Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

64 ST. MATTHEW.
the prophets and apostles, but with Christ himself;
and which is to us a pledge of his love, and of his
Spirit
Sect. II.— The Apostles the Salt and Light of the
Earth, The Law not destroyed. Doing a?id
Teaching.
" 13. 51 Ye are the salt of the earth : but if the
salt have lost its 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."
Bishops and priests ought to be, I. Holy, that they
may sanctify sinners, in taking away the rottenness
and corruption of sin by the salt of the word, of
prayer, of repentance, of sacraments, &c. Chris-
tians are likewise, in some sense, the " salt of the
earth ;" when, being preserved from corruption them-
selves, they preserve others from it; make them re-
lish God and his gospel, and have the salt of true
wisdom, the spirit of Jesus Christ, &c. What then
is a bishop without strength and virtue, a priest
without piety and zeal, a Christian without faith or
charity, but even salt which has lost its savour, worthy
to be rejected of God, and despised of men ? How
great must be the miracle which can restore to this
salt its first strength and savour !
" 14. Ye are the light of the world. A city that
is set on an hill cannot be hid.'*
Bishops and priests ought to be, 2. Learned, to
instruct; 3. Open, and easy of access to all, in order
to do them service. Of what advantage is it to a
Christian to be light, in respect of his faith and
calling, if he be nothing but darkness as to his life