Eleventh Day
FOUR MARKS OF A CHRISTIAN
Matt. v. 13-20
AFTER this abridgment of Christianity which Jesus Christ sets forth to His disciples, He points out three eminent characteristics that should mark those disciples. Those are: to be ‘ the salt of the earth, the light of the world, and extremely strict in keeping the commandments.' In other words, to have a solid taste for piety, for setting a good example, and for regularity and exactness. To these He further adds a fourth, which is eminence in perfection — ‘ unless your justice abound,’ etc.; and we then have the complete idea of Christian Justice.
Salt flavours food: it brings out its taste and prevents corruption; and in like manner the behaviour of the true Christian ought to rouse in others a taste for piety. Hence it is that St Paul says, ‘Let your speech be always in
