Matthew Poole and continuators on Matthew 5:13

13 Ye are the salt of the earth, But if the salt hath lost its savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thence forth good for nothing but to be cast out, and to be troden under foot of men.

In our Christian Course we are not to trouble our selves with what Men say of us, and do unto us, but only to attend to our Duty of Holiness, and [illegible: 1 word] Exemplary Life, which is what our Saviour presseth plainly, v. 16. and leads his Hearers to it by four Comparisons, which he instituteth betwixt them and four other things, the first we have in this Verse, ye are the Salt of the Earth. The Doctrine which you profess is so, a thing as opposite as can be to the Putrefaction of the World, both in respect to corrupt Doctrine, and corrupt Manners (therefore by the way it will be no wonder, if they resist it by Reviling and Persecuting you) you are the Salt of the Earth, through the Grace of God bestowed upon you, Mar. 9.50. Col. 4.6. If it were not for the number of sound and painful Ministers, and Holy and Gracious Persons, the Earth, would be but a stinking Dunghil of Drunkards, unclean Persons, Theeves, Murderers, unrighteous Persons, that would be a stench in the Nostrils of a Pure and Holy God. Look as it is in the World, if the Salt hath lost its [illegible: 1 letter]avour, its Acrimony by which it opposeth Putrefaction in Fish, and Flesh, not the Fish or Flesh only will be good for nothing, but the Salt it self so infatuated (as it is in the Greek) will be good for nothing, but to be cast upon a Dunghil and trodden under Foot. So it is with Ministers of the Gospel, so with the Professors of it, if they [illegible: 1 span] their soundness in the Faith, and Holiness of Life, they [illegible: 1 word] no value, nay they are worse than other men. Mony [illegible: 1 word] clipt in pieces, and hath lost its usefulness as Coyn, [illegible: 1 span] use for a Gold-Smith, Meat corrupted, if it will not [illegible: 1 word] Men, yet will feed Dogs, Salt is good for nothin[illegible: 1 letter] [illegible: 1 word] more are pretended Ministers or Christians, their [illegible: 1 span] lyes in their savour, if that be lost, wherewith shall [illegible: 1 span] salted: Of what use are they, unless to cause the Name of God and Religion to be blasphemed. Such another similitude the prophet useth, Ezeck. 15.2.3.