214 Sect. 133. other favage Beaft, coming, immediately regarding nothing but his own Safety, is only careful John X. 12. to fecure himself, and leaves the Sheep, and flees away; and fo the Wolf, meeting with no Refiftance, feizes on fome of them, and difperfes the 13 reft of the Sheep. Now the Hireling flees on fuch an Occafion, because he is an Hireling, and is not concerned about the Safety of the Sheep, but takes the Work upon him merely for his own Gain, and the Wages he is to receive: And thus bafely will thofe Teachers act in a Time of Danger, who undertake the Office merely in Regard to their own fecular Advantage.

He knows his Sheep, and will gather them into one Fold.

14

But I am the good Shepherd, who have a true Affection for my Sheep, and am above the Influence of all fuch mean and selfish Views: And fuch is the Relation that there is between us, and fuch the Love we have to one another, that I know and acknowledge my [Sheep,] and take the kindest and most tender Care of them; and I am alfo known, acknowledged, and confided in by mine; fo that we are mutually dear to each other. 15 Even as the Father knows me, and owns his Affection and Regard to me, by the fure Tokens of his Prefence and Approbation; and as I also know, or acknowledge and honour the Father, and it is with an ultimate View to his Appointment and his Glory, that I lay down my Life for the Sheep he has given me; fo alfo do my Sheep acknowledge and confide in me, and fo do I protect and patronize them.

16

of

And I would farther obferve to you, as a Point great Importance, that I have other Sheep, which are not of this Fold (b), (meaning thereby the Elect of GoD among the Gentiles ;) them also muft I at length bring in; and I know, that they will hear and obey my Voice, notwithstanding that Ignorance, Vice, and Mifery, in which they are

now

and leaveth the Sheep, and fleeth: and the Wolf catchSheep.

eth them, and scattereth the

13 The Hireling fleeth, because he is an Hireling, and careth not for the Sheep.

14 I am the good Shepand am known of mine. herd, and know my Sheep,

(b) I have other Sheep, which are not of this Fold.] There seems no Reason, with Wolfius, to understand this, of Jews living out of the Land of Canaan, who could not with fuch Propriety be faid, not to belong to the Fold of Ifrael. The incorporating the Gentiles into ne Church with the Jews, was indeed a grand Event, worthy fuch particular Notice: And it deferves our Remark, that they are here called the Sheep of Chrift, even while they were yet in Ignorance and Idolatry, as he intended at length to bring them Home.

(c) Vo

my Voice; and there fhall be one Fold, and one Shep

The Jews are again divided in their Sentiments about him. 215 now involved; and fo, all being incorporated into Sect. 133. one Society, of which I am the Head, the Governor, and Guardian, there fhall be one Sheepfold, [and] one Shepherd.

herd.

John X. 16.

And for this Reafon efpecially does the Father 17
love me, and approves it as an Act of eminent
Duty and Love to him, because I am come with
this Defign into the World, to lay down my Life
for the Redemption of my Sheep, who are dear
to him, as well as to me; that I may take it again,
and poffefs it for ever, to be employed for his
Glory, and for the Happiness of my People.
For tho' I am shortly to die by the Hands of 18
moft cruel Enemies, yet no one deprives me of my
Life, or takes it from me against my Will; for I
have every Moment a Power to refcue myself at
Pleasure, and could even with mine expiring
Breath command immediate Deliverance; but I
will manifeftly fhew, that I lay it down of myself,
and voluntarily relinquish my Body, fooner than
my Soul would in a Courfe of Nature have been
diflodged from it (c): And this in me will be a
very regular, tho' wonderful Act; for as I have
Life in myself, (John v. 26.) I have full Power
and Authority thus to lay it down, when I shall
think fit (d); and I have alfo Power to refume it at
Pleasure, by entering into, and quickening my
Body again. And indeed this Commandment I have
received of my Father, and shall e'er long fulfil
the Charge in both its Branches.

When our Lord uttered these remarkable Ex- 19
preffions, there was a Divifion therefore again
among the Jews, (as there had been before, Chap.
vii. 43. Sect. 101. and ix. 16. Sect. 130.) efpe-
cially on Account of these last Words.
many 20
of them faid, He has certainly a Damon dwelling
in him, and by the Operation of that Evil Spirit

And

is

(c) Voluntarily relinquish my Body, &c.] That our Lord did fo, evidently appeared from the trong Cry he fent forth juft before his Death, with which the Centurion was reasonably fo much impreffed. See Luke xxiii. 46, 47. and Mark xv. 39. Sect. 191.

