than by the door. The disciples understood not these sayings, yet without a parable spake he not unto them; but, having compassion on their infirmities, he told them, that he himself was the door of the sheep; that all who ever came before him were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. "I," says he in the words of our text, "am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." It is our design to consider these words, as affording a significant representation of Christ, and as describing the blessedness of all his people. Praying, therefore, for the Divine illumination, and trusting that our meditations will be profitable to all our souls, let us consider the passage:

I. As affording a significant representation of Christ.

The name of our Lord Jesus is as ointment poured forth as, in all his offices, relations, and characters, he is exceedingly precious to the believing soul, he must be at all times worthy of our attention, nay, deserving of our highest admiration, ardent love, and constant praise. Let us, then, laying aside every other concern, fix our minds on Him, who is the object of angelic adoration, the delight of God the Father, and the only foundation of human hope.

It is very remarkable, that Jesus Christ is always spoken of in Scripture in that manner which is best suited to the sinner's wants. Does he hunger and thirst after righteousness? Christ is that bread of life, of which if a man eat, he shall live forever. Does he want a foundation on which to rest his eternal all? "Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."

Does he lament his ignorance? Christ is the great Prophet and Teacher of his church. Is he oppressed with sin and guilt? Christ is an atoning Priest; "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." Does he groan under the power of his enemies? Christ is King in Zion, and shall subdue them all. Or, is he put to flight through terror? "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runneth into it, and is safe." Does he often forsake and wander from the Saviour? Christ is the good Shepherd that will bring him back to the fold. Are any of you desirous of entering into the state of believers here, and into the house where they expect to dwell above? "Christ is the door: by him if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." This representation of Christ, therefore, is designed to teach us this one great and important truth: that Christ is the only way of entrance into the church militant below, and into the church triumphant above; yes, we say that Jesus is the door, through which poor sinners of the race of Adam are admitted,

1. Into the privileges of the gospel church.

That this is the true literal meaning of the passage is evident, both from the design of the chapter, and from the latter part of the verse :-from the design of the chapter, which represents Jesus as sustaining a character which he exercises in the church militant, and describes the people of his choice as scattered about, and shortly to be gathered together; from the latter part of the verse, which mentions blessings that are to be enjoyed in the present state: "He shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture."

The privileges of the saints are very great and

numerous; and what renders them so infinitely valuable is, that the possession of them is secured to all real believers, by the oath and promise of the Lord.

What excellent enumerations of many of them do we find in the book of God, especially in the eighth chapter of St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans there you may find a list of the greatest blessings that God can bestow upon man, or that man can possibly receive. It would be in vain for us to attempt to mention all these inestimable privileges, but it may not be amiss to mention one or two of them, and see that they are all enjoyed through Christ; that he is the gate that leads to the garden of the Lord, where grow the choicest flowers; where spring the best delights. To approach unto God, to be favored with sweet access to the God of heaven and earth; to have fellowship with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ, by the means of prayer, and other exercises of religion, is the most honorable and satisfying employment in which we can engage. It is a privilege which we can never too highly estimate, and a duty which we cannot too frequently perform. "Let their money perish with them," said a noble marquis, "who esteem all the gold and silver in the world worth one hour's communion with Christ." And to this there is no doubt but every one, who feels the power of real religion, will heartily assent. But the man who is yet in his sins, who has not known Christ, or entered in by the door, knows nothing of this privilege: he knows not what we mean by communion with God, does not see its necessity, and having never enjoyed it, cannot feel its advantages; for it is through Jesus that 65 we have access, by one Spirit, unto

the Father."

Wicked men often attend the means of grace, and some of them, who are awfully deceiving themselves, fancy that their attendance upon the means will save their souls, not recollecting that Jesus Christ is the only way of entrance into such a state as that in which a man can properly enjoy the means of grace. When the man has had a view by faith of Jesus, and has been contemplating with wonder, love, and praise, the expressions of his tenderness, the dignity of his person, the riches of his grace, and the love of his heart, then it is that he can properly enjoy the means, or rather the God of the means. Without an entrance by Jesus, the door, our prayers will be formal, our praises hypocritical, and our whole services adapted to make the Lord refuse to hear us.

The great and precious promises of the word of God are only applied by the Spirit to those who are interested in the Saviour. To him who has passed through Jesus, the door, are the promises of the Bible made; for they are all yea and amen in Christ Jesus, and heaven and earth shall sooner pass away, than one of these shall fail of its accomplishment. Whilst those who are in a state of nature have no solid satisfaction left when affliction seizes them, and outward circumstances seem to frown upon them, God keeps them in perfect peace whose minds are stayed upon him; their faith in God and in his Son is the best remedy for the troubles of human life, and they are blest with strong consolation. Having entered in by Jesus, the door, they derive real, solid, and lasting happiness from the source where alone it can be found, and in God himself are all the springs of their felicity.

In short, let it be remembered, that there is not

one privilege enjoyed by the children of God, however great, but is enjoyed through Christ. It was in him they were chosen; through him they are freely justified, really sanctified, and graciously adopted through what he has done, we shall be safely conveyed over the troubles of life, sweetly consoled in the terrors of death, freely acquitted in the day of judgment, and finally admitted into the glories of heaven.

Do you want proofs of this? Read the sacred word, where you will always find that Christ Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the all and in all, in a sinner's salvation. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ." Here you see the apostle plainly shows the source of all our mercies, namely, Christ Jesus; and, indeed, the volume of inspiration is filled with proofs, that Jesus is the only way by which we can obtain the enjoyment of any spiritual blessing. And if you ask any, who have been enlightened by Divine grace, whence it is that they are so happy, they will ascribe it all to Christ, and say, By his grace we are what we are." Thus is Jesus the door by which we are admitted into the privileges of the gospel church.

66.

2. He also is the way of entrance into the blessedness of the heavenly state.

It is lamentable to consider on what weak foundations many of our fellow-creatures rest their immortal concerns. Oh! what numbers build their eternal all, on the absolute mercy of God, the external privileges they have enjoyed, or their own legal performances, and they look for salvation from no other source; they will not hear that Je