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(while  yet  afar  off,  and  as  through  a  telescope)
the  road  we  are  to  travel,  and  the  dangers  that
lie  in  the  way  5  concealed  by  verdant  foli-
age, or  gorgeous  palaces,  erected  on  the  very
brink  of  the  infernal  pit. — It  is  also  an  index
of  time,  by  which,  in  every  age,  the  faithful
servants  of  Christ  may  discern  "  the  signs  of
the  times"  they  live  in,  and  the  hour  of  the
night,  and  expect  (in  faith  and  hope)  the
dawning  of  the  morning. — "  Ye  have  also  a
more  sure  word  of  prophecy,  says  St  Peter,
whereunto  ye  do  wrell  that  ye  take  heed,  as
unto  a  light  that  shineth  in  a  dark  place,  until
the  day  dawn,  and  the  day  star  arise  in  your
hearts."*  It  is  a  light,  without  which  all
other  light  is  "  darkness  visible ;"  and  they,
who  rejecting  this,  yet  fancy  themselves  the
only  enlightened,  "walk  on  in  darkness,  and
know  not  at  what  they  stumble."  f  "  For
the  wicked  shall  do  wickedly  :  and  none  of
the  wicked  shall  understand;  but  the  wise" —
(that  is,  the  candid  and  believing! — "  shall
understand."  (Dan.  xii.  10.)

*  2  Peter,  i.  xi.\-,  '    Proverbs,  iv.  J  9*


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Our  Saviour  himself  was  a  light  to  the
jews,   which   they   would    not  receive,   but
walk  on  still  in  darkness.     It  is  the  same  with
the  philosophical  infidels  of  modern    times.
