The Lighted Candle

Rev. John Wesley

Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Matthew 5:15

This plainly appears from the following words: “Neither do men light a candle to put it under a bushel.” As if? he had said: As men do not light a candle, only to cover and conceal it, so neither does God enlighten any soul with his glorious knowledge and love, to have it covered or concealed, either by prudence, falsely so-called, or shame, or voluntary humility; to have it hid either in a desert, or in the world; either by avoiding men, or in conversing with them. “But they put it on a candlestick, and it giveth light to all that are in the house.” In like manner, it is the design of God that every Christian should be in an open point of view; that he may visibly express the religion of Jesus Christ.

Thus has God in all ages spoken to the world, not only by precept, but by example also. He has “not left himself without witness” in any nation where the sound of the gospel has gone forth, without a few who have testified his truth, by their lives as well as their words. These have been “as lights shining in a dark place.” And from time to time they have been the means of enlightening some, of preserving a remnant, a little seed which was “counted to the Lord for a generation.” They have led a few poor sheep out of the darkness of the world, and guided their feet into the way of peace.

Compiled by Al Bryant, "The John Wesley Reader", Word Books. This book is currently available on the used book market. Please check the used book venders for this book at IMARC.