EPC Australia

Three distinctions may be here made. The first, regards Heathens. The second, the Jews. The third, Christians.

Heathens are the children of night. With regard to them, darkness covered the earth, and gross darkness the people. What did they know of God; of themselves; of their origin; their fall; their recovery; their duty? What did they know of a future state? A few of their philosophers spoke of the immortality of the soul, but none of them thought of the resurrection of the body, unless to turn it into ridicule. And what they expressed concerning the soul was but conjecture; they could prove and establish nothing. And they held it in unrighteousness; it had no influence over them as a motive, for, wanting the certainty of a principle, it wanted the efficacy. And they kept it from the people at large, and employed no means to inform the multitude, who, as quite sufficient for them, were abandoned to every kind of superstition.

The Jews were all children of the dawn, an intermediate state between night and day; better than the former, and very inferior to the latter. Hence the Saviour, alluding, not to the state of Pagans, but to the disadvantages of Judaism, said to his disciples, "Many prophets and righteous men have desired to see the things that ye see, and have not seen them." They had the Law which was given by Moses, but we have grace and truth, that came by Jesus Christ. They had the shadows; we have the substance. They had the types and the promises; we the realization and the accomplishment. To them the Sun of righteousness was below the horizon; on us he has risen with healing under his wings, God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

Christians are the children of the day. It is their privilege to have the system of revelation complete, and to be blessed with the full dispensation of the glorious Gospel. They have the servants of the Most High God, which show unto men the way of salvation.

Every thing with us is made clear in proportion as it is important. And with regard to the acceptance of our persons with God, the renovation of our nature, our title to eternal life, our meetness for glory, our supplies of grace, and all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ, the darkness is entirely passed, and the true light now shineth, and we are the children of the day.

Therefore, let us hail it with gratitude. And what thanks can ever equal the benefit? A mud cottage with the Scripture in it, is more ennobled, in the view of an angel, than the palace of the richest emperor upon earth. David would have descended from his throne, and have passed his days in a poor-house, to have enjoyed our advantages. Abraham, at the distance of near two thousand years, rejoiced to see our day, saw it, and was glad.

Therefore, let us receive it with joy. Nature shows off her beauties, the lambs play, the birds carol their notes — every thing seems to welcome the approach of day. Truly light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun. And shall the Gospel, this day of good things, inspire us with dread and gloom? Is it not intended, is it not adapted to make even our spirits rejoice in God our Saviour? And was it not thus always regarded among the first Christians?

Therefore we should improve it with diligence. The sun ariseth, and man goeth forth to his work and to his labour until the evening. The night is for inaction. They that sleep, sleep in the night; and they that are drunken, are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober. And knowing the time, let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Advantages infer obligations, and produce responsibility. Where much is given, much will be required. What do ye more than others? asks the Saviour. And he has a right to ask.

He also says, "Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you. Blessed Jesus, possess me with thy own Spirit; and henceforth repelling every interruption, and crushing every indecision and delay, may I make thy purpose and zeal my own: "I must work the works of Him that sent me while it is day; the night cometh, wherein no man can work."

Morning Exercises For Everyday In The Year
By Rev. William Jay