fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh but after
the spirit."* The passage which we are considering
begins with this, man's duty to his neighbour, and
the peril of ofiFending a little one. " It were better
that a millstone were hanged about one's neck, and
that the life which offends were even destroyed,
than that we should offend or hurt one of these little
ones." Then comes the exhortation to sacrifice
" hand," or " foot," or " eye," lest we come into the
worse judgment, whicli must be known by those who
will not judge themselves. " For," says our Lord,
thus giving the reason for self-judgment, "every
man," whether he likes it or not, if he is ever to
change his present form and rise to God, " must be
salted with fire." This may be done as a sweet-
savour to God ; though even here " every sacrifice is
salted with salt," — for even in willing sacrifice and
service there is something sharp and piercing as
salt, namely, the correction which truth brings with
it to those who will receive it. But if this be not
accepted, the purgation must yet be wrought, not as
a sweet-savour, but as a sin-offering, where the
bodies are burnt as xmclean without the camp ;
" where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not
quenched;" (the " worm" alluding to the consumption
of those parts which were not burnt with fire;) " for"
in some way " every man must be salted with fire,"
even if he be not a sweet-savour " sacrifice," which

* Bom. viii. 4.
