his heavenly Father ; and thither they direct their steps, cultivating in every thing " the mind that was in him," and endeavouring " to walk as he walked."]
In proportion as they pursue this path, they aug- ment,
II. Their happiness —
The Lord Jesus Christ regards them with appro- bation—
[It is true that he "knows them" all by name; nay more, he knows every thing relating to them, their wants, their weaknesses, their fears, their trials, their exertions, their desires. But the word in our text is intended to express the approbation with which their Shepherd notices their well-meant endeavours a. And what can afford them greater happiness than the enjoyment of his favour? " In his favour is life ; and his loving-kindness is better than life itself." Is it asked, How he conveys to them a sense of his favour? I answer, by " the witness of his Spirit," by " the testimony of their own conscience," by " shedding abroad his love in their hearts through the Holy Ghost." It is a certain truth, that " he will manifest himself to them as he does not unto the world :" and he " will give them the white stone, wherein is a new name written, which no man knoweth, saving he that receiveth itb." In this sense of his love, they have a " peace that passeth all understanding," and " a joy with which the stranger inter- meddleth not."]
He loads them with his richest benefits —
[Whatever he bestows upon them in this world, it is but a taste before the banquet, a drop before the shower, a pledge and earnest of infinitely richer blessings in the world to come. " He gives unto them eternal life :" he has prepared other pastures for them in heaven, where all his sheep from the commencement to the end of time shall be collected, and form " one fold under one Shepherd." If their " joys" even here are sometimes " unspeakable," who shall declare the happiness reserved for them against that day ? Never for a moment will they lose sight of their Beloved : they will hear his voice day and night : they will follow him incessantly without any weari- ness or difficulty : the richest images that can be borrowed from earthly things are incapable of conveying the smallest idea of the felicity that awaits them. And all this is given them ; it is given them freely ; it is given them now : it is said in our text, not, " I will give them," but, " I give them:" the
a See Ps. i. 6. and 1 Cor. viii. 3. b Rev. ii. 17.
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