ling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods." What does his travelling into a far country denote? The season of personal absence from his church. What are we to understand by his calling his servants, and delivering to them his goods? That the Lord bestows upon mankind diversities of gifts, dividing to every man severally as he will.*

15. How did he distribute his favours?

"Unto one

he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one." What sort of talents were these, in the literal sense of the parable? The most valuable coins current among the Jews. What might be the value of a single talent in English money? A little more than £340.

Why did the master of

talents, to another two, Because he would give

the family give to one five and to another only one? "to every man according to his several ability." Having thus dispensed his favours, what did the lord of these servants do? He "straightway took his journey." What was the duty of his servants during their lord's absence? To trade with their master's money, and depend on him for a free reward. How so?-would they not be entitled to a recompence for their service? No; for they themselves were the property of their lord, and their most diligent service was due to him. What are the talents with which the God of heaven and earth endows his rational creatures? They are various,

* 1 Cor. xii. 4 and 11.

including all means and opportunities of glorifying God, and of doing good to our fellow-men. Mention some of these talents. Money is a talent; so is influence; also mental power; and the grace of the Holy Spirit. Are these talents variously distributed? Yes; some have money, but have no mental power; others have influence, but no silver and gold; and so on. What is it our duty to do with the talent, or talents, that are entrusted to us? We should improve them to the glory of God, and the good of our fellow-creatures.

16. How did one of the servants act, as mentioned in

the parable? "Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents."

17. What course did another of the servants pursue? "And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two." Was this servant equally diligent with the former? Yes. How so?

The

proportion of two to two is equal to that of five to five. Was there, then, any difference between these two servants? Not in point of faithfulness; but only in the measure of their ability.

Shall

we be approved of God according to our abilities, or according to our faithful and diligent employment of those abilities? According to our faithful and diligent employment of them.

18. There was yet another servant in the same household-how did he act? "But he that had received one (talent) went and digged in the earth, and hid

19.

his lord's money."

Why did he hide it? Be

"The

cause he was too idle to make any good use of it. "After a long time" what happened? lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them." What is meant by reckoning with them? Taking account of what they had done. Why is it said to be "after a long time"? Because this final settlement was neither rash, nor out of season. When will our Lord reckon with us? At the day of judgment.*

20. Which of the servants came first to give up his account? "He that had received five talents." Did he come to his lord with mere empty professions? No; he "brought other five talents." How had he acquired other five talents? By a diligent use of the five talents that he possessed. What did he say to his master? "Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more." Was this the language of boasting or self-dependence? No; it was a correct statement of what his lord's money had yielded. Did the servant take no credit to himself for what he had done? No; for not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.†

21. Did his lord commend him? Yes. What did he say? "Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will

make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord."

"He

22. Who came next to give up his account? that had received two talents." And what did he say? "Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them."

23. What did his Lord say to this servant?

"Well

done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." Is the sentence of approval the same in this instance as in the former? Precisely the same. Why is it so? Because these two servants had been equally faithful and diligent. Was the reward equal to the services which they had rendered? It far surpassed them; for they had been faithful over a few things, and their lord made them rulers over many things. What is that joy, into which the faithful servant of God is admitted when his work is done on earth? It consists in being with Christ, and beholding his glory.*

24. What account did the other servant render? "Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee, that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed." What do these expressions show? That this servant entertained evil thoughts of his master. What evil thoughts

* John xvii. 24.

are couched in the words he used? That his master was cruel, and expected impossibilities. What is

the cause of that aversion to God, which is so often displayed in the language and behaviour of sinners? Evil thoughts of his character and government. Is the Most High a hard master? No; the Lord is gracious and full of compassion: slow to anger, and of great mercy.* If men knew him as he is, how would they speak of him? They would abundantly utter the memory of his great goodness, and sing of his righteousness.t

25. What more did the faithless servant say?

"And

I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth lo, there thou hast that is thine." What made this servant afraid? The consciousness that he had wronged his master. How had he wronged his master? By not improving the talent entrusted to him. Why did he so unblushingly declare that he had hid his lord's money ? Because he thought it was not so unpardonable to hide the money, as it would have been to squander it away. How do the impenitent always seek to justify themselves? By insinuating, that they are not so bad as they might have been, or as some others. Is there any

value in such pleas? No; they are worse than vain; they are impious. 26. What did the master pronounce concerning the character of this servant? "Thou wicked and slothful servant."

Why did his lord call him