The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-05-09


fulness to their present trust.
This would. SO far, tend to sober over
ardent expectations.
2. Faithful Using Rewarded,
vs 1919.
In due time, the parable said, the
princely nobleman came back. Immedi-
ately he summoned his ten servants to
account. What use had they made of
the pound, the NINA, he had entrusted
to them? He was in this especially de-
sirous of seeing how the characters of
his servants had stood the test.
The servant first to report was natural
ly the one who had the best report to
make. Lord, THY pounds hath made
ten pounds more He says nothing of
his own astuteness or industry. He is
either modest or adroit. He declares
only what his masters pound has made
during its owners absence. This SER
want, as his master Immediately decides,
is such an one as can be entrusted with
large responsibility. The master has now
become representative of royalty. Be,
fore he had minds to entrust; now he
has cities. The mayoralty of ten cities,
with personal compliments, is the re-
ward he bestows on the servant who
has multiplied his NINA by ten.
The next servant to render account
has report of the same tenor as the
other; but his gains have not been 80
great. His lords one pound has made
gains aggregating five pounds. For this
he ie, without special compliments, ap-
pointed to the mayoralty of five cities.
The suggestion thus far is that
the disciples of Jesus shall have rewards
in the spiritual kingdom exactly CORE
spending to their efficiency during the
trial days of waiting.
3. Not Using Punished VS.. %
81.
These two servants are representatives
of all those who had some degree of en-
deavor to report. Now comes repre-.
sentative Of those who have negative
report to ren1er.
Lord. behold here is thy pound achich
haze kept laid up in napkin. He
had, after the fashion of the East, kept
his masters pound concealed in hand
kerchief or sweat-cloth; but he had
kept it safe.
His excuse for his inaction was that
he knew his master was so austere and
exacting, so inclined to grasp even what
did not belong to him, that he had no
assurance that success, if he gained it,
would result in his own gain; while the
loss of his owners capital through fail
ure would bring upon him severe iudg-
ment.
This excuse, while frank and bold, did
not avail. The servants master, now
empowered to act as king, did not fail
to notice that there was in this boastful
report an implied insult to himself.
Why, he asks of his stubborn servant,
if you thought l was such an austere
and exacting man. did you forget that
should expect that my pound would
yield me source of profit? If you
were wanting in confidence in your own
financial skill, why did you not at least
deposit my money in the bank, where it
would be secure and the interest would
accrue,-then l could go and draw my
pound with its rightful usury?
The servant, thus brought to task
for his inaction, was abashed; he could
frame no plausible excuse for the slug
gishness which he at first justified. After
vainly waiting for reply, the new made
king commands the halberdiers stand
ing by to take from him his one pound,
and give it to the care of the servant
who had ten pounds. Even remons-
trance from some of the by-standers did
not serve to change this apparently Sc
we're judgment.
And here Jesus declared the princi..
pie on which all right judgment, both
human and divine, must proceed: Unto
every one that hath shall be given; but
from him that hath not, eUen that aohich
he hath shall be taken aacdy.
This is on its face paradoxical. 1t is
designedly 80, that the precept may not
be forgotten. Perhaps some conjectured
additions may serve to clarity the ap
parent contradictions. Unto eUery one
aoho has trust,eorthiness and capability
further opportunities and responsible
ties shall be given; but from him acho
has no tratst,corthineSs nor cdpabitity,
even the opportunities and responsible
tiles he nolo has a1iH be taken aiUay
from him.
That this is essentially the meaning of
the Teachers paradoxical statement be-
comes manifest when the former and
subsequent renderings of the same pre-.
cept. with their variations, are analysed.
This. then, is the law of Gain and Loss.
1t is alike the Law in the natural world,
and in the business world. and in the
spiritual world.
According to the precedents-by an
actual necessity. indeed ,-Archelaus
when he was invested with royalty, re-
warded his adherents by making them
rulers of cities; and to the more efficient
and loyal he entrusted the greater OPP
portunities for gain and fame.