tatlon of his language was perfectly just. When he said, "I and my Father are one," he asserted hie truo Deity. 'fhe Jews saw in the words more than our modt1rn oritics. 2, Our Lord's declarali(J11, wa, duigned lo set j01'th his distinctness from the Father as against Babellianism, and, his co-ordination with tl~ Father as against .Arianism. III. Oun Loan's VINDICATION OF ms DEITY. He appeals to their Law, in which judges are called gods, and asks, if this be so, "say ye of him, whom the Father bath sanctified, and sont into the world, Thou blasphemest ; because I said, I am the Son of God?" 1. He dou not retract the assertion of his Divine nature, nor lower the sense of the word " God," as if he were God in no higher sense than an Israelite judge. B·~t, arguing upon the principles of their Law, he urges that he does not deserve to be treated as a blasphemer for ho.ving called himself the Son of God. 2. Be argues,from the con- trast between himself and the "goas" of the J,noish Law, that the charge cannot apply to himself. How could blasphemy be charged to him who was not consecrated to a mere earthly judgeship, but sent into the world to reveal the Father to men? 3. Our Lord puts honour on the Scriptures of the Old Testament, whtm he asserts that they cannot be oroken. IV. FRESH STRESS LAID UPON THE EVIDENCE OF HIS WORKS. 1. Jesus returns to the undeniable evide11ce o/ his works. To believe the works is a necessary step to believing for the works' sake. 2. He emphasizes the truth taught by the works. "That ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him." (1) Mark the fact of the communication of the Divine fulness to the Son. (2) Mark the fact of the Son's entire self-abnegation; for he recognizes no life but that of the Father. The whole passage sets forth the Divine fellowship of the Father and the Son. V. THE BAFFLED ANGER OF THE JEWS. "Therefore they songht again to take him : but he escaped out of their hand." 1. His argu'TIUmts restrained their violence. For they dhl not venture to fling their stones at him, though they had a desire to arrest him. 2. Jesus v,sed the interval of their indecision to escape beyond reach of their violence. Vera. 40-42.-The brief sojourn in Peril». Jesus left. Jerusalem for the region beyond Jordan, where John at first baptized. I. Hrs MINISTRY IN Plm..!EA. "He abode there." 1. His soj()'IJ,m there would be G happy release for the time from Jewish hostility. 2. It would be agreeable to return to the scene of his first ministry. 3. His visit must hcwe been a short time before the last Passover. And its incidents are fully recorded by the other evangelists. II. THE EFFECTS OF HIS MINISTRY. ".And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: and all things that John said of this Man were true. .And many believed on him there." 1. The mission of the seventy, and Ohrisfs own work in Galilee, account/or the number who resorted to him beyond Jordan. 2. The testimony of John to Jesus is still vital in the hearts of the people. John did no miracles, but he wa.s e. true witness of Ghrist. 3. The belief of the people here throws into dark contrast ths incredulity of the Jews.
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vere. 3, 4.-The Shepherd and the sheep. By anticipation the Lord Jesus laid down in this allegory the relations which should obtain between himself and his people unto the end of time. I. THE DIVINE SHEPHERD'S TREATMENT OF THE FLOOK, 1. He aoes before ;,;hem. Like an Oriental shepherd, Christ does not drive his flock from him· °he draws them to him. This he has done in the whole tenor of his human life-in' his circumstances, his character, his toils, his sufferin"'s and death, his glory. 2. He calls them by name. This implies individual knowledgeb of all the sheep, whom he not merely marks, bus actually names. 'l'hus be denotes his property in them, his interest in their welfare. 3. He leads them out into green pastures, and calls them to follow him thither. His command takes the form of invitation. The attraction of his love induces his sheep to follow him. He conducts them to the pastures where he feois them, to the fold where he protects them. 68 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. [ou. x. 1-42.
II. THE RESPONSE OF TIIE FLOOI!: TO THE LANGUAGE AND TREATMENT OF THE DIVINl!I SHEPHERD. 1. The~- hc-3r and know his voice. Christ's tones, when he speaks to his omi, ere gentle and kind; his language is compassionate and encouraging. His voice is, 1herefore, suited especially to the timid, the feeble, the helpless. 'l'<i all such it is Fweet, cheering, and comlorting. The people of Christ arc deaf to other voices, but are attentive to this. Its charm is felt, its authority is recognized. '!'hey have heard it before; they know it and love it; they distinguish it from every other, Gratefully and gladly do they hear the voice of the Beloved. 2. They obey and follow him. The voice is enough. The true sheep do not wait for the crook, the staff; they are obedient to the Shepherd's word of gentle authority. It is enough for them that the way in which they are led is his way. "He that followeth me," says Christ, " shall not walk in darkness." There is no questioning, no hesitation, no delay ; the sheep follow whither the Shepherd leads. Thus they have rest and pea.ea. They fear no danger and no foe while their Pastor watches over them and defends them. They need not ask why such a path is marked out for them, for they have perfect confidence in their Divine Leader. They need not ask whither they are going, for they are satisfied if they are in the pasture and the fold of him who is the Shepherd and Bishop of their souls.-T.