582 GOSPEL ACCORDING TO CHAP. XVII. wherewithI may sup,and girdthyself,and serveme, tillI have eatenand drunken; and afterwardthou shalteatand drink? 9. Doth he thank thatservantbecausehe didthe thingsthatwere commanded him ? I trownot. 10. So likewiseye, when ye shallhave done all thosethingswhich are commanded you,say,We are unprofitableservants: we have done thaiwhich was our dutyto do. THEOPHYL. Because faithmakes itspossessora keeperof God'scommandments, and adornshim withwonderfulworks; itwould seem from thence that a man might thereby fall into the sin of pride. Our Lord thereforeforewarnedHis Apostlesby a fitexample, not to boast themselvesin their virtues,saying,Rut which of you having a servantplow ing,$c. Aug.de AUG. Or else; To the many who understandnot thisfaith Quiest.ia the truth alreadypresent,our Lord might seem not to qu.39. have answered the petitionsof His disciples.And there appearsa difficultyin the connexion here, unlesswe sup pose He meant the change from faithto faith,from that faith,namely, by which we serveGod, to that whereby we enjoy Him. For then willour faithbe increasedwhen we firstbelievethe word preached,next the realitypresent.But thatjoyfulcontemplationpossessethperfectpeace,which is givenunto us in the everlastingkingdom of God. And that perfectpeaceis the reward of thoserighteouslabours,which are performed in the administrationof the Church. Be then the servantin the fieldploughing,or feeding,thatis, in this lifeeitherfollowinghis worldly business,or sen- ing foolishmen, as it were cattle,he must afterhis la boursreturnhome, thatis,be unitedto the Church. BEDE. Or the servantdepartsfrom the fieldwhen giving up fora time hiswork of preaching,the teacherretiresinto hisown conscience,ponderinghisown words or deedswithiu himself. To whom our Lord does not at once say,Go from thismortallife,and sitdown to meat, thatis,refreshthyself