[God regards the saints as " his peculiar treasure above all people upon the face of the earth." In his estimation they are as lights in a dark world, and as " salt" which keeps the great mass of the ungodly from utter putrefaction*^. Nay further, he sends them as leaven to diffuse piety all around them®, and to impart to others the blessings which they them- selves have received. But the world is unworthy of them : for they know not their value ; and are regardless of all the advantages which they might derive from them ; yea, they are insensible of the benefits which they are daily receiving from them ; and they requite all their kindness with nothing but hatred and contempt.
We have not time to enter minutely into these different particulars : yet we must not pass them over without a few words to elucidate and confirm them. Go back to the days of the Apostles: see in what light those distinguished servants of God were regarded : see at what a low rate all their labours were appreciated in every city, not of Judaea only, but of the whole world. What benefits might the people in every place have received, if they would have listened to the instructions and followed the examples of those holy men ! So at this day might they be benefited by the saints and ministers of the Lord, so far at least as those saints and ministers are them- selves conformed to the doctrines and examples of the primitive saints? Indeed the world is, though unwittingly, benefited by the saints in a very high degree : for by them the tone of morals is raised, wherever they come : and a multitude of In- stitutions for the temporal and spiritual welfare of mankind are set on foot ; Institutions, which would never have been carried forwai'd, if the zeal and piety of the godly had not led the way, and the envy and jealousy of the careless been provoked to tread in their steps *^. How far the words of our Lord respect- ing Jerusalem are applicable to the present day, I pretend not to say : but in that day, the tribulation that came on Jeru- salem was greater than had existed since the beginning of the
^ Matt. v. 13, 14. e Matt. xiii. 33.
'' The Societies for the Diffusion of the Holy Scriptures, for send- ing forth Missions to the Heathen, for the Conversion of Jews to Cliristianity, and for the Education of the Poor, abundantly illustrate this trutli.