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Home / Publications / Free Presbyterian Magazine / 1998 to 2003 / March 2003 / The Parable of the Talents

The Parable of the Talents

The present parable, when compared with some of the others, is alike yet different. It is alike in simplicity yet fulness of meaning, and different in the new shades and aspects of man’s character which it presents; alike in depth and comprehensiveness, yet level, in its great outlines, to the understanding of a child.

First, the great Teacher is still instructing man about the things of the kingdom – still raising our thoughts from earth to heaven, from man to God. And in teaching us how God manages His vast empire, Jesus tells that the king in the parable, according to a custom which was common between a proprietor and his slaves, gave different talents to his different servants to be used for him. Five, two, one – these represent what the king entrusted to them, “according to their several ability”.

Now we need not take long to tell what this is means. We need only look around us and see the eternal King still doing the same. One man perhaps occupies a throne; another is unknown and obscure. One man has gifts which enable him to sway thousands, myriads, millions of his fellow men; another has scarcely power or skill enough to toil for his daily bread. One man has a heart or a head which renders him the benefactor of an age or of ages, and he is in a position which makes it possible for him to do so: he is a Guttenberg and invents printing, or a Watt and discovers steam power, or a Howard and almost empties the dungeon of its misery; or he has no scope and no sphere in which to move except one just a little larger than the grave which will receive his dust at last. This is the diversity of gifts, but the same spirit. Yet, however diverse these gifts or talents – these trusts and not property – may be, they have all this in common: they are, every one, God-given. Not one of them comes by chance, and not one of them is really man’s own. He is a steward, a responsible servant, and becomes a robber by using them as if they were his own.

Entrusted as they were, the servants began their duties. He of the five traded and gained other five; he also who had two doubled his capital; but he who had only one buried it in the earth. Here are some aspects of human nature well worth our study. Two of the three were earnest men for their lord. They were diligent and became rich. They were zealous and “stood before princes”, and when the day for rendering their account arrived, applause, reward and honour were the result. They both began by referring to their lord’s gift, for that was the root of their prosperity. Of his own they gave him.

And is it not so in the service of the King of kings? Do we use for Him what He has bestowed? Do we wisely consider how to advance His cause and glory in the sphere in which we move? Are all our gifts laid upon the altar of His love? Then, in no mercenary spirit, great is our reward. “Well done, good and faithful servant,” is the greeting we receive. We have not served our Lord to buy His favour. It is priceless and never yet was bought by mortal man; but our poor works He is graciously pleased to own, when done in faith and for the cause of our King. There is no activity like that of the friends of Jesus. They are “diligent in business, serving the Lord”. He is no hard taskmaster, and those who love Him are no driven slaves. Love on the one side is responded to by love on the other. Talents consecrated to God lead to glory with Him through Jesus Christ our Lord. “Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord”, is the welcome which awaits us.

But, on the other hand, the man who had but one talent did not turn it to account. Perhaps he was envious because he had received so little. He wished to be great, conspicuous, lordly. It is made plain that he cherished hard thoughts of his king: “Thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed, and I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth”. Now, every sentence here indicates vexation of spirit. His language is offensive. The blame of failure is not his; it is his lord’s. And so the man becomes the very model of those who murmur at their lot, who grudge that God has not made them greater than they are, and who throw the blame of failure upon Him, not upon themselves. Had that man traded with his single talent, the last might have been first, as often happens in God’s world. As he buried it in the earth, he betrayed both his own stupidity and his master’s interests.

Next, mark the folly of the man’s reasons for not trading. Out of his own mouth he was condemned, and the excuses which he pled were just so many reasons for industry, activity and utmost zeal in the cause of his king. The money-changers, at least, would have wrought if he chose to be a sluggard. And, in like manner, how often does it happen that transgressors against the King of kings are self-convicted! The reasons which they plead to extenuate sin in reality make it worse. They are “wicked and slothful” and throw the blame upon God. They deem Him hard instead of deeming themselves unwise, and the result is that they sink into deeper woe. They are poor, and become poorer. They are guilty, and become worse. They are blind, and are given up to delusions till outer darkness becomes their lot at last.

Further, nothing is more remarkable than the stupidity which sin often occasions. The reason is weakened when conscience is violated, and the understanding is darkened while the heart grows hard. A man, for example, becomes a thief; in his confusion he leaves something behind him which detects him at once, as if the Holy God had said once more, “Thou art the man”. Or he is a murderer, and by some unguarded word – a mere word – betrays the secret which none but God knew; and so in the parable. The man was guilty of neglect, and for that he pled excuses which rather condemned him. Because he wished to occupy a pinnacle and was disappointed, he deemed his lord a churl.

