Milford chronicle., 1907-02-22
Calm1ase
Sermon
BY Rev.
Frank De Witt Talmaee. D. D.

Los Angeles, Cal, Feb. 17.-In deal
ing in a new and strikingly personal
way with the parable Of the talents
the preacher shows how it applies to
men of means and influence in every
position in life today. The text is Luke
viii, Is. "Whosoever hath not from
him shall be taken away even that
which he seemeth to have"
It is amazing how the addition Of
one little word may change the whole
meaning of q sentence. For a long
time could not understand the twen-
fy-ninth verse of the twenty-fifth chap
ter of Matthew. Christ in his wonder
ful way had been telling the parable OF
the man who went into the far country
after he had delivered unto his serv-
ants his goods. The story Is almost
Identical with the history Of your Own
lIfe.
For years and years you were
slave to business. You kept up a brave
front. but for nearly a quarter Of
century you were trembling upon the
brink Of bankruptcy. The children
were young and had to be supported
and educated. Your business had not
been we'll established. The bust-
world was eyeing you askance.
You had to buy your goods on long
credit and therefore pay higher for
them than If you had the ready cash.
The result: 1t was grind, work, econo-
mize. But after a time the financial
condition made turn for the better.
Two of your boys finished their school
ing and were able to support them
selves. One Of your daughters married.
With the lessening Of expenses at
home there came a marvellous growth
at the store. Instead of living upon the
marrow lane Of difficulty" you mOvet
into Easy street. One night you came
home and after dinner you said to your
wife: My dear, l have fought the bat
tie of life and won it. 1t is time for us
to take a wedding trip. We did not &c
very far when we were married. We
were too poor Let us next spring starr
upon a trip around the world" "Oh
john" she said, 'cap sou afford it?
''Yes," YOU answered. "And l think we
can take our youngest daughter along
She is all we have left at home"
At once you began to make prepara
tions. Your wife planned for the care
of the house. You made the arrange
ments at the store. You called in one
employee and said, Harry, you vii
take care of this department" YoI
called in another and said, Joe, yoU
take charge of that department" II
another man you gave one task and Il
kanother different responsibility. Thel
ou set sail. With your wife an'
IN lighter you were away from hom'
a year When you returned yol
ed your various employees to ren
NJ an account of their stewardship
IN ION rewarded each man according a
4lhe had fulfilled the trust committed t
his charge. Such is the modern par
lMllel of the parable of the twenty-nttl
X chapter of Matthew.
Now. when the good man of thi
parable found out that there was on
who had failed to fulfill his trust h
saws "Take therefore the talent iron
him and give it unto him who hatl
ten talents. for unto every one that nat
shall be given, and he shall have al
abundance. but from him that hat
not shall be taken away even tina
which he hath" strange" I used [
saw when / read these words. 'HoN
can ANYTHING be taken away from
man who has nothing?" Can nothin
come from nothing? Yet here in thi
narable of Matthew we read, Error
n him that hath not shall be taken ava
Il oven that which he hath" Il canno
understand these words" 1 used
say; 81 cannot understand them'
The Real Meaning.
But some time ago 1 had a strang
illumination of the meaning of thi
CHAPTER Just as you enter oar
room and 90 to the window ana III
the oreen shade and flood of sunlgn
in so | had windowful OF go'
26eI liant poured upon these words. On
dav while reading the expression a
found in Luke l came upon the on
word "seemeth" Then l read the col
clusion of the parable in Matthew
conjunction with my text in Luke an
found that the two verses mean
practically the same. This is the wa
read the two verses: Take hee
therefore how you hear, for whosoeVf
hath to him shall be given and whos'
aver hath not from him shall be take
away even that which he seemeth
have" "Oh," I exclaimed, Il see
when a man is untrue to the tru'
Cod has given to him, he may seem
have wealth and happiness he ma
seem to be blessed with joys VINO
are denied the children Of God, D'
there shall come a time when he sha
stand before all men stripped OF II
foIse assumptions" To pretend to hay
does not prove that we have. Ih'
word "seemeth" is the pivotal word
nv sermonic theme. want TO prov
To- Won that no man can eternally po