called light; his word; his truth; the revelation he has been pleased to make of himself to his creatures; his Name and Perfections, and the effect of this revelation; or, the knowledge of God, his favour, its great and glorious results, holiness, joy, life, and salvation, with everlasting blessedness, are all designated by the same name as this beautiful element, light: and "whatsoever doth make manifest, is light."

JEHOVAH, the ELOHIM of the Scriptures, is Light; "and in him is no darkness at all." He is said to "dwell in light which no man can approach unto." 1 Tim. vi. 16. "Whom no man," with the material organs of a mortal and corruptible body, or with the blinded perceptions of a darkened understanding and an earthly mind, ever "hath seen, or can see." He is said also to "clothe himself with the light as with a vesture;" or to spread it out over the expanse of the visible universe.-Ps. civ. 2.

When the earth was "confusion and emp

"

tiness, and darkness was upon the face of the deep;" God said, "Let there be light," and light appeared. He filled that splendid lamp with its glory-that "greater light that rules the day," and forms the centre of the planetary system. He also gave the moon, that lesser light that rules the night," to receive and reflect with softened lustre and with milder radiance, his glowing and dazzling beams. "He made the stars also,"those innumerable suns of innumerable systems, which bear their fires, and diffuse their brilliance throughout the circuit of heaven's vast canopy; in number and in magnitude, extending far beyond the power of human thought and calculation. By Him who created the light, its rays were parted, and endued with their different powers. It is at His command, they give to the circling atmosphere its fair celestial hue and when the passing cloud brings a dark shadow over its surface, God bids the falling drops of water to display, in bright and vivid colour

ing, the beautiful and blessed sign of His covenanted mercy. He causes those varied rays of light to robe the earth, and dye the flower, and sparkle in the gem; and, in all the rich variety of their blended as well as simple tints, to cast over His diversified creation every colouring, and every appearance of living beauty.

Light, the most lovely of all the elements, does therefore form a suitable and striking emblem of gifts the most excellent and glorious, with which it has pleased the God of all grace to enrich the soul of man. The faculties of thought and reason; the powers of the understanding; perception, conscience, knowledge, and wisdom; knowledge and wisdom in their highest sense-the knowledge of the "Holy Ones;" the "wisdom that cometh from above;" not only proceeding from God, but also leading to God: all of these are properly designated, light.

Let the contemplation of this subject raise our thoughts upwards, to the lofty powers

of the high archangel, or lead them downwards, to the instinct, that with undeviating regularity directs the motions of the smallest insect that fits through the air, or creeps upon the ground; from the greatest to the least, or from the least to the greatest; the light of instinct, of understanding, of intelligence, of wisdom, is from God, and Him alone.

How blessed is the promise-how gracious is the encouragement given to all, who, sensible of their own ignorance, will humbly apply to this inexhaustible and overflowing Fountain for the supply of their necessities! "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.-Jas. i. 5.

Almighty Father! lo! to Thee!

I lift the heart, and bend the knee;
for wisdom from above,

I

pray

Thyself to know-thyself to love.

Give me the Spirit of thy grace;
In Jesus, may I see thy face;

The " single eye," O Lord impart;
And with thy glory fill my heart.

SIXTH DAY.

"IF WE WALK IN THE LIGHT, AS HE IS IN THE LIGHT, WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP ONE WITH ANOTHER, AND THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST HIS SON CLEANSETH US FROM ALL SIN."1 John i. 7.

"Will God in very deed dwell with man upon the earth?" was an enquiry made by one, whose wisdom (raising him, as it could not but do, to pre-eminence among his fellow men) nevertheless melted down into insignificance, and a sense of sinfulness before the presence of the Divine Majesty. He who dwells in the heaven of heavens vouchsafed to give to Solomon a gracious answer to his enquiry, in the fire and in the cloud;—but, an answer more gracious, more full, more blessed, has been given in the ap