* Preached in the First Free Church, Thurso, on Monday of the Communion in June, 1855. The preacher was then seventy-seven years of age. The sermon is taken from the “Ministers and Men in the Far North,” by the late Rev. Alexander Auld, Ollrig.
WE are met together, professing to thank God for His goodness—for our privilege in having got another opportunity of renewing our vows and of binding ourselves afresh to Him in a well-ordered covenant. We must soon separate, each to his own home, and these words in the text are very suitable for the meditation of Christians going out again to the world: “If we walk in the light,” etc. We are walking on the way to eternity. You and I will soon be there. Where shall we meet in eternity? What shall be our dwelling-place? Who shall be our companions? What shall be our portion? Now, some are going to heaven and some to hell; and how shall we know which way we are going? The text and the verse preceding give the character of both parties. In the sixth verse it is said, “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not the truth.” We lie to God, and we know that all liars shall have their portion in the lake of fire. But says one, “I am a Christian.” Then do the truth: do not walk in darkness—in the darkness of wickedness—darkness of worldliness—darkness of error. Sin, alas! hath brought us all into darkness. In the seventh verse it is said, “But if we walk in the light.” This, then, is the way in which those who are going to heaven walk—they walk in the light as Christ is in the light; they have fellowship one with another; and being poor sinners, they have the blood of Jesus cleansing them from all sin. Take your choice now. Here are both ways set before you—light and darkness. Which do you desire to walk in? “Well, I’ll think of it, and begin to-morrow.” Long since that to-morrow was looked for. It will ruin many of us. When to-morrow comes, I fear it will not be known that ever we read the Bible, heard of God, or had an offer of the Saviour. Now, let us look for a little—
First—At the character of believers.
They walk in the light as Christ is in the light. They are, indeed, often in darkness in their own experience, but never in the darkness of the world.
Secondly—Consider their fellowship.
They have fellowship one with another. The sheep do not care to keep company with the goats.
Thirdly—Consider their encouragement.
Whatever of sin is in them, yet the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth them from all sin.
First.—They walk in the light.
Christ Himself is the light. He is the true light that shineth in darkness. He is the life, and the life is the light of men (John i. 4, 5). The apostles saw Him personally. “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.” But they had eyes to look further. “We beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” They saw Him thus by faith. By faith as well as by sight they saw Him, heard Him, looked upon Him, handled Him. Oh, the blessed eye of faith, that sees the beauty of Jesus; the blessed ear of faith, opened to hear the voice of the Good Shepherd; the blessed touch of faith—”Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands.” It is easy to speak about faith—to prate about it like parrots; not so easy coming to the blessed experience of it. We shall not see Jesus by sight until death, but we must now, by faith, get some glimpses of the King in His beauty and of the land that is very far off. We must now behold, as in a glass darkly, the glory of the Lord, if we would be changed into His image. Oh, you who are looking and living to worldly conformity, you shall yet take fully on the image of the devil. But you walk in the light, believer. Who gave you this light? God Himself. What gives you the light of the sun? The sun itself. Until God says, “Let there be light,” the light that is in us is but darkness. And when He comes as the light, he gives us to believe that he is, and that He demands our worship in spirit and in truth. Then we begin to go to prayer, to preaching, to those who know the Lord. But even in these means we cannot rest. Many, indeed, whom the Lord never set a-seeking in quest of Himself, thus get some notions of religion. Yes, I have people in my parish who can talk about God and about faith, and who could preach, too, very well about these things, but who are really ignorant of them. And you too, believer, were ignorant of them till God came. You remember your ignorance of a soul, of sin, of God, and how Satan took advantage of your ignorance, and made you live like the rest of the world, till God came and revealed Himself to you and set you seeking Himself. Now, you believed there was a God—a God in creation and in providence, and a God in redemption. You believed that this God revealed Himself as one God in three Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Ghost—each Person having His own office in the salvation of our lost race, and each Person equal in power and glory. You believed that you could get no rest, no satisfaction, till you knew Him as reconciled; and hearing Him making offer of Himself to you, you rested your soul upon Him alone for salvation, as He is freely offered in the Gospel. Knowing the Lord, you now know the way wherein to walk. “When it pleased God to reveal his Son in me,” says Paul, “immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood.” There is now a walking in the light—a renouncing of the works of darkness. “I am the way,” says Jesus; “no man cometh to the Father but by me.” Coming into this way by the gate of regeneration, we now walk in the light of the living, and renounce everything that would keep us walking according to the course of this world.
