Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1914-07-22

! py REV, ~, NJ, Stearns.
The introduction to this parable OF
the pounds verses IL. 12l seems to me
most Enthusiastically clear concerning
the postponement of the kingdom
They thought that it would immedi
ately appear, and they had reason tc
think so. for John the Baptist and the
Lord Jesus and the twelve and the
seventy had all proclaimed it as al
hand Matt. Ill. 2; iv, II: x. Z; Luke
X, 81.
The mighty works wrought by the
Lord and the twelve and the seventy
indicated the coming of the kingdom
But when the rulers rejected the Mes
siah, the King, and determined to kill
Him, that led to the unfolding of the
present age of a rejected Christ, o
scattered Israel and a postponed king
dom until the king shall return. He
has gone to the far country to receive
the kingdom and to return and has In.
trusted His servants with pounds and
talents TO use In His absence and give
an account of at His return. and their
position in His kingdom will depend
upon their faithfulness in His absence
That the kingdom will come ate His
return is also plainly stated in Acts
Iii, p, where we read that the heavens
have received Him until the times OF
the restoration of all things of which
the nronhets hnya spol,eu
In the story of the talents in Matt
XIV, which should be studied with
this lesson. there is also an account OF
the far country, the goods intrusted te
the servants and the reckoning at the
Masters return. While in each rec
ord we read of pounds and talents
given TO His servants to use. we read
that some were wicked and slothful
and finally found the;r place amons
the lost, so we must conclude that He
gives opportunity to all who profess
to be His servants TO prove whether
they really are so or not. No real serv.
ant of His can ever be lost, though
some may be saved as by fire and have
no reward John K. %; Cor Ill, 11-I5l
In the lesson on the pounds He gave
the same TO each. but in that on the
talents He gave according to their abil-
tty. unto one five. to another two, te
another one. The pound given to each
may represent the Spirit given to every
one to profit withal Il Cor. xii, %. The
Spirit spoke wondrously through Ba.
lam, and we have no reason to doubt
that Judas Iscariot did not do wonders
like the others, yet neither were true
servants. The talents may refer to the
special gifts Of the Spirit, given vari,
Dusty and in different measure, as he
may see fit Il Cor. xii. SLID.
The first step is to receive the Lord
Jesus as Zaccheus did and thus obtain
salvation as the free gift of God duke
xix, Ito; Rom. Vi, %; John /, II; lii
16; Rev. xxi, II, then. having become
a child Of God. live to serve the living
and true God while we wait for His
Son from heaven Il Thess. /. o, 10,
Tit. ii. lib; Rom. v. /, p.
am continually glad that He has
appointed all our service, prepared all
our good works beforehand, and that
He only expects us to minister as of
the ability which He giveth, holding
ourselves ready for any manner of
service and wholly at His command
ment Eph. ii, 10; Pet. Nv. IL;
Chron. xviii, 21).
/ am also glad that it is God who
worketh in us both to viii and TO do
of His good pleasure. working all
things after the counsel of His own
win Phil. ii. ID; Eph. i. III. Notice
in the story of the talents the servants
say Il have gained five talents more
or II have gained two other talents"
while in the story of the pounds they
say Lord, thy pound hath gained ten
pounds" or Lord. thy pound hath
gained five pounds" recognizing that
while we work it is really God who
works, and yet He gives us the credit.
1t must be the vine bearing the fruit.
else it counts for nothing tJohn XIV, 81.
Whether the gain be five talents or two
talents. ten pounds or five pounds, the
words of approval are Thou good serv-
ant or Thou good and faithful serv-
ant" Then notice in the recompense.
authority over ten cities or five cities.
ruler over many things, or. as we said
at the beginning Of the lesson, position
In the kingdom according to faithful
ness, reward according TO work luke
xiv. IA; Rev. xxi. II; ii John s.
In reference to taking from the I'M
faithful servant that he hath" it is
explained in Luke viii. IS, by the
words, that which he seemeth to
have" or as in the margin. ''thinketh
that he hath" He only seemed to be
servant, thought that he was one.
but was not really one.
Oh. how necessary it is to be sure
that we are indeed In Christ. not think
Ing that it is all right because we are
a bit religious or enjoy the service or
like to do good or are church members,
but certain that we can under the seru-
tiny of those eyes. like fame of fire.
say from the heart, 20 Lord. Thou
4.