Season what is around you
Indeed, if we were wholly to separate ourselves from sinners, how could we possibly answer that character which our Lord gives us in these very words? You Christians, you who are lowly, serious, and meek, you who hunger after righteousness, who love God and man, who do good to all and therefore suffer evil, you are the salt of the earth. It is your very nature to season whatever is around you. It is the nature of the divine savor which is in you to spread to whatever you touch, to diffuse itself on every side to all those among whom you are. This is the great reason why the providence of God has so mingled you together with other people, that whatever grace you have received of God may through you be passed on to others, that every holy temper and word and work of yours may have an influence on them also. By this means a check will, in some measure, be given to the corruption which is in the world, and a small part at least saved from the general infection, and made holy and pure before God.
1771 text
7. Indeed were we wholly to separate ourselves from sinners, how could we possibly answer that character, which our Lord gives us in these very words: ye (Christians, ye that are lowly, serious and meek; ye that hunger after righteousness, that love God and man, that do good to all, and therefore suffer evil: ye) are the salt of the earth. It is your very nature to season whatever is round about you. It is the nature of the divine savour which is in you, to spread to whatsoever you touch; to diffuse itself, on every side, to all those among whom you are. This is the great reason why the providence of God has so mingled you together with other men, that whatever grace you have received of God may through you be communicated to others; that every holy temper, and word, and work of yours, may have an influence on them also. By this means a check will in some measure be given, to the corruption which is in the world; and a small part, at least, saved from the general infection, and rendered holy and pure before God.
About this text
Rendered in modern English, to be read and heard. Open the 1771 text under each part to check the claims and the scripture.
Rendered in modern English. The 1771 panel is his own Pine printing of the Works. It is public domain.
Catalogue & scope
Sermon 24 in the 1771 Works. Matthew 5:13-16.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.