Chapter XXII

That Ood appointed Christ to be the great shepherd, to take care of the elect

souls given to him. The mighty care and diligence which Christ exercises

in discharge of this office.

Noiv the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that

great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in *.you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. HEB. XIII. 20, 21.

The reason of the pertinent coherence of one thing with another in a

parcel of Scripture is often at first view not obvious ; as here, why Christ as

* shepherd, and then his resurrection, are expressed under these phrases of being brought again from the dead, and that by the blood of the ever

lasting covenant ; how these should suit at first view is strange. And

3 7et there is a great harmony in the jointing every one of these one with

another. Therefore, for the opening the words, I shall do three* things. 1. Shew their aspect or reference to what went afore.

2. Shew why he brings in this title of shepherd in this epistle. 8. Shew their correspondency among themselves, and pertinency of each

to each ; together with each particular. 4. Shew their reference to the prophecies of the Old Testament.

1. As to their reference to what went afore, we may consider them,

In their immediate reference to what went just afore.

2.) Remotely, to some principal matters in this epistle. * Qu. these ? ED.

SI.)

CHAP. XXII.] OF CHRIST THE MEDIATOR. 367

(1.) As they refer to ver. 17, 18.

[1.] Where he had made mention of himself a pastor over pastors and

churches, an apostle, and other their ordinary pastors, and from thence

suitably upon this next occasion of mentioning Christ, he speaks of him as

the great shepherd, over apostles and all, and as one that could do that

for them which no apostle could do, viz., to perfect them in every good work. None of them were sufficient for one good thought of themselves, 2 Cor. iv., much less for any good work, or for every good work, especially to perfect others whom they were set over in the Lord, which Christ their

shepherd could through their ministry ; and therefore addresseth his prayer for this to God through him.

[2.] Himself (who was a great instrument through Christ of good unto their souls) was now absent and far off from them. The last foregoing words were that they would pray he might be restored to them the sooner ; and here he chooseth forth such expressions about Christ, &c., as might prompt them with fit matter, or the most effectual arguments for that

request, and a help unto their faith in that particular: though this is done obliquely, the matter here more directly serving unto that other peti tion that follows. But this argument lies in this, that that God who had

brought back the great shepherd by his blood, &c., that the same God (who only could) would restore him to them out of all dangers, &c., through the same blood.

Obs. 1. Jesus Christ bears and bore the same offices whereinafter he

places his officers under him in the church, thereby sanctifying of all

offices and officers, which is a great comfort to church officers, and to the

people of God and churches. He hath the title of Aidxovog, minister and deacon of the circumcision, Rom. xv. 8, and Mat. 20, 28, and Mark x. 45, Luke xxii. 27 ; bishop or elder, 1 Pet. ii. 25 ; a shepherd or pastor, 1 Pet.

v. 1, 4, 5 ; an apostle, Heb. iii. 1 ; only with this difference, he the great shepherd, he the chief bishop, &c.

Obs. 2. The blood and resurrection of Christ, as of the great shepherd, do in their virtue bring ministers, that have a good conscience, and their

people, together again. God restores them when driven away and scattered ; fetcheth them out of prison, from silence, &c., yea, out of deaths and dan

gers, and brings them and their people together through the efficacy of

these, 2 Cor. iv. 11, 14. There is not a church-meeting we have, but it

is in the virtue of Christ s blood and resurrection.

(2.) The words are a prayer in the conclusion of this epistle, and the materials of it do refer to some principal matters treated of in this epistle, whereof the sum is gathered up into a prayer as the conclusion.

[l.J In this epistle the apostle affects to set forth Christ under several

titles which the Old Testament had given him, and which had been taken

for granted to be intended of the Messiah by the Jews themselves he wrote

to. As, 1. A captain of salvation, chap. ii. As the angel that appeared to Joshua

styles himself, Josh. v. 14, 15.

2. The apostle, chap, iii., or him whom God would send as the prophet like to Moses, chap. iii. 1, 2, and so on.

3. The great high priest, chap, iv., and so throughout this epistle. 4. And accordingly here at last in this prayer he attributes to him another title of shepherd, as famous in the prophecies as any, which in cludes all of his offices, as I shall shew.