Happy ye who have thus been taken, one of a city and two of a family, and brought to Zion! Will you not, this day, bless Jehovah for having not left you in the darkness of the world—for having brought you into the footsteps of the flock? Perhaps you remember some one of the Lord’s people through whom you were brought to leave the broad way. You will have fellowship with that soul yet in heaven, though now you can perhaps but weep at his grave, remembering his conversation and prayers, and fearing you will never be like him. Yet the light gains ground. Drops from heaven fall on the soul like rain upon the mown grass, and keep you following on till you shall appear before God in Zion.
More particularly as to this walking, I observe that in order to it we need
light upon the way and strength to walk in it.
There is, therefore, wrought in the soul dependence upon the good Spirit that leads to the land of uprightness. In His light faith turns earth’s midnight into heaven’s noonday. “I press toward the mark,” says Paul. The mark is before me; I see it. So I must press forward to reach the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. It is true that I have met with many mercies and deliverances, but these are behind me, and much of the wilderness, and Jordan also, is before me; so I must press forward in face of all opposition, giving up everything that would keep me back. The believer has, indeed, many sins that beset him, but these must be set aside by faith and repentance. Without this there can be no true walking. Tell all your lets and hindrances to Him in whose way you are walking. He is the blessed Shepherd, who will suit Himself to your case—sometimes leading, sometimes drawing, sometimes carrying you. “He feedeth his flock like a shepherd.”
Again, this walking is a
walk in the fear of God and with a tender conscience.
“I will put my fear into their hearts, and they shall not depart from me.” “Walk before me,” says God, “and be thou perfect.” We must walk believing that His eye is upon us. God sees me at all times—in company and alone—and He sees my heart. Is my heart right with Him? Am I in His fear all the day long? Parents, how do you conduct yourselves before your families? God’s eye is upon you. Masters, how do you deal towards your servants? From God’s presence whither can you flee? Ministers, you and your people, remember it is before Jehovah that you are.
This walking is also a
walk in humility.
What makes you humble? The light of God that has entered your soul. What is the cause of all our strifes and divisions? What but pride! Oh, this must be destroyed. God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble, to keep them in the way. So when pride gets up in those who are walking in the way, they may look for the whip: “a rod for the fool’s back.” You were at the table yesterday. What were you doing there? Setting Christ before you? And did you get a glimpse of Him in His humility, poverty, lowliness, love, yet with ever an eye to His Father’s glory? And will not that crucify your pride?
Lastly, as to this walking, I remark it is a
walking in love, as Christ walked.
“Be ye followers of God, as dear children.” Walk in love, as Christ loved His Church and gave Himself for it. Follow Him; imitate Him. A child will imitate his father; a scholar his master—not that he will come up to the master, but he will write the copy after him. His fellowship will now be your chief desire. “Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?” Did you ever meet a poor wife in the street who had lost her husband? At every one that passed by she would ask, “Did you see my husband?” So with you, believer. No one will fill His place with you but Himself. No one else would satisfy Mary. “They have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.” “I know my sheep,” says Jesus, “and am known of mine.” This fellowship engenders holiness of heart and life. Christ is holy, and they drink into His spirit. Drops of holiness drip into their souls through this fellowship. Secret sins thus get less, and victory over lusts of the flesh and of the mind is thus obtained. Oh, then, walk in the light, as He is in the light. Satan, indeed, will be setting baits for you, both in the world and in the closet. But He has said, “My grace is sufficient for thee; my strength is made perfect in thy weakness.” Oh, sinner, will you not be persuaded to walk in this way—you who are walking in the world as if you were never to leave it? But the time is not far off when the world will be glad to get rid of you, and heaven’s doors will be shut upon you. Oh, think of this! And you who profess the Lord’s name, see that you indeed walk in Him. If I walk not in the light, as Christ is in the light, though I be an apostle, yet I will be with Judas at last.