(d) Full Power and Authority, &c.] This the Word or expreffes, and the Manner of Chrift's Death abundantly proved it: And as no reasonable Objection can be made to the Equity and Wifdom of the Divine Being, in giving Chrift fuch a Power, fo the Ufe he made of it, (as we may farther fhew elsewhere,) is truly admirable.

216

Reflections on the Care of CHRIST for his Sheep.

Sect. 133. is quite diftracted with one of the most malignant is mad; why hear ye him? Kinds of Lunacy; why then do you give yourselves

21 Others faid, These are not the Words of him that

open the Eyes of the Blind?

John X. 20. the Trouble to hear him, while he goes on in 21 fuch extravagant Abfurdities? But others much more rationally faid, Thefe are not by any means hath a Devil : Can a Devil the Words of a Dæmoniack, or a Lunatick; for there is the greatest Confistence and Energy in them And befides, could a Damon that made a Man mad, open the Eyes of the Blind, as it is plain this Man has often, and very lately done? It is rather Madness to imagine, that an Evil Spirit has fuch Power, or that he would employ it to such benevolent Purposes.

John x. 20.

Ver. 11.

Ver. 15.

Ver. 18.

Ver. 15.

Ver. 16.

T

IMPROVEME N T.

HERE is not, perhaps, any where to be found a greater Inftance of the Force of Prejudice, than in these perverfe Jews, who cenfured Chrift as a Lunatick, and a Dæmoniack, for one of the graveft and moft excellent Speeches, that was ever delivered. Let us review it with all due Attention, and Regard.

Let us confider Christ as the good Shepherd, and humbly commit our Souls to him, as ever we defire they should be fafe and happy. We have known his kind Regards to the Flock, in expofing and laying down his Life for them. And he hath not laid it down in vain. Delightful Thought! Our compaffionate Shepherd, even when the Sword of the Lord was awakened to fmite him, has not fo fallen, as to rife no more ; but as in this great and good Work, he voluntarily laid down, fo he has alfo reaffumed his Life; and still bears on his Heart the fame Concern for his Flock, and uses his renewed Life, and exalted Dignity, for their Security and Happiness.

Let us humbly acknowledge him, as acknowledged by the Father: Let us couragiously and gratefully own him, and be ready to lay down our Lives allo for him. We are thofe other Sheep, of whom he fpake, who were not originally of the Fold, but by his Grace are now brought in to the great Shepherd and Bishop of Souls. Let us pray, that the Boundaries of his Fold may be ftill more extended, and the whole Number of his Elect accomplished; that all the Flock may at length appear together, and may be conducted by him to the Regions of that. Immortal Life which he determines to give it.

In the mean Time, let us maintain all proper Regards to him, and efpecially, the most chearful Confidence in his Care; repeating with the moft Evangelical Views, and fo with a peculiar Sublimity of Senfe, the

Words

He preaches at the Feaft of Dedication in Solomon's Porch.

217 Words of David, as our own: (Pfal. xxiii. 1,—4.) The Lord is my Shep- Sect. 133. berd, I shall not want: He maketh me to lie down in green Paftures; be kadeth me befide the fill Waters: He reftoreth my Soul; he leadeth me in the Paths of Righteoufnefs for his Name's Sake: Yea, tho' I walk thro' the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I will fear no Evil; for thou art with me, thy Rod and thy Staff, they comfort me.

SECT. CXXXIV.

CHRIST difcourfing of his Union with the Father, is charged with Blafphemy; and being affaulted by the Jews, retires beyond Jordan. John X. 22, to the End.

AND it was at Jerufalem NOW it may be proper to obferve, that the Sect. 134.

the Feaft of the Dedica

tion, and it was Winter.

23 And Jefus walked in the Temple in Solomon's Porch.

;

Time, when these Discourses were delivered, was the Feast of Dedication (a), which was ob- John X, 22, ferved at Jerufalem in Memorial of the Purification of the Temple, after it had been polluted by the Idolatries and Impieties of Antiochus and confequently it was Winter. And to fhel- 23 ter himself from the Inclemencies of the Weather, Jefus was then walking in the covered Walk that went round the Temple, and was now in that Part of it which was called Solomon's Porch (b).