5. Under whom these Jews were become as sheep, one shepherd and

368 OF CHRIST THE MEDIATOR. [BOOK V.

one sheepfold ; and all, both Jews and Gentiles, who are under him, called unto peace and unity by the God of peace.

6. He had treated also of that new covenant, chap. vii. 8, 9, &c., whereof Christ was the founder.

7. Of that blood of his, which had confirmed that covenant, chap. ix.

throughout.

8. Of the virtue of that one offering, potent and effectual to perfect for ever them that his blood sanctifies, Heb. x., even to a non-remembrance of sins for ever, and procuring God to be at peace for ever, I will remember them no more.

* to sit down at God s right hand, having purged away our sins ; so chap. i. and chap. viii. 10. He had treated of the everlastingness of this salvation and covenant and redemption.

9. Of God s raising him up

11. And as all along, and especially towards the conclusion of the epistle, having exhorted to many good works and duties, thereupon he shuts up all with this prayer, the sum of all these, containing a motive and persuasive in them with God, a most efficacious one to move him to grant power to enable them to do all those things which he had exhorted unto, and such as had themselves withal in them the most operative virtue perfectly to work the same in us, namely, his blood and resurrection. And that God (prays he) through these make you perfect in every good work, to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever; Amen. Observe a great ground for ministers to gather up in their after-prayers the strength of what hath been said in the sermon, which the ancients

styled a collect, as in the Common Prayer appears to this day in making a brief collect of what had been just afore read out of the Scriptures, and

forming them up into a short prayer.

Why is it the apostle should insert this title of shepherd and great shepherd in this epistle ? Ans. The pertinency of his doing so in writing to the Hebrews doth many ways appear. The Jews expected the Messiah to be as a shepherd to them, as David their king and Moses had been, who were types of him. Moses and Aaron, Ps. Ixxvii. 20,

* led the people as sheep. David, Ps. Ixxviii. 22. And under the name of David as a shepherd God had pro mised the Messiah to them, Ezek. xxxiv. 23,

* And I will set up one shep herd over them, and he shall feed them ; even my servant David, he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And Christ himself, when he came, had represented himself to them under that notion, John x., through out that chapter.

Now those prophecies giving him that title, it was meet the apostle should somewhere in this epistle refer unto this, being as great, and the

prophecy thereof as eminent, as of any other he in this epistle citeth ; and

it is his apparent design throughout the epistle to refer unto and quote out of the Old Testament what was most eminent in Christ, either about his

titles or offices ; only he chose to do this of his being a shepherd here last in a breviary by way of prayer.

That he hath such an eye and scope in this is evident by comparing the

passages here, and those prophecies together.

I shall but single forth that one place, Ezek. xxxiv., and compare it with what is spoken here.

, 1. There, God promiseth to make a covenant of peace with his people

CHAP. XXII.] OF CHRIST THE MEDIATOR. 869

by Christ as a shepherd, so ver. 25 ; and here you have, 1. God in relation

to this performance styled The God of peace ; 2. The covenant also mentioned.

2. There, he promiseth to set up over them this shepherd, ver. 23. Here the God of peace brings back this shepherd, or, as Capellus reads

it, brings up, di/ayaywv, from avayw, rursum revocare ; for it may be dva and avu both, and so to briny back, up, or to set up, as the word in Ezekiel is.

* one shepherd, ver. 23, which is in the

3. There, he styles him that

* the great shepherd ; rbv {teyav, says the

import of it all one, as to say,

apostle here, as pointing to that one only shepherd ; in the prophet, unicus, or the only ; as of the church, Cant. vi. 9, My dove, my undefiled, is but one ; she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bore her. As Christ also says of himself,

* I am that good shepherd, and I alone. For he adds, all shepherds else are but hirelings, John x.

