634 GOSPEL ACCORDING TO CHAP. XIX.
selfHis kingdom,theministersof theword willreceivetheir
deservedpraisesand delightin heavenlyrewards,because
theymultipliedtheirtalentby acquiringmore talents,asit
is added,Then came thefirst,saying,Lord, thypound has
gainedtenpounds. BEDE. The firstservantisthe orderof
teacherssenttothecircumcision,who receivedone pound to
putouttouse,inasmuchasitwasorderedtopreachonefaith.
But thisone pound gainedten pounds,becauseby itsteach
ingitunitedtoitselfthepeoplewho weresubjecttothelaw.
It follows,And he saiduntohim,Well done,thougood ser
vant: becausethou hast beenfaithfulin a very little,$c.
The servantisfaithfulina verylittlewho doesnotadulterate
theword ofGod. For allthe giftswe receivenow arebut
Evagrius.smallincomparisonof what we shallhave.GREEK Ex. Be
causehe receivesthe rewardof hisown good works,he is
saidto be setoverten cities.And some conceivingun
worthilyof thesepromisesimaginethattheythemselvesare
preferredtomagistraciesand chiefplacesintheearthlyJeru
salem,whichisbuiltwithpreciousstones,becausetheyhave
had theirconversationhonestin Christ;so littledo they
purge theirsoulof allhankeringafterpower and authority
among men. AMBROSE. But thetencitiesarethesoulsover
whom he isrightlyplacedwho hasdepositedinthemindsof
men hisLord'smoney and theholywords,whicharetriedas
Ps.121,a silveristriedin the fire.For as Jerusalemissaidto be
builtas a city,so are peace-makingsouls.And as angels
haverule,sohavetheywho have acquiredthelifeof angels.
It follows,And thesecondcame,saying,Lord,thypound
has gainedfivepounds. BEDE. That servantisthe assem
blyofthosewho weresenttopreachtheGospeltotheuncir-
cumcision,whose pound,thatis,the faithof the Gospel,
gainedfivepounds,becauseitconvertedtothegraceofEvan
gelicalfaith,thenationsbeforeenslavedtothefivesensesof
the body. And he saidlikewiseto him,Be thoualsoover
fivecities; thatis,be exaltedtoshinethroughthefaithand
conversationofthosesoulswhichthouhastenlightened.
AMBROSE. Or perhapsdifferently;he who gainedfive
pounds has allthemoralvirtues,fortherearefivesensesof
thebody. He who gainedten hassomuch more,thatisto
say,the mysteriesof the lawas wellas the moralvirtues.