Here then thou hast a remedy suggested from its opposite. For if by “professing thyself wise,
thou art become a fool; profess thyself a fool, and thou wilt be wise.” But profess it in truth,
profess it from the heart, for it is really so as thou professest. If thou profess it, do not profess
it before men, and forbear to profess it before God. As to thyself, and all that is thine, thou
art altogether dark. For what else is it to be a fool, but to be dark in heart? He saith of them
at last, “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.” Before they professed this,
what do we find? “And their foolish heart was darkened.”2282 Acknowledge then that thou
art not to thyself a light. At best thou art but an eye, thou art not the light. And what good
is even an open and a sound eye, if the light be wanting? Acknowledge therefore that of
thine own self thou art no light to thyself; and cry out as it is written, “Thou, Lord, wilt light
my candle: Thou wilt enlighten, O Lord, my darkness with Thy Light.”2283 For myself I was
all darkness; but Thou art the Light that scattereth the darkness, and enlighteneth me; of
myself I am no light to myself, yea I have no portion of light but in Thee.
9. So John also, the friend of the Bridegroom, was thought to be the Christ, was thought
to be the Light. “He was not that Light, but that he might bear witness of the Light.”2284 But
what was the Light? It was the true Light. What is the true Light? “That which lighteneth
every man.” If that be the true Light which lighteneth every man, then it lightened John
also, who professed and confessed rightly, “Of His fulness have all we received.”2285 See if
he said ought else, but “Thou, O Lord, shalt lighten my candle.” Finally, being now en-
lightened, He gave His testimony. For the benefit of the blind the lamp gave witness to the
Day. See how that He is a lamp; “Ye sent,” He said, “unto John, and ye were willing for a
season to rejoice in his light; he was a burning and a shining lamp.”2286 He, the lamp, that
is, a thing enlightened, was lighted that it might shine. That which can be lighted can be
extinguished also. Now that it may not be extinguished, let it not expose itself to the wind
of pride. Therefore, “I confess to Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou
hast hid these things from the wise and prudent,” from those who thought themselves to
be light, and were darkness; and who because they were darkness, and thought themselves
to be light, could not even be enlightened. But they who were darkness, and confessed that
they were darkness, were little babes, not great; were humble, not proud. Rightly therefore
did they say, “O Lord, Thou wilt lighten my candle.” They knew themselves, they praised
the Lord. They did not stray from the way of salvation; “They in praise called upon the Lord,
and they were saved from their enemies.”2287
2282 Rom. i. 21.
2283 Ps. xviii. 28.
2284 John i. 8.
2285 John i. 16.
2286 John v. 33, etc.
2287 Ps. xviii. 3.
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On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xi. 25, ‘I thank thee, O Father, Lord…