[2.] He is the great shejiherd. (1.) Great in his person, the Son of God. Dominus exeixituum fit pastor ovium, saith Bernard — the Lord of hosts is become the shepherd of the flock. He needed us not ; if he had delighted in multitudes of flocks and herds, there are ten thousand times ten thousand angels that stand about the throne. He needed not leave his throne and die for angels as for us. And (2.) He is great in regard of the excellency of his gifts and qualifications : he is king, priest, and prophet. In the pastoral relation he manifesteth all his offices; he feedeth them as a prophet, dieth for them as a priest, defendeth them as a king ; never sheep had better shepherd. Redimit preciose, pascit cmcte, ducit solicite, collegit secure. Jacob was very careful, yet some of his flock were lost, or torn, or stolen, or driven away ; but it cannot be so with Christ's flock ; we are safe as long as he is upon the throne. (3.) Great in regard of his flock: he is the shepherd of souls ; millions of them are committed to his charge, and one soul is more worth than all the world.
[3.] He is the chief shepherd. Though he doth employ the min- istry of men to feed his flock under him, yet doth he keep tlie place and state of arch-sheplierd and prince of pastors, as the chief ruler and feeder of his flock, from whom all the under-shepherds have their charge and commission, Mat. xxviii. 19, 20, their furniture and gifts, Eph. iv. 8, 11 ; upon whose concurrence dependeth the efficacy and blessing of the ordinances dispensed by them, 1 Cor. iii. 6, 7 ; and to him they give an account, Heb. xiii. 17, as he doth to God. Now this is a great comfort, that Christ taketh the prime charge of the flock. Some thrust in themselves, but he will require his flock at their hands.
Use. Let all this encourage you to look for your supplies by Christ. He professeth by special office to take charge of you ; and you may be confident of his care and fidelity. Besides his love to the flock, he is bound as God's shepherd. By distrust you carry it so as if Christ were unfaithful in his charge and office. When you come to the ordinances,
VeKS. 32, 33.] SEKMONS UPON MATTHEW XXV. 43
you do directly cast yourselves upon Christ's pastoral care to feed you to everlasting life ; and he will give you strength and refreshing. Only be not lean in Christ's pasture, nor faint, as Hagar, near a fountain. Secondly, The godly are as sheep.
1. Sheep are animalia gregalia, such kind of creatures as naturally gather themselves together and unite themselves in a flock. Other creatures we know, especially beasts of prey, live singly and apart ; but sheep are never well but when they come together and live in a flock. Such are christians, and such as are partakers of a heavenly calling. It is unnatural for them to live alone : they feed in flocks, Heb. x. 25. Man by nature is ^wov iroXiriKov ; he hath a nature that is apt to make him gather into a community and society. We are social, not only upon interest, as weak without others, but upon natural inclina- tion. We have a desire to dwell and live together, Eccles. iv. 10. The voice of nature saith, it is not good to be alone ; so it is true of the new nature ; there is a spirit of communion that inclineth them to some other, and to join with them.
2. Sheep, they are innocent and harmless creatures. They that belong to Christ are not bears and tigers and wolves, but sheep, that often receive harm, but do none. Christ was holy and harmless, Heb. vii. 26, and so are they.
3. Sheep are obedient to the shepherd. The meek and obedient followers of Christ are like sheep in this, who are docile and sequa- cious : John X. 4, ' He goeth before them, and they know his voice ;' and ver. 16, ' Other sheep must I bring in also, and they shall hear my voice ;' and ver. 27, ' My sheep hear my voice ; I know them, and they follow me.' All Christ's comforts,! in all places and all ages, have the same properties and the same impression.
4. They are poor dependent creatures. They are ever attendant on the shepherd, or the shepherd on them.
[1.] Because of their erring property. They are creatures pliant to stray ; but being strayed, do not easily return. Swine will run about all day and find their way home at night. Domine, errare jper me potui, redire non potuissem, saith Austin. Christ bringeth home the stray lamb upon his own shoulders, Luke xv. ; and Ps. cxix. 176, ' AH we like sheep have gone astray.' If God leave us to ourselves, we still shall do so.
[2.] Because of their weakness. They are weak and shiftless crea- tures, unable to make resistance. Other creatures are armed with policy, skill, or courage to safeguard themselves ; but sheep are able to do little for themselves ; they are wholly kept in dependence upon their shepherd for protection and provision. All their happiness lieth in the good wisdom, care, and power of the shepherd. Wolves, lions, and leopards need none to watch over them. Briars and thorns grow alone ; but the noble vine is a tender thing, and must be supported, pruned, and dressed. The higher the being the more necessitous, and the more kept in dependence. There needs more care to preserve a plant than a stone ; a stone can easily aggregate and gather moss to itself. There needeth more supplies for a beast than a plant, and more supplies to a man than to a beast.