long since read what purported to be a true story of a man by
the name of Casper Hauser, who had been intentionally brought up in a
dark cave from his very infancy. Up to mature manhood he had never
seen a ray of light, except what proceeded from the dim lantern which
his keeper used in supplying him with food and other things. Had this
man been told, while in the cave, of the wonderful light of the sun
and the beauties of the outside world, he would not have been able to
understand what was told him. But if he would have been willing to
take the hand of some true friend and be led out into the light, he
would not have needed any argument to convince him that what he had
heard was true. Like the queen of Sheba, when she visited King
Solomon, he might have said: "It was a true report I heard, but now
mine eyes have seen it, and the half had not been told me."

Let me say to you, friends, that right here in this Divine Word is one
greater than Solomon, whose eyes are as a flame of fire to illuminate
the sinner's dark understanding, and whose countenance is as the sun
shining in his strength to warm and cheer the sinner's cold and
cheerless heart. That one is Jesus. As the Divine Word, he revealed
his glory on the mount, and Peter in the joyfulness of his heart said:
"Lord, it is good to be here." How often does the true disciple, when
the Word is revealed to his heart, in the warmth of its love and light
of its truth, feel like exclaiming in the same words: "Lord, it is
good to be here!" But not all know the truth; and we ask, Why is it
so? In answering this question several things have to be kept in mind.
Some--but very few in our land--are not in reach of the preached Word,
are not instructed so as to be able to read it, and are so situated
socially as to hear nothing of the Gospel. Some are born deaf, who can
neither hear nor read. Some are born idiots who are incapable of
understanding. With such ignorance is no sin. But what shall we say of
the great army of unbelievers who, in the very blaze of gospel light,
shut their eyes and, like the Gergesenes, beseech the Lord to depart
out of their borders. These "love darkness rather than light; and they
will not come to the light." This answers the question, "Why do not
all know the truth?" They will not abide in his words. They will not
do the truth: "For he that doeth the truth cometh to the light." We
now turn to the

THIRD PROMISE.--"And the truth shall make you free."