in sacrifice. And in the seventeenth and eighteenth verses of this chapter, he expressly guards the doctrine from such an erroneous supposition: "therefore doth my father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might 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.'

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It had been no necessary proof of his love to lay down a life for the sheep, which he had not power to keep. Herein consists the entire merit of that sacrifice that when, as God, he had power to retain it, he transferred, or allowed to be transferred, that power to his enemies, till the time required that he should take it up again, by recalling that power. "In the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will O God:"I delight to conform myself to that scheme which Thou hast devised and ordained in thy eternal counsels of vindicating thine own honour, and saving thy lapsed creatures, by the death and sacrifice of thy son.' Thus He was obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. The good shepherd has given his life for the sheep. With unparalleled love and condescension, he purchased with his own blood, the life, pardon, peace, and security of that little flock which he had called out of the

world, fed with the heavenly manna of his word, and led by the still waters of comfort.

It was an ancient prophecy" Behold, the Lord will come with a strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold his reward is with him, and his work before him." Declaring that to his enemies he would come in the times of the Messiah, armed with justice and authority, giving to every man according to his works. On the other hand, the prophecy proceeds, "He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young." (Isaiah 40.) The Church of Christ is here styled a flock,-" his flock," in a tender and an emphatical sense. "We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture." Under this name and character, the great shepherd ever delights to own and recognize his people. "Fear not, little flock," he affectionately addresses them in the Gospel, "it is your Father's pleasure to give you the kingdom."

The flock of Christ in this world, has ever been a little flock: distinguished by little else than the meek graces, the peaceable virtues of their shepherd. "Behold," said he to his first disciples, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves." And such, precisely was the situation

of the flock for many ages: and yet it has continued a flock, and, compared with the idolatrous world at large, no more than a flock. And so it shall continue, secure in the care and promise of the great Shepherd, as long as they keep within the fold. "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; And I give unto them eternal life: and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand." Thus the present protection of the great Shepherd is secured to his flock, with more glorious promises and prospects in reversion: for he adds, "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.' By the term "other" sheep, is to be understood, the whole gentile world, when the fullness of the Gentiles, shall, like a mighty and sweeping torrent, flow into the Church: when they shall hear the voice of the good Shepherd calling them by his word and ambassadors from the four corners of the earth.

In what precise manner this great and glorious event shall be accomplished, Christians are not agreed. If we assent, however, to the opinions of those interpreters of prophecy, who fancy they behold its near approach in the present

appearance of things in the political as well as the Christian world-then, we may conclude, that the conversion of the Gentiles will be sudden and miraculous. If, on the other hand, the conversion of the Gentiles, shall not be full and complete until the Christian leaven have done its entire work, and "till the whole be leavened," and the Gospel of the kingdom shall have been preached to and believed on in the whole world, (a supposition more agreeable to the general analogy of God's providence, as well as to those gradual methods of moral illumination hitherto employed upon mankind)—then we may conclude that the conversion of the Gentiles is yet distant, and therefore will be no more miraculous than what we witness at present under the ordinary progress of evangelic truth by moral .means and instruments. This last supposition however, appears to be at variance with such splendid prophecies as the following, "Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the people but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. Lift up thine eyes round about and see all they gather themselves

together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear and be enlarged, because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee. Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought. Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls salvation and thy gates praise. Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified. A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: "I the Lord will hasten it in his time."-(Isaiah 60.)

The latter verse, in particular, seems to point to something sudden and miraculous, and superior in effect to the first propagation of evangelic truth, whereby, in the short space of forty years, the Gospel was preached in almost every region of the then known world.

How long it shall please Almighty wisdom to delay these glorious times, the completion of