The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-19

not to say Il Is enough II just get inside
the door OF the celestial mansion, that
is better than being eternally on the
wrong sido of 1t, but there is something
better yet We ought to desire to get as
near as possible to the throne of God.
We have seen how difficult II will be to
reward justly. None but God himself can
do this. sNot only the aggregate amount
of work must be considered, but its pro-
portion to the ability of the worker and
his opportunities for work. The Christian
race Is a handicap so that all nave an
equal chance of winning.
The motive is such an important ele-
ment that Paul speaks as II everything
depended on this. If l speak with the
tongues OF men and of angels, l have not
less, l am become sounding brass ana
changing cymbal. And II l have the gift
of prophecy and know all mysteries and
all knowledge, and " 1 have no faith so
as TO remove mountains but have not love,
am nothing. And IL 1 bestow all my
goods to feed the poor, and IL ! give my
body to be burned, but have not love 1t
proiiteth me nothing.
SHUT OUT OF HEAVEN.
According to the teaching of this par
able there are two classes who are shut
out of heaven. There was one who made
no use of his pound wrapped 1t up In
His was not a case of overconsciousness;
it was an instance of sloth and selfish
ness taking the threadbare dress of su-
perior prudence. To add to his folly he
gave as his excuse that he feared the au-
thority of his Master who he alleged took
up that which he had not laid down and
reaped that which he did not sow. But
If this were true he ought to have used
greater zeal to secure interest for the
pound. But 1t was not true, so he only
added insult to unselfisAness by making
such a plea. SO he stands as the rep
resentaton of large class OF people who
hear the Gospel and do nothing whatever
about it, They do not oppose it, they
do not ridicule 1t, they do not argue
against It, their worst enemies would not
call them immoral they have great re-
spect for religion, but they neglect the
great salvation and think that because as
they say they do no harm they are in no
danger. They have done nothing to
merit reward by refusing to use their
pound, they prove that they do not con-
slider themselves in Christ's service and
so are shut out when He gathers to-
gether His own.
Christ requires positive improvement: of
the privileges which he bestows He gives
the seed not to be boarded in the granery,
but to be scattered broadcast over the
field that 1t might be multiplied hun
dred fold and though it may not seem so
at first keeping 1t in the granery is as
disobedience of him as would be the
emptying of 1t into the sea. If you are
doing nothing with the Gospel privilege,
beg of you dig it up and use it, and If
you may not get the reward of him who
had the ten pounds you may perhaps re-
ceive the reward of him who had the five,
and at any ratio you will save yourself
the fate of him who, stripped of his hidden
treasure, was beaten with many stripes
and thrust out in disgrace.
/ see here another class, those who said
1--WE will not have this man to rule over
U.s." These were the open enemies of
him who went to receive his kingdom.
They represent those who defy the Lord
Jesus Cirist and set themselves up
against his cause. They make a virtue
of their wickedness. When you press the
claims of Christ upon them they answer
that there is nothing of the hypocrite about
them. They do not pretend to be what
| they are not. They think that they are
better than the man who took the pound,
but are they? In the light of this parable
we must say mo" The man who took
the pound was punished with the for
| feiture of the pound while the enemies of
| Christ were slain.
A man is none the less Christ's enemy
because he is open about it. His decla-
ration does not change enmty to friend
ship. He is an enemy and defies Christ
! that is the simple truth. And here is the
result: "These, mine enemies, which
would not that should reign over them,
bring hither and slay in my presence"
| As Paul says: "They that obey not the
Gospel of Christ shall be punished with
| everlasting destruction from the pres
ence of the Lord and from the glory of his
power VIXEN He shall come to be glorlfi ed
of his saints and to be admired among
| them that believe"