On the other hand, the diligent servant grew richer and greater. He had proved himself zealous for his lord, and he received more and more. There was growth, increase and gladness crowning all, and it is the same in the things of the kingdom of God. Does a man pray? Then he learns to pray more and to love prayer better. But is a man a pretender to religion without prayer? Then he sinks lower and lower, he loses what he once seemed to have, he is a robber of himself; and so in a thousand cases. God will plentifully reward the proud doer, but his reward is woe, while the blessedness of the righteous is thus announced: “In keeping [God’s commandments] there is great reward”.

Endnotes:
1. Another chapter, slightly edited, from Tweedie’s book, Parables of Our Lord. It is based on the parable in Matthew 25:14-30,

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      • October 2003
        • A View from the Outer Hebrides
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        • What We Make It?
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        • A Powerful Voice
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        • Christianity – an Exclusive Religion – The Religion of the Bible
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        • No Sense of Need
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        • Grace Glorified in Election
        • Christianity – an Exclusive Religion – Some Further Doctrines
        • The Pharisee and the Publican
        • Rabbi Duncan
        • Evidences of Saving Faith – Part 2
        • A Plea for Prayer
        • Continuing Repentance
        • Book Review: Christmas Evans, The Life and Times of the One-Eyed Preacher of Wales
      • January 2003
        • Thankfulness
        • The Lord God of Elijah
        • Samuel Rutherford – Fair Anwoth by the Solway – 1627 – 1636
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        • Humiliation and Prayer
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        • Book Review – Authentic Christianity: Sermons on the Acts of the Apostles
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        • Nineteenth-Century Drift
        • A Prayer-Hearing God – Part 2
        • The Achreny Mission – 4. After the Disruption – Part 2
        • Meditation – Its Consequences
        • Visit to the Ukraine
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        • The Promised Land
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        • A Private Among the Padres
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        • The Prince – Defender of all Faiths
        • Protestant View
      • August 2003
        • What Kind of Faith?
        • Notes and Comments
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        • The Head Stone of the Corner
        • The Vineyard
        • Mary and the Spiritual Mind
        • The Achreny Mission – 1. 1760 to 1815
        • Church of Scotland General Assembly
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        • Book Review – God’s Hymnbook for the Christian Church
      • September 2002
        • The Shepherd’s Reward
        • Notes and Comments
        • The Jubilee
        • The Early Christian Church – The Era of Conflict
        • Those Who Have Fled for Refuge – Part 2
        • The Beliver’s Sanctification
        • Trinitarian Bible Society Update
        • The New Archbishop of Canterbury
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        • “My Counsel Shall Stand”
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        • “Your Mercy”and the Jews’ Future
        • Springing Up After Many Days
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      • November 2002
        • Christ’s Spiritual Conquests
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        • The Call to the Water of Life – Part 2 (1) A Sermon by William Nixon Revelation 22:17. And the spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
        • The Right Way (1) Rev J S Sinclair
        • Obituary Mr Murdo Macleod, Elder, Stornoway
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        • Divine Compassion
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        • A Master in Israel
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        • Book Review – Church and State
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        • “Hear the Word of the Lord”
        • The Blessing of Asher
        • Thomas Cranmer – That God Might Be Truly Worshipped
        • Psalms or Hymns in Public Worship
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        • “Another King, One Jesus”
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        • Inventing Religion
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        • Hopes of Future Usefulness – A Letter of John Love
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        • “Religion in its Purity”
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        • Attaining a Knowledge of Our Sins
        • The Meat Offering
        • The Strength of Faith
        • Thomas Cranmer – Moving Towards a Reformation
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        • Rev John MacDonald (1925-2000) – Obituary
        • Book Review – God and Cosmos
        • Protestant View – Queen Invites Cardinal to Sandringham
      • July 2002
        • The Need for Opened Eyes
        • God’s Wrath Against Sin
        • The Puritans on Prayer – A Wondrous Mysterious Grace
        • Revival in Arran
        • Man’s Righteousness and God’s
        • Church of Scotland General Assembly
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        • Protestant View
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        • Offering up Our Desires to God
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        • Look unto Me and Be Ye Saved
        • Thomas Cranmer – The Man of Extreme Caution
        • The Power of the Gospel
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        • Obituary – Mrs Isabella Turner
        • Book Review – Galatians
        • Book Notices
        • Protestant View
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        • “A Zealous, Godly Preacher”
        • The Call to the Water of Life – Part 2
        • Samuel Rutherford – From Birth to New Birth
        • Those Who Have Fled for Refuge – part 3
        • Obituary – Mrs Annie MacIver, North Tolsta
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        • “I am the Resurrection and the Life”
        • Coming to Christ – Part 1
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        • Everything Devoted to God’s Service
        • Unity Among the Brethren
        • Those Who Have Feld for Refuge
