Nevertheless, the dimness shall not be such as was in her
vexation, when at first he lightly afflicted the land of
Zebulun, and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more
grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in
Galilee of the nations. The people that walked in darkness, have
seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of
death, upon them hath the light shined.--Isaiah ix. 1. 2.
From the days of Malachi, the last of the prophets, until the
coming of John the Baptist, a period of four hundred and thirty-six
years, the Church was in a state of great darkness and apparent
desertion. This prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus resided, or
personally preached in the towns of Galilee; then, "the land of
Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond
Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; the people which sat in darkness
saw a great light; and of them which sat in the region and shadow of
death light sprung up." Jesus is "the true light, that lighteneth
every man that cometh into the world." He is given to be "a light to
lighten the Gentiles and the glory of his people Israel." To whom we
would say, "Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of
the Lord is risen upon thee." For through the tender mercy of our
God, Jesus, the day-spring from on high, hath visited us, to give
light to them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death, and
to guide our feet in the way of peace. "Light and immortality are
brought to light by the gospel" of Jesus, who is himself the divine
fountain, or source from whence must emanate all spiritual light. He
is the light and the life of man; he came a light into this world,
that whosoever believeth in him should not abide in "darkness."