long dost thou make us to doubt ? if thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them, I told you ; and ye believed not." He then informs them what the source was of their unbelief ; " Ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep :" you are des- titute of those gracious qualities which would have fitted you for receiving my word: had you been given to me by the Father, and possessed the dispositions which characterize my sheep, you would have both believed in me, and reaped all the benefits of that faith : " My sheep hear my voice ; and I know them, and they follow me," &c.
In these words our Lord refers to a conversation which he had recently had with them respecting his sheep ; and goes on to declare,
I. Their character —
This is delineated with great simplicity :
1. They hear his voice —
[Sheep that are well attended, are always observant of the shepherd's voice : so is the Christian also of the voice of Christ. Christ speaks to us in his word as truly as ever he spake to his Disciples in the days of his flesh : and it is the delight of all his people to hear and obey his word. The inspired volume is to them a source, an inexhaustible source, of comfort : they read it, they meditate upon it, they pray over it, they " esteem it more than their necessary food." When they open it, they look up to their Divine Master, and say, "Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth ;" "Open thou mine eyes, that I may see wondrous things out of thy law." Direc- tions, warnings, invitations, promises, are all alike acceptable to them : every thing that conveys to them the mind and will of their good Shepherd, is received with implicit faith, and unreserved obedience.]
2. They follow his steps —
[In the written word they behold the path their Saviour trod ; and wherever they see the traces of his feet, they endeavour to follow. They inquire not whether the way be arduous and self-denying, or perilous and beset with enemies ; all that they desire is, to ascertain precisely the path of duty ; and then to walk in it with steadiness and perseverance. They plainly see that their Shepherd is gone before them towards Zion, regardless of all dangers, indifferent to all the things of this world, and intent only on executing the will of