Observe here, 1. The nature of the word of God, and the great intention
of giving it to the world; it is a lamp and a light. It discovers to
us, concerning God and ourselves, that which otherwise we could not
have known; it shows us what is amiss, and will be dangerous; it
directs us in our work and way, and a dark place indeed the world would
be without it. It is a lamp which we may set up by us, and take into
our hands for our own particular use, Prov. vi. 23. The commandment is
a lamp kept burning with the oil of the Spirit; it is like the lamps in
the sanctuary, and the pillar of fire to Israel. 2. The use we should
make of it. It must be not only a light to our eyes, to gratify them,
and fill our heads with speculations, but a light to our feet and to
our path, to direct us in the right ordering of our conversation, both
in the choice of our way in general and in the particular steps we take
in that way, that we may not take a false way nor a false step in the
right way. We are then truly sensible of God's goodness to us in giving
us such a lamp and light when we make it a guide to our feet, our path.