_THE SALT AND THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD._

'Ye are the salt of the earth; but if the salt have lost his savour,
wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to
be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of
the world. A city that is set on an hill, cannot be hid. Neither do men
light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, and it
giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine
before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your father
which is in heaven.'--_Matthew_ v. 3--16.


The Lord knew these men, and had their hearts in his hand; else would he
have told them they were the salt of the earth and the light of the
world? They were in danger, it is true, of pluming themselves on what he
had said of them, of taking their importance to their own credit, and
seeing themselves other than God saw them. Yet the Lord does not
hesitate to call his few humble disciples the salt of the earth; and
every century since has borne witness that such indeed they were--that
he spoke of them but the simple fact. Where would the world be now but
for their salt and their light! The world that knows neither their salt
nor their light may imagine itself now at least greatly retarded by the
long-drawn survival of their influences; but such as have chosen
aspiration and not ambition, will cry, But for those men, whither should
we at this moment be bound! Their Master set them to be salt against
corruption, and light against darkness; and our souls answer and say,