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fheep (a) hear his voice: and he calleth his own 4 fheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when

he putteth forth his own fheep, he goeth before them, and the fheep (b) follow him: for they know his 5 voice. And a ftranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of ftran6 gers. This parable spake Jefus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he fpake unto them. Then faid Jefus unto them again, Verily verily, I fay unto you (c), I am the door of the 8 fheep. All that ever came before me, are thieves and 9 robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the 'door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved (d), 10 and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to fteal, and to kill, and to deftroy: I am come that they might have life, and that 11 they might have it more abundantly. I am the good fhepherd the good fhepherd giveth his life for the 12 fheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the fhepherd, whofe own the sheep are not, feeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the fheep, and fleeth and the 13 wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the fheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling (e), and careth

14 not

(a) This is meant of the fheepfolds which were hired by fuch as brought fheep to fell for facrifice, and which the porter or keeper of the fold, would not open to any but the right owner of the fheep, when they were to be led out.

(b) The fheep in Judea, and throughout all the eastern part of the world, are more familiar and tractable than with us; and inftead of being driven by the fhepherd before him, are used to follow. him when called, as our dogs do their master.

(c) Here our bleffed Saviour begins a more general comparison. (d) He fhall be kept fafe, as fheep are kept by a careful fhepherd. (e) This is a natural defcription of the careleffnefs of fervants in defending their mafter's property; who, when any difficulty occurs, are too apt to forfake their charge, to provide for their own fafety and advantage. The paffage may be juftly urged against careles paftors, who attend only to their own eafe and profit; but it ought not to be applied to fuch as do their duty to the flock. It cannot

be

14 not for the sheep. I am the good fhepherd, and know 15 my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father

knoweth me, even fo know I the Father: and I lay 16 down my life for the fheep. And other fheep I have, which are not of this fold: them alfo I must bring, and they fhall hear my voice; and there shall be one 17 fold, and one fhepherd (f). Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might 18 take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself: I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

19

There was a divifion therefore again among the Jews 20 for these fayings. And many of them faid, He hath a 21 devil, and is mad, why hear ye him (g)? Others faid, Thefe are not the words of him that hath a devil: can a devil open the eyes of the blind?

22

And it was at Jerufalem the feaft of the dedication (b), and it was winter. And Jefus walked in the 24 temple in Solomon's porch. Then came the Jews. round about him, and faid unto him, How long doft thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell 25 us plainly. Jefus anfwered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's 26 name, they bear witnefs of me. believé not; becaufe ye are not of my fheep, as I faid unto you. 27 My fheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they 28 follow me. And I give unto them eternal life, and

But ye

they fhall (i) never perifh, neither fhall any pluck

be an objection that they receive a reward for their labour; they having a right to it by appointment of the great fhepherd of fouls. Luke x. 7. 1 Cor. ix. 13, 14.

(f) By this is meant, that Chrift would admit the Gentiles to equal privileges of his covenant with the Jews.

(g) See Matt. xi. 18.

(h) This feaft was kept in remembrance of the cleanfing of the temple, and fetting up of a new altar by Judas Maccabeus, after the profanation of Antiochus king of Syria." "See 1 Mac. iv. 56. 2 Mac.

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() Shall not perifh for ever. Chap. viii. 51.

29 them

29 them out of my hand. My Father which gave them

me, is greater than all and none is able to pluck 30 them out of my Father's hand. I and. my Father are 31 one (k). Then the Jews took up ftones again to ftone 32 him. Jefus anfwered them, Many good works have

I fhewed you from my Father; for which of those 33 works do ye ftone me? The Jews anfwered him, faying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blafphemy, and because that thou, being a man, mak34 eft thyfelf God. Jefus anfwered them, Is it not written 35 in your law (1), I said, Ye are gods. If he called them

gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the 36 fcripture cannot be broken: Say ye of him, whom the Father hath fanctified, and fent into the world, Thou blafphemeft; because I faid, I am the Son of 37 God? If I do not the works of my Father, believe 38 me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, be

lieve the works: that ye may know and believe that 39 the Father is in me, and I in him. Therefore they

fought again to take him; but he efcaped out of 40 their hand, And went away again beyond Jordan,

into the place where John at first baptized; and there 41 he abode. And many reforted unto him, and said,

John did no miracle: but all things that John spake 42 of this man were true. And many believed on him

there.

