power, that is, of seeing, hearing, feeling, the things about us. By this we 

 gain a knowledge of the sun and stars, the earth and its myriad plants and 

 animals, the boundless space in which it moves, and the endless time in 

 which it pursues its revolutions. Secondly, the power of insight ; by which 

 we know what is going on in the depths of our own souls, our modes of 

 knowledge, our states of feeling, the struggles of desire and of will, the exist- 

 ence of a moral law, the evidences of God's being, the reality of our rela- 

 tions to Him. Thirdly, the power of guiding and directing our own thought 

 and action into a voluntary conformity to the moral law, into a voluntary 

 service of God by his children. 



These are the three great intellectual gifts of knowledge, understanding, 

 and wisdom, which in the text are said to proceed from the Lord. Each one 

 of the three is capable of a very great, an almost endless, diversity of degrees 

 and of variations, so that different minds are fitted for different offices and 

 functions. This has been observed by both heathen and Christian writers in 

 all ages of the world, and is especially dwelt upon by the' Apostle Paul. 

 Every honest and earnest man finds some occupation which is agreeable to 

 him, for which he is fitted, and in which he is useful to his fellow-men. It 

 may be that there is, in some cases, great difficulty in actually getting this 

 occupation ; but the rule is generally true that a man recognizes it when 

 found. 



And in the midst of these diversities of operations of the Spirit of God, 

 there are some who receive ten talents, some who. receive but one. The un- 

 disciplined and foolish man may sometimes repine and murmur because he 

 has not received greater gifts : he is envious of another man's genius, and 

 soured by his own failures when he attempts that which is too high for him. 

 The disciplined and wise man will, however, rejoice always in his own lot, 

 knowing that the good Lord who assigned us these various parts has it in 

 his power, and in his heart, to cause all things to work out a compensation 

 and a recompense for every seeming evil. If a man has less ability to in- 

 crease knowledge, he has usually less capacity also for suffering : great gifts 

 of power increase responsibility, care, and labor. Fidelity to one's own op- 

 portunities, faithfulness in one's own duties, trust in the Divine Providence 

 which orders one's own lot, meek acceptance of the offers of salvation made 

 by Jesus to each child of man, these things bring into the humblest heart 

 the peace of God which passeth understanding. . 



And the man of smaller gifts will, if he be wise, rejoice and be thankful 

 for the gifts bestowed more abundantly upon the chosen few. Pass by, if you 



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