        • The Early Christian Church – The Era of Conquest
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        • Book Review – The King’s Daughters
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        • Knowing God
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        • The Path of the Just
        • Obituary – The late Miss Jean Nicolson
        • Obituary – The late Mrs Lexie MacLeod
        • Raasay Congregation – a Brief History
        • The Knowledge of Sin
        • Induction at Sengera
        • Book Review: The Source of the IRA/Sinn Fein
        • Protestant View
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        • Tragedy
        • “God Gave the Increase”
        • The Westminster Confession of Faith – It’s Usefulness for the Church
        • Desires for Glory
        • Calling a Minister
        • The Vatican Archives
        • A Visit to Singapore
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      • November 2001
        • Scotland’s Preachers
        • Recent Inductions
        • The Rose of Sharon
        • The Westminster Confession of Faith – It’s Usefulness on the Personal Level – Intellectually
        • “Be Strong and of a Good Courage”
        • God’s Wonderful Goodness
        • “Withhold not Correction”
        • Obituary – The late Mr Donald Beaton, Elder, Auckland
        • Protestant View
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        • Obituary – The late Mr Donald Beaton, Elder, Auckland
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        • Sinking in Capernaum’s Doom
        • Book Review – Irish Worthies
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        • The Goodwill of God
        • Keeping the Heart in Temptation
        • The Establishment Principle – Part 2
        • The Garden of Nuts
        • The Son of Man Lifted up
        • Obituary – The late John Angus MacLeod
        • A Deputy’s Visit to Africa – Kenya
        • Book Review – Faith and Justification
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        • “Just with God”
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        • Christ Set up from Everlasting
        • Stevenson on the Offices of Christ – Christ as Priest
        • W S Plumer- Part 2
        • Obituary – The late Rev Alexander McPherson, Perth
        • Pastoral Letter – Rev Alexander McPherson
        • Joseph MacKay
        • Book Review – Forerunner of the Great Awakening
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        • Blessedness
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        • Christ Coming for His people’s Help – Part 1
        • Who Belong to the Visible Church?
        • The Establishment Principle – Part 3
        • Religion in the Highlands After 1688 – Part 3
        • Raising Questions Against Darwinism
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        • Cry Aloud Spare Not
        • Christ Coming for His people’s Help – Part 2
        • Stevenson on the Offices of Christ
        • Our African Missions – an Update
        • Church of Scotland General Assembly
        • Spring Visit to Ukraine
        • Trinitarian Bible Society Report
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        • Looking Forward
        • Book Review – The Government of the Church
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        • Thomas Halyburton and How God May Be Known
        • The Divinity of Christ
        • Religion in the Highlands after 1688 – Part 1
        • Keep a good conscience
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        • What is the Object of Faith?
        • Communion in Singapore
      • February 2001
        • Calling the Sabbath a Delight
        • Notes and Comments
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        • Christ Set up from Everlasting
        • Stevenson on the Offices of Christ – Christ as Prophet
        • Religion in the Highlands after 1688 – Part 2
        • Book Review – Daily Prayer and Praise by Henry Law
        • Psalm 122 – Henry Law
        • The enemies of the Christian
        • African Mission News
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      • December 2001
        • Protestant View
        • African Mission News
        • Eastern Europe News
        • Book Review – Tell it to the Generation Following
        • The Westminster Confession of Faith – Usefulness on the Personal Level
        • The Impossibility of Neutrality
        • “Christian”Entertainment
        • Attaining a Knowledge of Our Sins
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        • Notes and Comments
        • A View From Zimbabwe
      • August 2001
        • “There They Preached the Gospel”
        • Protestant View
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        • “He Will Bless Us”
        • Stevenson on the Offices of Christ
        • “He Delighteth in Mercy”
        • “The Voice of Christianity in Scotland”
        • Obituary – The late Mr Ian M MacLeod, Elder, Dingwall
        • Obituary – The late Mrs Catherine MacKenzie, Stornoway
        • Book Review – Southern Presbyterian Leaders 1683-1911
        • Book Review – The Westminster Confession of Faith, Milestone, Millstone or Manifesto?
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        • Sowing the Seed
        • The Duty of Nations to the Church
        • The Establishment Principle – Part 1
        • “The Finger of God”
        • Obituary – The late Miss Peggy Nicolson, Inverness
        • A Deputy’s Visit to Africa – Zimbabwe
        • Protestant View
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      • September 2000
        • The Resurrection of Christ
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        • Reading the Scriptures Profitably
        • The believer is to put those sins… into the hands of Christ
        • The Puritans and the Ministry
        • Christ Glorifying God
        • Blessed Are They That Mourn
        • The Nature of Vital Piety (2)
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • October 2000
        • The Fear of God
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        • Reading the Scriptures Profitably (2)
        • He indeed is rich in grace whose graces are not hindered by his riches
        • The Puritans and the Ministry (2)
        • James Stewart
        • Christ Healing a Leper
        • Visits To Eastern Europe
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • November 2000
        • “What Are They Among so Many?”
        • Vain Religion
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        • Church Information
        • The Desired Haven
        • God may bear long with the wicked, but…
