labor that may gain an honorable object. It may be, secondly, the consequence of a rash fervor, which does not know the difficulties that it undertakes to surmount. It may be in the third place the effect of Divine grace, according to the declaration of St. Paul, " I can do all things in Him who strengthens me." (Phil. iv\ 13.) Be ashamed of your negligence in laboring for the kingdom of heaven, because you will not exert yourself as much to obtain that happiness and glory as worldly men do to gain some empty object of ambition or folly. You often say, " I cannot do it," when nothing is wanting but resolution and good will.
II. Christ, observing this readiness in them, remarked: " Of My chalice, indeed, you shall drink, but to sit on My right or left hand is not mine to give you, but to them for whom it is prepared by My Father." He did not dissuade them from using their endeavors to merit the highest seats of glory, but He gave them to understand that those seats were not distributed from motives of favor or temporal relationship. The glory of heaven, which each one enjoys, is proportionate to his merits, for "God is no respecter of persons" (Acts x. 35), and " He will render to every man according to his works." (Matt. xvi. 27.)
III. A difference exists between worldly precedence and that which is peculiar to the school of Christ. " The princes of the Gentiles," He says, "lord it over them; it shall not be so among you, but whosoever will be the greater among you, let him be your minister." He confirms this by His own example, fof He continues: "Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister." (Matt. xx. 25, 28.) Let it therefore be your ambition to seek the lowest places on all occasions if you desire to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.
