[1.] He is the good shepherd. Other shepherds are said to be good when they perform their office well, or quit themselves faithfully in the discharge of their trust. But besides the resemblance in these
Vers. 32, 33.] sermons upon matthew xxv. 41
qualities, there are certain singularities in Christ's office that denomi- nate liim the good shepherd.
(1.) A good shepherd is known by his care and vigilance ; if he know the state of his flock, Pro v. xxvii. 23, This resemblance holdeth good in Christ : he hath a particular care and inspection of every soul that belongeth to his flock : ' Calleth his sheep by name,' John x. 3. He hath a particular exact knowledge of every one of them, their per- sons, their state, their condition, their place, their country, their con- flicts, temptations, and diseases: 2 Tim. ii. 19, 'The Lord knoweth who are his ;' John xiii. 18, ' I know whom I have chosen.' Though there be so many thousands of them scattered up and down in the world, yet he is acquainted with every individual person, every single believer, and all their necessities; John, James, Thomas. As the high priest carried the names of the tribes upon his bosom, so hath Christ the names of every one that belongeth to God's flock engraven upon his heart, though they may be despicable in the world, mean servants, employed in the lower offices of the family : Ps. xxxiv. 6, ' This poor man cried unto the Lord.' Poor soul ! he lietli under such temptations, encumbered with such troubles, employed in such a hard task and service : My Father gave me a charge of him ; I must look to him. Luke xv. we read, that when one was missing, he left all to look after the stray lamb. His knowledge is infinite.
(2.) The goodness of a shepherd lieth in his pity and wisdom to deal tenderly with the flock as their state doth require ; so is Christ a good shepherd by reason of his tender respect and gentle conduct : Isa. xl. 11, ' 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 Avith young.' He guideth his people with dispen- sations suitable to them. In his lifetime he taught them, Ka6a><; rjhvvavro amvuv, ' He spake the word unto them as they were able to hear it/ Mark iv. 33 ; as Jacob drove as the little ones and cattle were able to bear, Gen. xxxiii. 14. He calleth to work and suffering according as he giveth grace and strength, 1 Cor. x. 13. Propor- tioneth their temptations according to their growth and experience. He sendeth great trials after large assurances, Heb. x. 32. As castles are victualled before they are suffered to be besieged. There is a sweet con- descension in all his dispensations to every one's state and condition.
(3.) The goodness of a shepherd lieth in a constant performing all parts of a shepherd to them: Ezek. xxxiv. 15, 16, ' I will seek that which was lost, bring back that which was driven away, bind up that which was broken, strengthen that which was sick : but I will destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them with judgment.' There is all necessary attendance and accommodation conducing to the safety and welfare of the flock ; to protect them from violence from without, to jirevent diseases within, to keep them from straying by the inspirations of his Spirit and the fence of his providence (' Blessed be God, that sent thee to meet me this day,' saith holy David), and to reclaim and reduce them when strayed. It were endless to instance in all.
(4.) There is this particularity in this good shepherd, of which there is no resemblance found in others : John x. 11, ' I am the good shep- herd, that giveth my life for the sheep.' He doth not only give life to
42 SERMONS UPON MATTHEW XXV. [SeR. XX.
them, bat his own life for them, by way of ransom. This is a flock purchased by the blood of God, Acts xx. 28. He came from heaven to find out lost sheep ; left a palace for the wilderness, and the throne for the fold. David was called from the sheep-hook to the sceptre ; but Christ from tlie sceptre to the sheep-hook. Lost man had never been found if Christ had not come from heaven to seek him. We were forfeited, and therefore to be ransomed ; and no price would serve but Christ's own blood.
(5.) There is this peculiar in this good shepherd, that he maketh us become the flock of his pasture, and sheep of his fold, Ps. c. 3. When other shepherds have the sheep delivered into their hands, he searcheth up and down for them in the woods and deserts ; wherever they are scattered abroad, a lamb here and a lamb there ; free grace findetli them out : Ezek. xxxiv. 4, ' I will search out my sheep, and seek them out ; ' Zeph. iii. 10, ' I will look after my dispersed from beyond the river of Ethiopia.' In the farthermost and unknov/n countries in every land, Christ knoweth where his work lieth, though it may be but one in a village, in the midst of wolves and swine. He maketh them to be what they are not by nature ; turneth and changeth sv^ine into sheep and wolves into lambs,