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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 that received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.

And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.

But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.

After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

And so he that 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, thou 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 that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside 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.

Then he which 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 and said unto him, 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 which hath ten talents.

For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

1. Does Christ entrust different talents to his servants? Yes: unto one, five talents; † to another, two; and t to another, one: to every man according to his several ability.

2. Does Christ require a corresponding improvement of our talents, whether they be many or few?

Yes: and he will, in his own time, call us to give up our account of them.

3. How will Christ address the faithful servant?

"Well done, thou 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."-(verse 21.)

4. Will those who have the fewest talents be excused for their negligence?

No: he who has but one talent, is bound to improve it to the utmost.

*"With usury." With its produce is the correct translation.

+ If these five talents were gold, they are estimated at $160,000; if silver at $10,000.

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5. What punishment will Christ pronounce on the "wicked and slothful servant?"

"Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (ver. 30.)

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"I am the true vine, and my Father is the husband

man.

Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit for without me ye can do nothing.

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If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit: so shall ye be my disciples.

As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you; continue ye in my love.

If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full."

1. Who is the true vine?

Jesus Christ.

2. Who are meant by the branches? The disciples of Christ.

3. What becomes of a fruitless branch?

Christ takes it away: thus he punishes those who profess to be his disciples, but who do not bring forth good fruits.

4. How does Christ treat the fruitful branch? ·

He purgeth or pruneth it, that it may bring forth more fruit; thus the discipline of Christ removes that which would prevent the fruitfulness of his people, and enables them to bring forth "more fruit" to his glory.

5. Is the fruitfulness of Christians derived from their union to Christ?

Yes: for he says, " Abide in me, and I in you: as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me." -(ver. 4.)

6. When the Christion is truly united to Christ, does he become very fruitful ?

Yes: the same bringeth forth much fruit; for," without me, ye can do nothing:" separate from Christ, we are entirely helpless and fruitless.

7. What becomes of the fruitless Christian professor ?

If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned: thus will barren professors become like fuel for the divine wrath.

8. What benefit arises from abiding in Christ?

"If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." -(ver. 7.)

9. How do Christians gloryify God?

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'Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”—(ver. 8.)

10. Does the love of God encourage us to abide in Christ? "As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you; continue ye in my love.”—(ver. 9.)

11. How do Christians continue in the love of Christ? "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love."—(ver. 10.)

12. Why did Christ speak these things to his disciples? "These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." (ver. 11.)

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