ON THE PARABLE OF THE UNJUST STEWARD, (LUKE xvi)
Consider, first, that we are all stewards of our heavenly master, and our having so often like the unjust steward wasted his goods, ought to give us a just apprehension of our being quickly called to an account, and deprived of our stewardship. Wherefore., in order to our future support, we must make to ourselves friends by the good use of the mammon of this world; that is, by liberal alms to the poor, and the diligent exercise of charity in all its branches: we must do our endeavours to re- claim sinners from the error of their way, and thus procure them a discharge from their debts; and our Lord will commend us for having "done wisely/' by thus engaging friends to stand by us "in the evil day."
Consider, secondly, that all that we have is the Lord's: our very being; our whole~soul and body; all our powers, faculties and senses; all our gifts and talents; our whole time, and all our worldly substance, are alike his property. If we waste any part of these goods, we are unjust stewards; and the em- ploying of any one of them otherwise than according to his holy will and his divine ordinances, will be accounted wasting them in the eyes of our great Lord and Master. Alas! when he shall vise in judgment, who shall be able to answer to one article in a thousand.
Consider, thirdly, O my soul, those words in the parable as addressed this day to thee: "give an account of thy stewardship." What couldst thou say for thyself if thy accounts were to be immediately examined. Thou knowest not the day nor the hour. Why then shouldst thou expose thyself any longer to the dreadful danger of being called upon when unprepared, to thy eternal condemnation? Ah! how little has thy time been employed in the love and service of thy God? How often has his choicest gifts and talents been abused? Alas! in what a dreadful state are all thy accounts!
Conclude, now at least to set thy accounts in order, to rectify all that has hitherto been amiss, and henceforward to com- mence a new course.
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