catching the words of instruction that fell in sweet accents from his lips as he spake freely to them of the blessings that await those that should have the graces of the gospel. He taught them, that if in meekness they possessed, the glorious new earth for which Abraham the father of the faithful looked, redeemed from the curse, blooming in more than Eden beauty, they should inherit. If pure in heart, abstaining from the corrupt and contaminating influences around them, having their only source of gratification to know and do the will of heaven; they should be permitted to behold him, who dwelleth in the light which no man can approach unto, who only hath immortality. If persecuted for righteousness' sake, they might rejoice; for they were only made partakers of the sufferings of the prophets, whose righteous precepts they were keeping, seemingly, to impress them with the importance and responsibility of the position they occupied. Our Saviour says: “Ye are the salt of the earth, but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted?” If you lose your vitality and power to maintain these great and glorious truths that I am committing to your trust, you will be like the salt without savor, fit only to be thrown out and trodden under foot of men.

“Ye are the light of the world.” He was committing to them the gospel truths of salvation through the merits of his blood: through them, the people of that generation were to receive their views of the character of a true follower of the meek and lowly Jesus; and by their instructions to receive the knowledge of the manner in which they should move to obtain pardon. We are led to exclaim, What a responsible position, and how necessary that they ever endeavored to stand for the right. But the responsibility does not end with them, they were but the representatives of those who should after confess Christ and become his disciples. We then, Dear Christian Friends, form a portion of that Church (the Church of Christ) which is the light of the present, the last, generation, the very generation who are to witness the glorious appearing of our Saviour. We who behold by faith the last work of our Great High Priest in the heavenly Sanctuary, and who solemnly believe that the message of the third angel, the last call of mercy to a dying world, is already calling the attention of the world to prepare to stand before an offended God, who is soon to rise in anger, and recompense the way of the transgressor upon his own head, are the very ones who are to be the light of the world in the present work.

Brethren, how is our light shining? or is it under a bushel and thus its rays hidden? We are not to hide our light. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Let your light so shine, says Christ, before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. The object of the lighted candle or taper is to give light to those around. If we are indeed the light of the world, the solemn inquiry daily and hourly should be with us, How can I let my light shine that God's name may be glorified and his cause advanced? If we constantly realized that to us God had entrusted the true light, to enlighten those who would understand their duty in these last moments, and that from our hand would be required all the blood that through our negligence might be required as a recompense for sin, we should doubtless be more active in bending every energy of our being to the advancement of the cause of truth, and watching every opportunity to speak of God's righteous precepts to our fellow men. Too often is it the case that we suffer our minds to be diverted from the point, to dwell upon the trifling things of earth and even partake of the spirit and merry laugh of the

giddy. We are living in a solemn time, and more than ever before we need to stand on the solemn injunction of the Saviour and apostles, to be sober and let our conversation be in heaven. Instead of spending hours with those who profess to be our friends, speaking only of the things of this world, let us be true to the commission, and let our light shine in such a manner that they may perhaps turn away their feet from breaking the law of God. Brethren, let us remember, “Ye are the light of the world.”

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

Jackson, Mich., May 1854.