The Cabinet.

THE GOOD SHEPHERD.

THE predictions which went before concerning the Saviour exhibited him in a threefold aspect,‚—as a Prophet, a Priest, and a King. In his own statements regarding himself it is clear that the second occupied his own mind much more than either the first or the third. He delighted to view himself in the character of the Chief Shepherd of Israel. It was neither as the Prophet nor as the King that he performed the mighty work of atoning for the sins of the world,bearing the griefs and carrying the sorrows" of a lost race.

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his memorable prayer, previous to the crucifixion, the character of a Shepherd was the great thing that engrossed him. In his conversation with the disciples immediately after his resurrection, on the way to Emmaus, while he cited Moses, the Psalms, and the Prophets, showing that Christ "must needs have suffered, and entered into his glory," it was still the Shepherd,-living, dying, risen, glorified, that occupied his mind. The prophetic was, indeed, only preparatory to the pastoral character, and the regal sprang out of it. The Old Testament Church was taught to cleave to God as her Shepherd. In Psa. xxiii., claiming her relation to him, she exults in her privileges. In Psa. lxxx. she addresses him directly as the Shepherd of Israel, that led Joseph like a flock, and dwelt between the cherubims. The great evangelical prophet, Isaiah, too, in chap. xl. 10, 11, declares for the Church, “Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. 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." Ezekiel, too (xxxiv. 23, 24), bore like testimony: "I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them." Micah, too, was honoured to bear a corresponding testimony (v. 2-4): "Out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of

Israel. And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God." But nowhere has the subject been so largely and so vividly exhibited as in the words of the Shepherd himself,—John x. He there proclaims himself the "good Shepherd," connecting his benevolence with his death. He lays down his life for his sheep! There are here several things to be noted.

I. To support these pastoral predictions required that the Shepherd should possess divinity. The Father promised that he would raise up for his people "a plant of renown."-"Thus shall they know that I the Lord their God am with them, and the house of Israel my people, and ye my flock; the flock of my pasture are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord." This is very extraordinary language, setting forth distinctly the Divine character of the Shepherd; but still more emphatic are the words of the Apostle in his address to the Ephesian elders, whom he counsels to take heed to all the flock over which the Holy Ghost had made them overseers, "to feed the Church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." God purchased his Church! He purchased that Church with his blood! Here, then, we have connected together, as clearly as language can possibly do it, the two ideas of God and blood!

II. To support these pastoral predictions it was necessary that Jesus should be clothed with humanity. Perfect manhood became indispensable to his work. "Awake, O sword! against my Shepherd, and the man that is my fellow." Here, again, we have the “Fellow" of the Father sustaining the character of a man—a true and real man; "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief." About the manhood of the Lord Jesus there can be no dispute. The Jews, indeed, allow his manhood, and defend his murder!

Let us now look at some of the chief ideas suggested by our Lord's pastoral character.

They are his own,

The love which

First, The relations he sustains to his Church. not by gift, nor by inheritance, but by purchase. this indicates the human mind cannot conceive. The affairs of man furnish no illustration. The records of philanthropy or of patriotism present nothing that may help us. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man should lay down his life for his friend." But Jesus Christ laid down his life for his people, when they were not his friends, but his enemies! The idea of God in human nature shedding blood to redeem a rebel world, is a new thing in the region

of human thought! It astounds-it overwhelms-the reader is lost in it! The Apostles, in all their attempts to illustrate Divine love, fail. The love of the Father, the love of the Son, and the love of the Spirit is utterly incomprehensible!

Secondly, The relation in which he stands to the ministers of his word. These are merely a portion of his flock, who lie under the like obligation with the rest, and are required to cherish for their personal salvation an equal dependence on his mercy and grace. All this is common to them and their brethren of the Divine family. But there are considerations personal and peculiar to themselves. He has chosen, qualified, and appointed them; and he sustains them as overseers and guides of his people, his sheep. Here, however, they are merely servants. Nothing as to guidance or to oversight is left to their discretion. All is fixed and settled: in the Book are the regulations to be observed as to this oversight, and the truths to be taught in their pastoral character. These overseers have ofttimes to discharge a work for which, by nature, no man is duly qualified, and therefore they look to their Master for his promised aid and special grace to the right discharge of their duty; and they never look in vain. They sustain an office of honourable servitude, to which, according to the way in which they have acquitted themselves, a record will be assigned in the day of judgment, when the chief Shepherd shall appear, and make generous acknowledgment of the zeal and the service of those who have honestly laboured to promote his glory.

Third, The extent and diversity of claims which are made on the Saviour as the Shepherd of his people. These are greater than at first sight appear, and are such as demand alike omniscience and omnipotence.

