-at his exact knowledge of his flock, the name of every sheep and lamb is in his book -at his untiring diligence, if only one go astray, he goeth after the one that is lost until he find it at his gentleness, he gathereth the lambs in his arms, and carrieth them in his bosom-his infallible skill, therefore he healeth all their diseases-his power to preserve from danger, for he has power over all flesh-his wisdom to select their pasture, leading them in green pastures, beside the still waters-his unceasing care-and his authority to give eternal life. As he said, my sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any one pluck them out of my hand." Put these things together, and say, if our Shepherd is divine in his nature-if he is commissioned to take care of the flock immediately by the Father-if his flock is innumerable-if his under shepherds are so many-and if his qualifications are perfect, ought he not to be called that great shepherd of the sheep?" Look at his qualifications, and say, if his love is stronger than death, if his knowledge of his sheep is exact, if his diligence is untiring, if his gentleness is great, if his skill is infallible, if his power is universal, if his wisdom is perfect, if his care is incessant, and if he has authority to give eternal life to every one of his flock, are not his qualifications complete ?

66

The Lord's people are styled "THE SHEEP." By this figure they are set forth, and it des cribes their excellencies, for like their Lord they are meek and lowly in heart-patient under privations, tribulations, and trialsand useful always and every where. Every Christian should be meek, patient, and useful, nor do they prove that they are the sheep of Christ, if they are not. It describes them in their failings too. They have not the strength of the lion, or the fleetness of the deer, or the cunning of the fox, or the courage of the dog-but they are timid, defenceless, and prone to wander. So timid are they, that half their time, they are filled with doubts, fears, and misgivings-so defenceless, that all their safety lies in their shepherd's presence, power, and love-and so prone to wander, that they start aside like a broken bow.

feed

Reader, are you one of the Saviour's sheep? Do you hear his voice? Do you follow him? Do you answer to the character given above? Are you in the fold of Christ ? Do you there, find repose there, and enjoy the shepherd's care there? If you are not of the sheep of Christ now, you will be eternally separated from them by and bye-if you are not folded with them on earth, you cannot be in heaven. The day is coming, when his word will be fulfilled, as it is written, 66 The Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit on

the throne of his glory, and before him shall be gathered all nations, and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divid eth his sheep from the goats; and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the king say unto those on his right hand, come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Then shall he say also unto them on his left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels; and these shall go away into everlasting runishment; but the righteous into life eternal."

In one harmonious cheerful song,
Ye happy saints combine;

Loud let it sound from every tongue,
Our Shepherd is divine.

The least, the feeblest of the sheep,
To him the Father gave;

Kind is his heart the charge to keep,

And strong his arm to save.

The hand, which heaven and earth sustains,

And bars the gates of hell;

And rivets Satan down in chains,

Shall guard his chosen well.

Now let the powers of darkness roar,
How vain their threats appear;

When they can match Jehovah's power,
I will begin to fear.

O SING UNTO THE LORD A NEW

SONG!

PRAISE is comely for the upright, and it becometh the Lord's people to be thankful. God loves to be praised. He loves to hear -us praise him, as it indicates that we have a due sense of our obligations, that we value our mercies, and are happy in our souls. We have many psalms of praise written for us, and bymns of thanksgiving should constantly ascend from us. O for a heart to praise God! A warm, loving, grateful heart! And row let me see if I can awaken gratitude in my soul, and raise a song of thanksgiving to my gracious God. Let me listen to the Psalmist, and try and unite with him. sing unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvellous things; his right hand and his holy arm hath gotten him the victory." Ps. xcviii. 1.

"0

How

"He hath done marvellous things," and marvellous things for me. He laid all my sins on his own beloved Son, and punished him that he might never punish me. marvellous that the Son of God should take my place, bear, expiate, and remove from the sight of God for ever all my sins. Jesus was

treated as a sinner, that I may be treated as a righteous person: and in consequence of my sins being laid on Jesus, and his righte ousness being imputed to me, I am justified, and declared righteous by the God of justice and holiness. In addition to this, he entered the lists with Satan on my behalf, and he defeated, condemned, and clapped a chain on that monster; so that he can never condemn, or do me any lasting injury. He has also abolished death, given me everlasting life, and placed immortality in a clear light before me; so that heaven is now presented to my faith, as open to receive me whenever I fall asleep in him. Not only so, but he is gone himself into heaven as my Advocate, to confute my accusers, carry my cause, and secure to me an honourable reception there.

"With his right hand and holy arm," he rescued me from death, delivered me from Satan, brought me out of the world, subdued my stubborn will, broke my hard heart, and made me a new creature. In me his omnipotent power and glorious majesty have been displayed. In me Christ Jesus, as the Captain of salvation, has triumphed. In me,the Holy Spirit has displayed his sovereignty, and wrought wondrously, bringing me to know, love, and enjoy God as a covenant God in Christ. In me, the Lord hath gotten himself the victory, every enemy has been subdued, and subdued by himself. Every power has been led captive, and brought into obe