XXXVII.  And as I know of two kinds of fire, so also do I of light.  The one is the light of our ruling power directing our steps according to the will of God; the other is a deceitful and meddling one, quite contrary to the true light, though pretending to be that light, that it may cheat us by its appearance.  This really is darkness, yet has the appearance of noonday, the high perfection of light.  And so I read that passage of those who continually flee in darkness at noonday;138    Isa. xvi. 3. for this is really night, and yet is thought to be bright light by those who have been ruined by luxury.  For what saith David?  “Night was around me and I knew it not, for I thought that my luxury was enlightenment.”139    A strange paraphrase of the last clause of Ps. cxxxix. 11, in the LXX., “And I said, then the darkness shall swallow me, and night is enlightenment in my luxury.”  But such are they, and in this condition; but let us kindle for ourselves the light of knowledge.140    Thus LXX. in Hosea x. 12, where we read “Break up your fallow ground.”  This will be done by sowing unto righteousness, and reaping the fruit of life, for action is the patron of contemplation, that amongst other things we may learn also what is the true light, and what the false, and be saved from falling unawares into evil wearing the guise of good.  Let us be made light, as it was said to the disciples by the Great Light, ye are the light of the world.141    Matt. v. 14.  Let us be made lights in the world, holding forth the Word of Life;142    Phil. ii. 15, 16. that is, let us be made a quickening power to others.  Let us lay hold of the Godhead; let us lay hold of the First and Brightest Light.  Let us walk towards Him shining, before our feet stumble upon dark and hostile mountains.143    Jer. xlii. 16.  While it is day let us walk honestly as in the day, not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness,144    Rom. xiii. 13. which are the dishonesties of the night.

ΛΖʹ. Ὥσπερ δὲ πῦρ οἶδα διπλοῦν, οὕτω καὶ φῶς τὸ μὲν, τὴν τοῦ ἡγεμονικοῦ λαμπάδα, κατευθῦνον ἡμῖν τὰ κατὰ Θεὸν διαβήματα: τὸ δὲ, ἀπατηλὸν καὶ περίεργον, καὶ τοῦ ἀληθινοῦ φωτὸς ἀντίθετον, ἐκεῖνο εἶναι ὑποκρινόμενον, ἵνα κλέπτῃ τῷ φαινομένῳ: τοῦτο καὶ σκοτία ἐστὶ, καὶ μεσημβρία δοκεῖ, τὸ τοῦ φωτὸς ἀκμαιότατον. Οὕτως ἀκούω τοῖς διαπαντὸς ἐν μεσημβρινῇ σκοτίᾳ φεύγουσι. Τοῦτο καὶ νύξ ἐστι, καὶ φωτισμὸς νομίζεται τοῖς ὑπὸ τῆς τρυφῆς διεφθαρμένοις. Τί γάρ φησιν ὁ Δαβίδ; Νὺξ ἦν περὶ ἐμὲ τὸν δείλαιον καὶ ἠγνόουν: φωτισμὸν γὰρ εἶναι τὴν τρυφὴν ὑπελάμβανον. Ἀλλ' ἐκεῖνοι μὲν τοιοῦτοι, καὶ οὕτως ἔχοντες: ἡμεῖς δὲ φωτίσωμεν ἑαυτοῖς φῶς γνώσεως: ἔσται δὲ τοῦτο, ἐκ τοῦ σπείρειν εἰς δικαιοσύνην, καὶ τρυγᾷν καρπὸν ζωῆς (πρᾶξις γὰρ, θεωρίας πρόξενος), ἵνα τά τε ἄλλα καὶ τοῦτο μάθωμεν, τί μὲν τὸ ἀληθινὸν φῶς, τί δὲ τὸ ψευδόμενον, καὶ μὴ λάθωμεν περιπεσόντες, ὡς καλῷ, τῷ χείρονι. Γενώμεθα φῶς, ὥσπερ οἱ μαθηταὶ παρὰ τοῦ μεγάλου Φωτὸς ἤκουσαν, Ὑμεῖς ἐστε τὸ φῶς τοῦ κόσμου, λέγοντος. Γενώμεθα φωστῆρες ἐν κόσμῳ, λόγον ζωῆς ἐπέχοντες, τουτέστι ζωτικὴ τοῖς ἄλλοις δύναμις. Λαβώμεθα θεότητος, λαβώμεθα τοῦ πρώτου καὶ ἀκραιφνεστάτου Φωτός. Ὁδεύσωμεν πρὸς τὴν λάμψιν αὐτοῦ, πρὸ τοῦ προσκόψαι τοὺς πόδας ἡμῶν ἐπ' ὄρη σκοτεινὰ καὶ πολέμια. Ἕως ἡμέρα ἐστὶν, ὡς ἐν ἡμέρᾳ εὐσχημόνως περιπατήσωμεν, μὴ κώμοις καὶ μέθαις, μὴ κοίταις καὶ ἀσελγείαις, ἃ νυκτός ἐστι κλέμματα.