Secondly.—Consider what is the special mark given in the text of those who walk in the light.
They have fellowship one with another. They have the same God, the same Saviour, the same indwelling spirit—ay, and the same devil. They have been enabled to break fellowship with the world, and to say, as Ruth to Naomi, “Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.” Do you say so? Well, our fellowship truly is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ. Will you come into this fellowship? “Our Father which art in heaven.” You must begin here. You may join yourself to the people of God, but you will be as the foolish virgins till you know something of this. A child, if among strangers, will cling to his father. So you must have fellowship with the Father before the world can be empty to you, or heaven be longed for. Now, there can be no fellowship, no communion, without first union. What unites to Christ and to God in Him? Faith. What unites to His people? Love. First be united to Christ, and love, which comes out of the womb of faith, will then unite you to the brethren. By union to Christ you and they will now be branches growing on the true vine. The Lord is, indeed, cutting down the fruitful branches, and oh! to see young ones rising in their room. What a blessed sight to see young people reading the Bible, praying, conversing about eternal things! I have seen this, but I fear it is now out of fashion. When I see young people meet together, I see them—yea, even on the Lord’s Day—walk and talk as lightly as if they were at a fair. Oh, young people! remember you have been baptized in the name of the Three Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Ghost—and you shall know that yet, either in mercy or in judgment. But as to this Christian fellowship. Being, as we have said, united to Christ, the blessed Spirit of God that dwells in your brother now takes possession of you, and you are now joined in heart, like Ruth and Naomi or like Jonathan and David; and when you meet you will be better of one another. I like to meet my fellow-Christian—to have him tell me of the Lord’s dealings with him—of his trials and of his deliverances. Indeed, if we both knew the Lord as we ought, we would not want a subject. I like to have my fellow-Christian praying for me—giving me a promise—telling me of my evil heart, for I have one. I like also to see him mourning over sinners that are going to hell, and to see him wrestling with the Lord that He would revive His work in the Church and raise a seed to do Him service. These are the things we will have in common. There are some, indeed, who are like a bird I have heard of—that whatever birds it met, it took feathers to suit theirs. Take you care of that—suiting yourself to the worldling, to the Pharisee, to the hypocrite. You know your own heart. Be watchful; have a sense of your own weakness; always afraid of yourself; remembering you have a deceitful heart, a corrupt mind, a tempting devil.
Now, in our fellowship there are two duties not to be forgotten: one, that we must bear with the infirmities of one another; and so we may when we know something of our own hearts. We need not expect to find a perfect Christian on this side of heaven, and the more forbearance the more sympathy. Another, we must be helpful to one another. Has your brother burdens?—help him. Is he in worldly trouble?—do what you can for him. Is he in spiritual trouble?—try and be useful to him. Alas! when through pride and self-seeking our fellowships are broken—when mutual prayer is neglected—when one will not encourage or reprove another, but when every one goes his own way! Woe to the Church that day! Oh! people of God, keep up fellowship “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I.” And see that you bear a rising generation upon your spirits. You parents, you like to see your children getting on in the world, but would you not rather see them begging from door to door if Christ were formed in their souls the hope of glory, than see them crowned heads if without the Saviour? Let us walk, then, as for eternity, in fellowship with Christ, and with one another in Him. But I am a sinner, and how can I do this? I who am shapen in sin, how can I walk thus? Well, this leads us to speak of,—
Thirdly.—The encouragement here presented.
