shepherd is JEHOVAH." Hence the psalmist infers, I shall not want. The argument is short, but firm. It is the argument of a man who knows his God. Less than the all-sufficient can neither fill our capacities, nor accomplish our desire. We should soon exhaust the highest angels, and find them to be, like every other creature, when embraced as our portion, a broken cistern, and a lying vanity. The portion of Jacob is not like them. His attribute is infinity. The father and fountain of all being and blessedness, when he condescends to bind himself to men by covenant relation, and to sanction his promise with his oath, they have obtained the last security for their happiness. As impossible is it for him not to give that which is good, as it is impossible for him to lie. Not everything, indeed, which would gratify their wishes, often impatient, and ill-directed, but everything seasonable and proper, everything conducive to their benefit, everything which they themselves would ask, were they perfectly free from error, shall they receive at his hand. For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. This David believed, and he reasons accordingly: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not

want.

An illustration of the position contained in this introductory verse, and of its effect upon a gracious mind, occupies the rest of the psalm, and divides it into two corresponding partsthe first, (verses 2, 3, 4, and 5,) unfolds the nature of Christ's pastoral office; and the second, (verse 6,) is the psalmist's tribute of faith and gratitude.

I. The pastoral office of Christ is represented to consist in making provision for his flock, in its direction and its defense.

1. The good Shepherd provides for his flock. Verse 2. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

A flock of sheep feeding securely in rich pastures and by the cooling stream, is a pleasing spectacle in any country. But under the sultry skies, and amidst the burning sands, of the East, it awakened exquisite emotion, and was a lively emblem of temporal and spiritual felicity. Most significantly does it depict the condition of believers. The world around them is a land of deserts and of drought, which yields nothing to satisfy the longing soul. Sooner shall the body be nourished by whirlwinds and the dust, than the spirit with things of mere time and sense. But from this land of deserts and of drought, does the gracious Shepherd lead his flock to green pastures, and

gentle waters; that is, he provides enjoyments for them as suitable to their nature and circumstances, as the best of pasture and of water are to the literal sheep. Let us, therefore, inquire what these enjoyments are, and where they are to be found.

In general, they are the mercies of the new covenant, established in his hands as in the hands of a mediator. He delivers his people, by faith in his blood, from the inquietudes of an evil conscience; puts them beyond the reach of the curse, for there is no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus; and rescues them from. the bondage of sin and Satan. He reveals to them his excellence, admits them into his friendship, sheds his love abroad in their hearts, introduces them to his Father as their reconciled God, intercedes for them within the vail, supports them by his grace, gives them an inheritance among them that are sanctified, and is Himself their all.

Now these are enjoyments adapted to the nature of an immortal soul, and commensurate with its faculties. Here the meek eat and are satisfied. The void in the bosom is filled up. They have found the pearl of great price, and are enriched for ever. Secured in the possession of everlasting good, they may say, Return to thy rest, O my soul, for the Lord hath dealt

bountifully with thee. Till the pastures of God wither, and the river of life fail, they cannot want and it is their own fault, if the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, do not keep their hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

These spiritual blessings are dispensed in the church; for she is the church of the living God, without whose pale there is no revealed way of salvation. He has committed to her, as a sacred deposit, his word and ordinances, by which sinners are convinced, converted, and made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

The original of all saving truth is in the person of Jesus Christ; and the exact transcript of it, in his word. His word is truth, and truth is the food of the soul. All its principles, and precepts, and promises, are designed to convey supplies of grace out of the fulness of our Lord Jesus. Even the scandal of the cross, and the sublimer doctrines of religion, are adapted to the taste of the new man, and promote his growth. And as they all have a practical use, not one of them, however odious to carnal wisdom, can be taken from the Bible without depriving believers of a means by which they receive from God out of heaven both the bread of life and the water of life. Hence the testimonies of the psalmist and the

prophet: How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth. Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart. And hence, too, the reverence of believers for the holy scripture. It is the language and the voice of their God and Father, speaking peace to his saints, which is better to them than thousands of gold and silver. His sentence is creation; and when it has gone forth to bless them through the medium of his word, neither earth nor hell shall hinder them from rejoicing with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

With the word of God we are to connect his ordinances, comprehending the whole system of instituted worship. They bear the image and superscription of the Lord our lawgiver, and are instruments by which he both. maintains his authority, and imparts his grace. To these ends, beside the devotion of the closet and family, the public homage of the church on his own day, the holy sacraments, the ministry of reconciliation, all contribute. In preaching the word, and in the other functions of their calling, the under-shepherds obey the commandment of the Chief Shepherd, Feed my sheep-feed my lambs. Precious as are the divine truths in themselves and at all times,