The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1910-10-08
ON att. IS: IA 3o.)

Golden xt:-"His lord said unto
him, Well done. good and faithful ser
want; thou hast been faithful owe, a
few things, | will make thee ruler over
many things; enter thou into the JOY OF
thy lord Matt. rs: 81,
The discourse of Jesus concerning
the Second Coming, and the b9sis
OF membership in the Kingdom OF
Heaven, is continued in this lesson In
the preceding lesson he said clearly
enough lack of preparation and UNI
readiness will bar against entrance.
There is no admission to those whom
the bridegroom does not know. In
this lesson he illustrates another prin-
ciple. Lack Of fidelity to trust in the
earthly life will likewise forfeit right
to place among the saved.
The parable of the Talents everyone
knows. To study it verse by verse
seems almost unnecessary. The neople
concerned in it were the ''own SER
wants of the man who went on the
journey into the far country In the
preceding parable the virgins were in
vited guests of the bridegroom. In
both parallels the persons concerned
had definite relation to the Master of
the Kingdom.
VS. A. therefore, marks a respon
sibility laid on servants by one who
had a right to lay it. Acceptance of
the goods" committed these servants
to the best interests Of their absent
lord.
vs. IS This shows the method OF
the distribution. Apparently no ser
want was passed by. There were three
sorts OF them The basis of distrbu-
ton was ability. The man had, in the
parable but three servants and eight
talents. and he knew just how to di-
vide. One received five talents, or
parts OF the responsibility; one, two
parts; and the last. one. These divi-
sions may be regarded as indicating the
characteristic ability of men. There
are some who are very well endowed.
They Je conspicuouslv able. There
are others who are moderately gifted,
not half as able as the first class, and
there are still others who are of small
ability, of very small ability.
NSS I6-I7. Left to do as they would,
two OF the servants did what they were
expected to do, what probably they
had learned from their master, as they
had served They traded with the tai
entS Each began business on his
own account They had an opportun-
ity such as never before had been
theirs. Keen, alert, opcn-eved, they
worked in legitimate ways with their
masters interest Each Of them was
Supremacy successful. Each doubled
the money he had received. Probably,
also, each paid for his own living out
of his profits. That he had a right
to do. Each did his best. That is all
any master could reasonably ask.
vs.. Is. The third man acted i'll di
rect contrast to Is fellows. He made
no effort at all to use his privileges.
He had SO entrusted, and then. hav
ing accepted the trust, betrayed it.
He digged in the earth, not with a
purpose by that to increase the one
talent but only to make a hole in
which to hide it. That is what he did.
He had no right to act thus. His lord
could have hid the money himself had
that been his purpose. To neglect OPP
portunity is to bctray trust.
VS.. 1923. These picture the judg
ment. The lord returned after long
time" OF course there was reckon
ing The best man came irSt--that is,
best in point oi ability He was really
no better than the second. No man
can do any better than his best, and
that was what each OF the first called
to account told his story; told it with
evident pride Each had the evidence
in hand that he was tellin" the truth.
"Behold.' he said. Il have gained"
The money was in his hand to show.
How did the lord trust these men?
In exactly similar wavs. The answer
was wonderful. Fidelity over a little
has brought to thee larger opportunity
The JOY OF thy lord is thine. Nc doubt
the ADLER man had larger rule given
him when he entered into the JOY OF
the lord. but the two-tacnt man surely
received rule over as many things as
his ability could meet. Fidelity had its
complete reward
Nss. 2I-27. Now comes the pltiful
story. The onc-talent man enters His
first remark is an aSnerSion of his
lords character. II knew you. You