His Lord said unto him
The same words as he did to the other servant,
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:
where the same commendation is made, and the same characters are
given, as before; for a man that has lesser gifts, and is of less
usefulness, may be as good and as faithful in his service, and as
praise worthy, as a man of greater gifts, and more extensive
usefulness; and the same happiness is bestowed on one, as the
other, which in neither is of merit; but of grace; and whatever
difference may be made between the saints, or between one
minister and another in the Millennium state, yet in the ultimate
glory, their joy, bliss, and happiness, will be alike. It is not
to be established from this parable, that man has a power to
improve the stock of sufficient grace given him, and by his
improvement procure eternal happiness to himself; since such a
stock of grace is not designed by the talents; nor is that either
gotten or improved, by the industry of man; nor does the parable
suggest, that men by their improvement of the talents committed
to them, do, or can, procure eternal happiness: "good and
faithful" servants are indeed commended by Christ, and he
graciously promises great things to them, which are not
proportioned to their deserts; for whereas they have been
"faithful over a few things", he promises to make them "rulers
over many things"; and bids them "enter into the joy of their
Lord"; into the joy, which of his grace and goodness, he has
provided for them, and not which they have merited and procured
for themselves: nor is it to be inferred from hence, that true
grace once given, or implanted, may be taken away or lost; for
the parable speaks not of what is wrought in men, but of goods
and talents bestowed on them, and committed to their trust; which
may be lost or taken away, or be wrapped up in a napkin, and lie
useless by them; when true grace is the incorruptible seed which
never dies, but always remains; that good part which shall never
be taken away nor lost, but is inseparably connected with eternal
glory.