our most inveterate enemies : a fiery furnace, or a den of lions, need be no object of terror to us ; for " our strength shall be according to our day ;" and we shall be " enabled both to do all things," and " to suffer all things, through Christ who strengthened! us."]
Mark x. 41 — 45. And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John. But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they ivhich are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them ; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you : but whosoever tvill be great among you, shall be your minister : and whosoever of you will be the chief est, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
THE corruption of the heart, like fire in flint, generally lies concealed, till, by a collision with some particular circumstances, it is elicited ; and then it comes forth with a power capable of producing the most fatal effects. Till James and John had applied to the Lord Jesus for the two highest places in his kingdom, the other ten Disciples appeared content with any lot that should be assigned them : but when they had reason to apprehend that their more aspiring brethren might be placed above them, they were filled with indignation against them, and were ready to dis- pute and quarrel with them for precedency. Then they shewed, that they themselves were as much actuated by ambition as the others ; and were quite as averse to yield, as the others were anxious to obtain, the highest place of dignity and power. Unconscious of the evil that existed in themselves, they were soon offended at it in others : and it is observable, that we are never more easily offended, than when we behold in others the evil that is predo- minant in ourselves ; so blind are we in our judgment, and so partial in our decisions.
But our blessed Lord gently corrected the errors of his Disciples ; he shewed them, that they were