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258

The parable of the talents.

SECT. pected time, a midnight cry. Happy the souls that can hear it clxiv. with pleasure; being not only habitually but actually ready to obey the summons! Happy they that have their loins girded, and their lamps burning! (Luke xii. 35.)

8, 9

The foolish virgins saw their error too late; they applied to the wise; but their application was vain. And as vain will the hope of those be who trust to the intercession of departed saints, or any supposed redundancy of merit in them, while they are themselves 10--12 strangers to a holy temper and life. In vain will they cry, Lord, Lord, open to us. The door of mercy will be shut for ever, and the workers of iniquity utterly disowned. The day of grace has its limits; and for those that have trifled it away there remaineth nothing but the blackness of darkness for ever! (Jude, ver. 13.)

SECT. clxv.

SECT. CLXV.

Christ repeats the parable of the talents in a form something different from that in which he had before delivered it. Mat. XXV. 14-30.

JES

MAT. XXV. 14.

MAT. XXV. 14. heaven is as a man

delivered unto them

ESUS, having delivered the preceding para- FOR the kingdom of ble of the virgins, went on farther to illus- travelling into a far Mat. trate the subject, by the repetition of a parable country, who called XXV.14 resembling one which he had used some time his own servants, and before (Luke xix. 12-27, sect. cxliv.); and his goods: said, Let me again remind you of the great importance of preparing for my coming by a diligent improvement of your gifts; for the time when [the Son of man] shall come, and the grand administration of judgment attending it [will be] as the proceedings of a man [who], going a long journey, called his servants together, and 15 delivered his effects to them. And to one of them he gave five talents, and to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his re- to another one; to spective capacity to manage the sum, and to the every man according

a To one he gave five talents.] According to Dr. Prideaux's calculation, if these were talents of gold, the value of the five must have been 36,000 pounds sterling, and if silver, 2250 pounds (See the Preface to his Connection, p. 20.) And perhaps this great sum was chosen to intimate the value and importance of those capacities and opportunities committed to every reasonable creature, and especially

prospect

15 And unto one gave five talents, to another two, and

he

to

to every professing Christian. But I do not lay any very great stress on this remark, because it is plain, that as Homer uses the word Taxalov for a sum, or perhaps a small wedge of gold, of considerably less value than the price of two fat oxen (Iliad ver. 750, 751, so the signification of it among much later writers is very indeterminate.

The faithful servants are rewarded for improving them:

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cixv.

to his several ability: prospect there might reasonably be of his im- SECT. and straightway took proving it: and immediately he went away, and set forward on his journey.

his journey.

16 Then he that had

lents, went and traded

talents.

that had received two, be also gained other two. 18 But he that had received one, went and

Mat.

And he who had received the five talents, went XXV. received the five ta; and engaged in business, and traded with them in 16 with the same, and so diligent a manner during the absence of his made them other five master, that he doubled the sum, and produced And in like manner he who 17 17 And likewise he five talents more. [had received the two, was so industrious in employing them to the best advantage, that he also gained two more. But he who had received 18 but one taient, being displeased that he had been intrusted with no more, was seized with sullen indolence and servile fear, and went away directly, and attempted no improvement of it, but privately digged [a hole] in the earth, and hid his master's money in it, till he should return home.

digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.

19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh,andreckoneth with them.

20 And so he that had received five ta

talents: behold, I have

21 His lord said unto

him, Well done, thou

Thus the matter passed off for a while; but 19 after some considerable time the master of those servants comes home, and makes up his accounts with them, demanding from each the sum with which he had been intrusted, and inquiring what was the interest he had gained by it.

