iv Temptations of High Position. 47 



the exact meaning of these mysterious words, but 

 they evidently point to some high and peculiar 

 honour which, in the eternal world, shall belong to 

 those who in the present world have been foremost 

 in the service of Christ ; and if to the twelve, then 

 also to Saint Paul, and to all others who have done 

 and endured the most in His service. The same truth 

 is clearly hinted in the parable of the Pounds, 1 where 

 one servant of a nobleman who had been made a 

 king is rewarded with the government of ten cities 

 for the service of earning ten pounds for his master, 

 and another servant with the government of five cities 

 for the service of earning five pounds. But in the 

 conversation now before us, having promised to His 

 Apostles the highest reward which the imagination of 

 an Israelite could conceive to be viceroys over 

 Israel in the Messiah's kingdom the Lord changes 

 His tone, and speaks the parable of the Labourers in 

 the Vineyard, for the purpose of warning them that 

 the expectation of such glory has its own tempta- 

 tions, and must not be too highly esteemed. In the 

 same spirit, He said on another occasion, u ln this 

 rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; 

 but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." 2 

 And in a similar spirit, when speaking of the signs 

 and wonders that were to be wrought in answer to 

 the prayer of faith, He adds the warning, "When 

 ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against 

 any one ; that My Father which is in Heaven may 

 1 Luke xix. 12. 2 Luke x. 20. 



