Required reading
The Works (Vol 4) of John Newton (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Sermon VII (The morning light).
My summary
This week Newton preaches on 'Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.' (Isa 60:1-3)
Newton teaches us that the passage is about the light of the Messiah.
Thus he considers the following particulars:
(i) as the sun is the source of light to the natural world, so is Messiah to the moral and spiritual world;
(ii) the subjects of the Messiah's kingdom are so irradiated by him that they shine likewise;
(iii) they who willfully refuse and turn from this light do thereby involve themselves in double darkness;
(iv) the third verse foretells, and therefore, secures the conversion of the Gentiles;
(v) the call in the text may be taken in a general sense.
What grabbed me
I appreciated Newton's comments on the rejection of the gospel: 'We lament, but cannot wonder, that the Gospel is so generally neglected. As a dispensation of grace, it offends the pride of man ; as a dispensation of holiness, it contradicts his desires and passions. His spirit is degraded, his heart is pre-engaged, he loves the present world, and has no more taste or inclination for a life of communion with God here, and such a heaven as the Scripture proposes hereafter, than the beasts of the field. '
The gospel does indeed offend our pride. Thus acceptance of the gospel requires humility.
Next week's reading
Read Sermon VIII (The sun rising upon a dark world).
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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