Sermons of John Newton - M - Booklet Four 8. The Sun Rising upon a Dark World and 9. Characters and Names of Messiah

Extract

Sermons of John Newton
Booklet Four

8. The Sun Rising upon a Dark World and
9. Characters and Names of Messiah

8. The Sun Rising upon a Dark World “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined” Isaiah 9:2.

Contrasts are suited to illustrate and strengthen the impression of each other. The happiness of those, who by faith in MESSIAH, are brought into a state of peace, liberty, and comfort, is greatly enhanced and heightened by the consideration of that previous state of misery in which they once lived, and of the greater misery to which they were justly exposed. They are not only made “meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light” (Colossians 1:12, 13), but they have been delivered from the powers of darkness. Thus while they have communion with God as a Father, they contemplate their privilege with a greater pleasure, than they probably could do if they had never known a difference. They remember a time when they were “afar off, without hope and without God in the world;” and they remember how carelessly they then trifled upon the brink of destruction. In this deplorable and dangerous situation they were “found of the LORD, when they sought Him not” (Isaiah 65:1). He convinced, humbled, and pardoned them, brought them near to Himself, into a state of adoption and communion by the blood of Jesus. The admiration, gratitude, and love which they feel for this undeserved grace, gives them a more lively sense of the blessings they enjoy. Yea, the thought of what they have been redeemed from (of which they will then have a much clearer perception than at present) will add to their joys in Heaven, and inspire such a song of praise as will be …