The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 211

misery they have suffered here, or to respond to the deepest longings of their natme. "Blessed," says our Lord, "are ye whom this world has not enriched anrl satisfied; " blessed ·are ye, because this emptiness leaves room for the kingdom of heaven. " Blessed are ye that mourn," because for all sorrow there is a special Jlcatitude--a being drawn to the very heart of God, and a receiving of his special fatherly care. While our Lord bids his followers seek first the kingdom of God, while be assures them they must take up the cross and follow him, he at the same time certifies them of blessedness in the end. Borrow, doubt, defeat, anguish of spirit, are what mark the course of thousands of his followers, but he calmly pronounces them blessed. No craving for righteousness, no natural impulse thwarted, no earthly hope renounced, no happiness postponed for others' sake, shall lose its reward. We have all learned that present pleasure and immediate gratification very frequently lead to permanent sorrow; we are here taught that present trouble and sorrow are often the direct path to permanent joy. How do we stand with regard to the Beatitudes? Can you bring yourself certainly under one or other of these categories? Many never reach happiness, because they neglect to seek it on those lines which our Lord here points out as leading to everlasting happiness.-D. Vers. 13-16.-Sermon on the mount: 2. lnfluetnce of Christians: salt and light. Our Lord assured hie disciples that very bad treatment in this life might only be the prelude to eternal happiness. He is in the position of a general who is launching his men on an enterprise which will try them to the utmost. So he not only affirms that they will be rP.warded, but reminds them how much depends on them. If y= faint, what hope is there for the world? He speaks of their relation to the world under two figures-salt and light. I. Salt was often used as a symbol of anything, like itself, pungent. Wit was so called, and in Christian times a gracious tone in conversation; in each case because of their power of redeeming from insipidity. But salt is used to preserve from cor- ruption; and though the figure which represents society as tending to rot and dissolve ie a strong one, any one who knows the facts knows bow thoroughly appropriate it was. Nor can it be said to be inapplicable to society or family life now, though Christianity has acted so far like salt that corruption is not so fbgrantly obtrusive. But the point chiefly emphasized is that tliey were the salt. They were not to expect to get geod eo much as to do good. It is their calling to counterwork the corruption that is in the world. All those things that tend to the lowering of spiritual life are tbo objects on which they are to act, and if instead of this they yield to them, it is because the salt has lost its savour. If the very persons who are appointed and equipped to carry with them a health-giving influence are themselves prostrated by the evil infection, if disinfectants carry disease-germs, what shall avail us? "If the salt have lost its savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is good for nothing," says our Lord, "but to be cast out, and trodden under foot of men." This also is a strong, severe figure. Plainly we are intended to infer that nothing is more contemptible than a Christian who does nothing to stay corru1ition. He is a soldier who wears the uniform of his regiment, but leaves the fighting to others; a physician who declines to visit the sick. It is of the very essence of the Christian that he makes some impres- sion on the world. The terms of Christ's call are," I have chosen you, and placed you, that you might bring forth fruit." Observe that this figure applies especially to begin- nings of evil, and to our treatment of the young. Salt can prevent corruption; it cannot cure it. Consider to what the smallest germ of sin in a child may grow; to what extent our life may become corrupt if we neglect to keep the salt of Christian principle. II. .Another danger threatens the disciples of Christ. While some will give up Christian principle altogether when they find how seriously it brings them into antagonism with the world, others will try to hide it. They will continue Christians, but secretly. It is this timorous evasion of opportunities of confessing Christ that he aims at in the figure, " Ye are the light of the world. n In this figure several things are implied, as: (1) that Christians are set for the illuminating of the world; (2) that what illuminates must itself be visible; (3) that it is as natural to genuine Christian prin- ciple to become visible as it is for light to shine. 1. Christians are set for the illumi-  204 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING 'l'O ST. MATTHEW. [on. v. 1-6.