And he who had received the five talents came 20 lents came, and brought near, and brought other five talents with them, other five talents, say - saying, Sir, thou wast pleased so far to intrust ing, Lord, thou deli- me, that thou didst deliver to me five talents, veredst unto me five when setting out on thy journey; and such is gained besides them the improvement I have made of them, that befive talents more. hold, I have doubled the sum, and gained to them five talents more. And his master said unto 21 good and faithful ser- him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant, vant; thou hast been thou hast been faithful in the management of a few few things; and, having proved thee to be so in ruler over many things: this lower trust, I will prefer thee to a higher, enter thou into the joy and set thee over many more valuable things than of thy lord. these: in the mean time, enter thou into the joy of thy master, and share with me in the banquet prepared for myself and my friends on this happy occasion of my return.

faithful over a things, I will make thee

22 He also that had

He also who had received the two talents came 22 received two talents, forwards, and said, Sir, thou wert so indulgent, thou deliveredst unto that thou didst deliver to me at thy going hence

came and said, Lord,

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260

Mat.

But the slothful is condemned for his negligence.

two other talents be

and faithful servant;

over many things: en

24 Then he which had received the one talent came, and said,

SECT. two talents, which I have endeavoured to em- me two talents: beclxv. ploy as carefully as I could; and behold, by traf- held, I have gained ficking with them I have gained two other talents sides them. XXV.23 to them. And his master said unto him, as he 23 His lord said unto had done to the former, Well done, thou good and him, Well done, good faithful servant, thy care and diligence is as thou hast been faithful agreeable to me as if thy trust had been greater; over a few things, I thou hast been evidently faithful in a few things; will make thee ruler and I will in like manner prefer thee to a higher ter thou into the joy of trust, and set thee over many more valuable things thy lord. than these in the mean time, come to the entertainment now prepared, and enter thou with thy companion into the joy of thy master. 24 But he also who had received the one talente, came and said, with a sullen and gloomy countenance, Sir, I knew thee, that thou art a severe man, and that it is a very difficult thing to please thee, since thou art so exact with thy servants, as even to think of reaping where thou didst not sow, and of gathering whence thou hadst not scattered any thing that could be taken up; requiring more in many instances than it is possible for 25 them to do, be they ever so careful: And being terrified with this thought, I concluded that, if by any accident thy money should miscarry under my management, thou wouldst shew me no mercy; and therefore I went away, as soon as I had received it, and hid thy talent in the earth, in a place where it has been very secure; so that I have now taken it up, and behold, [there] thou hast thine own again, and wilt find it to be the full sum I received.

26

And his master answering, said unto him with a just indignation, Thou wicked and slothful servant, what a false and scandalous excuse is this, and how easily may it be retorted upon thee! For if it were indeed, as thou maliciously sayest, and thou knewest that I was such a tyrannical and unreasonable man as thou hast described, even that I reap where I did not sow, and expect to gather something up from whence I had not scattered it, thou mightest certainly depend upon it that I should expect to reap where I had sowed,

He who had received the one talent.] This may intimate that we are accountable for the smallest advantages with which we are intrusted; but it cannot imply that they who have received much will ordinarily pass their account best; for it is too plain in fact, that most of those whose dignity,

and

Lord, I knew thee that thou at an hard man, hast not sown, and gareaping where thou thering where thou hast not strawed:

25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy

talent in the earth: 10, there thou hast that is thine.

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wealth, and genius, give them the greatest opportunities of service, seem to forget they have either any master in heaven to serve, or any future reckoning to expect; and many of them render themselves much more criminal than this wicked and slothful servant who hid his talent in the earth.

Reflections on the duty of improving our talents.

my money to the ex

and give it unto him

which hath ten talents.

one that hath shall be

not shall be taken away, even that which he hath.

