p. 107 | The Glory all of God by Independent

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 3, 1856

The Glory all of God.

By Independent

WHENCE comes that heavenly illumination that renders Christians everywhere the light of the world? Theirs is not an original and native light. It was not of the disciples as men that the Saviour declared, "Ye are the light of the world;" but only in their character as disciples. There is a sense in which men of genius are lights of the world. We speak of Plato, Socrates, Aristotle, Cicero, as the great lights of antiquity. We speak of Newton, Kepler, Bacon, as lights of science; of Dante, Shakespeare, Milton, as lights of poetry. But there is no trace of genius in that band of disciples who surrounded Christ when he delivered the sermon on the Mount. Most of them were men of no education, and of limited intelligence. The evangelists may be taken as a fair specimen of their average knowledge and capacity. We find in them the simplicity of unlettered men; the honesty of good native sense; but no marks of genius, and no training that should entitle them to a place among the lights of philosophy.

Neither were they the light of the world by virtue of their position. In this there was nothing conspicuous. They were not men of rank, of wealth, or of office. They were fishermen; or tillers of the soil; or from the odious class of tax-gatherers; not one of them had the least prestige before the world. They were the light of the world because their minds had been enlightened by the truth of Christ, and their hearts had been purified by his grace. They could give only that which they had received.

But herein consists the surpassing glory of the Gospel,—that men of mean condition, men who had never sat at the feet of the philosopher or Pharisee, men ignorant of letters, men without the endowments of genius or the acquirements of culture—that such men should utter truths transcending the highest teachings of the schools; unfolding the mysteries of being, the relations of man to God and God to man; reaching forth to the Invisible, the Infinite, and the Eternal; that by the elevation of their lives in virtue and benevolence, by their manifold works of miracle and of good will, by the boldness and sublimity of the truths they uttered, by the heroism of their daily life, and the glory of their martyrdom—that these poor peasants and fishermen of Galilee should thus transcend a Plato and a Socrates, as lights of the world, is of itself a convincing proof of the divine origin of the gospel that reflects glory upon its Author, as the moon gives glory to the sun.

And it is still true, in our time, that whatever we may have of genius, of talent, of education, of acquirements for preaching the gospel, grace only can give these their lustre, and without that lustre, all is the darkness of ignorance, pride, and folly.

They, who are declared the light of the world are not such as seek to make themselves shine. That Christian who aspires to worldly greatness, who aims at the factitious distinction of wealth or social position who courts the praises of the world, does not thereby reflect the glory of God or make himself light in the world. Yet often do Christians excuse their worldly aspirations by the plea of gaining a more commanding post of usefulness. But the post once gained, the avowed object for which it was sought is too easily forgotten, and the honor, the wealth, the profit, are enjoyed without regard to the promised usefulness. Men who seek to shine, are not apt truly to shine with the glory and the grace of God. This is especially true of the ministry of the Word. He who aims to shine in the pulpit, will hardly be a burning and shining light of truth and grace to men.

Not that the minister of Christ should not cultivate his powers to their highest capacity, and endeavor to develop himself to the utmost in his sphere; but he should do this for God's glory, and not in self-praise; he should do this without one thought of shining as a man of genius, of learning, or of eloquence; he should do this from the love of Christ, and from the sense of duty to his cause. As one says, "It is not shine ye, but let your light shine."—Independent.