The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-05-16
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
fNTKHyiTIOyiL SUxDIY SCHOOL
LESSON ron TO.M0RROW.
An Interesting Discussion OF the strikins
Subject by Rev. DIR. Edward L'
Peli-The Lesson.

May I.-ParaDle OF the fOuhuS.-i"Ho
xix, ll-I.
As Jesus was about to leave Jericho
for Jerusalem he noticed that the peo-
Die who were with him were wrought up
to a. high state OF expectancy; they
thought that the kingdom OF God should
Immediately appear" II was all to be
done in n iwinkling, and they were con-
iident that in a few days at most Messi-
ah would be on his throne, and every
child Of Abraham would be feasting at the
inaugural banquet. In order 10 break the
force OF the shock OF Disappointment
which would come TO them, or. rather. TO
eOahle them better 10 understand IL
after it was all over. Jesus "spake a
parable unto them. The kingdom OF
God was indeed TO come. but not with
observation. 1t was 10 fsld its way
slowly into the hearts Of men. and the
feast which would celebrate Messiah )
triumph was yet far Off
~ certain nobleman," he sad. went
into far country TO receive for him
self kingdom and to return Jesus
was not to take possession OF the world
now; he was to go,away; but go"
said he, II will come again and itC eve
you unto myself"
And he called his ten servants and de-
livercd them ten pounds, and said unto
them Trade with them till l come
God has given us talents, To some five.
10 some two. and 10 some one; and TO
whom much has been given. of him shall
much be required; but - has SO
given us blessings and privileges, which
We have in common with all men-not
those things which make US superior TO
another. but those things which put us
on an equal footing with all others
He maketh His sun to rise on the evil
and on the good. and sendeth rain on
the just and the unjust" And these
common blessing and oppp 'tunit,,s. mere
represented by pounds lie expects US
to make the best Of. We are TO trade
with them-to turn them over and over
carefully, diligently, giving our whole
thought ito this stewardship. Having
given US these things, He leaves us-that
is, He gives Us free rein and tests our
faithfulness. You cannot test the faith
fulness OF servant by alwaf standing
over him.
Time passed. and the nobleman return
ed. and the servants were called be-
fore him. that he might know how much
every man had gained by trading" That
is what God will want 70 know OF US.
Not whether we have abused our privi-
leges and blessings, but whether We have
made faithful use of them. Not whether
We have done any harm but whether we
have done our best. The first servant
called came forward with ten pounds
In addition 10 the pound which had
been placed in his hands. Evidently he
had eaten no idle bread. He must have
planned and worked and strained all his
IN al al honestly 90 ~
ten pounds. Such diligence has It's re-
ward-not pay. but reward. Thou hast
been faithful i'm a very little; have thou
authority over ten cities" That would
be extravagant pay for such a service.
but IL was not pay; the servant was a
slave, and not entitled 10 pay; IL was a
reward for faithfulness. and a gift in
recognition Of faithfuness is never ex-
travagant. however great II may be.
We sometimes stumble at the greatness
OF the treasure laid up for US I'm heaven.
We do not feel that We deserve such re-
Enumeration for the poor service We have
performed OF course not; We are not
entitled TO any remuneration at all: hav-
ing done all. We are still Improbable
servants" but 1t is the Masters privi-
lege to reward our falthfuness. and He
can give US what He will. No gift can
be too great from such a giver.
The second servant brought five pounds
"a the result of his trading. He had
not devoted himself SO exclusively and
zealousiy to his stewardship as his fell
low-servant had done. but he had been
faithful and diligent. and he. too, received
a reward: BE thou also over five cities. "
The third came with the original pound
given him-nothing more As he held IL
in his hand It shone as bright as IL
did the day his lard placed IL in his care.
and he was apparently proud of that
fact. He had kept 1t carefully laid up
I'm a napkin. and felt that he deserved
credit for not having squandered it.
There are multitudes who have their
pound in their hand, ready to show il
TO God. and TO claim credit for not hay
ing squandered It, They expect TO get 10
heaven because they have never done any
harm. Let in charge OF Gods planta-
ton they have never made crop, have
never plowed furrow, have never put a
shingle on the roof: but they have never
done any harm. and they are going 10
claim their reward on the ground that
they did not burn up the fences and cut
down the vines. and destroy all the
cattle.
But as this servant looks into his
masters face he realizes his mistake,
.
And his excuse lays the blame on his
master! If heard you were a hard man,
aud that nothing l could do would salts
fy you. and so / did nothing" That Is
the excuse which trihers I'm the Lords
vineyard are already ironing on their
lips for the great day that's coming.
The Bible is too strict; 1t requires more
OF man than any mortal can perform. D."
But-"Out OF thine own mouth Will |
judge thee, thou wicked servant" The
man had condemned himself Supposing
that mis- master was a hard man. he
ought 10 have done his very best 10 sat
isfy him as far as possible: as it was.
he had not even put out his money at
interest. the very least that he could
have been expected TO do.
There will not be two sides TO a ques-
ton In the last day II will not be 4
matter for argument which is right. the
master or the unfaithful sreyant. The
servant will be judged out OF his own
mouth EDWARD l.. PEIT