manifestation to the eyes of Israel and the world. 6, 7. Rev. i. 7. (1 Thess. ii. 5-8.) PARABLE OF THE TALENTS. Matt. xxv. 14-17, 19-23. The Kingdom of Heaven, is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he who had received two, he also gained other two. After a long time, the lord of these servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he who had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, "Lord! thou deliveredst unto me five talents; behold! I have gained beside them five talents more.". His lord said unto him, "Well done! good and faithful servant ! thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord!" He also who had received two talents came, and said, "Lord! thou deliveredst unto me two ... Mat. xxv. 18, 24-30. . But he who received one, went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. Then he who had received the one talent, came, and said, "Lord! I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: and I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo! there thou hast that is thine!" His lord answered, "Thou wicked and slothful servant! thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not, strawed: thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then, at my coming, I should have received mine own with usury." "Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him that hath ten talents! For unto every one that hath, shall be given, and he shall have abundance (2 Pet. i. 11; Rom. v. 17): but from him who hath not, shall be taken away even that which he hath. cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." And ["The Lord Himself commands the good servants to enter: He talents: behold! I have gained two other talents besides them." His lord said unto him, "Well done! good and faithful servant! thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord!" desires His attendants to cast out the unprofitable one."-The outer darkness contrasts with the blaze of light issuing from the just closing door of The Master's House. Mat xxv. 10; Luke xiii. 25; Rev. iii. 8, viii. 1.] PARABLE OF THE POUNDS. A Luke xix. 12, 13, 15-19. certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, " Occupy till I come!" And when he was returned, having received the kingdom, he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the silver, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. Then came the first, saying, "Lord! thy pound hath gained ten pounds." And he said unto him, "Well! thou good servant! because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities!" And the second came, saying, “Lord! thy pound hath gained five pounds." And he said likewise unto him, "Be thou also over five cities! " Luke xix. 20-26. . And another came, saying, "Lord! behold, here is thy pound! which I have kept laid up in a napkin: for I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow." And he said unto him, "Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant! Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?” And he said unto them that stood by, "Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. For I say unto you, that unto every one who hath shall be given, and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him." Luke xix. 28. And when He had thus spoken, He went before, ascending up to Jerusalem. [1 Pet. iv. 17. The time is come that Judgment must begin at the House of God (Ezek. v. 5, 6, ix. 6).] THE SECOND ADVENT, OCCUPYING A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS. Lord! how is it that Thou wilt manifest Thyself unto us, John xiv. 22. ["The Coming of Christ, accompanied necessarily by a translation and resurrection of saints, takes place just before the 'year-day' 7th Vial and 7th Trumpet, with the opening of the 7th Seal; about 5 years previous to the End: and also just before the 'literal-day' 7th Vial, 5 days previous to the End: constituting the two stages in the Second Advent:" Rev. xvi. 15-17. The mystery of the resurrection of the righteous is accomplished when the 7th trumpet begins to sound. Rev. xi. 18; 1 Cor. xv. 51, 52; 1 Thess. iv. 16, 17; Rev. i. 5, 6.] Exceeding great and precious Promises to the Elect Church,-Partakers of The Divine Nature,— 1 Pet. i. 2; Eph. i. 4. v. 27; 2 Pet. i. 4; 1 John iii. 2; 2 Pet. i. 2-11. Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord! According as His Divine Power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him Who hath called us by His own glory [natural attributes], and virtue [moral attributes]: whereby [through this knowledge given, John xvii. 3; 1 John v. 20] are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises that by these ye might be partakers of The Divine Nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (1 Pet. i. 15, 16; 1 John iii. 3.) And beside this, giving all diligence [“ All, in this passage and verse 3, have reference to one another. As, in verse 3, has the effect of explaining, as 2 Cor. v. 20. Comp. altogether the parable of the ten virgins, Matt. 25. The flame is that which is imparted to us by God and from God, without any labour on our part: but the oil is that which man ought to add by his own diligence and faithfulness (Ex. xxvii. 20), that the flame may be fed and increased. Thus the matter is set forth without a parable in this passage of Peter: in verses 3 and 4 we have the flame; but in verses 5 and 6, and those which follow, we have that which man himself ought to add,-to pour upon it, the presence of Divine Grace being pre-supposed." Bengel.] -add to [pour upon] your faith, virtue;. knowledge; . temperance; patience;. godliness; . brotherly kindness; . charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (John xv. 16, 8). But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren! give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things ye shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into The Everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Who, having not seen, yet have loved and 1 Pet. i. 2-9-13-23. Elect! according to the foreknowledge of God The Father, through sanctification of The Spirit, unto obedience, and sprinkling of the Blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace be multiplied! Blessed be The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for us who are kept by the power of God through faith unto Salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the Appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom, having not seen, ye love; in Whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Of which salvation the Prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you; searching what, or what manner of time, The Spirit of Christ Which was in them did signify when It testified beforehand the Sufferings of Christ, and the glory which should follow.. Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober and hope perfectly for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the Revelation of Jesus Christ. John i. 10-13. He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power [the right, or privilege] to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: which were born . . of God. To whom the "strait gate" has not been too narrow. Matt. vii. 13, 14 (margin). "Enter ye in at the strait gate! for, wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be who go in thereat. How strait is the gate and narrow is the way, that leadeth unto life! and few there be that find it." Luke xiii. 23-27. Then said one unto Him, "Lord! are there few that be saved?" And He said unto them, "Strive [agonise, as in a contest] to enter in at the strait gate! for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once The Master of the House is risen up, and hath shut to the door (Rev. iii. 7, 8; Matt. xxv. 10), and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, "Lord! Lord! open unto us!" And He shall answer, |