taken Chrift's warning, Escaped; But the reft were fhut up: And thus while men are variously employ'd, and contriving many things, Death and Judgment feizes them; and they who are then found ready and prepared, are received and rewarded by Chrift. 11 12. But the Fool ifb Virgins, coming after wards and defiring admit tance, were shut out and rejected: Thus the Jews, after their final Deftruction came upon them, cried for mercy too late: And thus thofe, whom Chrift at Judgment finds unprepared, are notwithstanding their earnest too late entreaties, difowned and rejected by him. and 13. Watch ye therefore, and be always prepared, after the example of the Wife Virgins; because ye know not the Time, when your Lord cometh to call you to II Afterwards came alfe the other Lord, open to us. virgins, faying,Lord, 12 But he answer ed and faid, verily I you not. fay unto you, I know 13 Watch thereneither the day nor fore, for ye know the hour, wherein the Son of man cometh. 149 14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own fer unto them his goods. vants, and delivered 15 And unto one he gave five talents, an Account; and it will then be too late to prepare for it, when he is come to reward every Man according to his paft doings. 14. ¶ Again, the State of the Gofpel, and the Method of God's difpenfations and dealings with Mankind, may be fitly represented by this Similitude. A certain Man, being to take a long Journy into a far Country, divided his Stock amongst his SerVants to Trade with till his return: Thus Chrift Preached the Will of God to Mankind, while he continued here on Earth; and at his Second coming will expect an Account of their improvement under it. 15 Now to one he gave to another two, & to five Talents, to another two, another one, to eve- to another one, according ry man according to to each ones Prudence and bis feveral ability, and ftraightway took his journy. Ability; and then went his journy; expecting that eve ry one should make an improvement proportionable to what had been committed to Y 4 him: him: Thus the Gifts and Abilities wherewith God intrufts Men, are many and various; and Chrift at his Second coming will require an Account of each one, proportionable to his Power and Opportunities of doing good. 16 & 17. Then he that had five Talents, Traded and gained five others; likewife he that had two Talents, Traded and gained two more: Thus fome Men improve according to their proportion, those Gifts and Faculties werewith God has endued them, to the increase of Religion, and the good of the World. 18. But he that had received one Talent, Traded not with it, but hid it up, and it became ufelefs Thus other Men make no improvements. of thofe Gifts wherewith God has blessed them but they live idly, and are useless in the World. 19. After a long time,the lord of thofe reckoneth with them. fervants cometh, and 20 And fo he that received five talents, came and brought forth other five talents, faying, Lord, thou deliveredft unto me five talents: behold I have gain ed befides them five talents mo. 21 His lord faid unto him, Well done, thou good and faith ful fervant; thou haft been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 22 He also that had received two talents, came & faid, Lord, thou deliver edft unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents befides them. 19. After a long time, the Lord of thefe Servants. returned home, and called them all to an Account: Thus Chrift, when the time that God has appointed is accomplished, fhall return and call all Men before him to Judgment. 20 & 21. Then he that had Five Talents, gave in his account, that he had Traded with them and gained Five Talents more; And his Lord commended him. for having been faithful in a fmall trust, and advanced him to a place of greater Honour, and gave him a very great Reward: Thus thofe who at the coming of Chrift, fhall appear to have imployed and improved their feveral Gifts, shall be rewarded by him with Eternal Life. been faithful in a Smaller trust, and gave him likewife a great Reward: Thus thofe who have lefs or fewer abilities than others, if they do but improve and ufe them in their several proportions, shall yet likewise be rewarded with Eternal Life. 24 & 25. But he that had received One Talent, and made no ufe of it, began to excufe his own Negligence by accufing his Lord's Severity in exacting more of him than had been committed to him: Thus wicked Men, who make no use of those abilities which God has given them, think it a hardship that God fhould require them to take pains and improve his Gifts, and employ and use them for the good of the World. 26 & 27. But his Lord anfwered and faid; you are an idle and flothful perfon; if you knew that I expected an Improvement of what I left you, why did you not Trade with my Money, that 23 His lord faid unto him, Well done, good and faithful fervant; thou haft been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. |