conversion of thousands and of millions ; all of whom in their respective spheres endeavoured to disseminate the same princi- ples, and to spread " the savour of the knowledge of Christ" wherever they went. Take only one man, the Apostle Paul ; and who shall say how much corruption he was the means of preventing in the world 1 — ]
This is the office which every Christian, according to his ability, still executes —
[Ministers labour for this end in the word and doctrine
and private indi%dduals feel themselves bound to
co-operate with them, yea, I may say, to be " fellow-workers also with God." No one who has received the grace of God in truth, will " live any longer unto himself:" he will seek to glorify his God, and to do good to those around him. Has he any relations, a father, a mother, a wife, a child, going on in ignorance and sin? he will endeavour by all possible means to rectify their dispositions, and to guide their feet into the way of peace. He will not say with himself, I am but as a grain of salt, and therefore can do no good : he will thankfully employ his influence, how small soever it may be, for the benefit of those to whom it will extend. Even the poorest have access to some poor neighbour like themselves : and the resolution of the weakest will be like that of the Church of old, " Draw me, and ive will run after thee"^;" that is, ' Draw me, and I will not come alone, but will bring all I can along with me.'
And shall this be thought a small matter ? No, surely : for if a Christian be instrumental, even in the course of his whole life, to convert one single person from the error of his ways, he has effected a good, which exceeds in value the whole mate- rial world : for he has " saved a soul from death, and covered a multitude of sins''."]
Thus is the truly spiritual Christian, a man of great worth and excellence: but all who profess religion are not of this stamp : the text itself declares that there are some of a very different character ; and that nothing can exceed,
II. The worthlessness of those who have not the savour of religion in their souls —
Salt that has lost its savour is here said to be " good for nothing ; but is trodden under foot of men." This shews the desperate state of those who are not truly alive to God. Their prospects are indeed gloomy in relation to,
« Cant. i. 4, ^ Jam. v. 19, 20,
VOL. xr. G