aised up to partake of the purity of his nature, and be transformed into
some likeness to him, and then is the foundation of society and
fellowship laid down. This is the apostle's meaning, in declaring to us
what God is that according to that pattern, and in that glass we may see
what to conform ourselves to, and may have a particular determination of
the great qualification of those who pretend to fellowship with God. "God
is light and in him is no darkness." Now, take the just opposition--man is
darkness and in him is no light. Now, what communion then can light have
with darkness? Either the light must become darkness, or the darkness
become light. Either the light must leave its glorious purity and forsake
its nature--which cannot be admitted--or else the darkness of men's souls
must be wiped off, and abolished by the brightness of God's light. And
then there may be a communion between the primitive light and the
derivative light, between the original light and that which flows out from
the original. But take darkness remaining darkness, and light remaining
light, and they cannot compone(239) together, for the first great
separation that was made in the world was between light and darkness. "And
God saw the light that it was good, and God divided the light from the
darkness," Gen. i. 4. And so it is impossible for men that live in the
darkness of their minds, in ignorance, and in the darkness of sinful
lusts, that they can have any fellowship with God, who is a fountain of
pure light and undefiled sanctity. "What hast thou to do to take my
covenant in thy mouth," &c, and this God saith to the wicked. It is an
incongruous and unsuitable thing, for man to pretend nearness and interest
in this God and yet be buried in darkness and hatred of the light of
personal reformation as a gold ring in a swine's nose, that rather deforms
the jewel than beautifies the beast, so are the pretensions of ignorant
and wicked men, to this divine society, &c.

Sermon X.

1 John i. 5.--"This then is the message which we have heard of him,
and declare unto you, that God is light," &c.

Who is a fit messenger to declare this message? Can darkness comprehend
the light, or apprehend it? Or can those that are blind form any lively
notion of light, to the instruction and persuasion of others? Truly, no
more can we conceive or speak of God, who is that pure light, than a blind
man can discourse on colours, or a deaf man on s