The summons will go forth. "Then he commanded those servants to be called unto Him," &c. (15 verse.) There will be no exception to that call, the rich and the poor, the busy and those at ease, the old and the young, must "all stand at the judgment seat of Christ." There will be no excuse to that call. "I am not ready" will be no plea then. "I cannot come" will not be heard then. " Spare me a little till I recover my strength" will find no countenance then. Oh look well to the excuses with which you parry the thrusts of conscience and of the word of God "leading" thee "to repentance," for there will be no denying and no delaying the summons that calls thee to the bar of God.

2. The account must be given in. Oh, miserable souls! who think that because you are "not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers," that you can thus escape. The Lord called these servants to see how much every man had gained by trading, 15 ver.; whether they had used the talents committed to them, whether His pound had gained the five pounds or the ten. Does it seem to you “hard” that the Lord should demand this of you? Do you in your unhallowed thoughts judge Him to be "an austere man?" Well may it be charged on you that you at least therefore fear Him; get

ready your account against that day. If you do not love Him, as His people do, at least let a dread of Him awaken you to prepare. "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." Yes, "out of thine own mouth wilt thou be condemned," when thy sloth, thy profaneness, thy worldliness, thy contempt or at least disregard of the commands and exhortations of thy God are laid open before angels and before men. "Thou knewest that I was an austere man .... wherefore then gavest thou not my money into the Bank"....Ah! is thy talent yet laid up in a napkin, thy faculties thy influence, thy life, not used for God? Thy soul is in danger! "Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light."

3. How blessed the welcome to the faithful servant. Though all is of grace both the will and the doing, how great the recompense of reward to those who hear their Lord's words and do them. "Well! thou good servant."... Rest on these words, Christians! and be cheered on in your course. "Your labour is not in vain in the Lord." That heart struggle against sin known only unto God—that shaking off sloth-that lifting the latch of thy poor brother and comforting him on his sick bed

that denial of self (and no trumpet blown) that you "might have to give to him that needeth"-that great provocation meekly borne and returned in blessing-that holding fastsalvation by grace alone, in the day when many are "turned unto fables." These and such as these done in faith, done to His glory, are "acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." Your Lord beholds you, His spirit sustains you, and will sustain you unto the end. Those who have "the form of godliness and deny the power thereof" may call you legal-but you know Whom you have believed and on Whom your hope is built, CHRIST and CHRIST ONLY. Fear not then the reproaches of men, but go forward; difficulties will be yours, at times faintings of spirit, but "Occupy till I come," saith your Lord. I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you." Then," having been faithful over few things, He will make you ruler over many things, you shall enter into the joy of your Lord."

Gracious God! call souls by Thy Spirit into thy vineyard; bid us to serve Thee Who alone art worthy to be served in Thy strength and to Thy glory, for Jesus sake, Amen.

VIII.

"THE UNAVAILING DISGUISE."

1. KINGS xiv. 6.

"And it was so, when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet, as she came in at the door, that he said, Come in, thou wife of Jeroboam: why feignest thou thyself to be another? for I am sent to thee with heavy tidings."

THE World now wears a mask, with which, for the most part, they conceal their real features. With some, it is torn off by some Providence of God here; with many it remains on, till they cross the threshold of the grave. "Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment, and some men's they follow after," 1 Tim. v. 24. Blessed those! who made willing in the day of God's power throw it away themselves, confessing their sins, forsaking them, and turning unto the Lord.

Some special seasons there are, in the life of perhaps every individual, when God cometh so near to them that He seemeth to touch them. There is a striving with our souls,and the waters of the great deep of our hearts

are troubled. With many it passes away and they are again as still as death, but God has spoken, the struggle has been, and that which has been thrown in and stirred the surface, though it may lie unheeded at the bottom, is there a witness against us at the last day. Such a message appears to have come to the wife of Jeroboam in the transaction recorded in the text.

Let us, in dependance on God's blessing, notice

I. The Pressing Journey.

II. The Unexpected Reception.

III. The Disconsolate Return.

I. The Pressing Journey. We will inquire first into the occasion of it.

Jeroboam has been, as the world would term him, a prosperous man. Raised from a low station to the throne, he has kept that throne and prospered. His policy has divided Israel from the worship of the true God. He hath set up his calves, arranged his plans, and they have succeeded. He hath met indeed with rebukes, his hand withered and restored tells us how near God came to him in judgment and in mercy. Still Jeroboam is the same. But now again is he visited, more near does the message come,