The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-03-21
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.
ABOUT FdITHFUL AND UNFAIIH-
FUL SERDIATS.
Highly Interesting Discussion by Rev
Edward L. Pell-Jesus'
AdmonitiOn.

March 22d.-Faithful and Unfaithful Ser
vants.-Luke xii, 1913.
AS the ministry Of Jesus draws to-
wards its close. the future OF his dis
ciples becomes more and more an object
Of his tender concern. lie knows fun
well the things that are TO befall them,
and no one realizes as he does their
utter insumclcncy. They are so weak
and it is so important that they should
be strong; so foolish ana indiscreet, when
they need 10 be as wise as serpents ana
as harmless as doves. And he is so
anxious that they should win. 1t is
not strange, therefore. that as the time
for his departure draws nigh, We should
ina his manner towards his disciples be-
coming more and more solemn, and mis-
words, tender as they are, growing heavy
with warning
I'm the sermon from which our lesson
is taken Jesus unlolds the plan upon
which his disciples must conduct their
lives If they are 10 come out more than
conquerOrs. The sum Of IT is, we must
lead Il separated life. II we are to over
como the world, we must loosen our hold
upon il. We must avoid hypocrisy; II
we cut loose from the world, there Will
be no occasion for hypocrisy We must
be fearless in warning men about their
souls. if we are leading a separated IN
there will be no occasion for fear. 1t is
beeause We are confOrmed 10 the world
that we are afraid 10 rebuke its sins. We
must beware OF coyet0usness. 1t Is con-
formity that develops covetousness. We
must not be Ovcr-careful Of earthly
things. If We are leading a separated
lie we will not be so Impressed by
earthly things as 10 feel that they are
worth Worrying over. Finally, he says,
we must make religion our chief con-
Germ, and keep our lOins eirded about ana
our lights burning, diligently employed
In doing the Lords W.T. always In
state Of readiness Tor MS coming. we
are servants; IL is our business 10 be
faithful servants. and to employ our time
as well in our Lords absence as II ne
we're present. We should live in a state
of watchfulness. Not that he would have
ne leave our work and spend our time
going the rounds OF all the prayer-meet-
ings in town to talk about the nearness
of the Lords coming. Not that we
should initiate those good people who have
worked themselves up over the second
coming until they can do no work for
their families or their Lord. Jesus was
not thinking OF the trifiing servant who
spends his time at the front door, keep
ing a lookout for his master, but OF the
servant who works diligently 10 keep
everything in order. and who exercises
sleepless vigilance over everything that
As under his care. and who Keeps all
around him. as well as himself, in state
Of readiness so that when there Is
knock at the door he can open II i'm
mediately and without fear. Blessed
\, such a servant OF God, for when our
Lord comes he will bestow upon him
sucb honor as Is but family Swallowed
I'm the figure OF a man Sirdins himself
ana waiting upon his own servant at his
own table. But our watching 10 be
worth anything must Re ceaseless. IL
4 not worth our while 10 watch one hour
ana to sleep the next. any more than II
would be worth while for a man who
was expecting robbers 10 watch one hour
ana sleep the next. We must be always
watching. for at such an hour as we
think not. the. Son OF Man cometh. The
good man OF the house lost his goods
because he INDUCED in sleep instead OF
watching. The Christian who let's himself
down In his religious life and INDUCES