is the first place. The man who "eoeke first the kingdom of God, and his righteous- ness," is not made unworldly, but he doee learn how to sanctify all worldly relations. IV. THEBE 18 ALWAYS THE CERTAINTY OP THEIR SUPPLY. "They shall be filled." God the Spirit responds to the cry of spirits. God the eterna.1 Righteousness is gracioue in dealing with all who would be" righteoue as he ill righteous."-R. T. Vere. 13-16.-The inftuer,,ce of sanctified chwracters. The righteousness which Christ commends will exert in the world a most gracious moral influence. It will season, as the salt does; it will illuminate and quicken, as the light does. "Salt seasons things, causing things to taste savoury, which otherwise would be no way pleasant, or wholesome, or good for the body." "Our Lord applies to his disciples the stronger word "light," i.e. essgntial light, rather than any which signifies merely a. light-bearer. They are not only to reB.ect or transmit this light, but to become them- selves "lights." The believer is not a mere reflector, in himself dead and dark, receiving and emitting rays; he is a new seat and centre of spiritual life." As Christ was pleased to use the two figures of the "salt" and the "light" as illustrative of sanctified character, we may consider the suggestions which the two figures have in common. I. BoTH "SALT" AND "LIGHT" ABE SILENTLY WORKING FORCES. Neither makes any noise. The one works away at the arresting of corrupting processes, the other works away at the quickening and invigorating of life, but neither seeks to draw a~ attention to itself, or has any open boasting to make. And the silent forces are usually the mightiest. This is an essential peculiarity of Christian character. It has no voice. It cannot brag. It works, it exerts its influence, but it says nothing about it. Illustrate the power of Florence Nightingale in the Crimean hospitals, or of Mrs. Fry in the English prillons. 'l.'ruly wonderful is the sanctifying power of silent goodness. II. BoTH "SALT" AND .. LIGHT" ARE INTEBIOR-WORKING FORCES. 'l'bis is, at first sight, more evidently true of "salt" than of "light." You must put salt into things, and hide it in them. But the light cannot do its full work until it can get inside things. Its surface-work is its least work. It is warmth in things. It is quickening in things. And so the inB.uences of Christian character work within men, in thought, and motive, and feeling, and res,lve. 'l.'he good have their spheres of influence in the souls of their fellows. They feel a power they may not confess they feel III. BOTH .. SALT " AND "LIGHT,, ARE PERSISTENTLY WORK.ING FORCES. They keep on as long as there is sphere for their activity. This is the most important element of power in established Christian character.-R. T. Ver. 14.-The missionary power of Chrisfs disciples. "Ye are the light of tha world." Christ's disciples are ligl.t-bearers rather than light, Christ is, properly speaking, the Light; and Christ's disciples carry that light, in what they are, and what they do, and what they say. I. CnnIST TBE LIGHT, It was a dark world indeed when the light rose and streamed forth from Bethlehem (see eh. iv. 16; Luke ii. 32; John i. 4, 6; 2 Cor. iv. 6). 1. Li,ghe reveals darkness. Illustrate effect of opening a window in a foul, dark dungeon. We use the expression, "I saw myself a sinner." The gospel light makes so impressive heathen darkness. Illustrate by heathen customs: Mo.lagasy sprinkling the people; Chinese paper-money sent to the dead. 2. Light quickens any life there may be in the darkness. Illustrate by poem, "The ivy in a dungeon grew," etc. There are some germs of truth, even in dark heathen systems, and these the light of Christ is sure to quicken. II. THE WORLD TIIE SPHEnE. A whole world lies in the darkocss. A whole world is grasped in the Divine love. But we still need to learn the lesson of the descendin" sheet that was taught to St. Peter. Notice how unlimited the sphere of tho naturJ light is. It is impartial ; it is universal. It visits poor and rich. It tints alike the flowers of the palace garden and of the garret window in the dingy city street. As day shines over city, village, plain, and hill, over land and over sea, so would Christ, the Day, shine over all the world, bringing life and hope and salvation everywhere. !2t THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW'. [oB, v. 1-48.
III. MEN THE LIGBT-B:UBEBS. Easterns did not use tables and chairs. They eat upon the floor; and therefore tall lamp-stands were required, in order that the light roight be diffused over all the room. So God would have us be his atmosphere to carry his sunbeam; his candlestick, his lamp-stand, to lift up his light, so that all men might be brought unto him. '!'here has been great difficulty in the way of securing the division of the electric light. But Christ, the Light, can be so divided that each of us can carry forth, aud hold up, its full blaze. As lamp-stands, we can hold Christ the Light up, by (1) Christly living; (2) by loving commendations; (3) by active e.iorts; and (4) by the sympathy that strengthens all other light-bearers.-R. T. .,!!._: ..~