* the Lord. But the Jews little imagined what manner a shepherd he should be, and

4. There, in Ezekiel, he is called a prince ; here,

in what strange manner set up to be so. They indeed dreamed chiefly, and most of them, him only to have been so entitled in relation unto such

deliverances outward as Moses had given them, and a prosperous state, such as David had set up, and Solomon, taking the covenant of peace for

that of outward prosperity. They little thought this shepherd must be con

secrated, and made such, by his own blood. Hence therefore, 5. The apostle points them here unto those other prophecies of him, which punctually had described him to be such a shepherd as he here

speaks of him, and how that that covenant of peace prophesied of by Ezekiel of him was to be made by his blood, and that it was a peace for

their souls, and he a shepherd thereof, and for the doing away of their sins, and ruling and strengthening them to every good work, wherein principally this his office of shepherd was seen.

The first of the prophecies which under this relation he refers unto, is

that in Isa. liii. 6, All we, like sheep, have gone astray ; we have turned

every one to his own way ; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. And therefore, withal, he there prophesies that he that was to be

* be brought, first, as a lamb to the slaughter, &c., ver. 7. And here, his being brought again back

theirs, and our shepherd, was himself to

imports his having been first led away to death ; hence from that of Isaiah

it appears that he who was their shepherd was first to be as a lamb offered

: as John, x. 11, himself says, I am the good shepherd

up, and to give his life for his sheep

: the good shepherd giveth his life for his sheep ; even

* that Lamb of God John pointed to, and Peter, 1 Epistle chap. i. 19, But

ye are redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, and the Lamb s blood in the Revelations often ; of whom, and of which sacrifice, all their sacrifices were types. It is highly observable, that the gate through which he was led to be crucified was termed the sheep -gate, for the sheep that were to be sacrificed were kept in meadows without that gate, and so were led, as he was, to be sacrificed, but they in the temple ; all which sheep and sacrifices and temple were

types of him and his sacrifice, as in the same Isa. liii. 10. The apostle had even now said, Christ

* suffered without the gate, in mount Golgotha, unto which he was led, as the other sheep were through that gate to the

* He was led as a sheep to the slaughter ; and like a lamb dumb before the VOL. v. A a

slaughter, as it is also expounded and applied by Philip, Acts viii. 32,

370 OF CHEIST THE MEDIATOR. [BOOK V.

shearer, so opened he not his mouth. It is also as evidently by Peter applied to him ; for having in his 1st chap. ver. 22 termed him the

( Lamb without

spot, by whose blood we are redeemed, in the 2d chap. ver. 24, 25, he

cites some of those passages out of Isaiah of him, by whose stripes we

are healed, and what we were, referring us unto the rest, We, like sheep, had gone astray ; and God laid on him the iniquities of us all ; which he

interprets in ver. 24, Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on

the tree, that we, being dead to sin, should live unto righteousness

: by whose stripes ye were healed. And that this he did for us as our shepherd, that was to lay down his life, as so as a sheep be led unto the slaughter, for us his sheep who had gone astray ; thus ver. 25 of that 2d chapter

* For ye were as sheep going astray ; but are now returned unto the shepherd and bishop of your souls." And again look as Isaiah

explains to us,

says, that as a sheep afore the shearer, he opened not his mouth, Isa.

liii. 7 : so Peter hath it, ver. 22, 23, Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth : who, when he was reviled, reviled not again ; when he suffered, he threatened not, but committed himself to him that judgeth

righteously ; thus manifestly expounding and applying that 53d of Isaiah unto him, both as a lamb in his death, as he was a shepherd in his

resurrection.