Then

(a) The Feast of Dedication.] As it is exprefsly faid, this Feaft was in Winter, it is plain, it could not be observed in Remembrance of the Dedication of Solomon's Temple, which was juft after Harvest, (1 Kings viii. 2.) nor of that of Nehemiah's, which was in the Spring: (Ezra vi. 15, 16.) But the Feaft here intended must be that inftituted by Judas Maccabæus, on his having purified the Temple and Altar from the Pollutions and Idolatries of Antiochus Epiphanes. This was celebrated for eight Days fucceffively, in the Month of December; (1 Mac. iv. 52, 59.) and is mentioned by Jofephus, as a Festival to which great Regard was paid in his Time. See Jofeph. Antiq. lib. xii. cap. 7. (al. 11.) §. 6, 7. and Selden de Syned. lib. iii. cap. 13.

(b) Solomon's Porch.] Jofephus informs us, (Antiq. lib. viii. cap. 3. (al. 2.) §. 2, 9 & lib. xx. cap. 9, (al. 8.) §. 7.) that Solomon (finding the Area of Mount Sion too fmall to anfwer his magnificent Plan,) when he built the Temple, filled up a Part of the adjacent Valley, and built an outward Portico over it towards the Eaft. This was a moft noble Structure, fupported by a Wall 400 Cubits high, and confifting of Stones of a vaft Bulk, each Stone (as it is faid) being twenty Cubits long, and fix Cubits high. And Jofephus fpea ks of it, as continuing even to the Time of Albinus and Agrippa, which was feveral Years after the Death of Christ. This is called Solomon's Porch, Acts iii. 11. and v. 12. VOL. II. E e

(c) I have

218

Sect. 134.

The Jews enquire of CHRIST, if he was the Meffiah.

Then several of the Jews furrounded him, and faid unto him, How long doft thou hold us in an John X. 24. anxious and uneafy Suspence? If thou art indeed the Meffiah, tell us fo plainly and expressly: Which they faid with a Defign to infnare and accufe

25

him.

And Jefus answered them, I have in Effect told you over and over (c), yet you believe me not; and had I offered nothing more, the Works which I do in my Father's Name fufficiently declare it, as it is clearly to be feen, that they bear Witness of me, in a Language which you would easily under26 ftand, if you were to judge impartially.

27

But

24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long doft

thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Chrift, tell us plainly.

25 Jefus 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;

becaufe ye are not of my Sheep, as I faid unto you.

27 My Sheep hear my

you do not believe, because you are not Perfons of
fuch Simplicity and Sincerity, as I described under
the Character of my Sheep. For as I said unto
you but just now, (ver. 4, 14, 16.) my Sheep hear Voice, and I know them,
my Voice, and I know and take Care of them ;
and they, like Sheep accustomed to their Shepherd,
28 acknowledge and follow me. And the Confe-

quence of that will be fuch, as would make it
well worth your while, to lay afide all thefe Pre-
judices, and to join with them: For I give unto
them an invaluable Bleffing, even Eternal Life;
and guard them with fuch Almighty Power and
conftant Care, that they shall never perish, neither
fball any Enemy (d), be he ever fo fubtile, or
ever fo outragious, be able to pluck them out of
my Hand, or injure them while they remain in
29 it.
Nor indeed is it poffible, that fhould;
for my Father, who gave [them] to me, on pur-
pofe that I might redeem and fave them, is con-
feffedly greater than all;
and therefore none is
able

any

and they follow me.

28 And I give unto them eternal Life, and they fhall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my Hand.

29 My Father which gave none is able to pluck them me, is greater than all:

and

them

(c) I have in Effect told you over and over.] What he had juft been faying of himself, in the preceding Verfes, as the great Shepherd, was in Senfe equivalent to a Declaration of his being the Meffiah I mention the foregoing Difcourfe, as what had just been delivered; becaufe I think it most natural to explain the 22d Verfe, as referring to what was faid before, and not merely to what follows: For elfe the Evangelift would probably have faid, After thefe Things was the Feast of Dedication. Compare John v. 1. vi. 4. and vii. 1, 2. (d) Neither fall any Enemy.] This is the plain Import and Energy of the Original, (EX APTATE TIS avla,) which is greatly enervated by adding the Word Man in the Tranflation, as the Authors of our English Verfion have frequently done. (Compare Mat. xi. 27. Mark xiii. 5. and fam. i. 13.) The Sheep of Chrift are expofed to fo great Danger from the Infernal Lion, (1 Pet. v. 8.) that I doubt not, but this Text moft eminently refers to the Care of their Shepherd to guard them from his Affaults.

(e) I and