Ch. 2 5. Improve St. Mat Change, ray beall loft, and come 4:ort of it at the laft extremity. r 3. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day, nor the hour where- in the Son of man cometh. 13. God ha,prrpolely concealed the timeof Christs Cowing from the knowledge of all Men, that all might he obliged ro be in con. ftant, warchf.I re-rdinefs : yea, it is fáid, That Chrili himlèlf knew it not as man, They that fay, The year may he known, though not the Day, or Hour, di(torr the Text which meáneth by Day and FL:,ur, the Tat, : as if he had Laid, You ace net Circe (Cave by the Signs foremen. tinned rot fulolled) but it may he the next Day, or Hour : So that the Apefties themfelves were uncertain, tho' they rebuked them that pretended. to know, that it was at hand before 70,P/en; was deftroyed. From their days till now, God has kept the Church uncertain, but that is might quickly come. So that Graiur is tr.iftakcn, thatasteks Paesi believed it would he in his days; as ifhe had by a falle motive drawn men to Godlinefs : Sur Paul knew not how Peon it might have come. Ignorance of it isneedful; but Prioris hurtful: (of which bet: re.) rq.. For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far coun- trey, who called his own fervants, acid delivered unto them his goods : 15. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to ano- ther one, to every man according to his lèveral ability, and ftraight- way took his journey. a.., is. Chùft pacing into the Heavens, coaumittethso hì, Servant the Word, means, and mercies of his Grace, that theymr, imprOve there till he come by Death and judgment, to call them to account ; Not giciug the lame de- gree of means and mercy to all, but to forme rnoa6nThen he that had received the five talents, went and traded with the fame and made them other five talents. r y. And likewife he that hadreceived two, he alit gained other two 16, t7. They that had the greater means and helps improved them, to their own inereafe of Grace, and the gerd of ethers, and the lee viceand honour of their Lord. 18. But he that had received one, went and tugged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. . rg . Nte, Tho' the leak helps ihouid be on lwerabìyimproved, yetthelelo, Ouch as thole thew. talent!. Ch. 2 5. have, who have little more than the Light of Nature,) excite not men to powerfully to an improvement. 09. After a long time, the Lord of thofe fervants cometh, and reckon- eth with them. 19. Nre, Chrift here intimatcth that his coining Co reckon with thana would not be hally. zo. And fo he that had received five talents, came and brought other five talents, Paying, Lord, thou de- liveredft unto me five talents : be- hold, I have gained belides them five talents Mo. 2.o. I have ufed them to the increale of thy grace in rae, and to the good ofmen, and to thy Glory. z.s. His lord laid unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful fer- vant : thou haft been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler o- ver many things : enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 2 s. His Lord who freely gave him his talents to ale, yet rewarded his feirhful triage of them, and praifed lais fidelity, laying, I will giveThee great things, because thou haft well and faith- fully all d the (mallet merciesofdais Life which [ gave thee: 22. He alto that had received two talents, came and laid, Lord thou deliveredit unto me two talents : be- hold, I have gained two other talents betides them. 23. His lord f id un- to him, Well done gond and faith- ful fervant ; thou haft been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things : enter thou into the joyof thy lord. 22, 23. N. a. The reward of Glory given for.our diligent improvement of the mercies of this life, is conffftent with the fieenefs of the gib. a. God himfelfwill praife the fidelity of his S rvaats ás worthy ofpraife. 3. Great Re- wards writ crown the faithful for little things here f ncersly done. 4. It is our Lords own joy that the faithful (hall enter and partake of. 24. Then he which had received the -one talent, came and laid, Lord, knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou haft not fown,and gathering where thou haft not ftrawed: a ç.And I was afraid,and went and hid thy talentin the earth: lo, there thou haft that it thine. 24, 25, The
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