which owed

great man, who had a number of tenants and dependents, called upon them to give an account of the money that was due to him from each of them; and to see what advantage they had made of the estates and the sums entrusted to their care. In like manner, GOD, at the last great day, will make a reckoning with all mankind; examine the accounts of each; see what he has done, and what he has left undone; and whether. or not he has properly used the talent, more or less, that God had committed to him. "And when he had begun to reckon, "one was brought unto him, "him ten thousand talents." As soon as the king had begun his enquiry, that is, the very first servant who presented his accounts, was found to be in debt to his master in a sum of immense amount. Behold, my brethren, the exact situation of every human being before GOD! We all owe him ten thousand talents! Every soul of us is indebted to him more than the imagination. can conceive. We are in debt to him, for our "creation, preservation, and all the bles"sings of this life." We are in debt to him, for all that we have, and all that we hope for. Are you blessed with health and strength, with the means of support or comfort, with dutiful children, affectionate rela

VOL. II.

tions, or kind friends? All these flow from his free goodness and unspeakable compassion. Have you been relieved in sorrow and distress; brought back to health and soundness, when the grave was opening before you; been snatched from threatening danger, or certain destruction? Have you had your child, or husband, or wife, restored to you, when all hope of saving them had passed away? For all these mercies and blessings you are in debt to that GOD, the author and giver of all goodness; "whose tender "mercies are over all his works." But more especially are we in debt to our heavenly Father, for "his inestimable love in "the redemption of the world by our LORD

JESUS CHRIST, for the means of grace, "and for the hope of glory." No words can express the greatness of our debt to GOD on this account: for, if the value of our immortal soul be more than that of the whole world, and all that it contains; how inconceivably vast must be the debt of mankind to that merciful Creator, who, through the atonement of a Saviour, hath made provision for the everlasting salvation of the whole human race!

But the parable goes on to inform us, that, as this servant "had not to pay, his "Lord commanded him to be sold, and his

"wife, and children, and all that he had, "and payment to be made." Here, too, the likeness holds good between the servant and the race of mankind. We have nothing to pay. We can plead no excuse for our sins, nor offer any ransom for our souls; for "we are not able of ourselves to help "ourselves." We are at best but unprofit"able servants," "wretched, and miserable, "and poor, and blind, and naked ;" and lying under the wrath and condemnation of GOD, for having wasted all our advantages, and abused all our talents; and can expect nothing, when we give in our deficient account, but to be "delievered over to the "tormentors."

"The servant, therefore, fell down and "worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all: "then the Lord of that servant was moved "with compassion, and locsed him, and

forgave him the debt." Here again, my christian brethren, we see another point of likeness between the parable and the real case of mankind; and have a proof of the value of sincere penitence in the sight of God. His ear is ever open to the cry of the contrite sinner; and He will have patience with every one that comes unto him with a full sense of his sins, with a heartfelt sorrow for

and with a firm deassistance of grace, Scripture is full of

having committed them, termination, through the to repeat them no more. declarations of GOD's readiness to forgive the sinner, for the sake of JESUS CHRIST, if he will "arise, and go to his Father;" confess his misdeeds; and shew that his sorrow is sincere, by future obedience to God's holy will. "If we confess our sins, GoD is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, "and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.' "For there is joy in the presence of the angels of GOD over one "sinner that repenteth." It was for the express purpose of paying the penalty of our transgressions, that CHRIST "left the "bosom of his Father;" sojourned upon earth in the form of a servant;" and became "subject to death, even the death upon "the cross." For, he was wounded for "our transgressions, he was bruised for our "iniquities; the chastisement of our peace

was upon him; and by his stripes we are "healed." For his sake, and through his merits, we have now access to the Father; a way is opened to us to the Throne of Mercy; our debt is forgiven; and nothing can prevent us from going whither our Saviour CHRIST has gone before us, but our own wilful disobedience to the holy, and

pure, and compassionate laws, which he has commanded us to fulfil. This, indeed, will, effectually cut us off from partaking of God's mercy through CHRIST; as we find from the remainder of the parable under consideration.

"But the same servant went out, and "found one of his fellow-servants, which "owed him an hundred pence; and he laid "hauds on him, and took him by the throat,

saying, Pay me that thou owest." It is melancholy to reflect, my friends, how liable we all are to give way to the feeling of anger, and inclinations of revenge; and how difficult we find it to be forgiving to those who have provoked or injured us. The most trifling offences, and oftentimes the slightest opposition, or contradiction, will set us in a flame; and nothing will serve us, but returning the ill office, or punishing it by some severer injury. It is this spirit which sets the nations of the world at variance with each other; and it is the same spirit which destroys the peace of private life; creates quarrels between neighbours; and makes those of the same household" dwell together in everlasting ill-will and dissention. Every man must have seen instances of the bad effects of a temper which is easily provoked, and not inclined to for