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or governing," and has no reference to passing a judicial sentence.
I cannot pretend to speak decidedly on a question so mys- terious as this. I am however inc]ined to think, that the last view of the four is the most probable one. The following quotations given by Ford, throw light on this view, and are worth reading.
Bishop Smalridge says, "However difficult it may be to determine wisely the full meaning of these expressions, yet certainly we may rationally infer from them, that there are some particular marks of glory, with which the apostles of our Lord will be honoured above other Christians."
Mede says, "Whatsoever is meant by the reward, it is plain there is some peculiar and eminent degree of glory promised liere to the apostles, which shall not be common to others with them; — firstly, because it is the reward of their proper and peculiar service of Christ; — secondly, because these twelve thrones, in regard of their number, can befit no more but these twelve ; — thirdly, because supposing the twelve tribes of Israel to be in a condition of bliss, it must needs be that those who sit on twelve thrones to judge or govern them, must be in a higher degree of dignity than those over whom they are set."
Let us add to this, that we are told that on the twelve founda- tions of the mystical city described in Revelation, there were the names of the " twelve apostles of the Lamb." (Rev. Kxi. 14.)
[Twelve tribes of Israel.] Let it be noted, that the "twelve tribes" are four times mentioned in the New Testament, here, and in Matt. xix. 28 ; Acts xxvi. 7 ; and James i. I. It is clear that although the ten tribes never came back from captivity, they were regarded in the New Testament time as still existing, distinct and separate, and not lost and mingled among other nations. We need not therefore doubt that the ten tribes exist now somewhere on the face of the globe, and in due time will be brought forth and shown to the world.