Martinsburgh Gazette

THE MONITOR.

"And I was afraid, and went and hid my talent in the earth."

The intent of the parable from which this is extracted, is to inculcate on all, the duty of improving to the utmost, the power and talents which the beneficent Author of every good and perfect gift has bestowed on them. The reward of him who diligently improved his five talents, holds out a strong inducement to industry and zeal in the exercise of the powers we possess for the benefit of society. The punishment of him who was afraid and hid his talent, should caution us against the danger to which we expose ourselves, when—because we consider our talents as few or small—we are afraid to exercise them in any manner which may conduce to the benefit of mankind, and like the person with one talent in the parable, hide them in the earth; in other words, direct their use only to the gratification of our selfish, sordid, earthly appetites. There was never a time when it was not in the power of most or all men to add something to the stock of general knowledge or happiness, by the exercise of the talent, however small, with which he is entrusted. True, the opportunity does not every day occur to every one alike; but if he be alive to a sense of his obligations to impart to others a portion of what he can spare without loss to himself, no one but may at some time find sufficient opportunity to do good. If silver and gold he have none whereby he may relieve the wants of the necessitous, yet his example may be exhibited to influence others to follow those things which pertain to their peace, or his voice may be raised to call the wayward from his devious path. Occasions are never wanting for the exercise of all the talents which good men possess. Admonition, warning, reproof, if well directed and seasonably applied, can never be lost for want of fit subjects; and when were subjects more numerous, or occasions more pressing than the present day? The gigantic strides, which vice, irreligion and infidelity have made and are still making in our land, impose a solemn obligation on every friend to the happiness of mankind, every well wisher to the good order and peace of society, every one possessed of the least regard to the commands of his God and the interests of the religion of his Redeemer, to cry aloud and spare not—to raise his voice in the streets, in the wilderness and solitary places—to plant his foot on the rock, and boldly breast the overwhelming flood. Let the Christian, the friend to his God—let the patriot, the friend to his suffering degraded country, be up and doing while the day lasts, for the night cometh.— Portland Gazette.