And considered either as lamb or shepherd, we find that God being angry with him whilst thus he bore our sins, insomuch as he is said in his wrath

to have smitten this shepherd with his sword, and smitten him unto death, Zech. xiii. 7, Awake, sword, against my Shepherd, and against the man

that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts : smite the Shepherd, and the

sheep shall be scattered. And that is another prophecy the apostle here

looks in, and refers unto. And thus God was first a God of wrath against him for our sakes, God having laid upon him the iniquities of us all, and remained such against him until justice had satisfied itself thereby

: The chastisement of our peace lay upon him, or chastisement for our peace, Isa. liii. 5 ; and die he did for these sheep. 3. Because he was led thus as a sheep unto death, by which his dying

is expressed by the prophet, therefore most pertinently of all other expres sions he singles forth this, that he was brought back again from the dead

here, so setting forth his resurrection, and his being set up a shepherd over

us. He was slain without the gate, and his dead body was laid without the

* brought him back

gate, buried in a tomb there without the gate ; but God

again from the dead, and he came into Jerusalem among his disciples, and

elsewhere, and then was also carried avu, up to heaven, as the word also

signifies.

And that this phrase here of being brought back from the dead, thereby

expressing his resurrection, should yet couch under it, and impliedly point unto that manner of his dying, of being

* led unto slaughter, may elegantly be exemplified by the like parallel in the like opposite way, and ordine

inverse, in that of our conversion to Christ (in which we are conformed to

his death and resurrection). Now this our conversion to Christ, Peter termeth a returning to the shepherd of our souls. From whom was it

that Peter fetched this expression ? Even out of that contrary phrase, which, I say, had used to express our state afore conversion, and much as

we, like sheep, had gone astray, and turned every one to his own way : this is Isaiah s expression only ; but the apostle on the contrary, and in allusion to this, as fitly sets out our repentance, But are now

returned to the shepherd of our souls, ver. 25, which had imported our

CHAP. XXII. ] OF CHRIST THE MEDIATOR. 371

having turned away from him; and so conversion is a returning to him. And,

4. Because by his death he made our peace Isa. liii. 5, The chastise ment of our peace was upon him and by his blood made that peace for

us, as Col. i. 20 ; hence God, that was wroth with him then, when he was

led to death, and himself smote him (which phrase is used in Isa. liii. 4, as well as by Zechariah, and interpreted to be God s bruising him himself, ver. 10), is now upon a new style (when he brings him back) enstyled, The God of peace, and that both towards him and us : Eph. ii. 14, He

* that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby, ver. 16. God s justice being

is our peace, by dying,

satisfied, his anger assuaged, and now he raiseth up Christ, as a God of

peace, and thereupon both justified us and him ; and in token he was at

peace, he let our surety thus out of prison. It is in the same 53d of Isaiah, ver. 8, He was taken from prison and from judgment ; the suit was ended. I quote still such places wherein his dying as a lamb, &c., are mentioned, and for us as sheep. And, 5. Because this was done by a covenant betwixt God and him ; there

fore here that covenant is also mentioned, as it is also in the prophecy wherein first his being set up as a shepherd is spoken of, Ezek. xxxiv. 2325 ; it is said to be by and with a covenant of peace, ver. 25.

6. Yea, and in Ezek. xxxvii., having at ver. 24 promised to give them

this one shepherd, he adds, ver. 26, I will make a covenant of peace, and

it shall be an everlasting covenant ; even as in express words here it is

styled the everlasting covenant, when he speaks of him as of our shepherd, and this these other prophecies alluded unto also.

7. Here it is said, the blood of the everlasting covenant, even as that by which Christ himself was raised up, &c. For by his blood, and the merit of it, it was that himself was raised up, after that our peace had been

* 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. Ver. 17, Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. Yea, his mediatory glory he did purchase over all anew, and so his resur

fully made up by him : John x. 16, 17,

: Rom. xiv. 9, To this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. Phil. ii. 8, 9,

rection, by his death, though not his personal

* And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, the death of the cross. Ver. 9, Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name. All which was by covenant between God and him ; as in that 53d of Isaiah,

* because he made his soul an offer

* he should see the travail of his soul, &c. And, 8. In using this phrase, By the blood, &c., the apostle refers us to another passage in the prophecy of the same Zechariah, chap. ix. 11. And God makes Christ this promise, By the blood of thy covenant (he speaks to Christ), I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit. Zechariah

ing for sin, God promiseth to raise him up, and

speaks much of this shepherd, and those false shepherds that should then be when he should come amongst them, in several places of the same

prophet ; and in this 9th chapter he speaks of the flock of his people, ver. 16 ; and the meaning of that speech, that by and for the merit of his blood

it is that he gives forth all deliverances to his people from all evils, as from the grave and hell, and by merit of the blood of the same covenant which

