(2.) Now I must speak to the Loss. Talents may be said to be lost, or taken away, two ways; in this World, or in the next. These proverbial Speeches are made use of by Christ, upon a two-fold occasion; after the Parable of the Sower, Matth. 13.12. and here after the Parable of the Talents; the one relateth to losing in this World, and the other in the World to come. They that rejected the Gospel, and would not hear, or heard it carelessly, or would not come under the Power and Obedience of it; all their external Privileges, glittering Profession, common Gifts of Illumination, Fasts, partial Practice, all will be lost: Only the good and honest Heart, that receiveth the good Seed, so as to keep it, so as to be a Principle of Life to them; to these shall be given. And then here is the other occasion, when Christ speaks this: The taking away of the Talents, is after the Lord had been reckoning with his Servants, after he had been a long time absent, and in a far Country: Therefore, this taking away the Talent is not meant of the Gift its self, as of the Comfort, Benefit and Reward of it: For all trading then is at an end; that's the time of Recompense, and the Talent is lost. it will do us no good to have had Estates, and to have lived in Pomp and Splendour in the World, if we have not made use of it for God. Our Fall will be the greater, because of our height. 'Twill do us no good to have born Office in the Church, if we have not been faithful; Matth. 7.22. Many shall say unto me in that day, Lord, Lord, we have prophesied in thy Name. Such as have taken up Office and Employment in the Church, and made no Conscience of doing the Duty that belongeth thereto; these will not have, but lose their Reward: These are idle Shepherds, Zech. 11.17. Their Unfaithfulness and Idleness in their Trust, will cost them dear: So for the Ordinances, and Means of Grace; Luk. 13.26. Then shall they begin to say, We have eat and drank in thy Presence. 'Twill be no Plea, That you have been at God's Board; nay, you will have the greater Judgment: Matth. 11.23. And thou, Capernaum, which are exalted to Heaven, shalt be brought down to Hell. A Place that enjoyeth the Gospel, is near Heaven; 'tis the Suburbs of Heaven: but where not improved, these Privileges plunge a Man deeper in the State of Condemnation.
(2.) Now I must speak to the Loss. Talents may be said to be lost, or taken away, two wayes; in this World, or in the next. These proverbial Speeches are made use of by Christ, upon a two-fold occasion; after the Parable of the Sower, Matth. 13.12. and here after the Parable of the Talents; the one relateth to losing in this World, and the other in the World to come. They that rejected the Gospel, and would not hear, or heard it carelesly, or would not come under the Power and Obedience of it; all their external Priviledges, glittering Profession, common Gifts of Illumination, Fasts, partial Practice, all will be lost: Only the good and honest Heart, that receiveth the good Seed, so as to keep it, so as to be a Principle of Life to them; to these shall be given. And then here is the other occasion, when Christ speaks this: The taking away of the Talents, is after the Lord had been reckoning with his Servants, after he had been a long time absent, and in a far Country: Therefore, this taking away the Talent is not meant of the Gift its self, as of the Comfort, Benefit and Reward of it: For all trading then is at an end; that's the time of Recompense, and the Talent is lost. it will do us no good to have had Estates, and to have lived in Pomp and Splendour in the World, if we have not made use of it for God. Our Fall will be the greater, because of our heighth. 'Twill do us no good to have born Office in the Church, if we have not been faithful; Matth. 7.22. Many shall say unto me in that day, Lord, Lord, we have prophesied in thy Name. Such as have taken up Office and Imployment in the Church, and made no Conscience of doing the Duty that belongeth thereto; these will not have, but lose their Reward: These are idle Shepherds, Zech. 11.17. Their Unfaithfulness and Idleness in their Trust, will cost them dear: So for the Orninances, and Means of Grace; Luk. 13.26. Then shall they begin to say, We have eat and drank in thy Presence. 'Twill be no Plea, That you have been at God's Board; nay, you will have the greater Judgment: Matth. 11.23. And thou, Capernaum, which are exalted to Heaven, shalt be brought down to Hell. A Place that enjoyeth the Gospel, is near Heaven; 'tis the Suburbs of Heaven: but where not improved, these Priviledges plunge a Man deeper in the State of Condemnation.
