any one imagine that the naming the name of Christ is suf- ficient to constitute us Christians. The tree must be judged of by its fruits : and according to our works will be the sen- tence that shall be upon us in the last day.]
2. What need have the professors of religion to examine well their own hearts !
[Love to the word and people of God, if accompanied with an unreserved obedience to his commandments, is an excellent evidence of our conversion : but, if there be a reigning inconsistency in our conduct, our love to the one or to the other of these is mere hypocrisy n. Let us then inquire diligently, and beg of God to try us, whether there be any wickedness practised in our lives, or harboured in our bosoms0? Let us not be content to " honour God with our lips, while our hearts are far from him." Let us rather entreat him to " put truth in our inward parts," that, while we profess to be interested in the promises, we may " purify ourselves from all filthiness both of flesh and spirit, and perfect holiness in the fear of Godp."]
n Matt. xv. 7, 8. Ps. lxxviii. 34 — 37. Isai. lviii. 2, 3. 0 Ps. cxxxix. 23, 24. p 1 Cor. vii. 1.
Christ's execution of his pastoral office.
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 tvas sick : but I will destroy the fat and the strong ; I will feed them with judgment.
THERE is no office under heaven so important as that of ministering unto men the Gospel of Christ. But, alas ! its importance is but too little felt, and its duties are too negligently performed a. There is, however, one Shepherd, whose care and vigilance are without intermission. He it is, who, many hundred years before he came into the world, spake by the prophet, and declared the manner in which he would execute his office b.
In the words before us we see,
a See ver. 2 — 10. b ver. 23.
1114.] Christ's pastoral office. 423
I. The different states of Christ's sheep —
[All are considered as the sheep of Christ, who by name and profession belong to him, as well " the fat and the strong, who shall be destroyed," as those who shall be saved c.
All without exception, while in their natural state, are " lost," straying from God, and ignorant of the way in which alone they can return to his foldd. Some feel an inclination to enjoy his benefits, and at times resolve that they will turn from their evil ways: but they are "driven away" by the violence of their passions or the fear of man.
Of those that have been brought home to the fold, many, like David, are complaining of griefs and sorrows, more painful than a " broken" bonee. And all are "sick" of sin, that lothe- some malady which pervades all their powers both of body and soul, and incapacitates them for serving God as they would wish to dof.
There are too many, alas ! who are " fat and strong," in their own conceits Were they really in good condition, they should not be "destroyed." But, like the Laodiceans of oldh, they deceive themselves ; being really destitute of all wisdom, good- ness, and strength, in exact proportion as they fancy themselves possessed of these things.]
II. The correspondent dealings of Christ with them —
[Though in many instances our Lord displays his so- vereignty in stopping the progress of most grievous sinners, while he suffers persons of more amiable deportment to wander further from him1, yet all are to expect that he will deal with them in a perfect correspondence with their character.
He came from heaven in human flesh, and still comes in the preaching of his Gospel, to "seek" and save " that which was lost." And if any, who have been " driven away" by the force of temptation or persecution, are desirous to put themselves under his care, he will gladly bring them to his fold, and pro- tect them from every inward or outward foek.