Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-06-07
An Improbable Servant.

servant" lie did not appear particularly
distressed. In fact he seemed to feel some
pleasure in the reflection, and so he dwelt
with lingering emphasis on it, IAN unprof-
table servant, SIR"
But, my dear sir, there were two unprof-
table servants. With which of them do
you identify yourself? There was the man
to whom his departing Lord gave the one
talent, who, having but poor opinion of
his Masters honesty, buried in the earth,
and handed it back just as he got it, with,
"There, thou hast that is thine" You
read of him in the 25th chapter of Matthew.
His Lord said of him, Cast We the unprof-
table servant into outer darkness there
shall be weeping and crashing of teeth.
Surely, my dear sir, you do not think your
self that Improbable servant? You would
be more concerned if you did. Instead Of
standing there playing with your watch
chain, and with religious phraseology, too.
you would be in your closet, on your knees
in an agony, crying, GOOD be merciful to
me, a sinner " Then you must mean an
other. Then what other? In Luke xvii.
10, the Master said 80 likewise ye, when
we shall have done all those things which
are commanded you say, we are unproft-
able servants, we have done that which is
our duty TO do" Is it with these you place
yourself? But you see these have done all
those things which were commanded them.
You dare not say that. Yet it was among
these you were tacitly placing yourself, as
you credited yourself with a little amiable
humility, and said, 81 am an Improbable
servant Before this much abused language
again, pause and consider in which con-
nectioD you place yourself. The persons
who may fifty say this, have done their
duty and if any one should laud and
magnify them, as charitable corporations
and collecting agents are apt to do when
generosity" and "munifcence" have been
displayed, this is to be their modest renun-
citation of all merit. You do not stand
there; and there is no other "unproftable
servant" but he who is doomed to outer
darkness.
We have had numerous biographies Of
profitable servants, sometimes, indeed, a
little one sided, and highly colored, but yet
in the main good. Shall we ever get a
sketch Of an Improbable servant? 1t
should be perfectly fair, recounting all the
favorable points; the unblemished life
the steady, regular habits the business
qualities that achieved success the family
launched in life; the perfectly colorles:
character that never rebuked a wrong, and
never made an enemy among a world OF
rebels against God; with pathetic para
graph on dying without struggle; and
then it should enumerate the talents bur.
led, the opportunities spurned, the gooC
undone, the positive evil strengthened, the
godliness made respectable, the evil exam
pie handed down, the natural selfshness o
others shielded and sanctioned, the tone o
christian living lowered, the good impulse
Of others checked, and the general "aid anC
comfort" given to the Kings enemies, tn,
brake put upon the wheels of his chariot
and that by persons claiming to be of tn
Kings servants 1t should draw to clos
with a calm exposition of the I'D Psalm
with particular emphasis on verses t ant
II, "they have no bands in their DEATH
until went into the sanctuary, then un
derstood their end" Alas that Their
should be so many subjects among avowet
christians for such a record
The Improbable servants never think 0
how much they owe to the Lord for spirit
ual benefits, and they feel no obligation t
render again to him on this ground. An
religion they have came to them by Gil
cumstances, and they assume it will reac
others-as far as necessary-in the sam
way. They never give any heed to call
for aid in Sabbath schools, or bible classe.
They fully believe that Sunday is a da
for little extra sleep. They see no neces
sity for burdening the church with collect
ions, and for their part they will not tax
any trouble about such things. When tn
church is to be rebuilt they see no occasio
for it; it served their fathers, who wer
just as good as they were. As for increas
ing the ministers salary, they are sure the
have given as much as ever they got whic
is perfectly true. They do not approve {
sending missionaries abroad they are al
wanted at home they object to so man
minis ers being at home when there is :
much want abroad. They dislike praye
meetings, because they interfere with tn
family, and they decline to have the FAM
ly turned into prayer meeting. No wor
of theirs ever encouraged a minister {
other christian worker; no act of theil
ever helped fallen one to rise, or kept
feeble one from falling. Their great powC
is that which is called in Latin-woul
that it had died with the language-ris i
eHiG, which means the force of inertnes
They are endowed with the one qualifc;
ton for the eldership of which Dr. Guthr
tells US. The candidate-who propose
himself--could not visit the sick, or lie;
in prayer, but he thought he could be "a,
Directing" They object to increase
mission collections, to mission Sunds
schools, to memorial funds, to all excit
ment, to over full churches, to talking a
out the West, to all boards, societies, al
committees generally They object
handsome churches though others pay
them; but they will not 60 to shah
churches. They do not believe in pub
spirit; they disapproye of high profession
they are for every one minding his o,
business they see no necessity for all Il
stir about perishing millions and had tn
been there, when thegrateful woman bro
her alabaster box of ointment and annoi
ed the Saviour, they would have second
the vote Of censure upon her, moved
Judas, and demanded, "To what purp
IL tbia vvasta H.. mn a, ~, E,1n,eJ