Use. Let us see if we be found in the number of the faithful or unfaithful. A negligent ministry, a Gallio, a careless magistrate, an idle master of a family, a slothful Christian, is like the servant in the text. You have your use whether you be in a public or private station. Let us be faithful ; if but one talent, the smallest gifts must not lie idle, but be seriously exercised for God's glory ; if but one, your temptations are the less, private men are not exposed to such dangers as public persons. It will aggravate your negligence if, when less is required, you are found idle. Oh ! therefore, shake off the ease of the flesh, that loathness to be troubled with the faithful discharge of your duty.
Vers. 19-23.] sermons upon matthew xxv. 447
SERMON XIII.
After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneih loitli them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents : behold, I have gained besides them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant ; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee rider over many things : enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents : behold, L have gained two other talents besides them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant, thou hast been faithful over a few things, L will make thee rider over many things : enter thou into the joy of thy lord.— Mat. XXV. 19-23.
We now come to the third part of the parable.
The first we called the distribution ; the second, the negotiation ; and the third, the account. This account is —
1. Spoken in the general, ver. 19.
2. More particularly described and set forth. There we shall take notice —
First, Of the reckoning with the good servants.
Secondly, With the bad one. In the passages that concern the good servants, you may take notice of the servants' account and the master's approbation. The account of the first servant is in ver. 20 ; of the second, in ver. 22 ; the master's approbation in ver. 21 and 23. He entertaineth both the servants with the same countenance and the same words.
First, I begin with the general intimation of the account, ver. 19 ; where the time —
1. When he cometh, after a long time.
2. His work ; what he will do when he cometh ; he reckoneth with his servants.
First, For the time.
Doct. 1. There is a good space of time between Christ's ascension and second coming.
Quest. But why is this last reckoning so long delayed ?
Ans. Not from any unreadiness in Christ ; he is ready to judge if we be ready to be judged, 1 Peter iv. 5.
1. There is a reason on the part of the good ; and that is, that the number of the elect may be gathered, who live in several ages and places ; and it requireth some time and pains to work upon each soul of them ; for ' not one of those must perish,' 2 Peter iii. 9. And after they are converted, there must be some time allowed to exercise their diligence : they must have a day to work in, John ix. 4, and to try their faith and patience in : Rev. vi. 11, ' They should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow-servants and their brethren that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.' A certain number are enrolled for sufferings, as well as for heaven, many of which had
448 SERMONS UPON MATTHEW XXV. [SER. XIII.
not obtained their crown ; as the high priest tarried within the veil till his ministration ended. As long as there is need of Christ's intercession, he defers his second coming.
2. On the wicked's part ; it is necessary they should have a time of improvement, that they may be left without excuse : Rom. ix. 22, ' What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction ?' It is for the glory of God that he should take them when ripe. Then the 'angel thrusts in his sickle,' Eev. xiv. 15. Therefore they have longer time of prospering in their sinful ways.
[1.] Let us not make an ill use of this, either to deny or doubt of his coming, as those, 2 Peter iii. 3, or of slackening or putting oil' your preparation, as the naughty servant, Mat. xxiv. 48, 49. But let us ' wait with patience,' and ' hold out to the very last.' Saul held out till Samuel was even ready to come, and so forced himself to offer sacrifice, whereby he lost his kingdom, 1 Sam. xiii. 8, 9. If he had stayed a little longer, Samuel had come. So many grow weary of doing and suffering, and miscarry in the very haven. We wait in ordi- nary things : James v. 7, 8, ' Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient ; stablish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.' His hastiness cannot alter the seasons ; so we, in improving our interests and employing our talents, should not faint : Gal. vi. 4, ' And be not weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.