The rising of the Day Star

There is a difference between "the dawn" and the "day-star." The light of "the dawn" is general; the "daystar" gives the thought a focus and fixes it to one spot. "The dawn "is to the whole world; "the day-star "arises in our hearts. What "the day-star" is, is left without a shadow of a doubt. For Christ has singled it out as the last title which He claims in the whole Bible. "I am the bright and morning star." As "the morning star "He comes to us in the night of waiting, doubt, and sorrow. "The day-star" is the morning close at hand. "The dawn" is the day begun. Yet they can never be divided. "The dawn" must soon be full day, and "the day-star" loses itself in the risen sun. Now trace, for a moment, the connection which lies in the allegory — between "the dawn" and "the day-star." I will give one or two instances. You have been reading your Bible, and searching into some of the deep things there. You are a sincere inquirer after truth, but for a while it is all dark; and when it is the darkest, just before the light is going to break, a thought comes into your mind; it gives you a fresh view of the whole subject; it gets clearer and clearer; it spreads like "the dawn" over the hills; in another bound it unveils itself to you. Why? Whence comes this "dawn"? Is it from the head, or is it from the heart? Certainly from the heart. There is Christ in it. "The daystar" is in that "dawn." You feel it. The day "dawned" when "the day-star arose in your heart." And so Christ made the night of your ignorance turn into the day of your joy. I will take it thus. Some sin has gradually darkened your mind. It throws its deep shadow over everything. You cannot find forgiveness, and your whole life is wrapped in gloom. The night of your life becomes thicker and thicker. You pray; there is no answer. You repent; but there is no peace. When almost suddenly — as it seems to you — a hope seems to spring up, things begin to look brighter, despair ceases, praise and hope find their way to your thoughts. There is a "dawn"! But whence? Christ and His tender love has come nearer to you. He reveals Himself to you as your complete and all-sufficient Saviour. All is changed. Why? "The day-star" has "risen in your heart." Or see what shall be presently. The second Advent of Christ is breaking upon this earth. A new day shall burst. This is wonderful. Are you frightened at the solemnities of that hour — the convulsions of nature — the rolling of the heavens up into a scroll — the sight of God! Do they appal you? No. You are calm; you rejoice. Why? For "the day-star" is there, and long before, He has been "the day dawn" in your soul. He is yours. You know Him. He has "risen in your heart," and now has come the noontime of your joy! Now let us observe a little more concerning "the day-star." And first I notice that it "ariseth" of its own free action, of the very necessity of its being; in its very nature it ariseth. It must "arise." We do not make the day-star "arise"; neither do we make Jesus come into our poor dark hearts. He does it of His own free grace and favour. He comes of His own necessity. Such is His love He cannot but choose to come. He "arises" in your heart. The expression shows that it is gradual. "He arises." He goes higher and higher. The light gets stronger, and we see Him more and more. And where the days are His, we know that there will be day — perfect day. The great question for every one of us is, "Is that day-star yet arisen in my heart? If not, why?" Are you wilfully hindering it? Are you turning away from it?

J. Vaughan, M. A.