Essex Congregational Remembrancer Romans 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. These words contain — I. A REPRESENTATION OF THIS LIFE AND OF THE LIFE TO COME. 1. This life is the night. Our condition in this state is one of — (1) Ignorance. What feeble conceptions have we of God! What mistakes do we make respecting the methods of Divine grace. He who knows most confesses "that we know in part, and prophesy in part."(2) Danger. In the night of this life "your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." Nor is he a solitary agent. Besides, how many natural ills surround us! (3) Trouble. 2. The next life is day. Heaven will be a day of — (1) Knowledge. Good men will there see things as they are, God as He is, and know even as they are known. (2) Safety. (3) Happiness (Revelation 7:15-17). II. AN ADMONITION OF THE DEPARTURE OF THE FORMER, AND OF THE APPROACH OF THE LATTER. We are informed of this fact by — 1. Revolving periods of time. 2. The doctrines of the gospel. There is not one of them which does not terminate in heaven. Christians are justified and sanctified that they may be capacitated to enjoy heaven. 3. The ordinances of the gospel. Why do we unite in songs of praise, but in the hope of ere long uniting in the praises of heaven? 4. Surrounding objects, combined with our own bodily infirmities. (Essex Congregational Remembrancer.) Parallel Verses KJV: The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. |
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