        • Thomas Halyburton
        • James Stewart (2)
        • The Temptation of Christ
        • Book Review
      • May 2000
        • The Church of God From Age to Age
        • Jesus of Nazareth passeth by
        • Rev Lachlan MacLeod (1918-1998) – Obituary
        • “So let him give”
        • The Solemn League and Covenant
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • African Mission News
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      • June 2000
        • The Example of the Church in Smyrna
        • Eastern Europe – Spring 2000 Report
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        • The Nature of the New Birth
        • This is Indeed the Christ
        • Obituary The late Mr Alasdair Gillies, M.A., Elder, Dingwall
        • Report of Mbuma Zending Meeting – 29th April 2000
        • Protestant View
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        • Ma Donsa One of the Pilgrims at Ingwenya
        • African Mission News
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        • Two Free Churches
        • Sermon The Gracious Invitation of Christ
        • The Rev John Sinclair of Bruan (1801-43)
        • Princeton Theology – the Scottish Connection
        • Regeneration Regulating the Affections
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        • The Church of Scotland General Assembly
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        • At the Westminster Assembly
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        • The Rev. Christopher Munro (1817-85)
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        • Joy and Peace in Believing
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        • Negotiations in London
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        • Another Millennium
        • Notes of a Sermon The Earth Filled with His Glory
        • The Second Coming of Christ – Three Main Views
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        • Princeton Seminary – The Majestic Testimony by David Calhoun.
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        • The Divine Saviour
        • A Sermon by John Kennedy
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        • The Late Roderick Macleod,
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        • Where Are We Now?
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        • Declaring All the Counsel of God
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        • Old Testament Types
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        • Alexander Stewart of Cromarty
        • The Intercession of Christ
        • Resolved to Abolish Episcopacy
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        • Morality and Politics
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        • Casting down the Walls of Jericho
        • A Visit to Singapore
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        • “Upon this rock I will build my church”
        • The Blessed Poor
        • Rev Angus Mackay
        • Is Christ our High Priest?
        • Signs of Religious Declension
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      • March 1999
        • Heaven-provoking Legislation
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        • The Drawing Power of the Cross
        • The Alpha Course Examined
        • Teaching Christianity in Scottish Schools
        • The late Mrs Margaret Tallach, Glasgow
        • Letter by John Love, D.D.
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        • Notes and Comments
        • African Mission News
      • June 1999
        • Made a Faithful Shepherd
        • Notes and Comments
        • How May Sanctification Be Attained?
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        • Mbuma Zending Meeting Report
        • Address to Mbuma Zending Meeting
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        • The Free Church and the World
      • January 1999
        • When the Enemy Shall Come in Like a Flood
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        • Let me see thy countenance
        • The Religion of the Highlands
        • Personal Creed and Resolutions
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        • African Mission News
        • Eastern Europe Mission
      • July 1999
        • The Church of Scotland General Assembly
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        • The Pre-eminence of Christ
        • A Man Who Wished to Live Obscurely
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      • February 1999
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        • The End of a Millennium
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      • October 1998
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        • Christ Liveth in me *
        • God’s Way of Bringing Sinners to Christ
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      • November 1998
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      • May 1998
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      • March 1998
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      • June 1998
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        • The Lord is Risen Indeed
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        • Mbuma-Zending Meeting – 1998
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      • July 1998
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        • A Cambuslang Case of Conversion
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      • January 1998
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        • MaHlabangana
        • Winter Visit to Eastern Europe
        • THE NEW YEAR
        • The Church Built and Kept by the Lord
        • Outlines of Lectures on the Bible
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        • Redeeming the Time
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      • February 1998
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        • A Mission Day of Prayer
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        • Church Deputy’s Visit to North America
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        • A Faithful Ambassador is Health
      • December 1998
        • When the Enemy Shall Come in Like a Flood
        • “My grace is sufficient for thee”
        • The People of the Great Faith
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        • A Good Soldier of Jesus Christ
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      • August 1998
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        • Book Notice
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