living. The warning is a general one. A.11 things are in limitation, Nothing but oomes to an ending. That ending is always uncertain. So we must be ready for everything, and take full advantage of it while we have it. Van Lennep explains the shutting of the door in a way that suggests our present point: " While they went to purchase oil, the procession moved to the house of the bridegroom. The door was then shut, in order to avoid the danger arising from violent men, who might make an irrup- tion, rob, and carry off costly garments, jewellery, and even the bride herself!" I. THERE 18 THE "SHUT DOOB" OF BELIGIOUS PRIVILEGE, Illustrate by special times of "mission" or "revival." If we do not respond while the mission is in pro- gress, presently the door is shut, the mission is closed, and we are left out in the cold. Or take a valued and honoured ministry. If we fail to yield to gracious persuasions, presently the lips are sealed in death-the "door is shut." II. THERE IS THE "SHUT DOOR" OF BELIGIOUS DISCIPLINE. This sets the truth in relation to Christian professors. Dispensations of providence bring Di vine correctings and chastisings. If we do not respond, the affliction passes, the door of disciplinary opportunity is shut; and we are left outside, unsanctified. III. 'l'BEBE 18 THE " SHUT DOOR" OF RELIGIOUS DUTIES. Christ carries on his work of grace in us, partly, by the duties he calls us to perform. They are duties belonging to his service, but they are also agencies used in carrying on his work. If we shrink from doing them, our opportunity is taken away, given to others, and, for us, the "door is shut."-R. T, Ver. 16.-0hrist's relation to our talent-truats. Eastern workpeople were mostly what we should call slaves. They were provided for by their masters, and their profit belonged to their master. I. CHBIST'B TA.LENT-TBUSTB. This parable is true of ordinary endowments ; the common gifts and abilities of men. We are to see it in the Christian light. A.11 our gifts, powers, and possessions are trusts, not ours to hold, only ours to use; and con- cerning the use of them all God will surely inquire one day. Fix thought on the special gift to us. Our talent is the one thing we can do better than others. It is the precise thing that we are sent into the world to do. No servant of Christ is with- out his talent. What may it be? Tea.eh, give, sing, pray, write, visit, preach, sympa- thize. It is the one thing in relation to which we have the "consciousness of power." How can we know what our talent-trust is? Let us put ourselves simply i11to God's hands, cherishing a loving readiness to do his will; then let us take and do the duty that lies before us, and our gift and power will surely be revealed to us. II. CHRIST'S APPORTIONMENT OF HIS TALENT-TRUSTS. Masters know their servants, and give trusts accordingly. What a good thing for us it is that we have not to choose what our talent-trusts shall be I There are two things for him who apportions our trusts to decide. 1. He must make the trust match the capacity. He must not give ten where there is only capacity for dea.li11g with five; or five where there is capacity for dealing with ten. If he has given you ten, be knows you can put the ten to good use, and you must try. 2. The various trusts must cover all the work that he wants done. So we cannot wonder if some forms of service are lowly forms-in business, homo, society, or Church. Lowly gifts are needful. Lowly offices are important. The use of Christ-entrusted gifts, anywhere, or in anything, makes the sphere and the work beautiful. "One talent" represents the lowly gifts. Just the very power you. have Christ wants for his kingdom. Men may call your gift nothing, and so may you in dreary times. But the Lord Jesus never undervalues any of the trusts he commits to his people. And you should never undervalue your trust until your Master does. Ill. CHRIST'S EXPECTATIONS CON0EBNillG HIS TALENT-TRUSTS. He looks for two things, ns gain by trading. 1. Service by the use of them. We a.re to benefit others by the use of our gifts, and this will be accounted service rendered to our Lord. 2. Culture by the use of them. We are to get personal benefit, as putting the talents to nse develops our powers. The finest and best moral qualities, the most sturdy and most sensitive spiritual graces, are won by indirect culture, through the expenditure and use of our faculties and gifts. Work, spend, give, thereby you shall gain power for higher servici1; thereby you shall "meeten for the inheritance." IV. CHnIST18 JUD<l14ENT OF TBOSJ!: WHO RJ!:CEIVE HIS TAJ.ENT-TRUSTS, 1. The 510 THE GOSPEL AOCORDI'NG TO ST. MATTHEW, [on. xxv. 1---40
juilgment is the same for all trust~. There is not one priuciple of judgment for the 1:en-talent man, a_nd another principle for the one-talent man. 2. The judgment is based on the qua.hty of the work, not on mere results. He who makes his one talent into two may re&lly be more faithful than he who makos his five talents into ten. 3. 'l'be judgment is severe on those who never tried to do anything with their talent. Those who have small powers are tempted to despise and neglect them. V. TBB REWARDS CHRIST GIVES ARE SIMPLY OTHER AND LARGER TRUSTS, Illus- trate by the successful general, who would think it no reward to be pensioned off. The only honour be cares for is some higher and nobler trust. We should oultivate the thought of heaven as the "higher service." Doing well what we do, we shall have more to do for Christ ; and that will be our best possible reward. Appeal: Are you Christ's servant? Then you have your talent-trust. What are you doing with it? \\"hat will you say to him when he comes again? And what will he say to you?-R. T.