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The ideal of an active and efficient Christian character. It is like salt. How?

I. In its CONSTITUENT ELEMENTS. As salt is made up of chlorine and sodium chemically united, so a Christian character is composed of faith and works in union.

(a) As chlorine gas is a deadly poison by itself, so faith without works killeth.

(b) As the metal sodium is destitute alone of the saving quality of salt, so works without faith are destitute of merit to save the soul.

(c) As the chemical union of the two elements forms a third substance, with a new and useful quality, so faith and works, when united, give life and efficiency to Christian character.

II. In its EFFECTS.

(a) As salt prevents corruption and decay in animal and vegetable matter, so Christian character is the antidote of vice in the individual and in society.

(b) As salt promotes digestion, and thus prevents deadly disease, so Christian character enables the soul to digest and profit by the various dispensations of Providence.

(c) As salt renders palatable otherwise distasteful food, so a Christian character sweetens life's disappointments, and changes its crosses into crowns.

(P. S. . Davis.)There are three ideas suggested by the representation in the text.

I. The first is INSIPIDITY, OR TASTELESSNESS.

(1)  This is the case, truly, where THE SAVOUR OF THE GOSPEL DOES not prevail.

(2)  There you will find no

(3)  moral beauty, no

(4)  fruits of benevolence and mercy.

(5)  How insipid the dear delights even of the family, the sanctuary, and the sequestered recesses of the closet, if there be no manifestations of His love, or indications of His presence, to the spiritual and regenerate heart.

II. The second idea is FOLLY AND IGNORANCE,

1. True religion is wisdom.

2. Wickedness is folly.

3. Wicked men are as unwise as they are offensive to God.

4. True piety is an evidence of a well-seasoned and enlightened mind.

III. The third idea is TENDENCY TO DECAY.

(1)  Mortality is the law of nature.

(2)  All hasten to corruption. The figure denotes

(3)  moral corruption.

(4)  When health has left the physical frame, we say it is diseased;

(5)  when life has fled, we say it is dead.

(6)  We use the same figure and language to describe the dreadful disorders of the immortal soul.

(7)  When the principle of love to God does not govern all its faculties, we say they are under a moral distemper.

(8)  If the Divine Spirit breathes not the "breath, of life" into it, we say it is "dead in trespasses and sins."

(J. E. Good.)

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KJV: 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.

WEB: "You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its flavor, with what will it be salted? It is then good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men.