liecollect that the self in each of us connects with two factors-God who made us; and our brother, whose good is to be as sacred to us 38 our own. We cannot be making increase unless we are true to him whose we are, and to every one who is near us; unless both God and man are benefited, and benefited the more the greater our means and ability are. Consider how we can best lay out our influence, whatever that may be; how we can best use our time; how we can get the best percentage for whatever capacity, whatever force, we possess. As it is essential to a prosperous business that there be a good administration, reflect how we are administering the affairs with which, in one sphere or another, we are entrusted-in a word, on what plan, with what aim, and by what methods, our life is being fulfilled, Give two men five pounds each; in the hands of the one they may remain five pounds neither more nor less, or they will gradually melt away; the other will spend the sum wisely, will so invest it that it will increase to him tenfold. We have read the story of the successful merchant of Bristol-the beginning of whose merchant life was the horseshoe that he picked up one day on his way to school, and carried for three miles and sold to the blacksmith for a penny. That penny was the foundation of a business pronounced, after his death, the largest in the West of England, turning nearer millions than thousands in the course of the year. All was the result of the judicious use of that which he bad. In our Christian life and service this is the lesson which we most need to learn. Is there not comfort in the thought that, whilst the talents increase only twice, the pounds increase ten times? The more ordinary gifts which we all have, wheu faithfully applied, are capable of indefinite increase. We canno~ keep unless we add; and it is God's law that to him who, thus adding, has, much is given. In spiritual, as in every other kind of commerce, much always tends to the making of more. The trader and the idler! Notice, neither the talent nor the pound is absolutely lost. It is not a spendthrift who is held up to contempt. It is the awfully careful man. It is the one who hoards. " There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth ; and there is that withholdeth, . . . and it tendeth to poverty." Here is the one who withholds. And a distinction is delicately hinted at. 'l'he pound is carefully wrapped in the napkin; the man intends to do something with it when the convenient season comes; in the mean time it is safe in the napkin. But the talent is not in a napkin; it is hidden in t-he earth-" a precious thing," as it has been said, "made worthless because abandoned tC' be useless. And within how many a man's earthiness is there a talent hidden and wasted?" Take that thought home-the Master's antipathy to the idler. Who of us, in these harvest-days of God, is standing all the day idle? III. Consider THE DEALING OF THE LoBD WITH ms SERVANTS. That is very striking and solemn as it is ~et before us in both the pe.mbles, especially the one as to the talents. ln that of the pounds we are told only that the unused, napkin-hidden, pound is taken from the unprofitable servant and given to the one who has ten pounds. "Lord," his hearers exclaim, "he hath ten pounds" (ver. 25). The thriftiest, the most diligent, will get the addition. Why not? He has proved himself the ablest, the one who has given the most abundant guarantee that it will not be wasted. But in that of the talents the judgment is, "Let the unfaithful be bound hand and foot, and cast into the outer darkness." The wasted life, the life that has buried its force in mere earthi- ness, is that for which the outer darkness is reserved. 'l'he soul consigns itself to an w.i.speakable loneliness that, by indolence and engrossment with what is perishing, loses 144 •fHE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE. [en. x1x. 1-84.
the grace of God. Abiding alone is the second death-the outer darkness. Most note- worthy are the scathing IIE!ntences to the poor trembling idler I How he st:immers out his lame and impotent excnses (vers. 20, 21) I The very words aro sent back. 'l'he mouth is the witness against the man. He might have known, should have known, if he had done right would have known, that his excuse was a falsehood. Hard thoughts of the Lord are certain if the Lord's work is shirked. 'fhe man would not be foolish if he were not wicked. 0 man, woman, with thy pound kept, but not traded with, who shall abide the day of his coming? who shall stand when he appeareth? Very different are the sentences on the nine who have been faithful, who have seen in their pound the Lord's pound, and traded ,vith it for him. Humbly, joyfully, the first and the second meet the Master's eye (vers. 16, 18). What is the a.ward? It is so ~racious (,er. 17): "Thou hast been faithful in a very little." To faithful service, rule is gi,en. 'l'he one who ca.n best serve is the one who can best rule. " Strive, man, to win that glory; Toil, man, to gain that light; Send hope before to grasp it, Till hope be lost in sight."