IV. THE PARABLIII 011' THE BEBVANTB. 1. The faithful 11,11,d wise B1JTv11,11,t. Accord- ing to St. Luke (xii. 42), where the parable occurs in another connection, it was a question of St. Pater's which gave occasion to it, "Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?" It is plainly addressed in the first instance to the apostles, nnd to those who, in the providence of God, have been called to the like office and ministry, Bat it embraces in the range of its application all Christian men who have been placed in any position of trust, and have the power of influencing others for good. The Lord asks, "Who is the faithfol and wise servant?" He answers his own question. It is he who feels and recognizes thfl duties rather than the advantages of hie position. He hae been set over a portion of the Lorrl's household. He knows the reason. It is not for his own enjoyment or profit, but that he shonl,1 give them meat in due season. He must be a faithful dispenser of the Wor,l of GuJ aud of his holy sacraments; and that in all humility and self-distrust, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. He must take heed to the flock over which the Holy Ghost bath made him overseer, to feed the Church of God, which he bath purchased with his own blood. And this he must do in constant watchfulness, looking always unto Jesus, waiting for the appearing of the Lord. "Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing"- blessed _exceedingly above all that heart can conceive of rapture and of gladness; for thus saith the Lord, " He shall make him ruler over all his goods." He shall exalt him to the highest place in his kingdom. The highest places in heaven are not like those of earth; one man's exaltation docs not exclude others. "To him that overcometh will I give to sit with me in my throne." That highest promise is for all who overcome; there is room for all faithful Christians in the throne of Christ. "Wherefore we labour (,p1Ao.-,µo6µe8cz, 'we are ambitions'] that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him." This is the high ambition of the faithful Christian. 2. The evil servant. Alas I not all are watchful. Some who have been left in charge of the Lord's household think only of themselves. They say in their hearts, "My Lord delayeth his coming." They care nothing for their Lord's household, nothing for their fellow-servants. They think only of their present ease and comfort, 1cot!,ing of the awful future. They are hard, proud, tyrannical; they carry themselves as "lords over God's heritage," They are selfish, sensual, self-indulgent, absorbed in their own pleaeures, their own emoluments. The doom of such, unless by God's mercy they repent, is dreadful exceedingly. "The Lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him." Then shall come the tremendous sentence shadowed forth in a most frightful form of punishment; but more fearful even than that frightful punishment, for it points to an eternal doom: "He shall appoint him his portion with the hypocrites : there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." LESSONS. I. Let us mourn in true repentance now, that we mourn not in that day when the sign of the Son of man shall appear in heaven. 2. One is taken, one id left. Most awful words! "Watch ye therefore." 3. He cometh soddenly. None can know the hour of his coming ; therefore watch always, 4. Blessed are the watchful ; miserable exceedingly must the careless be. Therefore let us watch.
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver, 5,-False CJhrists. It is a fact of history that pretenders appeared who clain ed to be sent by God for the deliverance of the Jews, and practically usurped to them- selves the position of the Christ. Bnt all this belongs to far-distant ages. In a larger application of our Lord's idea, the world has seen many other false Christs down even to our own time, for whoever or whatever assumes to do the work of Christ or claims his honours is a false Christ. Let us look at some of these usurpers. I. THE PRIEST. Men who come between us and God, so that we are shut off from the privileges of religion, excepting as we submit to their authority, are false Christe. Priests who offer to iutercede with peculiar efficacy, claim to sacrifice on the behalf of others, and as3ert that they are the channels of sacramental grace, take on themselves functions which rightly belong to Christ. At the head of this great assumption is the pope i but the humblest minister who would have us look for salvation through his 4-51 THE GOSPEL AOOORDING TO BT. ltATTREW. tOB, xnv.1--ol.