462 GOSPEL ACCORDING TO CHAP. XTI. uses a very obvious example, to shew that the above-men tioned command is suitedto thosewho have been admitted into the rank of disciples,foritfollows,And theLord saidi Who then is thatfaithfulsteward? AMBROSE. Or else,the form of the firstcommand is a generalone adapted to aU, but the followingexample seems to be proposedto the stew ards,thatis,the priests; and thereforeit follows,And the Lord said,Who then isthatfaithfuland wise steward,whom his lord shallmake rulerover his household,to give them theirportionofmeat in due season? THEOPHYL. The above-mentionedparablerelatestoallthe faithfulin common, but now hear what suitsthe Apostles and teachers. For I ask,where willbe found the steward, thatpossessesin himselffaithfulnessand wisdom ? for as in the management of goods, whether a man be carelessyet faithfulto his master,or elsewise yet unfaithful,the things of the master perish; so alsoin the things of God there is need of faithfulnessand wisdom. For I have known many servantsof God, and faithfulmen, who because they were unable to manage ecclesiasticalaffairs,have destroyed not only possessions,but souls,exercisingtowards sinnersindis creetvirtueby extravagantrulesof penance or unseasonable indulgence. Cbrys. CHRYS. But our Lord here asks the questionnot as igno- inMatt. rant,who was a faithfuland wise steward,but wishing to imply the rarenessof such,and the greatnessof thiskind of chiefgovernment. THEOPHYL. Whosoever then has been found a faithfuland wise steward,let him bear rule over the Lord's household, that he may givethem theirportionof meat in due season, eitherthe word of doctrineby which theirsoulsare fed, or Aug.de the example of works by which theirlifeisfashioned. AUG.1.i'ue.T26.Now He saysportion,because of suitingHis measure to the capacityof His severalhearers. Isiii.i.8. ISIDORE.It was added alsoin theirdue season,because a p' ' benefitnot conferredat itspropertime isrendered vain,and losesthe name of a benefit. The same bread is not equally coveted by the hungry man, and him thatis satisfied.But with respectto thisservant'sreward forhis stewardship,He adds,Blessedis that servantwhom his lordwhen he cometh