As it relates to the calling of his purchased, his chosen, it is required that he should preside at the fountain of being, that he may call them by his grace to his kingdom and glory. Paul exulted in the acknowledgment that the Master had done so for himself; so did Augustine; so did Luther; so have all the heaven-taught portion of mankind. The knowledge requisite for this part of his functions must be co-extensive with the world and with all time.

But when called and brought into his fold, a wisdom and a power not less great are required to their preservation, and the discriminating care they individually require. This great Shepherd of the sheep seeks the lost, and having found them, brings them again; those that are drawn away he brings back; those that are wounded

he binds up; such as are weak he strengthens. He knows them by name, and he is known of them. Him they follow; they will flee from strangers. His power and his wisdom are alike pledged to preserve them to his kingdom and his glory.

APPLICATION.

1st. Young people! You have heard of the good Shepherd. What think you of him? Is not his character beautiful? Is it not a good thing to be under his care? Would not you like to be so? Nothing hinders; but that you may not come short of so great a blessing, it behoves you to be upon your guard against temptations which are very strong amongst your class. See, then, that you do not rest in mere knowledge of the Scriptures. By means of books, good teaching, and the public ministry, you may attain to this, with a heart still alienated from God, and fixed upon the world. Knowledge is only a means to salvation. Let it be deeply impressed upon your heart, that you are guilty, and that you are depraved. For this guilt the Gospel brings relief,-free, full, ad everlasting; for this depravity it brings purification, even to the heart, the flesh, and the spirit. "The blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin." Repenting, then, of all iniquity, casting yourself on the Divine mercy, and cleaving to the Lord with full purpose of heart, you will find him to be, in very deed, as he is here described, a good Shepherd.

2nd. Christians generally! you have made a public profession of the faith of the Son of God. You are deeply concerned in the matter. Those who have been long in the way have a great deal to say of his truth, love, mercy, and goodness. They have had abundant experience of the adaptation of his offices to meet their necessities, and they feel that they are as dependent as ever. Often conscious of feebleness, they look to him for strength, both to do and to suffer. Surrounded by cares, or overcome by affliction, they repair to him for comfort, and ever find him a very present help. They require not to be told that he is a sympathizing High-Priesta tender Shepherd, who, knowing temptation himself, "is able also to succour them that are tempted." You are often reminded by what you feel, have seen, and suffered, that this is not your rest, and that, sooner or later, you must leave the pleasant pasture, however green, and enter the valley of the shadow of death. But even here you rejoice in the assurance that his rod and staff will comfort you, that he will help you himself, and cheer you by the animating accents of his own voice.

3rd. Those who have been within the fold, but are straying, do well to ponder their position. Reader! is this your case? If so, I need not ask you if you be happy. Happiness is incompatible with your state. You have forsaken the Fountain of living waters," and it is impossible that you can be feeding in " green pastures." You have passed from under the guidance of the good Shepherd, and are exposed alike to famine and to peril! Judgment, conscience, and experience unite in the condemnation of your course, and in urging you to repent, and to do your first works! You can give no reason for the course you have pursued, the treachery you have shown; and it will be not less your wisdom than duty to hasten back to the fold, before you be overtaken by the storm and the desolation which are certain to ensue ! E. R.

Oct. 1, 1853.

THE CHRISTIAN LAW OF MARRIAGE.

Of all earthly relationships that of therefore, more or less unhappy marmarriage is the most intimate and riages. Our design is rather to warn indissoluble, and therefore the most the young Christian of his or her important. It is a union formed for danger, and to deduce from the Holy life, the life at least of one of the Scriptures what is the will of God parties. If the formation of an ordi- concerning his people, and what is to nary friendship is a matter of import- them the path of duty. For, blessed ance, especially to a young person, be God! in reference to this confesinasmuch as it is likely to affect his sedly difficult and important matter, character and prospects to an unknown we are not left to the guidance of extent in future life, how much grater natural instinct or of human sagacity. importance must attach to the couc- An all-wise counsellor, a plain direction of the marriage alliance. tory, an authoritative rule, are provided; so that if any false step is taken here, it is attributable solely to our own culpable negligence or wilful disobedience. Let us with devout attention mark the teachings of the inspired volumé.

We

may withdraw from the companionship of an acquaintance or friend, who has abused our confidence, or proved himself unworthy of it. We may avoid the society of one whose principles or habits are found to be uncongenial, irksome, or ensnaring. But from an unsuitable yoke fellow there is no escape; the marriage-tie can be dissolved only by the hand of death.

It is not our present purpose to discuss this subject in all its bearings; nor shall we here attempt to point out the various kinds of unsuitable, and