Vol. 2

CHAPTER XI. 509but on a candlestick, that they which come in maysee the light."The truths of the gospel are not to be concealed,nor held captive in unrighteousness : but the peopleare to be instructed in them. The Scripture, andparticularly the gospel, is our candle. It is theSpirit of God which has lighted and placed it on thecandlestick of the church, that the light of it mightbe seen by all the faithful. To forbid Christiansthe reading of the Scripture, is to forbid the use oflight to the children of light, and to make themsuffer a sort of excommunication. Thou, O Lord,wast pleased to invite every body to hear thee, anddidst expressly forbid thy apostles to hinder littleones from coming to thee :do not permit me then tobe hindered from hearing thee in thy gospel, whichis to me instead of thy visible presence; nor sufferthis candle to be put under a bushel, or in a secretplace." 34. The light of the body is the eye : thereforewhen thine eye is single, thy whole body also is fullof light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also isfull of darkness."The single eye is an upright, pure, and Christianintention. It is a great misfortune for a Christian,and much more for a clergyman, to have either falselights and prejudices in his mind, or corrupt passionsand intentions : all his designs, his judgments, andthe whole conduct of his life,thereby.are generally infectedThis was that which made the Jews judgeso ill of Christ and reject him : and it is this whichmakes Christians judge so ill of their brethren, andset themselves against them without any foundation.