vER. 7 — 10. ST. LUKE. .r>83 inthe everlastingresting-placeof a blessedlife.AMBROSE. Forwe know thatno one sitsdown beforehe has firstpassed over.Moses indeed alsopassed over,that he might see a greatsight. Sincethen thou not only sayestto thy servant, Sitdown tomeat,but requirestfrom him anotherservice,so inthislifethe Lord does not put up with the performance ofone work and labour,because as long as we livewe ought alwaystowork. Thereforeitfollows,And willnot rathersay, MakereadywherewithI may sup. BEDE. He bidsmake ready wherewithHe may sup,that is,afterthe laboursof public discourse,He bidshim humble himselfin self-examination. With such a supper our Lord desiresto be fed. But to gird one'sselfis to collectthe mind which has been enfoldedin thebasecoilof fluctuatingthoughts,whereby itsstepsin the causeof good works are wont to be entangled. For he who girdsup hisgarments does so.thatin walking he ranynot be trippedup. But to ministerunto God, is to acknowledge thatwe have no strengthwithoutthe help of His grace. AUG. While His servantsalso are ministering,that is,Aug.de preachingthe Gospel,our Lord is eatingand drinkingthe p"8^'j faithand confessionof the Gentiles. It follows,And after-8up' ward thou shalleat and drink. As if He says,After that I havebeen delightedwith the work of thy preaching,and refreshedMyself with the choice food of thy compunction, thenat lengthshaltthou go, and feastthyselfeverlastingly withtheeternalbanquet of wisdom. CYRIL. Our Lord teachesus thatitisno more than thejust andproperrightofa mastertorequire,as theirbounden duty, subjectionfrom servants,adding,Doth he thank thatservant becausehe did the thingsthatwere commanded him ? I trow not. Here then is the diseaseof pride cut away. Why boastestthou thyself? Dost thou know thatifthou payest notthy debt,danger is at hand, but if thou payest,thou doestnothingthankworthy ? As St.Paul says,For though1 1 Cor.9, preachthe GospelI have nothing togloryof,for necessityis ' laiduponme, yea,woe isunto me ifI preach not the Gospel. Observethen that they who have rule among us, do not thanktheirsubjects,when they perform theirappointedser vice,but by kindness gaining the affectionsof theirpeople. breedinthem a greatereagernessto servethem. So likewise