Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/493

 the world,  and  become  slothful  and  careless  in  the  service of  God. " The  slothful  hideth  his  hand  under  his armpit,  and  will  not  so  much  as  bring  it  to  his  mouth.'1 (Prov.  xix.  24.)  Such,  however,  are  called  fools  by  the Divine  Spirit:  "  The  fool  foldeth  his  hands  together, saying, Better  is  a  handful  with  rest  than  both  hands full with  labor."  (Eccles.  iv.  5.)  Examine  your  conduct oh  this  subject.

II. Consider the  excuse  of  the  slothful  servant:  "  Lord, I  know  that  thou  art  a  hard  man, — and  being  afraid,  I went  and  hid  thy  talent  in  the  earth;  behold,  here  thou hast  that  which  is  thine." (Matt. xxv.  24.)  He  tells  a falsehood,  in  order  to  excuse  himself;  for  our  Lord  is not  hard  but  a  mild  and  merciful  master. It is  the  custom of  all  slothful  Christians,  "  to  make  excuses  in  sins." (Ps. cxl.  4.)  They  fancy  to  themselves  that  hardships and dangers  exist,  where  there  are  none. " There  is  a lion  in  the  way,  and  a  lioness  in  the  roads." (Prov. xxvi. 13.)  Such  tepid  souls  often  say,  "  I  cannot,"  when  nothing but  the  will  is  wanting. Beware of  tepidity  and sloth as  your  greatest  enemies.

III. Consider the  sentence  pronounced  against  this idle servant:  "  Take  ye  away,  therefore,  the  talent  from him,  and  the  unprofitable  servant  cast  ye  out  into  the exterior  darkness.  There  shall  be  weeping  and  gnashing of  teeth." " He  is  not  condemned,"  observes  St. Augustine,  "because  he  lost  his  talent,  but  because  he kept  it  without  making  any  profit  of  it." Use every exertion therefore  to  employ  those  talents  well,  which God has  intrusted  to  you. You cannot  want  employment for  them,  whatever  be  your  state  or  calling  in  life. Your own  spiritual  good,  the  glory  of  God,  and  the  advantage of  your  neighbor  ought  to  be  always  before your eyes.