gratifications a tendency to deprive our fouls of their proper vigour and activity? We fleep, when we ought to be awake, and, instead of waiting to meet our Lord, have need to be roufed from our lethargy. That this fhould be the cafe with thofe, who poffefs not the power of godliness, is no wonder. But it is ftrange indeed, that true believers should fall into fuch a torpor: and yet few even of them preferve that heavenly frame of mind, which confifts in an habitual looking for the Saviour. 'The approach of the bridegroom was at length: announced. The folemn fummons was proclaimed at midnight," Behold the bridegroom cometh, gọ ye out to meet him." The virgins arofe, and immediately endeavoured to put themselves in a state of readiness. And now, the foolish difcovered their own negligence and deficiency; but it was too late to find a remedy. Their lamps were entirely gone out. In vain they implored a fupply of oil from the wife, who had no more than was abfolutely neceffary for themselves. In vain they attempted to purchase. The warning was too fhort: the bridegroom was at hand. They only, who were wife, were prepared to meet him, and admitted to partake of the marriage feaft. "The door was fhut," to the exclufion of all others: though the foolish earneftly folicited to be received, they were rejected with abhor- rence.. How awful will be the notice of death and judgment! Muft it not effectually roufe and awaken every fol of man?"The hypocrites in Zion" will be thrown into the utmoft confternation and horror, when they perceive their real ftate, and find that their former light of falfe profeffion and falfe hope is entirely extinguifhed, and that it will then profit them nothing. When they are about to be summoned to the bar of God, they may try, perhaps, to make preparation, and call on all around to help them. But in vain: their day of grace is expired, and no further mercy is to be obtained. They must be taken away, as they are, nor can they be admitted into the heavenly kingdom, however they may (C cry with a great and exceeding bitter cry." Alas! to what purpose had they maintained a profeffion of religion fo long? Their formal fervices, their cold and hypocritical attendance upon religious ordinances will then appear utterly unavailing. No fuch petition, as "Lord, Lord, open to us," will be accepted: they are excluded for ever. But thofe, who have been " found in the faith," will be unspeakably bleffed. They may be overtaken in a ftate of very culpable negligence, yet not like the infincere. Notwithstanding their failures and declenfions, they preferve a fupreme love to God and an habitual union with Chrift. They are, therefore, actually "ready," though they may be surprised in a frame of mind, not fo lively and fpiritual, as they ought at all times to poffefs. Upon the first intimations of their Lord's approach, they may be perplexed; but they are fafe: they fhall enter with him into his kingdom, and fit down at his table. Obleffed are they which are called unto the marriage fupper of the Lamb * !” Jefus has taught us to make a proper application of the parable. As we know not at what hour we fhall be fummoned to meet him, we should maintain a conftant vigilance, and wait in a ftate of preparation for his appearance. Let us seek for his pardoning and renewing grace, through the merit of his blood and the influence of the Holy Ghoft: and, being thus reconciled to God, "let us watch and be fober." If we expect the coming of our Lord, what have we to do with felf-indulgence? O " let us not fleep as do others," nor be content merely * Rev, xix. 9. to to escape condemnation, but "give diligence, that an entrance may be miniftered unto us abundantly, into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift!" He continued to warn his difciples of the last judgment, and by another parable urged the neceffity of activity in his fervice, as in that, which we have just confidered, he had inculcated a holy watchfulness. One, of a fimilar nature and tendency, had been delivered before +; but we need not be anxious to avoid a repetition of inftructions fo important. A perfon of rank and property is reprefented, as departing to a distant country, and previously committing the care of his fubftance to his fervants, that they may improve it for his ufe. He diftributed his effects among them in fhares of different value, in the proportion of five talents, two, and one, according to their respective ability. Thus, alfo, Jefus deals with his Church. He is the great Lord and Proprietor of all; and, as every thing is derived from him, every thing fhould be employed with a view to his glory. He is gone into heaven; but thofe, who are called by his name, are required, in his abfence, to manage his concerns. All our poffeffions, advantages, and opportunities, our natural capacities, and the gifts of providence, which we enjoy, are granted to us, not as our own abfolute right, but as a temporary truft. We are enjoined to turn them to the best account poffible, as perfons in trade, that we may promote the honour of God and the advancement of true religion. This cannot be effected without great exertions and unwearied affiduity. What, then, was the conduct of thefe fervants? The two, who had received moft, improved and even doubled their fock, by a diligent application: but the man, to whom the one talent was committed, being fecretly difaffected to his master, refufed to 2 Pet. i. 10, II. Lu. xix. 13. See Se&t. 30. make make any use of it whatever. Our Lord meant not to intimate, that thofe, who are placed in the most eminent fituations, are moft faithful and laborious in doing his work; for fact and experience often prove the contrary. But the representation was rather intended to teach us, that they, who enjoy the fewest advantages, are accountable to him. Bleffed be God, there are thofe in his Church, who move in the highest and most enlarged fphere with credit to their profeffion, and extensive benefit to others. They, who are truly devoted to him, and live under the influence of his grace, cannot allow themselves in habitual indolence. Their heart's defire is to embrace every opportunity and exert all their faculties, that they may render themselves of real ufe in their generation. Do we anfwer this defcription? Are there not many among us, who, with peculiar gifts, are doing nothing, or nothing to the purpose ? And is it not difgraceful to be as drones, an incumbrance, inftead of a bleffing, to fociety? Or is no danger to be apprehended from fuch a conduct? Let us attend to the iffue. The fervants were continued in their truft for a confiderable time; but at length their master returned, and called them to a ftrict account. Thus, in due feafon, Jefus will be revealed from heaven, and it will be one great end of his appearance, to reckon with us. Yes: he will demand of us, and it will be publicly declared, what has been our plan of life, in what manner we employed the depofit, which he leftunder our care. The diligent and faithful fervants were diftinguifhed by their lord's approbation, and received a large recompenfe. They reprefented, with humble grati tude, what he had enabled them to do. They owned his goodness, and gave him the praife. With kind condefcenfion, he inftantly applauded their fidelity, and rewarded their exertions with a propor tionable tionable fhare of preferment. Such will be the favourable acceptance, which believers, who have lived not unto themselves, but unto Jefus their exalted Master, shall meet with from him at his final advent. They are indebted to him for their whole falvation, and they will acknowledge their best obedience to be the fruit of his love. This, however, he determines to exhibit before the affembled universe, for his own honour as well as for their happiness. He will declare himself well pleafed in their upright and zealous endeavours to promote his glory, and affign them a portion of the felicities of his kingdom. It fhould, alfo, be remarked as an instance and proof of his mercy, no less than of his righteoufnefs, that he will approve in his people those very works,. which they performed only by the influence of his Spirit, and that he will beftow upon them rewards, adjusted to the various degrees of their faithfulness and affiduity. What, then, became of the flothful fervant? He feems to have flattered himfelf, that he was fafe, at leaft, if not worthy of commendation, because he had not fquandered away the money committed to him. He prefumed even to vindicate his conduct by the moft injurious representations of his master, as requiring what was fevere, unreafonable, unjust, or impoffible. But his very pleas were urged against him, and formed the ground of his condemnation; for they fhewed his bafenefs, inconfiftency, and malignant difpofition towards his lord. He was, accord-. ingly, turned out with difgrace from the truft which he had abused, and fentenced to a state of endless imprisonment and confummate wretchedness. This is an awful description of the prefent character and final doom of thofe, who are "idle and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jefus Chrift." Poffibly, they may have the most confident expectations of efcaping punishment, be caufa |