Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-20

1NTRODUCTION.- AS stated last
week. the 2oth chapter Of Matthew IL d.
visible into three great parts. all designed
TO illustrate some aspect of the kingdom
OF heaven or the dispensation ushered in
by Jesus. The first part already studied.
presented the substance Of religion itself,
an interior principle likened to oil. feeble
In some and strong in others. The third
part Oversees 81 and 49,. which will not be
in our course at all. sets forth the prac-
teal test Of religion. AZ that which prompts
one to serve his fellow-man. which service
Is reckoned In the Judgment as rendered by
Christ. The second part, lying between
the essence and the test OF religion. shows
what effect 1t ought to have Upon its pos
SCISSOR, as developing force. Taken In their
order. tho three passages exhibit the value
OF religion. az preparing one for COM
munion with Christ. as a power for self
unfolding and progress. as leading to do
good unto men. The three parts all refer
to the judgment, because every man is
measured In the light and by the standard
of his own character.
DISTRIBUTION oversees A-15).-Our
parable opens with the scene Of q man of
wealth who is about to take journey to
together before his departure and commits
his property and interests to their keep
Ing. He does not bestow goods upon them
absolutely, SO that they become thereby
the keepers and custodians during his alb
sence. The distribution lie made accord
Ing to his pleasure. as he had right to
make 1t. but also according to the ability
Of reward was as five. two and one, each
receiving something. By this Jesus in
tended to teach that God has bestowed
upon men various abilities as they were
III 20 ANlv,
less. In doing SO He exercised His pre-
rogative, and no one may question the
wisdom of His act But what was thus
awarded was not made q personal possess
s1on All men hold what they have as
trusts. They are stewards Of God Il Peter
1v:1O. This is true in spiritual as well
as material matters. ALI we have be-
longs to God.
DISPOSITION oversees 1919. The
servants in the parable evidently remem-
bered the source Of that which they had re-
ceived. They all alike with commendable
wisdom, acknowledged their office as stew
by the obligation thus laid on them. But
they acted differently. The one who had
received most and the man in the second
grade invested in legitimate business and
doubled the capital placed in their hands.
But the man of one talent feeling not less
than the others the responsibility incurred.
buried his lords money in the earth, seek
ing for 1t place Of safety. All thus finds
parallel among members Of the Christian
church in our time. The man of splendid
ability and the man Of average native
talent advance in all the excellences OF
character; while those who deem them
selves little, feel that they can accomplish
nothing, and SO they hide themselves away
in great obscurity. and years pass in which
they make no progress Oh Peter, iii:1O.
APPROVAL oversees 1873. - Time
passed on, during which the servants acted
according to their own pleasure. No re-
straint or prompting was given to any one
of them. Finally the lord returned and
called them to give account of their deeds
and trusts. The f1ve-talent man and after
him the two-talent man came in with the
that the amount entrusted to
each had been doubled, 30 that they were
able to render back ten talents and four
talents, respectively. Each of them must
have experienced measure Of satisfaction
approaching to justifable pride, as he
thus returned to his lord a hundred-fold
Increase of what had been given, and each
received precisely the came commentator,
with promise of promotion, for both were
equally worthy. SO is 1t with every man.
This moral life is a period in which men
act freely, absent from their Lord only in
the sense that the physical life Is wholly
distinct from the heavenly life. But the
day will come when all must render &C
count (Rom. f:6), and when those who
have rightly used the gifts of God, making
suitable increase, will hear the plaudit,
well DONE.
NEGLECT oversees 24-25)-These ap-
proved servants being disposed of, the
man appeared before his master.
He came with trepidation, moved doubt
less by his own conscience, but more by
the words just spoken by his fellows.
Placing In the hand of the owner that
which he had received, with brief state
ment of the course pursued, he proceeded
to give the motive by which he had been
led into conduct so unlike the others.
First of all, he threw the blame upon the
master, saying that he was known to be
q hard man, exacting what he had not
himself strewn, not considering that this
was an argument for activity and indus
try, and not for idleness and neglect. Next
he declared that this character of the
master, instead of stimulating him, as 1t
should. had actually made him afraid.
How many men in all times complain of
their Maker (Rom. ix:2O thinking Him
severe and judging their lot hard one7
How many deem 1t quite sufficient for them
to deliver back again that which was COM