and that in greater plenty. Let us observe, that if he came for this end, we are in a starving condition without him. Let us seek a spirit of discernment to get this first and we shall be better able to know what is proper food for our souls.

11. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

Well, so it is; this is being a good shepherd indeed ; this is true concern for the flock; and, blessed be God, many have been enabled to follow Christ's example. May his love be deeply imprinted in the hearts of all!

12. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth; and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

Not he who taketh the hire is necessarily an hireling, for there is a divine warrant for that; but he who undertaketh the work chiefly, if not solely, for the hire. O! let us be Christ's own sheep! Let us be his property!

13. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

It is impossible that the hireling shepherd should stand by the sheep in a time of danger, or expose himself to any hardships for their sakes. Self will be sure to be true to itself. It would be better to lose the hire, than to have no enjoyment of it, or lose life for it. There is a Christian country, in which not a few run from their flocks, to live more at ease elsewhere. Of all the fallen sons of Adam, these are the most abandoned.

"And careth not for the sheep." This, though a seemingly soft censure of a very bad disposition, cuts deep from the mouth of Jesus, whose care for the sheep cost him his life.

14. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

Christ does not say, "I am the good shepherd," and

repeat it, to boast of himself; but that we might know

and come to him as such. is, know and love them.

"And know my sheep," that "And am known of mine,"

known and loved of them. Doubtless, he knows every one of us; who of us are his sheep, and who are not. But it is here said, that he also is known of them. In order to be his sheep, we must know him. Let us come to the point. Do we know him, to trust in him for the supply of all our wants, for remission of sins, an obedient will, and a new heart to love God?

15. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

I know the Father, even his whole heart of love to mankind. "And I lay down my life for the sheep," in full union with my Father's will.

16. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

They shall hear my voice, proclaiming the glad tidings of salvation to them, to their unspeakable comfort. The Jews were the only fold then. We are now gathered to it, by the mercy of God, according to the tenor of these words. O let us be sure that we are of Christ's fold, by hearing his voice, following him faithfully, and cleaving to him for the life of our souls. O let us think more especially of the time when Christ's one flock will be gathered to him in heaven out of all nations, and what it is to be separated from that flock for ever.

17. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

This is a most amazing discovery of God's love to us. Let us mark well what is here said, and let it sink deep into our hearts." The Father therefore loveth the Son," as if he was dearer to him than ever, or, as if he never loved him before, because he willingly suffered death for our

redemption. Who can think of this without astonishment? Who can measure the depth of man's misery, or the height of God's love?

Christ takes his life again, for the benefit of mankind; thus overcoming death for the whole human nature.

18. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself: It was not in the power of all the world to take it, if he had not freely laid it down for perishing sinners.

18. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.

Christ had power inherent in himself, as God, to speak the breath out of his body, as he did at his crucifixion; to quicken it again, as he did at his resurrection.

18. This commandment have I received of my Father.

The Father commands, and the Son gladly obeys. Think again, for what? That we might be snatched from the brink of hell, to live with God in heaven. Will you perish after this? Will not such love draw us to God?

SECTION XLIV.

Chap. x. ver. 19-30.

DIVERS OPINIONS OF CHRIST.

19. There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.

20. And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?

21. Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil can a devil open the eyes of the blind?

22. And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.

23. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch.

24. Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him,

How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.

In answer, he says he had told them, and that his mira. cles spoke plainly enough for him. And he farther tells them, and us, that the cause of unbelief is in ourselves, and arises from the hardness of our own hearts.

25. Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. 26. But ye believe not; because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

They had not teachableness and simplicity enough to qualify them for believing. Christ's sheep are willing to hear, and to be governed by him; all others are wild and untractable. He knows this of them, whatever they think of themselves, or however they may appear to men.

27. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

28. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand.

If any think eternal life worth anything, let them come to Christ. He gives nothing less! If they can secure it to themselves without him, or give themselves anything better, then let them turn a deaf ear to him.

29. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and none is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

This was the reward of Christ's sufferings, and all that he desired, that he might be the Father's gift to his sheep. But this grant does not take place, unless we give ourselves irrevocably to him; and then we are his, in spite of men or devils. And farther, we are given to Christ to be washed in his blood, purified by his Spirit, and presented in his spotless righteousness to the Father.

30. I and my Father are one

In essence, power, and will. Put the words, "I and my

Father," into the mouth of any creature, the greatest prophet, or highest angel; and the absurdity and blasphemy of them will immediately appear. The Jews understood him in the obvious and strict sense: and if they had misapprehended his words, he would have been one of the worst of men, if he had not told them plainly, how much he abhorred their mistake.

SECTION XLV.

Chap. x. ver. 31-42.

THE MALICE OF THE JEWS.

ye

stone me?

you

31. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed from my Father; for which of those works do 33. The Jews answered him saying, For a good work we stone thee not, but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

34. Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?

35. If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the Scripture cannot be broken:

36. Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?

37. If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.

38. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works; that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.

The Jews accused Christ of blasphemy, for saying, he was the Son of God. He answered them, that their Scriptures call princes, and magistrates, gods; and that though considered in his human nature, yet as sanctified and sent of God, he had a better title to the appellation than those to whom the Scriptures gave it at the same