Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1904-01-21
/ SERMON FOR SUNDAY
4 POWERFUL DISCOURSE ENTITLED
-. HIDDEN TALENTS"

-. i" HIDDEN TALENTS" i
Ehe Rev. DR.. Henry C. Swentzel Draws .
Now Lesson From the Parable-Tho
One Talent Man Should Not Pose - .
Person With Grievance.
BRooKLYN, N. Y-Dr. Henry G. Swent-
eel, rector of st. Luke's Church, preached
Sunday morning on Hidden Talents" He
took his. text from St. Matthew xxv:l8:
He that had received one talent went and
digged in the earth, and hid his lords
money" DR.. Swentzel said:
God holds the cornucopia of infinite and
omnipotent love. With open-handed g@-
eresity He dispenses the gifts Of His
boundless wealth throughout the length
and breadth Of the whole creation. From
myriad pulpits nature breaches eloquently
Of the divine philanthropy. The universe
nifcent pleasure house for enjoyment.
Every field is designed for harvest. all
the forests resound with symphonies and I
oratories; everywhere are mines of riches |
awaiting the toiler. Gods plan includes |
sll the best things for the multitude, and |
he who serves his mission may we'll say, |
II have all and abound"
And yet how many are almost persuaded |
to protest against the doctrine Of the lib |
erality of the heavenly Fathers provisions. |
They have more than suspicion that our
Interpretation of His bounty does not
square with the facts and experiences of
human life. They are disposed to intimate
fettered Himself by hard and fast doc
trine of foreordination, predestination and
election; that His counsels are marred by
what amounts practically to unjust dis
elimination and favoritism. Without
pausing to emphasize the impiety of criti-
a o1erof t<xf3. fr hn
tility and vanity of passing Judgment upon
His program for humanity, we ought to be
persuaded even by our surroundings that
!: the Lord is: prompted ever by q nasterful
desire to promote the health and wealth,
the power and happiness. Of His children:
plans for mankind, we would accept the
world with it's beauties and harmonies, its
! lights and shadows, its resplendent heav-
ems and fragrant flowers, its overhowing
granaries, its countless picture galleries,
its monumental glories, as parallels of di-
vine sovereignty
But the man with one talent is likely to
present himself as an objeetor to this at
tractive and inspiring view of the Fathers
grievance. he is persuaded that he ought
to have better chance, larger privileges,
greater opportunities, more encouraging
9utlook It is perfectly true that there ;1S are
the game. gifts: Some seem to have more
while others have less; but there is un
doubtedly law of compensation which
opens the way for q high general average
Of satisfaction in living, satisfaction
God never gives everything to any on.
Esrss4Tser fe sTery ht soul, H aad Sn an Viii h to
: worth a thousand times more than it cost
| if they will but do their duty. Ii the man,
> would honestly do their best with wha
= they have, large share of present Inc
I qualities would disappear. and it would b
t clearer to all that the Almighty IS truly
|. universal Father. Alas, who has done ! n
best: II the e?pR,aner m haa put f aa he he he
e been willing to do what he easily cou
It have done, # he had not hidden his talen
q the situation, to him would be change
- and he would be More perfectly. in IA
mony with the life-creed proclaimed
G revelation and by all the worlds.
% Inasmuch as our Lord is the author
- - story with it's moral should be receiv
'e with the utmost thoughtfulness. Accor
ing to His teaching, everybody receiv
"a something, and the very smallest gift
- one talent. A talent is a goodiy sum
~ money-equal to little less than $2O
Is That amount would be promising s, sta
90 ab;ity. Many, It viii be alleged, must
% gin lie ON much smaller basis, for VIII
~ there may be human reasons which
in. rboth regrettable and inexorab,e, and VIII
.st we cannot stay to discuss. Ordlnarl
,rs however, each soul has a goodiy start
-, sets out with fair endowment Gen
he can be something, he can do something
MIR can serve his mission. It IS wholesome
..,s be reminded betimes that many OF
J, l,n men who have made history have spr7
tne form a comparatively low origin. In ev
OTIS nation saints, heroes and leaders are,
the poor boys Of not many yesterdays I
To every soul God gives an adequate eq
md ment. Work is the only royal road to
7av cellence. There are people who expec
~ be carried on angels wings to the goa
o, their ambition, but angels and their !"
uai were made for no such purpose.
va. The trouble ,swith the complaining
! Of one talent is that he has hidden
power in the earth. God made him to
q splendid life; the man has failed mo1
less utterly. He may be misunderst
but far oftener he misunderstands him
In taking stock OF his assets ne neglec
( rate them even at their sace Sielue
I wonders why he is where he is; ne al
- ;nsuperab!e obstacles and insists tha
has been sorely handicapped; he res
himself as victim. 1t may be app'
b that he is not SO richly gifted as ce
| others are, DuL buAt 10 nv AS"7oA. I" =
Beat should set up an inferior standard
,hite himself and expect nothing as the out
!, 10 of his existence Success is not a IN
u y. Of talents. It is not true that they '
Il OF achievements have given them pla
per- the worlds legion of honor were
nrth whose shining talents, without ind
A- - -. and without deyelopment, won Tor
immortal distinction. All who have
rhite strength are hard workers, whose. tow
+oo- object was not to get through the
with the least possible outlay OF e'
one who are willing to spend and be spf
looth | living their lives: Brilliant ab'i't,es
! nm. for little. The high places in the
are seldom filed by people OF genus
cup by men and women who have simply
until the most of their capacity. 1t IS az
Serve recurring surprise that most unlikely
ond come to the front in all the spheres
tivity. Many genius goes at the
the Dotter's Geld, while memorials IL
slice bic or bronze are reared to CONNER
.,.a.l fhe virtues and triumphs Of character
'no. were not so rich in natural gifts -
with were abundant in labors. Everyo'
AN to we'll enough endowed. The least W. W.
MT a Is one talent, which, if it be rightly
3o-or will suffice for our energies ana
lower measure of laudable ambition. :,
when Evervhodv is good for somethin