Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-03-23
8eaaima fut the Sabbath.
r... CONDUCTED BY lEts
REV. ROBERT LATHAM.

REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
-...- longinal
THE UNJUST sTEWARD....Luke xvi: 1.s'
In the parallels of the New Testament, oul
Saviour speaks as never man spoke. In the
wide range of literary compositions, there is
nothing to be compared to :hese parallels
They are. intensely interesting and very in
structive. In the parable of the unjust stew
ard, the chief object of the Saviour is to show
that men of the world manifest more wisdom
in the management of their business, than
Christians do in the management of their
spiritual affairs. This is brought prominent
ly to view in way that no one but divine
being could have done it.
A certain rich man is informed that his
prime minister, or the individual who was
honored with the general supervision and
management of his business, had wasted bis
goods. The Steward had in some way taken
advantage of his position, and done, or suffer.
ed to be done, something that had tended to
waste the property of his employer. Such
cases were common in the time Of our Sa-
viour, and they are common yet, and will al
ways be common. ...s.
The rich man determined to call the Stew
ard to an account and dismiss him from his
high and honorable position. This fact was
communicated to the Steward. Conscious Of
guilt, and feeling satisfied that his expulsion
from Office was certain to take place, he be.
gan, like a shrewd calculator, to reflect upon
the condition of things and his prospects for
the future He thus reasoned with himself:
II cannot work. have led life of ease and
comfort However willing may be to earn
a living by honest toll, such has been my ed
ucstion that am physically unable to work.
1 cannot dig. I have acted as an overseer
amongst my employers tenants, and they
have been accustomed for years to treat me
with great respect. By these tenants I have
been regarded as second only to the rich man
by whom, am now, on account of my folly,
thrust out of Office. cannot wander about
among these people and solicit living. 1
cannot beg I am ashamed to do this"
Having thought. over the whole condition
Of bis present affairs and his prospect for the
future, he resolved upon plan which would
secure him the means of sustenance in the fu-
ture. He called up his employers tenants
and began to reduce their bills. This would
at once secure him the good will Of those who
we're indebted to the rich man. They would
feel that, by this act, they were placed under
lasting obligation to the Steward. The rich
man of course was swindled by this act; but
the debtors of the rich man were benefited and
the prospects of the unjust Steward were made
more bright for the future.
The rich man commended the course of the
Steward. He was not pleased that he was
cheated and swindled out of what was honest
IL due him; but he could not but admire the
shrewdness of the Steward in making provis-
ion for himself when he would be thrust out
of Office. The act of the Steward was dishon.
est but it was cunningly devised scheme,
boldly executed Although cheated, the rich
man could not but admire the forethought
and energy of the unjust Steward. He bad
made provision for himself, go that in future,
although no longer the ricn mans prime min'
lister, he would be able to occupy position in
society above both beggar and manual Ia
borer It was this that the rich man COM
mended, and by this shrewd and cunning
course of the unjust Steward, the Saviour
taught the multitude that "the children of
this world are, in their generation, wiser than
the children Of light"
Both, the children of this world and the
children Of light, are making provision for the
future; the children of this world for tenn
poral future, but the children of light for an
eternal future. The children of this world
are striving for crown that fadeth; but the
children of light are striving for a crown OF
righteousness San eternal unfading crown.
Still, our Saviour says the children of this
world are wiser in their generation than the
children of light. In other words, the men
of the world manage their business in more
business-like manner, than the church does
the affairs which pertain to Christ's kingdom.
The children of the world are ready to
make sacrifices. In order to amsss wealth or
to make themselves famous in the eyes Of
their fellows the men of the world will sub
iect themselves to tropical suns and boreal
winds. All the comforts of home and the as
sociation of friends are despised, that the OBJ
iect of their desires may be obtained. Hun.
ger and thirst cold and nakedness, are borne
without murmur by the men Of the world.
Sacrifices are made, willingly, that they may
obtain crown that perishes. They spend
what they have that they may gain more
The men of the world exhibit their shrewd-
ness in that they strive with energy. They
eat not the bread of idleness. They rise up
soon and retire late to bed. All the energies
of their bodies and minds are taxed. Night
and day they move. They make and save,
they plan and work, scheme and execute
Brain and muscle are necessarily busy.
The children of the world are liberal. To
effect their purposes, often requires millions;
but contributions are made and gladly made.
They cast their bread upon the waters that
they may gather it with an increase of an
hundred fold after many days. They build
ships and employ seamen, that they may push
their commerce to the distant ends of the
globe. They are liberal in the prime of life,
that they may be able to say to their souls in
old age, "Soul, thou hast much goods laid up
in store" The wisdom of the children of this