among whom ye world!"*

shine as lights in the

But let our conduct be a fair elucidation of the principles of our doctrine, and be modeled by its precepts, and we shall not be accountable for every unreasonable prejudice, or for every unfounded suspicion. Then, if people will condemn our principles without examination and decide upon our deeds without candor or justice, we have the inward consciousness of integrity and good intentions, and the outward display of such conduct as shall prove their censures unjust. Then, though we may be unable to convince them of the truth of our doctrine, we may hope, "by well doing, [the power of example,] to put to silence the ignorance of foolish "to confute all illiberal censurers, by letting our light so shine as to show the good influence of our sentiments upon our tempers and lives; and, in spite of sneers and invectives, secure the approbation of the wise and good. Thus,

men;

"We'll dissipate each dark and threatening cloud, That prejudice and calumny can raise,

By radiant probity of heart and life,

And persevering deeds of love and peace.”

*Philip 2: 15.

As light is not held forth merely to manifest itself, but to show some other useful thing, which, without it, might have remained in obscurity, so we should delight to exhibit the power, wisdom, mercy, goodness, and justice of God; to speak of his infinite love, manifested to us in the gift of our existence, with the assurance that His parental administration embraces all the intelligent creatures he has made, and that the result must be perfect, worthy of such a Being, and consistent with our final good; in the innumerable blessings, which, by his bountiful hand, are made to surround us; in the gift of his only begotten Son, our Savior; and in our prospective redemption from sin and moral defilements, He having made us heirs of immortality. But we can bring men to know and feel this inspiring truth, only as we shadow it forth in our own lives and actions; and thus, by our moral worth, not only show the brightness of our own character, but lend a lustre to our cause, by rendering its sentiments better understood.

And, if we would have others investigate our sentiments, that they may understand them, we should set the example by acquainting ourselves with theirs. To neglect to do

this, shows a want of confidence in our faith, and in our ability to defend it; for error always seeks darkness, and shuns investigation, while truth approaches light, and seeks investigation, and the man, who has received the light, and does not let it shine out, but hides behind the cloud of popular applause, or selfish motives, is a slave, destitute of moral courage, unworthy of confidence or trust.

That our light may shine before men, let us commence the work of self-examination; see whether our conduct comports with our profession; and let the work of reform commence in our own hearts; for one reason why the world is not reformed, is, because every man would have others make a beginning, and never thinks of himself. Let a new era in the history of our denomination now dawn. upon us. We have all received some light, and that we may the more effectually reflect it, let us strive together," and sofconcentrate the rays of light as to bring them to a focus, and render them more powerful in the diffusion of truth and righteousness. And now, let us ardently desire to "shine as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life." "Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation."

In conclusion, we should "let our light shine before men," by being kindly affectioned, one towards another, with brotherly love; for members of a religious society, like members of a family circle, should love one another, and imitate the Savior, "the light of the world," by observing his precepts, by "overcoming evil with good." He is to overcome evil with good, darkness with light, error with truth, hatred with love; this he is to do, by the power of the Gospel. Hence, Paul to Titus says, (Titus, 2: 11.) The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.” Literally translated, says Dr. Clark, the passage would read, "For the grace of God, that which saves, hath shone forth upon all men.' And, as God's grace signifies God's favor or benefit, in this place, it may be termed THE GOSPEL, which declares God's infinite mercy to the world; and is not only a favor of infinite worth in itself, but announces the greatest gift of God to man, Jesus Christ, the "Sun of righteousness."

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'Now," continues our author, "it cannot be said, except in a very refined or spiritual sense, that this Gospel had then appeared to all men, or shone upon them; but it may be said, that it bringeth salvation to all men;

this is its design, and it was to taste death for every man, that its Author came into the world. There is a beauty and energy in the original word, rendered hath appeared, but morning hath shined out, that is rarely noted; it seems to be a metaphor taken from the sun. As by his rising in the East, and shining out, he enlightens successively, the whole world; so the Lord Jesus, who is called the Sun of righteousness,* arises on the whole human race, with healing in his wings. And as the light and heat of the sun are denied to ne nation nor individual, so the grace of the Lord Jesus; this also shines out upon all; and God designs that all mankind shall be equally benefitted by it, in reference to their souls as they are in respect to their bodies, by the sun that shines in the firmament of heaven. But as all the parts of the earth are not immediately illuminated, but come into the solar light successively, not only in consequence of the earth's diurnal revolution round its own axis, but in consequence of its annual revolution round its whole orbit,so this Sun of Righteousness, who has shined out, is bringing every part of the habitable globe into His divine light, that

*Malachi, 4: 2.