hand and the other on Thy left, in Thy kingdom." It is unfortunately natural for every one to be ambitious for the first place. This principle hurled the angels from heaven. " I will ascend into heaven," said the apostate Lucifer, " I will exalt my throne above the stars of God." (Is. xiv. 13.) The same ambition lost Paradise for our first parents. "You shall be as gods" (Gen. iii. 5), said the tempter to Eve. This same passion attacks the Apostles. Examine if it have any influence on your conduct How much safer is it to follow the example of Christ, and to be content with the lowest places!
III. Consider the answer of Christ, " You know not what you ask." Those who desire the vanities and the honors of this world certainly do not know what they ask. He continues, "Can you drink of the chalice that I shall drink" (Matt. xx. 22), that is, can you join me in my bitter passion? Christ insinuates by this question that our future glory will be proportionate to our sufferings in this life. Our seats in heaven will approach to that of Christ in the same proportion as our sufferings approach to His afflictions. Encourage yourself to drink deep of this chalice of sufferings, for, "as you are partakers of the sufferings, so shall you be also of the consolations." (2 Cor. i. 7.)
FRIDAY.
Petition of the Sons of Zebedee.— II.
I. These two Apostles seemed ready to drink the chalice which was proposed to them. "They say to Him, we can." (Matt. xx. 22.) This spirit of alacrity may proceed from different motives; it may proceed first from ambition, which prompts a man to refuse no
