Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-10-20
salt Of the Earth.
IA sermonette by a philosophical fr'eno
of ours)

| of ours)
when we talk OF salt OK the ear'h
no one ever thinks OF Nimrod or Sc
,niranjs. or the Pharaohs. or distin'
gu,shed mummics. or any OF tine gNats
Of ancient or modern times, or even the
wonderful generals and statesmen OF ouT
own day. Even when we tax OF Gehe'
raj Lee. one OF the purest and most Deau'
| tiful characters in all history, as the
"salt OF the EARTH 1t is not as sKilful
| general or public man, but as fuii OF
virtue. and In all his influence whole
some. purifying, elevating. BEFORE the
world he was a great generai-a erahd
man. AS the salt OF the earth' ne was
a modest. unpretending, sincere ana
Iowly. and devout Christian gentleman,
not for sale or advertiseable.
me history of the world as recorded
ON cylinders and tablets and monuments.
and later on In rolls and books. tells
rs of the lives and deeds OF the kings
and magnates; how they made the poor
people Kill one another, and how the
man that Killed the most triumphed;
and how a greater than he came along
presently and wiped out his predecessor,
and so the mad world wagged on. Most
written history Is only elaborate accounts
of quarrels and nights. with dressing or
magniloquent nonsense. James, the
practical apostle. takes very common
sense view OF the subject-"Whence
come wars ana fishtings among you?
Come they not hence even from your own
lusts that war in your members"
what caused the siege OF Troy?
t.N fr,Rnc
lust have made the conflicts which have
occupied mankind. and fill up history.
There is II philosophical and scientific
way of treating them that makes them
dlgnihed. But the bareboned facts are
the same Sentiments and lessons are
mere dressings. The war has been that
OF the flesh against the spirit.
The true history OF mankinds advance
can hardly be written. The leaven has
been pervading the loaf. and the whole is
to be leavened. And the spirit OF truth
has pervaded, and Is pervading the earth,
and working out the great purpose of the
Creator. But who can follow its ways?
Who can explore its paths? The poor.
wise man saved the city; yet no one re-
membered that same poor. wise man.
Who has marked Gods agencies? The
ministers that are doing the Will of God
and accomplishing Ills ends ale mystic
rious. No doubt, there are angels here
Oh earth ministering 10 us. But there
are hundreds Of thousands Of ministerinG
spirits almost as mysterious as they.
in quiet homes In the humblest employ
ments. in the poorest places. as positively
helping on the Kingdom OF Christ as
tho angels OF Heaven. while historic
powers have opposed his will. This UNI
dergrowth has kept the world faithful
al nd mo iny no lar min ff,l q
and great truths pure. 1t has kept the
soul OF man alive and sound. 1t has pre-
served all the elements OF life. II has
done Its work as the gait OF the earth.
The upper growth OF the world makes
history; the underground makes life and
advancing civilization.
The germ Of Christian life was planted
in the Garden OF Eden. 1t has threaded
its way through all time--through
patriarchs, judges. warriors, kings, and
prophets. and good. humble souls-in all IS
the spirit of prophecy. the testimony OF
Jesus-as faith in God. And all its way
1t has come, unrecorded as a great
power-a stone cut out without hands
at last to overcome all the kingdoms Of
the earth by its irresistible control, as the
mighty power OF Cod-an all-subdulng In
ruence. All empires have crumbed be-
fore it. or lived by II. The course OF
Providence the directing hand Of God,
the Divinity shaping and ordering the
minds and hearts and destinies OF indi-
vidnals and families and nations, is the
overruling Power that governs mankind.
We may see part OF its ways, and
see what seem to be causes and effects
after they have done their work. The
salt of the earth that purifies ana pre-
serves and gives life TO the human race
Is the Spirit OF the living God. We can
not trace or follow its ways or define
or locate II. We only recognize il In the
divine quality Of mercy and truth, THAI
reveals itself in all that proceeds from
the heart OF the good man and woman.
1t IS an agency that fits ere you can
point the place. But it has left men better.
1t is a spirit too delicate to obey the
earthly commands OF this world. You
cannot photograph it. You cannot mea-
sure Ii. You cannot bind its sweet In
fucnces. 1t shrinks from publicity. IL
hides itself from all worldly notice Its
fastness Is the heart OF the humble and
contrite. IT drops as the RAIN II Gistills
as the dew; 1t accomplishes the Will OF
Heaven.