again recommend, to every Christian, the amiable example of his Lord and Master -that very pattern of meekness; who, 'when he was reviled, reviled not again.' May it not, alfo, be worth confideration, whether our offended honor would not be more completely satisfied, and our triumph greater, by nobly forgiving those who have offended us, than by pursuing the dictates of refentment. Sure I am, that fuch a conduct will procure us a lasting peace of mind; whereas revenge, fweet as fome people may think it, is at best but the gratification of a moment, and never fails to leave a fting behind it. Violent and revengeful people, certainly, cannot be faid to resemble sheep: how then, except they use their utmost endeavors to correct these vices, can they expect to be numbered with Chrift's difciples, whom he emphatically ftyles his fheep.' This forgiving disposition should be particularly extended to our offending brethren: the utmost tenderness fhould be employed towards fuch ftray fheep as may have quitted the

fold,

fold, in hopes of alluring them back. Few occafions call for severity.

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

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

Those who undertake the facred truft of the care of fouls, or, in the language of the parable, of 'a fhepherd,' for the fake of temporal advantage only, without any fpiritual motive, will, in every fituation of danger, take care of themselves and leave their flock to the mercy of the wolf, or

their fpiritual enemy who goes about feeking whom he may devour; nor will fuch pastor or shepherd, at any time, take proper care of his flock, but leave them to ftray at large.

Such

Such will naturally be the conduct of an hireling, or one who confiders himself as having no interest in the flock.

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"14. I am the good fhepherd, and "know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15. As the Father knoweth me, even "fo know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

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

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

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"18. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself: I have power to lay it down, and I have

"it

power to take it again. This commandment have I "received of my Father."

Though fhort-fighted man cannot difcern the hypocrite from the true Christian,

Our

our Lord, to whom the fecret of all hearts is opened, knoweth his own fheep, and they, by faith, both know and honor him. It was the will of the Father, that the Son fhould lay down his life, for the redemption of mankind; and as this was the will of the Father, fo was it also the will of the Son: the facrifice was entirely voluntary for tho' the malice and obstinacy of the Jews were made use of as the means of effecting God's gracious purposes, yet unless it had been the will of our bleffed Lord to give up his life (and for which he tells us his Father loved him') they could have had no power over it. Surely, this is the most astonishing and sublime inftance of love to fallen mankind, both in Father and Son, that can be conceived by the human mind. The other sheep' here alluded to, are the Gentiles; who were to be converted and to become 'one fold' with such of the Jews as believed.

"19. There was a divifion therefore the Jews for these sayings.

again among

20. And

66 20. And And many of them faid, He hath "a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him? 21. Others faid, Thefe are not the "words of him that hath a devil. Can a "devil open the eyes of the blind ?”

Some of the Jews believed our Lord to be a great prophet: this enraged the difbelievers to that degree, that they again reforted to their former affertion, which they conftantly made whenever they were at a lofs for arguments: that he had a devil, and was mad.' This was not only the moft abfurd, but wicked and dangerous, conduct, they could have been guilty of Our Lord plainly declares this to be the fin against the Holy Ghoft (St. Mark, chap. iii. ver. 28. 29. 30.): "Verily I fay " unto you, All fins fhall be forgiven unto "the fons of men, and blafphemies where"with foever they fhall blafpheme: but "he that fhall blafpheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but " is in danger of eternal damnation. Be"cause they said, He hath an unclean spirit. The