Page:The collected works of Theodore Parker volume 8.djvu/134

130 It is under such circumstances that you and I are living, and are to work out our redemption and achieve our character. Great success is a great temptation. It was a wise Roman poet who said, “It is a hard thing not to betray your morals to your riches, and when you become many a Crœsus in wealth, to be a single Numa in your virtue.”

In prosperity consider that, after all, the great thing in life is man's soul, his highest powers, their delight and their duty.

There runs an old story, I know not how old, of John, the son of Zebedee, richest of Galilean fishermen. “Come and follow me,” said Jesus to the young man, in his father's ship, mending the nets. Pleased with the attention, and greedy of honour and power, John forsook all and followed him, not knowing what manner of spirit he was of. As they went up to Jerusalem, the Samaritans would not let Jesus enter their village, and John asked if he should command fire to come down from heaven and consume them. Jesus replied, “The Son of man is not come to destroy, but to save.”

John was wroth, but said nothing. As they drew nigh to Jerusalem, that “son of thunder” thought the kingdom of heaven should presently appear: he himself desired to take it by force; and he asked Jesus, “Let me drink of thy cup, and be baptized with thy baptism; let me sit at thy right hand, and be lord over all the eleven.”

Jesus answered, “The lofty seat, it is not mine to give; but thou shalt drink of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with.”

And John's foolish heart was gladdened in him, for he said, “Surely his cup is delight, and his baptism the sacrament of power.”

But that night John saw Jesus in his agony, yet only dimly perceived the angel that came and strengthened him. He beheld the “marshal's guard” seize the world's great prophet; and, fearful lest the officers should seize him also, he shrunk into the crowd, crouching down amid the maidens about Herod's palace. He sat down afar off, and looked on the crucifixion; and when Jesus cried, “My