THOUGHTS FOR SUNDAY EVENING

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 7, 23 January 1937, Page 10

THOUGHTS FOR SUNDAY EVENING

The spirit oi man is the candle of the Lord. (Proverbs xx., 27.) A candle lighted by God and lighting us to God. (Benjamin Whichcote: Aphorisms.) Cod's Light. Man has within him a sense of truth wliich we speak of as the Inward Light, and which we believe to be of God. VVe cannot call it less than divine and universal, for it links us with the eternal realities, and with our. fellowmen of whatever race or creed. It may be hidden or warped by ignorance or pride or self-wiil or prejuuice, but it cannot be wholly lost, for it is part of that .which makes us essentially men — made in the divine image, and having within us boundless possibilities of life in »God. Our power to perceive the light of God is of all our powers the one which we need most to cultivate and develop. As exercis© strengthens the body and education enlarges the mindj so the spiritual faculty within us grows §s we use it in seeing and doing God's will. He who sincerely follows the light fhat he has will be developing the spiritual eye and will be led with more and more certain steps towards the truth.

(Friends' Book of Christian Discipline.) Now the Lord God hath opened to me by His invisi'ble power how that every man was enligktened by the divine Light of Christ; and 1 saw it shine tlirougli all; and they that believed in it came °out of condemnation and come to the Light of Life, and became the children of it; hut they that hated it, and did not believe jn it, were- condemned by it. This I saw in tte pure openings of the light, without the help of any man, neither did I then know where to find it in the Scriptures though afterwards, searching in Scriptures, I found it. (George Pox: Journai.) "Truo Simplicity." Lord, that I may learn of Thee, Give me true simplicity; Wean my soul and keep it low, VVilling Thee alone to know. Let me cast my reeds aside, All that feeds my knowmg prid'e, Nt to man, but God submit', Lay my reasoning at Thy feet; . Of my boasted wisdoui Bpoiled, Docile, helpless, a3 a'child," Only seeing in Thy light, Only walking in Thy might. Charles Wesley.