Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 5.djvu/57

Rh in those sufferings that can, in strictness, merit of God, (for the sins of the best deserve the worst,) yet this is here promised as a reward; (v. 12.) Great is your reward in heaven; so great, as far to transcend the service. It is in heaven, future, and out of sight; but well secured, out of the reach of chance, fraud, and violence. Note, God will provide that those who lose for him, though it be life itself, shall not lose by him in the end. Heaven, at last, will be an abundant recompense for all the difficulties we meet with in our way. This is that which has borne up the suffering saints in all ages—this joy set before them.

(3.) "So persecuted they the prophets that were before you, v. 12. They were before you in excellency, above what you are yet arrived at; they were before you in time, that they might be examples to you of suffering affliction and of patience, James 5. 10. They were in like manner persecuted and abused; and can you expect to go to heaven in a way by yourselves? Was not Isaiah mocked for his line upon line? Elisha for his bald head? Were not all the prophets thus treated? Therefore marvel not at it as a strange thing, murmur not at it as a hard thing; it is a comfort to see the way of suffering a beaten road, and an honour to follow such leaders. That grace which was sufficient for them, to carry them through their sufferings, shall not be deficient to you. Those who are your enemies are the seed and successors of them who of old mocked the messengers of the Lord," 2 Chron, 36. 16. ch. 23. 25. Acts 7. 52.

(4.) Therefore rejoice and be exceeding glad, v. 12. It is not enough to be patient and content under these sufferings as under common afflictions, and not to render railing for railing; but we must rejoice, because the honour and dignity, the pleasure and advantage, of suffering for Christ, are much more considerable than the pain or shame of it. Not that we must take a pride in our sufferings, (that spoils all,) but we must take a pleasure in them, as Paul; (2 Cor. 12. 10.) as knowing that Christ is herein before-hand with us, and that he will not be behind-hand with us, 1 Pet. 4. 12, 13.

13. 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. 14. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. 15. 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. 16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Christ had lately called his disciples, and told them that they should be fishers of men; here he tells them further what he designed them to be—the salt of the earth, and lights of the world, that they might be indeed what it was expected they should be.

I. ''Ye are the salt of the earth. This'' would encourage and support them under their sufferings, that, though they should be treated with contempt, yet they should really be blessings to the world, and the more so for their suffering thus. The prophets, who went before them, were the salt of the land of Canaan; but the apostles were the salt of the whole earth, for they must go into all the world to preach the gospel. It was a discouragement to them that they were so few and so weak. What could they do in so large a province as the whole earth? Nothing, if they were to work by force of arms and dint of sword; but, being to work silently as salt, one handful of that salt would diffuse its savour far and wide; would go a great way, and work insensibly and irresistibly as leaven, ch. 13. 33. The doctrine of the gospel is as salt; it is penetrating, quick, and powerful; (Heb. 4. 12.) it reaches the heart, Acts 2. 37. It is cleansing, it is relishing, and preserves from putrefaction. We read of the savour of the knowledge of Christ; (2 Cor. 2. 14.) for all other learning is insipid without that. An everlasting covenant is called a covenant of salt; (Numb. 18. 19.) and the gospel is an everlasting gospel. Salt was required in all the sacrifices, (Lev. 2. 13.) in Ezekiel's mystical temple, Ezek. 43. 24. Now Christ's disciples, having themselves learned the doctrine of the gospel, and being employed to teach it to others, were as salt. Note, Christians, and especially ministers, are the salt of the earth.

1. If they be such as they should be, they are as good salt, white, and small, and broken into many grains, but very useful and necessary. Pliny says, Sine sale vita humana non potest degere—Without salt, human life cannot be sustained. See in this, (1.) What they are to be in themselves—seasoned with the gospel, with the salt of grace; thoughts and affections, words and actions, all seasoned with grace, Col. 4. 6. Have salt in yourselves, else you cannot diffuse it among others, Mark 9. 50. (2.) What they are to be to others; they must not only be good, but do good; must insinuate themselves into the minds of people, not to serve any secular interest of their own, but that they may transform them into the taste and relish of the gospel. (3.) What great blessings they are to the world. Mankind, lying in ignorance and wickedness, were a vast heap, ready to putrefy; but Christ sent forth his disciples, by their lives and doctrines, to season it with knowledge and grace, and so to render it acceptable to God, to the angels, and to all that relish divine things. (4.) How they must expect to be disposed of; not laid on a heap, they must not continue always together at Jerusalem, but must be scattered as salt upon the meat, here a grain and there a grain; as the Levites were dispersed in Israel, that, wherever they live, they may communicate their savour. Some have observed, that whereas it is foolishly called an ill omen to have the salt fall towards us, it is really an ill omen to have this salt fall from us.

2. If they be not, they are as salt that has lost its savour. If you, who should season others, are yourselves unsavoury, void of spiritual life, relish, and vigour; if a christian be so, especially if a minister be so, his condition is very sad; for, (1.) He is irrecoverable; Wherewith shall it be salted? Salt is a remedy for unsavoury meat, but there is no remedy for unsavoury salt. Christianity will give a man a relish; but if a man can take up and continue the profession of it, and yet remain flat and foolish, and graceless and insipid, no other doctrine, no other means, can be applied, to make him savoury. If Christianity do not do it, nothing will. (2.) He is unprofitable; It is thenceforth good for nothing; what use can it be put to, in which it will not do more hurt than good? As a man without reason, so is a christian without grace. A wicked man is the worst of creatures; a wicked christian is the worst of men; and a wicked minister is the worst of christians. (3.) He is doomed to ruin and rejection; He shall be cast out—expelled the church and the communion of the faithful, to which he is a blot and a burden; and he shall be trodden under foot of men. Let God be glorified in the shame and rejection of those by whom he has been reproached, and who