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I read somewhere of a traveller at Calais going one dark and stormy night to the lighthouse there. Whilst standing looking on, the keeper of the house boasted of its brilliancy and beauty, observing there were few such lights in the world beside. The traveller said, thoughtlessly it may be, "What if one of these burners should go out to-night? .... What!" said the keeper, "go out, sir? Oh, sir," said he, "look at that dark and stormy sea. You cannot see them, but there are ships passing and repassing there to every point of the compass. Were the light to go out from my inattention, in six months news would arrive from every part of the coast, that such ships and crews were lost through my neglect! No, no! God forbid that such a thing should ever occur. I feel every night as I look at my burner as if all the eyes of all the sailors of the world were looking at my lights, and watching me!" If such was his care of lights, the extinction of which could lead only to temporal catastrophes, oh I what should be ours!

I. The true disciple's POSITION and calling. His position is like that of a city set on a hill, eminently conspicuous; he "cannot be hid," and he ought not to try to be hid. His calling is from the elevated position he occupies, to shed light upon the whole world.

II. The QUALIFICATIONS needed by Christ's disciples for a right discharge of the duties of their position and calling (vers. 3-10):

III. The REWARDS of a right discharge of our duties as true disciples. The hatred of men, the esteem and love of men, the unspeakable blessedness of seeing others led by our influence to worship God (ver. 16; 1 Thessalonians 2:19), the approval of God (ver. 9), everlasting blessedness (vers. 3, 8, 12; Revelation 21:10).

(The Preachers' Monthly.)These words are descriptive of: —

I. The genuine Christian's character — "light."

II. The Christian's place and functions.

III. The Church's responsibility.

(James Stewart.)Example is the source of the Christian's most powerful influence on the world. In analyzing that power there are three or four elements.

I. It is the most successful method of illustrating truth and imparting instruction.

II. It is a demonstration of the practicability of religious life, as well as the truthfulness of Christianity, and the most successful method of removing objections to it.

III. It attracts attention.

IV. It is the most successful method of reproving wrong-doing.

V. It is also the most successful way of winning the esteem of the world.

(Christian Age.)

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KJV: Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

WEB: You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can't be hidden.