So, again, Whitby's interpretation, " They shall never perish through any defect on ray part," though they may fall away by their own fault, is a sad instance of unfair handling of Scrip- ture.
Let it only be remembered that the character of those who shall never perish is most distinctly and carefully laid down in this place. It is those who hear Christ's voice and follow Him, who alone are " sheep : " it is " His sheep," and His sheep alone, who shall never perish. The man who boasts that he shall never be cast away and never perish, while he is living in sin, is a mis- erable self-deceiver. It is the perseverance of saints, and not of sinners and wicked people, that is promised here. Doubtless the doctrine of the text may be misused and abused, like every other good thing. But to the humble penitent believer, who puts his trust in Christ, it is one of the most glorious and comfortable truths of the Gospel. Those who dislike it would do well to study the 17th Article of the Church of England, and Hooker's sermon on the "Perpetuity of Faith in the Elect."
Let it be noted that the last clause of the text plainly implies that many will try to pluck away Christians from Christ, and draw them back to sin. To feel that something is always " plucking " and " pulling" at us must never surprise believers. There is a devil, and saints will always feel and find his pres- ence.
Let it be noted, that to be safe in Christ's hand, and so never to perish, is one thing; but to feel that we are safe is quite another. Many true believers are safe, who do not realize and feel it.
Musculus observes that our Lord does not say in this verse that His sheep shall lose nothing in this world. They may lose property, liberty, and life, for Christ's sake. But their souls cannot be lost. He also observes that all Christ's sheep are in Christ's hand. His hand holdiug them, and not their hand hold- ing Him, is the true secret of their safety and perseverance.
The importance of the doctrine contained in this text cannot, in my judgment, be overrated. The Christian who does not hold it is a great loser. It is one of the grand elements of the good news of the Gospel. It is a safeguard against much unsound doctrine. Perseverance can never be reconciled with baptismal regeneration. The advocates of an extravagant view of baptismal grace, it may be observed, always have a special dislike to the doctrine of this text.
Hengstenberg wisely remarks : " It is cold consolation to say, if and so long as they remain my sheep they are secure, and shall never perish. The whole strength of our soul's desire is for a guarantee against ourselves. That there is such a guar- antee is here assured to us."
9.— [My Father who gare, etc., etc."] Our Lord here strengthens