which is our only real enemy, will not harm us. Our docile submission is the corre- lative of his guidance, and ou; trust should answer to his defence. Ir he guard, let us press close to the shelter of his presence, and ever look for the benediction of his eye. 3, The third thought is provision. He will not lead where we mnst starve, but even in the most unpromising situations will show his flock some scattered blades of grass which they may crop. " Their pastures shall be in all hi:;h places, the very barene~s of the mountain-tops yielding food. He himself is the Pasture as well as the Shepherd of the soul, and ever gives himself to satisfy the hunger of the human heart, which needs a changeless and perfect love, a personal truth, an all-commanding will to feed upon, else it aches with hunger. And for outward wants these too he remembers, and on the low- liest shore will kindle a fire of coals, and himself prepare food for his servants. So let Ull wait on the Shepherd of our souls, assured that his sheep never ' look up, and are not fed.'" IL CHRIST THE BISHOP OF OUR SOULS. Undoubtedly the allusion here is to the bishop or elder of the early Chnrch, with distinct reference to the etymological meaning of the word as well as to the functions of the officer. Looking to the later development of these, and to the associations which they have connected with the word, the marginal rendering of the Revised Version ("overseer") is perhaps better than "bishop." How closely the two ideas of "shepherd" and Church "overseer" are connected is clear from Paul's address to the elders at Ephesus (Acts xx.), and from the exhortations in this Epistle (eh. v. 1, 7) to the elders to feed the flock, as well as from the universal use of "pastor" as a synonym. What aspects of Christ's relation are thus pre~ented? 1. We have the great truth that he is himself the Source from which all C!hurch officers draw at ,nee their authority and their faculty, He gives all gifts to men, and sets them in his Church. If they forget that, and use their offices for themselves, or fancy that they origi- nate the gifts which they but receive, they are usurpers. From him are they all. To him should they all live and serve. '£here is but one Authority and one Teacher in tbe Church ; the rest are delegates. There is but one Fountain; the others are cisterns. "One is your Master, and all ye are brethren," 2. The original meaning of the word is 11 overseer," and that suggests the vigilant inspection which he exercises over his Church. The good Shepherd knows each sheep by name, and his watchful eye is on every one of the flock. The title is the condensation into one word of the solemn clause in the apocalyptic vision of the Christ in the midst of the golden lamps, which tells bow "his eyes were as a flame of fire," and of the sevenfold " I know thy works," which heralds each message to the Churches. The thought has many sides, according to the spiritual condition of each. To Ephesus which has left its first love, to Sardis ready to die, to Laodicea sinking from lukewarmness to ice, it comes monitory, rebuking and putting to shame, though even in these the clear eye sees for the most part something to commend. To Smyrna, threatened with persecution and martyrdom, it brings courage and the assurauce of a crown of life. To Philadelphia, which has kept his Word, it seals the joy of his approbation, which is reward indeed. So to us all, the thought that we walk ever in the light of his countenance and are searched by the flame of those eyes may be a glad- ness, as bringing the assurance of his perfect knowledge who loves as he knows, and is guided by it in all his care for us and gifts to us. "Search me, 0 Lord, and know my heart." 3. 'l'he thought that Ghrist discharges for each soul an office of which the elders' in the Church is a shadow, may also be suggested. He teaches and he rules. All authority over and all illumination in our souls are his. And that not merely through men, nor only by the influence of his past life and death as recorded, but by a present and continual operation on our spirits. We have not only a Christ who lived and died, and so declared the Father, but a Christ who lives, and from his throne in the heavens is still declaring him to all listening loving hearts. The present acti'.,.1ty of Obrist is plainly implied here. Nor have we to think of him as only helping and teaching the collective body, but single souls. He is not here spoken of as the Shepherd of the flock and the Overseer of the Church, blessed as that truth is; but he is held forth as Shepherd and Bishop of each unit in the Church, for he sustains these relations to the indi- vidual, and will draw near to each of us, solitary tind small, if we will only believe that by his stripes we are healed, and, conquered by his dying love, turn from our wanderings and couch trustful at his feet.-A. M.
Vers. 4-6.-The spiritual temple, priesthood, and sacrifices. A Jew, writing to J. l'ETER, 1i 98 THE FinST EPISTLE GENEBAL OF PETER. [oH. u. 1-25,