the view of faith, both as it respects the church militant and the church triumphant. Pray in sincerity for the full accomplishment of the prophecy in the text, and evince the sincerity of your prayers and desires for the approach of this desired era, by your utmost endeavours in aiding whatever lawful and proper means present themselves which seem calculated and designed to hasten its approach. Yet extend your thoughts and expectations beyond even this view of things, and these hopes and prospects, delightful as they are in themselves, to that inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, even the paradise of God, where it will be given you uninterruptedly to eat of the tree of life, and where the Lamb shall lead you unto living fountains of water; where the thorns and briars of inbred corruption shall vex and harass you no longer, and all your lamentations over unfruitful lives and barren hearts shall for ever cease: where, in short, the sorrows and perplexities, the temptations and conflicts of your present wilderness state shall be forgotten, or remembered only with reference to that

faithful loving kindness which brought you safely through them. Thus extend your thoughts beyond the limits of time, to

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those things which are not seen, and are eternal;" let your conversation, your hearts, and affections be in heaven, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. And that the seeds of grace sown in our hearts here, may be nourished unto a life of immortal glory; that we may be kept steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, until we shall at length come to Zion with songs, and everlasting joy upon our heads, may God of his infinite mercy grant, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Note to page 347.

* There is an evil to be avoided on the part of those who contend for the literal restoration of the Jews, and maintain strong views on the subject. They must beware how they confound the supposed literal restoration of the Jews in their own land, with their spiritual conversion to the faith of Christ :—and in whatever light they may view the former, they should never lose sight of the latter, or cease to regard it as infinitely the more important of the two.-Should these boun

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daries be transgressed, who does not foresee that evils of no small magnitude must accrue to the interests of truth and piety, particularly as it regards the promotion of Christianity amongst that very people, which deservedly holds so prominent a place amongst the religious objects of the present age.

SERMON XVI.

THE ULTIMATE ENLARGEMENT AND
UNITY OF THE CHURCH.

A MISSIONARY DISCOURSE.

JOHN X. 26.

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.

SOME of the most beautiful images employed in the figurative language of Scripture are borrowed from pastoral occupations and pastoral scenes. When Isaiah would describe the love of Christ for his people, and his tender regard for their welfare, he says, "He shall feed his flock like a shepherd, he shall gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom,

and shall gently lead those that are with young." Under the same endearing character we hear David expressing his confidence in God: "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures and leadeth me beside the still waters." In the context, our Saviour himself declares, "I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep and am known of mine, even as the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father:* and I lay down my life for the sheep." And then in the words of the text, "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."

In discoursing on these words, I shall direct your attention to three pointsfirst, the scope of the promise; secondly, the certainty of its fulfilment; and lastly, the means whereby its accomplishment is to be effected. We proceed then to notice,

* This rendering appears more strictly agreeable to the sense of the original, καθὼς γινώσκει με ὁ πατὴρ, καγω γινώσκω τὸν πατέρα. ν. 15.