light; that is, they fulfil God's
commandments and obey the teachings of Christ. The others have not
this love in their hearts, and are not prepared for Christ's coming.
Their lamps give out a feeble light and soon will go out.

[Illustration: THE FOOLISH VIRGINS.]

THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS

One day Jesus told His disciples this parable or story.

A certain nobleman was called away to a far country to be appointed
king of it, and to return after a time. And he called his servants
unto him, and charged them with the care of his goods and treasure,
giving to each man according to his ability to use the same. To one
servant he gave five talents, to another two, and to another only one.
And straightway he left them, and departed upon his journey. Then the
man that had five talents went and traded with them, and did so well
that in time the profits amounted to five talents more, making ten
altogether. And he that had received two talents, also traded with
his, and added two other talents to them by way of profit. But he that
had had but one talent went away and covered it up in a cloth and hid
it away.

After a long time the nobleman came back and called his servants to
him, and asked them for the treasure he had entrusted to their
keeping. And he that had received five talents, brought ten, and said,
"Lord, behold, I have gained five other talents beside them." And his
lord said, "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." And to him that had two talents,
and brought back four, the lord said the same words. Then came he that
had received but one talent and had hid it; and he said, "Lord, I knew
thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and I
was afraid, and went and hid thy talent, and lo, here thou hast that
which is thine." His lord said unto him, "Thou wicked and slothful
servant. Thou knewest that I reaped where I had not sown; thou
oughtest therefore to have put my money in the bank, that I might have
received mine own with interest for its use. Take therefore the
talent from him, and give it unto him that hath ten; and take the
unprofitable servant and cast him into the outer darkness."

Now the talent here mentioned was an eastern sum of money (nearly one
thousand dollars), but it really means the powers and opportunities
for doing good that God has given to all