I agreed for with thee. “I have done thee no wrong,” for I have paid thee what I agreed for.
To this other it is my will not to render a payment, but to bestow a gift. “Is it not lawful for
me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?” If I had taken
from any one what did not belong to me, rightly I might be blamed, as fraudulent and unjust:
if I had not paid any one his due, rightly might I be blamed as fraudulent, and as withholding
what belonged to another; but when I pay what is due, and give besides to whom I will,
neither can he to whom I owed find fault, and he to whom I gave ought to rejoice the more.”
They had nothing to answer; and all were made equal; “and the last became first, and the
first last;” by equality2848 of treatment, not by inverting their order. For what is the meaning
of, “the last were first, and the first last”? That both the first and last received the same.
5. How is it that he began to pay at the last? Are not all, as we read, to receive together?
For we read in another place of the Gospel, that He will say to those whom He shall set on
the right hand, “Come, ye blessed of My Father, receive the kingdom prepared for you from
the beginning of the world.”2849 If all then are to receive together, how do we understand
in this place, that they received first who began to work at the eleventh hour, and they last
who were hired at the first hour? If I shall be able so to speak, as to reach your understanding,
God be thanked. For to Him ought ye to render thanks, who distributeth to you by me; for
nought of my own do I distribute. If ye ask me, for example, which of the two has received
first, he who has received after one hour, or he who after twelve hours; every man would
answer that he who has received after one hour, has received before him who received after
twelve hours. So then though they all received at the same hour, yet because some received
after one hour, others after twelve hours, they who received after so short a time are said to
have received first. The first righteous men, as Abel, and Noe, called as it were at the first
hour, will receive together with us the blessedness of the resurrection. Other righteous men
after them, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all of their age, called as it were at the third hour,
375
will receive together with us the blessedness of the resurrection. Other righteous men, as
Moses, and Aaron, and whosoever with them were called as it were at the sixth hour, will
receive together with us the blessedness of the resurrection. After them the Holy Prophets,
called as it were at the ninth hour, will receive together with us the same blessedness. In the
end of the world all Christians, called as it were at the eleventh hour, will receive with the
rest the blessedness of that resurrection. All will receive together; but consider those first
men, after how long a time do they receive it? If then those first receive after a long time,
we after a short time; though we all receive together, yet we seem to have received first, be-
cause our hire will not tarry long in coming.
2848 Æquando non præposterando.
2849 Matt. xxv. 34.
785
Delivered on the Lord’s Day, on that which is written in the Gospel, Matt.…