[The mere possession of great talents does not alter our moral character. Judas was not at all inferior in knowledge to the other Apostles; nor was he less endued with a power of working miracles than they. All his opportunities of spiritual improvement were the same as theirs ; but his heart was not changed by means of these privileges ; nor was his person the more accepted of God on account of them. On the contrary, the greater his privileges, the greater was his guilt in neglecting to improve them; and he now surpasses others in nothing but shame and misery ". To this purpose are those warnings which our Lord gave to the cities of Judaea^ : nor are those warnings inapplicable to those who hear his Gospel now.l
Nor will a person of the smallest talents be on that account overlooked —
[" God looks not at the outward appearance, but at the the hearts : he notices them that are of a broken and contrite spirits Few perhaps have been more destitute of gifts than La- zarus: yet how far better is his state now than the Rich Man's*! The widow that possessed but two mites, was destitute enough ; but the use she made of them was more acceptable to God than all the rich offerings of the opulent'. Thus, if we only improve what we have, we cannot fail of a reward. On the contrary, if we bury our talent, though it be but " one," we shall be punished for it.]
The Scriptures speak strongly upon each of these points —
[They plainly declare that there are degrees of reward and punishment". Our Lord assures us, that the punishment of men will be proportioned to the light against which they have sinned'': and St. Paul affirms, that our services shall be ac- cepted in proportion as they corresponded with our ability to perform them^'.]
Infer —
1. What little reason is there to envy those who
have great talents !
[It is evident that an increase of talent only increases our responsibility. To many, the advantages they have abused are now their greatest torment; and what reason have we to think, that our diligence in serving God would be excited in propor- tion as our opportunities were enlarged? We all have too much
° Acts i. 25. P Matt, xi, 21 — 24. i 1 Sam. xvi. 7.
' Isai. Ixvi. 2. » Luke xvi. 23, 24. ' Mark xii. 43, 44.
" 1 Cor. XV. 41, 42. 2 Pet. ii. 21. " Luke xii. 47, 48. > 2 Cor. viii. 12.