The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-04-21

eth, to his exhorting; he that giveth let him
do it with liberality he that ruleth with dill
igence; he that sheweth mercy with cheerful
ness" (Romans xii. 6-8). All men who profita-
bly, employ their talents to improve their lives
and to promote the well-being of humanity
are typified in the two faithful servants of
our Lords parable. Whoever by his dill
gent use of COPS gifts adds to the spiritual
value of his own character, or to the true
welfare of his fellowmen, fulflls the part of
faithful servant. REV. Lyman Abbott.
THE REWARD OF THE FAITHFUL
The man of the parable returned after long
time and called upon his servants to give an
account of their care and use of his money.
The coming of JESUS was to occur within a
generation, but not Immediately. The his
torical event which manifested his described
coming, the destruction of Jerusalem and
the overthrow of the Jewish state, occurred
about forty years after his death and ascen-
sion, long time in the life of an individual,
but short time in period of the worlds
history, or the history of race or nation.
From one point of view his coming was to
be delayed; from another he was to come
quickly. But when he came his servants
[disclplesl would be called to account for the
use they had made of their heavenly gifts
and divine opportunities. The two servants
of the man in the parable reported to their
master that they had each doubled their cap
ital; the one who had received five talents
had gained five; and the one who had re-
ceived two gained two. They were both alike
commended for faithfulness, and promoted
to higher positions in their masters service,
and were also admitted to the joyful festivi-
ties celebrating their masters return. The
faithfulness of. the disciples would be like
wise rewarded. They would be promoted to
positions of greater usefulness and honor in
his kingdom, and share with him in his glory
as they had shared in his self -denying labors.
Christian virtues and graces, the riches of the
kingdom of heaven are increased by Chris
tian activity and enterprise. So the positions
of honor and greater usefulness are won by
faithful service in humber positions and du
ties. Gifts and graces that are exercised grow
with their exercise, and the delights of their
possession and exercise increase with their
growth; this is the law of growth and recon-
pense in the spiritual kingdom. All facul-
ties and capacities enlarge and strengthen
by exercise, and true dignity depends upon
fidelity and usefulness. Fellowship with
CHRIST in his joys is conferred upon those
who have fellowship with him in his labors.
The measure of the reward is in accordance
with the fidelity of the possessor, rather than
with the ability possessed or the number of
the talents entrusted. It is not only capac
ity on which JESUS smiles congratulation and
commentator. 1t is the right use of capac-
ity."-Jdmes Morrison, d. d.
THE IMPROBABLE sERvANT.-The
scented as hiding that in the ground. He did
not employ it in business, and so made no
increase. Talents that are not employed are
useless, and neither increase the ability of
their possessor nor promote his pleasure and
happiness. The slothful servant is repre-
scented as having an excuse for his incidence.
Most worthless people have some excuse for
their neglect of duty or lack of courage and
enterprise. He represents his master as Sc
we're and exacting in his business m ethods,
so greedy of gain that he defrauds others of
their labors and of whom he is afraid. He
is afraid to employ his masters money in
business lest he might lose it and incur his
displeasure and be punished. There are tai
ented people who are worthless, because they
do not proftably employ the talents they
possess. There are worthless people who are
too indolent to engage in any enterprise that
would proftably employ their talents and
make them useful. There are also timid
people who are afraid to exercise their abili-
ties lest they might not succeed and suffer
humiliation and shame. All these classes are
represented by protesting Christians, whose
type is the improbable servant in the Lords
parable.
improbable servant is condemned by the
master as wicked and slothful. He is sloth-
full because of the manner in which he pre-
served his masters talent, and wicked, both
because he put the money to no use, and be-
cause he wickedly accused his master. He
was condemned out of his own mouth. Our
own words and deeds are often the severest
testimony against us. Admitting the truth
of all he said about his masters character, it
would have been more prudent to have de-
posted the money in the bank where he
would have received interest for it, SO that
he could have returned something more than
his original talent. Not having made any
use of the entrusted talent, it was command
ed to be taken away from him and given to
the one who had ten talents, and the unprofit-
able servant was condemned to the outer
darkness, where there shall be the weeping
and guashing of teeth" The allusion is evil
IDENTIFY to the joyous festival referred to in
verses 81, %, to which he will not be admit
ted, and must be cast (by exclusion from the
brilliant banqueting halD into the outside
darkness. The Improbable servant repre-
sents unfaithful Christians, and the figure
describing his punishment describes their
fate at the coming of the Son of man, where
they shall share the fate of the unbelieving
Jews who are excluded from the kingdom,
being cast, as unworthy guests, from BAN
quet into the darkness and discomfort out
side (see Lesson, April 15). The illustration
teaches that a non use of abilities and op
portuDities is sin as truly as misuse, neg
lect as truly as fragrant disobedience.
THE LAW OF CoMPENsATI0N.-Th one
talent was taken from The servant who did
not use it and given to him who had ten;
"For unto him that hath shall be given, and
he shall have abundance; but from him that
hath not, even that which he hath shall be
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