372 OP CHRIST THE MEDIATOR. [BOOK V.

they were delivered by, it was that Christ himself was, and whereby God

brought Christ back again from the grave and hell ; and because it was not done simply by mere contract and covenant, but also by merit, therefore

it is not said only here that by his covenant he was brought back, but by the blood of his covenant he was brought back. And still you see (and it is to be observed) that all these prophecies of him were uttered when either he is prophesied of: as, 1. A lamb slain;

or, 2. As a shepherd for his sheep ; or, 3. As a shepherd set over his

sheep ; all which doth the apostle contract and gather together into one sum in these few words.

9. Because God as the God of peace sanctifies us throughout 1 Thess. v.

23, And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly, &c. and sanctifies us by covenant through Christ his blood, and the virtue thereof, as also

through his being raised from the dead ; hence in the force and influence

* Make you perfect in every good work

of all these he here prays, ver. 21,

to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, &c. ; because Christ had by his blood, and once

offering of himself, perfected for ever them that are sanctified, as Heb. x.

it is said.

10. And lastly, that Christ was proposed to be such a shepherd as should

perfect his sheep in holiness and good works, and that God s covenant was with him, is as express in that Ezek. xxxvii. 24, And David my servant

shall be king over them ; and they all shall have one shepherd

: they shall

also walk in my judgments, &c. Thus you have seen that the words are a contract or sum both of this

epistle and the prophecies ; and having been thus opened in their corres

pondencies one with another, as also with the prophecies, I single out but one observation.

Obs. Christ is a shepherd, a great shepherd, that great shepherd men tioned by the prophets. All those patriarchs that were shepherds were

types of him. Abel (whose blood in crying is made a type of his, chap, xii. 24) was a shepherd, and a type of him. And as in Abel blood and

shepherd met, so in Christ here, a great shepherd and his blood are joined. Moses, a shepherd and a type of Christ ;

* A prophet like to him who, with Aaron, led the people as sheep, Ps. Ixxvii. 20. David, a shepherd, who, as a king, guided the people by the skilfulness of his hands, Ps. Ixxviii.

72, and therefore their shepherd is named by his name, Ezek. xxxiv. 23. A testimony we have recorded of the devils themselves (as in the Scripture, that he was the Son of God, The Holy One of God, so in heathen

story), that he was that great shepherd. Plutarch, endeavouring to give a reason why their oracles ceased, says,

* That one Thamus a shipmaster, who, sailing, was warned by a voice that when he came right over against Palodes (in his voyage to Italy), he should cry aloud, Magnus Pan mortuus est* which having done, there was heard by all the mariners a lamentable

groaning and yelling of spirits. And indeed it was so that the cross of Christ (who was crucified in the days of Tiberius) was the cause of the

oracles silence and defect, which from that time never gave answer to any. I. This title of shepherd implies both his natures.

1. His Godhead. A shepherd is of a superior kind to the sheep, they being beasts, and the shepherd man ; Ezekiel, in chap xxxiv. 31, interpret ing that his parable of the shepherd and sheep, And ye, my flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord.

* The great shepherd is dead, Pan, the god of shepherds.

CHAP. XXII.] OF CHRIST THE MEDIATOR. 373

* My shepherd, and the man that is my fellow ; says God in Ezek. xxxiv. 24, he their shepherd is said to be one among them, or in media eorum, that is, (as that phrase elsewhere), he is

2. His manhood. Zech. xiii. 7,

of their nature. As he is man, he is called the lamb ; and this lamb is

shepherd also, as those words import, Rev. vii. 17, The Lamb shall feed them.

