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Consider —

I. THE GOSPEL AS LIGHT.

1. Light penetrates, so does the gospel (Hebrews 4:12). We all know the difficulty of excluding light. If there be a crevice, however small, light will enter. And so man may despise the truth, may hate it, as Ahab hated Micaiah, the preacher of the truth; but, if it be the Lord's will, He will find some crevice in the heart through which the light of the gospel will penetrate.

2. Light enables us to see (Ephesians 5:13; cf. Psalm 19:113). The gospel —

(1) Opens up to us the nature of sin. Men do not really know what sin is, except by the Word of God.

(2) Enlightens us upon the remedy for sin. Man would have found out the atonement except it had been revealed in the gospel.

(3) Shows how sin may be overcome.

3. Light has a guiding power — so that by it we may know our way. Just as a light carried before us in the dark night is "a light unto our feet, and a lamp unto our path," so the gospel shows us Him who is "the way, the truth, and the life."

4. But the text tells us that the gospel is a glorious light, because —

(1) Of its author — God.

(2) Of its substance — Jesus, "the brightness of the Father's glory, and the express image of His person."(3) It opens up to us all the glorious riches of Christ.

II. THE GREAT HINDRANCE TO THE RECEPTION OF THE GOSPEL. "The god of this world." While the gospel shows us Christ in all His beauty, it leads us also to see clearly what Satan is. Now Satan employs a variety of means; therefore, "be not ignorant of his devices," which are —

1. Pride. You look within and say, "Men are not so bad as they are described"; and as for the commandments, "All these things I have kept from my youth up." Pride is that shutter put up by the devil to keep the light of the truth from entering your hearts.

2. Prejudice against the gospel.

3. Evil passions.

III. HOW THE HINDRANCE MAY BE REMOVED.

1. Satan, "a strong man armed," who keeps what he has just as long as he can — not as long as he would. All depends, therefore, upon our finding a "stronger than he." I look, therefore, for Him who "is light"; and I know that the Spirit of God can open my eyes, and make me see that light which is able to set me free, and deliver me from the power of Satan.

2. If you are really desirous of having the light, go and plead God's promises in prayer.

3. If you want now to receive the gospel, exertion on your own part is necessary. "Awake thou that sleepest," etc.

(Bp. Montagu Villiers.)

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KJV: But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

WEB: Even if our Good News is veiled, it is veiled in those who perish;