218 The NEW and COMPLETE L IFE of our BLESSED LORD balance of our debt to him, is to employ them as means of increafing and multiply- ing our virtues, or as inffruments of exer- cifing them in the works of religion and piety. From this parable we may learn, that the divine juflice, in this fcrutiny, will elli- mate and reward every one's fidelity in proportion to the improvements and re- turns they have made. An account will be demanded of every talent; nor will it be fufficient, that we have matte fome im- provement, it mull be proportional to the number and value of our gifts. Let us therefore live and as under a ferious ha- bitual regard to that day, when our great Mafler {hall come and reckon with us ; remembering that fuch as have been idle, and made no ufe of the talents given them by the Almighty, will be cafe into outer dark;sefs; there /hall be weeping andgnafh- ing of teeth. A profpea. furely fufficient to awaken fuels from their flumber, quicken them to an immediate and vigorous appli- cation to duty ; that by a double improve- ment of the time yet remaining, they may redeem what their indolence has loft. But far worfe, and more difficult to be retrieved is his cafe, who has fquandered away the flock itfelf, fuffered his gifts to perilla for want of ufe ; or, by abufing them to the fervice of fin, has provoked the Almighty to take them from him. How fhall the prodigal recall the fortune he has fpent, and appeafe the anger ofhis Judge? The terrors ofthe Lordmay juflly terrify him ; but it fhould not extinguifh his endeavours in defpair : he has loft many excellent talents, but he who gave can reflore. Indeed, the molt circumfpeut perfora will, in the great day of account, want much to be forgiven ; and muff ex- pea his reward from the mercy of his Judge, not from the merit of his fervice. Let us then do all in our power to bring forth fruits meet for repentance:, for though the awful, day of the Lord may be at a great diftance, yet the time allotted us to prepare for it, is limited by the {hart fpace E of human life : the night of death cometh when no man can work ; to-day, therefore, while it is called to-day, let us be diligent in the workof the Lord, correa our errors, and finiflr what is imperfea, that we may obtain his approbation, and make our call- ing and eleaion fure, before we go hence, and are feen of men no more. I have endeavoured to explain the pa- rable of the talents after this manner, and thall now return to the third parable deli- vered at the fame time by the bleffed Jssus, namely, that of the 1aí{ judgment: When the Son of man, Paid he, (hall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with hive, then,fáall he fit upon the throne of his glory and before him (hall be gathered all nations: and he (hall fefiarate them one from another, as a fhefherd divideth hisPeep from the goats: and he fallfit the f eep on his right-hand, but the goats on the left, Matt. xxv. 31, 32, 33. It is common in the Old Teflament to compare good men to fheep, on account of their innocence and ufefulnefs ; and wicked men to goats, for their exorbitant lulls. Our bleffed Saviour, however, does not purfue the allegory further, but de, fcribes the remaining, and indeed the greateft part of this awful fcene in terms perfealy fimple ; fo that though the fenfe be profound, it is obvious. Here the judgment of all nations, Gentiles as well as Chriflians, is exhibited ; and the parti- culars on which thefe awful trials are to proceed, difplayed by the great Judge him- felf. I-Iere we learn that we fhall be con- demned or acquitted, according as we have negleaed or performed works ofcha- rity; works which flow from the great prin- ciplesof faith and piety, and which the very Heathens are, by the light of nature, in- vited to perform. But we mull not un- derhand, that fuch works merited this fa- vour from the Judge : no, all who are ac- quitted at that day, fhall be acquitted folely cm account of the righteoufnefs of Cuerse, the true, the only meritorious Caufe, as well Heathens as Chriflians. 'Who
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