We  cannot  fill  ourselves  ;  but  we  can,  by  His  Goodness,
empty  ourselves  of  all,  "  the  lusts  of  the  flesh,  the  lust  of
the  eye,  the  pride  of  life  ; "  all  which  "  is  not  of  the  Father,
but  is  of  the  world, f "  that  He  may  give  us  of  His  Fulness,
We  cannot  give  to  ourselves  Him,  the  True  Bread  from
Heaven,  nor  create  in  ourselves  hunger  after  Him,  our
Righteousness  ;  but  we  can  abstain,  through  His  gracious
aid,  from  filling  our  bellies  with  the  swine-husks,  this  world's
goods,  and  vanities,  and  accursed  pleasures,  which  make  men
loathe,  as  "  light  bread/"  "  the  Manna  Which  cometh  down
from  Heaven. h"

This  is  indeed  "  a  night  much  to  be  observed  unto  the
Lord,1"  a  night  full  of  light,  in  which  "  Light  shone  on  us
that  walked  in  darkness,  and  dwelt  in  the  land  of  the  shadow
of  death  ; k "  a  Light,  unto  which  that  created  light,  and  the
very  "glory  of  the  Lord,1"  which  shone  round  about  the
shepherds,  is  but  darkness.  Light  Which,  if  we  follow  It,
shall  lead  us  to  the  land  of  everlasting  light  and  glory  ;
Light  "  Which  shall  shine  in  the  darkness  of  our  hearts, "
"more  and  more  until  the  perfect  day  ;m"  Light  whereof
"  the  day  star"  only  shall  arise  in  our  hearts  here,  but  which
shall  "  transform  us  from  glory  to  glory, — as  by  the  Spirit
of  the  Lord,n"  until  we  come  to  the  full,  loving  glory  of  our
Sun  of  Righteousness  ;  Light,  the  Effluence  of  Him  Who
is  "  Light  of  Light,"  and  Who  "  came,"  as  now,  "  a  Light
into  the  world,  thai;  whosoever  believeth  in  Him  should  not
abide  in  darkness.0"

Oh  then,  if  we  "have  been  sometime  darkness,"  seek  we

f  1  S.  John  ii.  16.  e  Num.  xxi.  5.  h  S.  John  vi.  32,  33,  3 1.
