perplexed in our faith, or tempted by hard sayings to leave our Master's side, we shall meet such seductions as Peter met them, when our Lord, forsaken by his other disciples, turned to the twelve with the words, "Will ye also go away?"-we, too, with them, and with His own in every age, will reply, "Lord, to whom shall we go? THOU hast the words of eternal life."

SERMON XVIII.

ORDINATION SERMON.*

ST. MATTHEW V. 13.

YE ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH; BUT IF THE SALT HAVE LOST ITS 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.

THE metaphor which our Saviour used in these words, is one which spoke more forcibly to his disciples than it does to us; for, under the burning sun of Judæa, the necessity of salt was more strongly felt than in our colder climate, to preserve the daily food of man from corruption. And, moreover, the particular allusion which the words of the text contain to the temple services, would have been instantly appreciated by them, though it is lost to the greater number of modern readers. The salt to which Christ especially refers, was that which was collected in

* This sermon was preached at an Ordination held by the late Lord Bishop of Lichfield, December, 1841. See the preface.

large quantities on the shore of the Dead Sea, and brought to Jerusalem for use in the temple. This salt was mixed with all the meat employed in burntofferings, (according to the words of our Saviour, every sacrifice shall be salted with salt,") and not only kept it from putrescence, but by its bituminous quality counteracted the offensive exhalations which would otherwise have been caused by so great a quantity of burning flesh. It was stored up in the chambers of the temple, in readiness for use, and occasionally, by long exposure to the air, became damaged, and lost its saline quality. It was then useless for the purposes for which it was designed, and was strewn on the pavement of the temple, to prevent the feet of the officiating priests from slipping on the smooth marble; in other words, "it was cast out, and trodden under foot of men."

Such then is the full explanation of our Saviour's words; but who were those whom He addressed, comparing them to this salt, both in its effects while it preserved, and in its end if it lost its savour? Plainly they to whom he spoke represented in their own persons the whole Christian Church throughout every age; for they comprehended all his disciples, all those who professed themselves his followers; and these words form a part of that sermon on the Mount, which was not limited in its application to any one portion of the Christian body, but which is manifestly spoken to the whole church alike. Christians then, as Christians, are the salt of the earth; that vast

body of men who, in every clime and country, call themselves by the name of Christ, and receive his teaching as the truth of God, and enjoy the means of grace vouchsafed to all believers, the whole Church universal throughout the world, are the salt of the earth; for they contain that principle which can alone preserve the earth from moral putrescence, and present it, with its inhabitants, a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God. And as that sacred salt at Jerusalem was gathered from the shores of the Dead Sea, where it lay scattered among the monuments of God's vengeance on sin, and stored up for holy uses in the temple of God; so were we, the Christian nations of the world, selected by God's free grace, from among the people that sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, and collected within the sanctuary of his visible church, the holy place which He has blessed with His abiding presence. From out of the heathen world, which was given over by God's justice to a reprobate mind, because they did not like to retain Him in their knowledge, we were chosen to receive the knowledge of salvation, and behold the light of life and immortality. No reason can be assigned for this but God's mysterious will, which has thus given us aids and blessings denied to others, but has given us also responsibility for talents so bestowed, and condemnation if we neglect to render Him his own with usury. The very fact that we are the salt of the earth, renders our condition most hopeless if we fail to keep ourselves from corruption;

for if the salt have lost its savour, wherewith shall it be salted? Of a truth, if Christians do not God's work on earth, there is nothing else which can do it for them. There is none other name given under heaven, given among men, whereby they can be saved; and if they who call themselves by that holy name, they to whom Christ has given power to become the sons of God, resist the sanctifying influence which He has granted them, they will indeed deserve to be cast out, and trodden under foot. "For if we sin wilfully, after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment."

But the words of the text were spoken to our Lord's disciples, not only as Christian men, but as Christian teachers; for we must remember that these first followers of Christ had a double character, since they were at once the only members of His Church, and its ministers. And in this latter capacity the words were applicable to them with a peculiar and emphatic force; for if all Christ's Church are the salt of the earth, what must be those whose office is to preserve its other members from error, to feed the flock of Christ, to be the overseers of the Church of God? Truly they must be the very salt of the salt itself, the leaven which leaveneth the whole lump, either with salubrious power, or else with pestilent infection; for if they lose their savour, they lose it not for themselves alone; there is little hope that the rest will retain, what is lost where it should be concentrated;