one servant who had done nothing with his lord's money, but had ** laid it up in a napkin/' — ^We are told of his use- less arguments in his own defence, and of his final min, for not using the knowledge which he confessedly possessed. There can be no mistake as to the persons he represents. — He represents the whole company of the ungodly ; and his ruin represents their miserable end in the judgment day.
Let us never forget the end to which all ungodly people are coming. Sooner or later, the unbeliever and the impenitent will be put to shame before the whole world, stripped of the means of grace and hope of glory, and cast down to hell. There will be no escape at the last day. False profession and formsdity will fall, to abide the fire of God's judgment. Grace, and grace only, shall stand. Men will discover at last, that there is such a thing as " the wrath of the Lamb." The excuses with which so many content their consciences now, shall prove unavailing at the bar of Christ. The most ignorant shall find that they had knowledge enough to be their condemnation. The possessors of buried talents and mis- used privileges will discover at last that it would have been good for them never to have been bom.
These are solemn things. Who shall stand in the great day when the Master requires an account of " His pounds P " The words of St. Peter will form a fitting conclusion to the whole parable, " Seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless." (2 Pet. iii. 14.)
Notes. Lukb HX. 11—27.
11. — [As they heard these things!] Our Lord's heaiers had just heard Him speaking of Himself as one who had come into the