The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-13
Rev, Dr.. Foster Breaches on
 Parable of the Talents
NO MAN FAILS TO RECEIVE
Under the Providence of God Even Few Talents Exercised Produce Returns Out of All Pro-
 portion.


 church yesterday morning on Mans Re- lation to God" his sermon being an exposition of the parable of the talents The pastor took his text from the 25rh verse of the 25th chapter of Matthew: And l was afraid. and went and hid my talent in the earth: To, there thou has that is thine." He spoke in part as follows:
 In this parable of the talents Jesus sets forth in language so simple that a child l may understand, his conception of mans relation to God. Man is charged with a solemn trust for which he is to be held accountable. It Is, of course. possible for one to dissent from this view, or to find fault with it's solemn obligation, but one can hardly deny that Jesus taught 1t; one cannot read the record of His life and words and come to any other conclusion that this was the motive power of His every act. He does not teach that all have the same trust or that all are held equally responsible for like results. He knew human nature too well to be ignorant of the quite evident fact that all are not equally endowed, and this he clearly recognizes in the par able Ito every one according to his sev- eral ability
 But it is also equally true that there are none who fail to receive something and though it be only one talent received the one is to be returned with interest. In this parable he who received one tal- ent failed to increase it. and I ask you to consider how he attempts to justify his failure. He does not deny. like null titudes today that he had received it, put on the other hand hastens to produce when demanded and doubtless feels himself to be commended that he has lot dissipated or lost it. And in this undoubtedly he had the advantage Of many, for there are thousands who seem ally eagerly bent on wasting and spend ng the rich resources of God, forgetting terly any future accounting. Not so with his servant. for his prudence and care 7ere not to be called in question; rather Fould we say that his plea is one of confession and avoidance He acknowl- dges that he received it and produces on demand, and quite freely eonfesses nat he has added nothing to 1t, but T new thee to be a hard man, reaping here thou hast not sown and gathering here thou has not strewn,' therefore, I was afraid and went and hid thy { Tt in the earth" Thus does he jus Is failure and seek to turn it to VII great credit.
 But what of his success? Before lrthly tribunal his pleading might issed muster, and his foresight 'udence been commended Not so
 high tribunal of eternal truth. 4.~-~ no shufflng there" and his brilliant ifense is called by another name Thou wicked and slothful servant is whitening response to his impromptu tort, and the solemn words Take erefore, the talent from him. forever enced his ready tongue.
 Does this then mean that Jesus taught at God in His dealings with us is ar trary and tyrannical? Does he admit at He is a hard man, gathering where has not stremn and reaping where has not strewn and reaping where at those who employ their talents and ercise their powers. like those who were cd and faithful servants, find no fault tn the divine government; that under } providence of God even few talents srcised produence returns out of all pro- rtion to the effort expended, and all perience has proven and observation lfirmed through all the ages that this eternally true.
 Sothing is more surprising in all the ords of the past or present than the ltiplied blessings and marvellous results lt have followed the efforts of even ,se slenderly endowed. Thou hast been thful over few things, I will make e ruler over many things" is the un- tnging rule of the Kingdom of God. it is likewise true and likewise as manageable, that wckedness and sloth
 lose the most brilliant inheritance earth has ever seen; and also that en the final test is applied and the Judgment given, many excuses and enses and apologies that have parad- nnder fine names and have succeeded keeping men buoyed up in this com .ency and self-esteem, will shrivel up
 find themselves labeled under the - common and unexclusve names, ckedness and sloth.'
 .t us remember this then at the begin of this new year and say with Ho- us Bonor
 ,ath worketh, let me work too, }aath undoeth, let me do,
 3rsy as death my work l ply
 znf 1 rest, in the rest of eternity. ne worketh, let me work, too ? .f,e undoeth let me do.
 as time my work ply
 fHf rest, in the rest of eternity.
 worketh. let me work, too.
 undoeth let me do.
 aey as sin my work l ply
 4H1i I rest in the rest of eternity.
 Another Fire in New York.