(k) I and my Father are in this refpect the fame.

(2) If the fcripture, which cannot be broken, that is, cannot be contradicted, (P. lxxxii. 6.) calls judges and rulers of the people, Gods, and children of the moft High, only because they act by commiffion from God; can ye charge him with blafphemy, to whom the Father hath given the divine Spirit without meafure, Chap. iii. 34. and hath fent him into the world for the nobleft of all purposes, even the redemption and falvation of men? I am that perfon; and have I not a right to call myfelf the Son of God, being indeed in the highest fenfe his honourable, true, and only Son? Chap. i. 17.

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NOW a certain man was fick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her fifter Martha. 2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair (a), whose 3 brother Lazarus was fick.) Therefore his fifter fent unto him, faying, Lord, behold, he whom thou loveft is fick. When Jefus heard that, he faid, This ficknefs is not unto death (b), but for the glory of God, 5 that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. Now Jefus loved Martha, and her fifter, and Lazarus. 6 When he had heard therefore that he was fick, he

abode two days ftill in the fame place where he was (c). 7 Then after that faith he to his difciples, Let us go 8 into Judea again. His difciples fay unto him, Maf

ter, the Jews of late fought to stone thee; and goest 9 thou thither again? Jefus anfwered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he ftumbleth not, because he feeth the light of 10 this world (d). But if a man walk in the night, he 11 ftumbleth, because there is no light in him.. Thefe

things faid he and after that, he faith unto them, Our friend Lazarus fleepeth; but I go, that I may 12 awake him out of fleep. Then faid his difciples, 13 Lord, if he fleep, he fhall do well. Howbeit Jefus

fpake of his death: but they thought that he had. 14 fpoken of taking of reft in fleep. Then faid Jefus

(a) As defcribed Chap. xii. 3.

(b) Whatever be the end of this sickness, it will not be to death in the common course: but God, who is the giver of life, can reflore it at any time, and in any manner he thinks fit, for his own glory, and that of his Son.

(c) He did not go immediately, but waited until Lazarus had been dead fome days, that the miracle of his refurrection might be the more confpicuous and undeniable.

(d) See Matt. xx. 6.

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15 unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your fakes, that I was not there (to the intent (e) ye may believe); nevertheless, let us go unto him. 16 Then faid Thomas, which is called Didymus (ƒ),

unto his fellow-difciples, Let us alfo go, that we may 17 die with him. Then when Jefus came, he found that 18 he had lien in the grave four days already. (Now

Bethany was nigh unto Jerufalem, about fifteen fur19 longs off.) And many of the Jews came to Martha

and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. 20 Then Martha, as foon as fhe heard that Jefus was

coming, went and met him: but Mary fat ftill in the 21 houfe. Then said Martha unto Jefus, Lord, if thou 22 hadft been here, my brother had not died. But I

know, that, even now, whatfoever thou wilt afk of 23 God, God will give it thee. Jefus faith unto her, 24 Thy brother fhall rife again. Martha faith unto him, 25 I know that he fhall rife again in the refurrection at

the last day. Jefus faid unto her, I am the refurrec26 tion and the life (g); he that believeth in me, though

he were dead, yet fhall he live; And whofoever 27 liveth, and believeth in me, fhall (b) never die. Believeft thou this? She faith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Chrift the Son of God, 28 which fhould come into the world (i). And when the had fo faid, fhe went her way, and called Mary her fifter fecretly, faying, The Master is come, and call29 eth for thee. As foon as fhe heard that, fhe arose

(e) To the intent that your faith may be the better confirmed, by the miracle you will fee me perform on him.

(ƒ) Thomas in Hebrew, as Didymus doth in Greek, fignifies a

Twin.

(g) I have power to raise up the dead, and to give them life now, as well as at the last day,

(h) Though he die on earth, yet fhall he live hereafter: and when he is entered on that future ftate, he cannot die any more, Luke xx. 36. but fhall live for ever.

(i) Who was foretold by the prophets.

quickly,

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