II. This title implies all Christ s offices.

1. Of king. Kings were called shepherds, vroiftevse Xauv, &c. : thus Ezek.

xxxiv. 24, where, as Christ is called their shepherd, so their prince, as he who guides and leads his sheep, Ps. xxiii. 2, John x. 27, as David and Moses did the people, and judgeth between sheep and sheep, Ezek.

xxxiv. 20, 21 ; he will judge those that push them ; and at the latter day it

is said, The Sou of man, the king, sitting on his throne of glory, shall as a

shepherd separate the sheep from the goats, Mat. xxv. 31, 32, and in that

respect in the next verses is styled the king, verses 34, 40.

2. Of priest. John x. 11, I am that good^ shepherd, that give my life

for the sheep.

3. Of prophet. Pastor d pascendo, he feeds them ; John x., Ps. xxiii. 2, 5, and in Ezek. xxxiv. 23, it is ingeminated, He shall feed them, he shall

feed them, that is, eminently and immediately, as doubling the speech doth

indigitate (as Ezek. xxi. 27, it doth). Thus much what this title of shep herd in the general doth import.

III. Christ is called, that great shepherd. 1. In respect of other under shepherds ; so 1 Peter v. 4,

* And when the

chief shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown, &c. And here the

apostle having made mention of other inferior shepherds, verses 2, 3, in

this verse he calls him the chief shepherd ; yea, kings are styled shepherds, but Christ is the shepherd even of those shepherds, as being the

* King of

2. He is a shepherd of souls. The souls of men are his flock, 1 Peter

ii. 25. One soul is more worth than all the world, which is the rate this

shepherd himself, that went to the price of them, valued them at.

3. In respect of the extent of his flock ; he is shepherd over all, both Jews and Gentiles. John x. 16, There shall be one fold, and one shep herd. Christ having in the former part of that verse spoken of other sheep which were not of that Jewish fold he had had another great flock among the Gentiles he therefore adds,

* And them also I must bring, and there

shall be one fold, &c. Paul was the apostle, but of the uncircumcision, and Peter of the circumcision, Gal. ii. 7, and both the one and the other but for their age ; but Christ is the shepherd of all, yea, and both in the Old Testament and the New. In the Old, Eccles. xii. 11, he was then

called that one shepherd, from whom the masters of assemblies, the minis

ters, rulers, and elders of the synagogues, had all their words given them, and their assistance to speak them. Of the New I need not instance.

4. In respect of propriety ; the sheep that Christ feeds are his own, John x. 14. It is not so with other shepherds, that are ministers under him ; they are but as hirelings in respect of any propriety of feeding sheep, says Christ to Peter. They are my sheep, says he, not yours ; and they are

* The flock of God, which he purchased with

his because he bought them :

his own blood, Acts xx. 28. He bought us, and is therefore called there

in the text both shepherd and Lord, having bought them by laying down his

life for them, John x. 11.

5. In respect of his abilities.

374 OF CHRIST THE MEDIATOR. [BOOK Y.

(1.) In a particular knowledge of all the persons who are his sheep ; though they be of that vast extent and variety, yet

* he knows every sheep by name, John x.

(2.) In skill ; to heal and apply him to all their sicknesses, weaknesses, wants : Ezek. xxxiv. 16, I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and

will strengthen that which was sick : I will feed them with judgment. With judgment ; that is, with convenient food and physic for every one, as

their condition of sickness or strength requires.

(3.) In respect of power.

[1.] To make them his sheep, by a new creation. He first bought them, then makes them his sheep

: We are his sheep, and he made us, Ps. c. 3 ; that is, he made us to be his sheep, and not we ourselves, as some do read the words.

[2.] To strengthen them, with strength in the inward man ; which no other shepherd can do for his sheep. He is able to make them perfect in

every good work, as in the text.

