The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-10-18


"extirpated by disuse." The
binding and casting out is only the
judicial affirmation of destiny al
ready sclf-inficted. The soul goes
to its own place by a moral CRAWL
tatlon that is irresistible. Having
taken the divergent line of invet-
crate neglect of the spiritual facul-
ty, he winds up in hell which is
eternal because the very essence
of it is the obliteration of the pow
ers OF the soul. On the
other hand, the faithful soul, hav-
ing taken the right line of persis-
tent use and development of the
religious faculties, finds himself at
length in a blissful state, from
which lapse is impossible, and in
which there is such a phenomenal
development of the soul that he
is qualified to perform functions
for God, the nature of which is
dimly conveyed to us by the terms
klngship and priesthood to God,
and being over ten cities and FIVE
cities.
The Teachers Lantern.
The PARALLELS of the Virgins,
Talents, and Pounds set forth the
substances Of religious duty, and
the opposite destinies of the faith
full and unfaithful. They are a
and-book of ethics. Fundamen-
tai principles are epitomized in
them. At the same time they are
powerfully incentive to good, de.
terrent from evil. Dean
Trench discriminatory says:
Undoubtedly Christ bestowed
marvellous and miraculous abilities
on the apostles on the Day of Pen
tecost; but from that day to this
he has ever been delivering his
goods to each successive genera
ton of his followers. The natur-
al IS the groundwork upon which
the spiritual is superinduced.
Grace does not dissolve the ground
work of individual character. The
natural gifts are as vessels which
may be large or small but in each
case each is filled" How
tlresome the show of humility
so little is committed to me in
the way of talent that it makes no
odds whether I employ it or not. "
The laggard hasn't wasted like
the prodigal; is Mt ten thousand
talents in debts like the unmerci-
tul servant. But here is an ire
parable evil. The pound was
given to be employed in a given
period (probation); the opportuni-
ty for its employment gone for
ever, it can not be returned. It's
value consisted of its employment
and increase. Take
from him the pound" is one of the
sharpest points of this bristling
parable. This is what Horace
Bushnell aptly calls the extirpa-
ton of the religious faculty by its
non-use. Silly, insolent
and protane appear the excuses of
the laggard with his pound; yet
not more so than the stock apollo
gles Of the average sinner of to-
day: Religion is too severe;"
"Temptations too powerful; :"
Evidences Of Christianity not
sufficiently plain" Such excuses
criminate God; tax Him with aus
terity and reaping where He has
not soWn. Jesus reveals
the truth that man is Gods ser
want. What he has he holds in
trust for his Maker. He is not an
original, independent proprietor.
He holds nothing in fee simple.
He is to occupy, use and increase.
But an account of stewardship is
ever impending. This accounting
time is the assize Of the soul. 1t
IS to be kept always in view. One
IS to be instantly ready for it.
Here, however, is no
harsh, unreasonable, and purely
technical reckoning. Nothing
can surpass Jesus, radiant portrait
ure of Him with whom all souls
have their final dealings. Moth
inc IS hid from hic or,,;ec;a,,oo