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and to gather where I had scattered that which, SECT. in this instance, as well as the others, might clxv. 27 Thou oughtest have been an increasing seed. And therefore, Mat. therefore to have put if thou hadst been afraid to employ it in trade, XXV.27 changers, and then at as these my faithful servants have done, thou my coming I should shouldst have put my money to the bankers upon have received mine sufficient security; and thus when I came I might own with usury. at least have received mine own with the common 28 Take therefore interest. And then, turning to the attendants, 28 the talent from him, he said, Take ye therefore the talent which he has thus abused from him, and give it to him that has ten talents, as a farther token of my accept29 For unto every ance and favour. For I would have all my ser- 29 given, and he shall vants observe that I shall constantly make this a have abundance: but maxim in my behaviour, That to every one that from him that hath hath, and diligently improves what he hath, more shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but from him that hath not improved it to any valuable purpose, even what he hath shall be taken away: (compare Mat. xiii. 12. Mark iv. 25. Luke viii. 18. xix. 26.) Such unfaithful creatures must expect to be stripped of all, and not imagine that I will perpetually suffer my trusts to be abused, and my business to be neglected. And, to deter others from such an idle and un- 30 faithful conduct, cast ye the unprofitable servant, who has so wickedly abused my goodness, into the dreadful darkness which is without; and there, instead of the delight and joy to which my faithful servants shall be introduced, there shall be nothing but weeping and gnashing of the teeth. Now this horrible darkness, to which my parable refers, is no other than the dungeon of hell; to which every unfaithful servant must expect to be condemned in that approaching day of general account: fail not therefore to observe and report what I now say, that it may give the alarm to all who need it.

30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant in shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

to outer darkness: there

IMPROVEMENT.

WHAT can excite us to a becoming care and activity in the duties of life, if we are deaf to those various and important motives which this excellent parable suggests? We have each of us received our talents, whether five, or two, or one, and if we be faithful, Mat. it matters not much under which of these classes we fall. Our acceptance and reward will be proportionable to our diligence; nor will any be blamed because he has not received five, though many will be condemned for neglecting one.

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xxv. 15

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SFCT.

clxv.

Christ gives a description of the last judgment.

Yet a little while, and our Lord comes to reckon with us, and even now his eye is continually upon us. Let us ask our own Ver. souls, with what temper, with what courage, with what cheer19 fulness, shall we appear before him? Let us think of that appear24 ance with awe, but not with terror. Away with every unjust thought and reasoning (with whatever artifice it be excused, with whatever honourable name it be dignified) that would represent him as a rigorous and severe Master, and produce a servile dread, which would cut the sinews of industry, and sink the soul into a sullen negligent despair.

30 Whatever our particular snares in life may be, let us think of the doom of the slothful servant, to awaken our souls, and to deter us from every degree of unfaithfulness. And, on the other hand, let us often reflect on that unutterable transport which will overflow the breast of every real Christian, when his gracious Master shall condescend, in so honourable a manner, to commemorate his honest, though feeble, attempts of service; and shall 21, 23 say, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful in a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord! May that joy be the great object of our hopes and pursuits! and may our daily care in the improvement of every talent lodged in our hands be a token to us that it will be sure and great!

SECT.

clxvi.

Mat.

SECT. CLXVI.

Christ concludes this important discourse with a plain and affecting description of the last judgment, and of the different sentences then to be passed and executed on the righteous and the wicked. Mat. XXV. 31, to the end.

MAT. XXV. 31.

MAT. XXV. 31.

WHEN the Son of

man shall come

the

OUR UR Lord, having hitherto described his last coming in a parabolical manner, thought it in his glory, and all proper to conclude his discourse with a plainer XXV.31 account of it, which might serve as a key to many preceding passages; and he added, When that great and illustrious Person, whom you have so often heard of, and so well known, by the title of the Son of man, shall come in all his final glory,

a When the Son of man shall come in his glory.] If we observe the correspondence between these words and those in chap. xxiv. 30, 31 (p. 246), it may seem probable that Christ intended to teach his disciples to conceive of his first coming to

in

the destruction of Jerusalem as a kind of emblem of his final appearance to judgment; and consequently it will authorise us to use some of the texts in the former chapter when discoursing of that great and important day.I hope every reader will ob

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