“The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin.” Oh! believer, this is your mercy!—your cause of rejoicing! Do not say, “When I am in a better frame I will follow Christ, and walk with Him.” There is no remedy for—no destruction to the works of darkness but the blood of Jesus. He took flesh and blood. Oh! how is it that we do not love Him? How is it that we can let Him a moment out of our thoughts, when He took our nature? The blood is the life. “The life of the flesh is in the blood” (Lev. xvii. 11). Jesus shed His blood. He could not as God die, but He took our nature, and shed His blood—hence it is called the blood of God. This makes it meritorious; puts value on it. Is not this wonderful? Jehovah, who created all things, and upholds all things, taking flesh and shedding His blood. Here go, oh sinner! if out of hell—if soul and body are yet together—go to the blood of Jesus Christ. There is enough in Him to cleanse from all sin. “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” And what follows? “If ye be willing and obedient; ye shall eat the good of the land”—that is, a blessing with everything you enjoy, through the virtue of the blood of atonement. Atonement has been made by this blood. God’s broken law required a sacrifice, and Jesus gave the sacrifice. The blood was sprinkled on the book and on all the people, to show that it satisfied God and purged the sinner. Therefore, as surely as it has been offered up to God, it must be applied to your conscience. “When I see the blood, I will pass over you.” Nothing else will do. This is the only shelter from the wrath to come. It is also peace-speaking blood. It speaks peace in heaven. The speaking of this blood brings the Spirit to your soul. Abel’s blood brought death to Cain. Christ’s blood brings mercy, pardon, love, to your soul—brings faith, repentance, and every grace—all come through this blessed channel.
The blood of bulls and of goats, of saints and of angels, could not bring one sinner to heaven, nor bring the pardon of one sin; but the blood of Christ brings the remission of all sins. It is said here, “cleanseth us from all sin”—from little sins, from great sins—from sins of omission, from sins of commission. Do not hide your sins from this blood. Before the Lord began to deal with you, you had buried your sins out of your sight; but now there will be a resurrection of them, and this loads you with the burden of guilt. And, oh! what a burden that is to an awakened conscience. But the precious blood of Christ can remove it. Turn not away, then, from this blood. Every time you reject it, you leave a sting in your conscience, which shall be to you yet the worm that dieth not. You have secret faults. David said, “Who can understand his errors?” Oh! bring them to the blood. Let them give you errands to Christ. This will keep you little in your own eyes, and make Him precious to you. Are you more afraid of sin than of hell? Are you saying, “Will ever I get free of sin?” Well, you will get it removed in this blood—even now, and at length you will be as free of it as if you had never known it.
But I cannot continue. I must leave it with you. You are now going each to the world. Will your families and neighbours take knowledge of you that you have been with Jesus? Go not out in your own strength. “If thy presence go not with us,” said Moses. “My angel shall go with you.” “Oh! no, even an angel will not put up with us. Come with us Thyself.” “Well, My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.” Depend on the Lord alone, and beware of grieving His Spirit from your soul. I read of a lady of whom it was said she was an angel in church, but a devil at home. Be not so; but set the Lord before you at all times. You know not what troubles, what trials, what crosses are before you; but you know that such are before you, for His people are a people who come out of great tribulation. Oh! but what of the tribulation? It leads them to wash their robes, and to make them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, shall they be before the Throne of God, and serve him day and night in His temple. Shall we be among that company? Well, they were sinners once, but sinners led to the blood. Therefore say you, “Purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean; wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.” The hyssop of the promise dipt in the blood of Jesus, and sprinkled on your soul, can alone fit you for glory. “Now ye are clean, through the word which I have spoken unto you.”
“HE shall wipe away all tears.” Christ our Lord in this world wipes the tears from His bairns’ faces; yet, after that, they weep new tears. He never wipes away all tears till now. Here shall be our last good-night to death. Good-night to crying, and mourning, and sorrow! We shall be on the other side of the water, and over beyond the black river of death, and shall scorn death; for Christ shall take death and hell and cast them in the prison of fire (Rev. xx. 14). The mother that lost her bairns shall get them—all the Lord’s widows shall get their husbands—the old world, which was the mourning world, shall be away. And, therefore, never till now shall all tears be wiped away.—Samuel Rutherford.