[3.] He protects them all against all them that push them, and would drive them out of their pasture, or otherwise any way injure them, and

judgeth likewise between cattle and cattle. Ezek. xxxiv. 20, 21, 22,

1 Thus saith the Lord God unto them, Behold, I, even I, will judge be tween the fat cattle and between the lean cattle. Because ye have thrust with side and with shoulder, and pushed all the diseased with your horns,

till ye have scattered them abroad ; therefore will I save my flock, and

they shall no more be a prey ; and I will judge between cattle and cattle. \

[4.] He hath all power effectually to keep them, and to bring them in

vincibly to salvation. John x. 27, 28, My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, arid they follow me : and I give unto them eternal life ; and

they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

The USE is of comfort to all that are Christ s sheep

: in the application of which there will still more of the greatness of our shepherd be further set

out, though in a consolatory way ; which I rather chose to do than in a mere

doctrinal.

1. In general ; if Christ be our shepherd, and such a shepherd, what can we then lack ? It is the comfort that David draws from it, Ps. xxiii. 1 ; I send you as sheep among wolves, saith Christ, Mat. x. 15 : it was spoken when he sent them out to the cities of Judah, and when they returned he asks them, Did you lack anything ? Luke xxii. 35. And how came this to

pass, but because he was the great shepherd, who went with them all the while ? And though you now, in this age, are as sheep in the midst of

* ordinances in the midst of your enemies ; and what do you lack ?

wolves, yet you see he spreads your tables, gives your

But, more particularly, consider his promises as a shepherd. 1. To give you pasture. John x. 9,

* They shall find pasture ; says he, I will see to that ; yea, Ps. xxiii. 2, Green pastures, the paths of right eousness.

2. Fresh springs also, as well as green pastures. So it follows there, that is, fresh comforts, springing from the fountain of comforts. Thy heart is dry and barren to day ; the next prayer thou makest, or sermon thou nearest, thou findest a new spring ; as they in their travel to Sion, Ps.

Ixxxiv., that dig up fountains still, ever and anon when they are athirst. And this spring is by Christ himself interpreted to be his

* Spirit, which he * Qu. you ? ED.

CHAP. XXII.] OF CHRIST THE MEDIATOR. 875

gives to them that believe, John iv. 14 ; even rivers springing up to

eternal life, and so never ceasing until you come to heaven.

3. Particularly ; those green pastures are ordinances. As,

(1.) A good fold, as Ezek. xxxiv. 15, that is, a good church, which is

the seat of ordinances, a good church and holy saints to be in and with. Thus Cant. i. 7, 8, Tell me, thou whom my soul loveth, where thou

feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon : for why should I be

as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions ? And again, *I will bring them into the fold, as Christ s speech evidently implies, John

x. 16 ; and it is he that gives thee a heart to join with such where thou

mayest be most edified : as in that Cant. i. 8 you see how, in answer to

: ver. 8, If thou know

her desire, he directs and guides them whither to go

not, thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the

flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds tents.

(2.) Over that he sets and finds out pastors and elders for thee, both

according to his own heart, yea, and according to thine ; that is, who do and shall suit the state and condition of thy soul the best of any other in

the world : Jer. iii. 14, 15, I will take you one of a city, and two of a

family, and I will bring you to Zion : and I will give you pastors according to my heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. It

is a promise made to gospel times, agreeing with Matt, xviii., as the phrase of taking two or three of a city and tribe shews. He will either bring thee

to the best means, or make those means thou hast the best to thee.

(3.) He provides and prepares all the good sermons thou nearest, and

puts those words and prayers too into his ministers hearts and mouths. These are all from him, as from that one sphepherd

: Eccles xii. 11, The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters

of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. Yea, in their pro

viding of them, Christ as the great shepherd, that knows the state of every one of his flock, brings to their mind this goad to prick forward such an one s heart, that nail to fasten on such an one s spirit (as there), accord

ing as any one hath need. It is he that feeds them with judgment, Ezek.

xxxiv. And when he hath given fit words for them to speak (the perti nency of which to every one s heart they are not aware of), he then gives assistance in the delivery, and drives in that promise or command home to the

nail s head ; makes that goad of rebuke or exhortation to pierce a thick and

brawny heart, and makes it tender.

