Page:SermonsFromTheLatins.djvu/156

 thorns of  disease  and  weariness,  and  the  thistles  of disappointed  hopes."  Our  call  from  nothingness  into being  was  a  call  to  labor,  and  after  life,  time  comes when  no  man  worketh — the  night  of  death — the  Sabbath of  eternity.  Work  we  must,  but  ah,  for  whom, for  whom?  What  species  of  labor  shall  our  life's work  be?  For  a  life-day  well  spent,  what  shall  be  the eventide  reward?  What  is  our  standing  among  the laborers  here?  What  shall  be  our  place  among  the elect  hereafter?  Brethren,  these  are  the  questions answered  in  the  parable  of  to-day — the  call  of  the laborers — their  work  in  the  vineyard  and  the  paying of  the  laborers  their  wages.

Brethren, Christ's  object  in  this  parable  was  to teach  the  special  blessedness  of  one  that  from  the world is  called  to  labor  in  God's  service,  and  that  too at the  eleventh  hour  or  under  the  Christian  dispensation. A rich  young  man  had  come  and  cast  himself before the  Saviour  and  begged  to  know  what  he  must do to  gain  eternal  life. " Give  up  all,"  the  Saviour said: "and  come  and  follow  Me." Then seeing  the young man  sadly  turn  away,  He  added:  "  How  hard is  entrance  into  heaven  for  the  rich!" Closely watching every  move  was  Peter  and  the  other Apostles. Then Peter  spoke:  "  Master,  we  have  left all  to  follow  Thee;  what  shall  be  our  reward?  "  And Christ made  answer:  "  Amen,  I  say  to  you,  in  the last  great  judgment  day  you  shall  sit  in  judgment  on the  twelve  tribes  of  Israel.  And  not  you  alone,  but every  one  who  abandons  all  for  love  of  Me,  shall  be recompensed  an  hundred-fold  in  life  everlasting,  and