And Christ GIVES us the light, therefore we have not to hunt and
search after it; for He will give it us. Let us think over these two
matters, and see whether there is not a gospel and good news in them
for all wretched, ignorant, sinful, dark souls, just as much as for
those who are learned and wise, or bright and full of peace.
Christ gives us the light. This agrees with what St. John says, that
"He is the light who lights every man who comes into the world." And
it agrees also with what St. James says: "Be not deceived, my
beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from
above, and cometh down from God, the Father of lights, with whom is
no variableness, nor shadow of turning." And it agrees also with
what the prophet says, that it is the Spirit of God which gives man
understanding. And it agrees also with what the Lord Himself
promised us when He was on earth, that He would send down on us the
Spirit of God--the Spirit which proceeds alike from Him and from His
Father, to guide us into all truth. Ay, my friends, if we really
believe this, what a solemn and important thing education would seem
to us! If we really believed that all light, all true understanding
of any matter, came from the Lord Jesus Christ: and if we remember
what the Lord Jesus' character was; how He came to do good to all; to
teach not merely the rich and powerful, but the poor, the ignorant,
the outcast, the sinful: should we not say to ourselves, then: "If
knowledge comes from Christ, who never kept anything to Himself, how
dare we keep knowledge to ourselves? If it comes from Him who gave
Himself freely for all, surely He means that knowledge should be
given freely to all.
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