(4.) He farther feeds them with the strangest, yea, strongest, sweetest, and most soul-heartening food that ever was, even with his own flesh and blood : My flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed ; and so some have understood the coherence of these words here in the text, that he is a shepherd sv &lt;x& a //j,uri in his blood, as feeding them therewith, and giving it to save them ; and so refer tnose words, not to his being brought back again, but to his being a shepherd in his blood. This for the

first ground of comfort : his promises as he is a shepherd, and we the sheep of his pasture, as we are called.

A second ground, that Christ is a shepherd who is careful, as the oppo sition of Christ and hirelings shews, John x. 13. That office exacts care:

the sheep take none, the shepherd all ; and that which obligeth Christ to

this care is his propriety in his sheep. Other shepherds are only hirelings and servants ; and though faithful, yet only but as servants ; but Christ

cares for them as being their owner. They are his own sheep ; as there

fore the apostle reasoneth, Heb. iii. 5, 6, Moses was faithful in his house

376 OF CHRIST THE MEDIATOR. [BOOK V.

as a servant, but Christ as a Son over his own house ; which house we are.

This his care appears, 1. In seeking them out, both at first conversion,

fand after when gone

astray, as many ways they do, and are apt to do. Thus, Ezek. xxxiv. 11,

I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. The word im

plies a search even through the whole wilderness, every hedge, every bush,

every corner. Christ leaves the ninety-nine (as in the parable) to seek the

poor one that is astray, and seeks all the wilderness over, Luke xv., and

in the mountains, Matt, xviii. 12, 13, yea, and looks at it as his duty so

* Them also I must bring in, says Christ there. It is my Father s command ; as Laban required his tale of Jacob, so will God

to do. John x. 16,

of Christ.

2. When he hath found them he makes sure work with them to keep them, Luke xv. 5. They are not only in his hands, but he lays them on his

shoulders, and holds the fore feet with one hand, and the hinder feet with the other, and yet they will be struggling, but that he hath long hands that

still reacheth them, and holds them, and pulls them in again.

3. His care is seen in his inspection into the flock, and visiting his sheep,

abiding in media earum, in the midst of them, or among them : Ezek. xxxiv.

* I, even I, will both search my sheep and seek them out. The one of the two words there used implies the searching of them out, and the other

11,

inspection. The Septuagint translates it Icr/rfxs-vJ/o/Aa/, to visit or oversee. Hence the apostle, 1 Pet. ii. 25, doth join both, calling Christ the shep herd and bishop, or overseer of our souls, SKIGKOKOV. He knows all their

wants, and looks to all their wanderings ; and as Jacob watched whole

nights with the sheep, so Christ does neither sleep nor slumber, but keepeth Israel.

The third ground is, that Christ is a shepherd who is pitiful

: Matt,

ix. 36, When he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on

them, because they fainted and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no

shepherd.

1. To young converts : Isa. xl. 11, He gathers the lambs with his arm, and carries them in his bosom.

2. To those that are with young, he gently leads them (as in the place last quoted) ; that is, the grown Christians, or any that are in pains of

travail, not to overdrive them, as Jacob did not his flock, Gen. xxxiii. 13 ; and in Ezek. xxxiv., there are more instances of his pity

: as, 3. To those that stray after their having been brought to the fold, he seeks them out again

: ver. 12, I will deliver them out of the places where

they shall be scattered in the cloudy and dark day. Temptation is as a

cloudy day ; it is a walking in darkness, as Isa. 1. 10. No beast so apt to wander as sheep are ; Christ seeks them again. 4. The weak he strengthens, who have feeble knees and faint hands, so

ver. 16 ; and also, 5. The sick and broken he heals. Sheep are apt to break their legs, and

fall into ditches (heavy temptations), and of all creatures are most subject to diseases ; but Christ binds up their wounds and heals all, it being the

greatest work of a shepherd to look to such things.

6. He shews his pity and care in providing rest and lying down for them, Ps. xxiii. 2 ; and, in Cant. i. 7, Thou makest thy flocks to rest at noon, in the heat of the day, whether in case of distresses, pressures, hard driv

ings, or persecution, by giving them comfortable intermission, and some-