little ones. The Spirit leads us to his cross, and there we see judgment for us fully executed, and our sins gone. "He removed the iniquity of that land in one day." When this is the case, we see that we had victory over devils, and that in Christ Jesus. "He' spoiled principalities and powers." We see the hand-writing, or holy law, that he magnified for us, with our old man, nailed to his cross; and as the vail of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom, so we find there is free access into the holiest of all, even into heaven above. Our prayers, that before came back to us, are now admitted; and as John says, "We know he heareth us.' Our hopes, faith, desires, longings, and sacritices of thanksgiving, enter into the very heart of our heavenly, Father. And as Jesus rose again, we rose in him; and in experience we rise to newness of life. After this he went up to heaven above, and we in him; · and in experience we are heavenly minded, and life and peace attend it. And having finished his work, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high; and we are made to sit by representative in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, our covenant Head. Thus God the Father accepted us in him; and then sends the Holy Ghost upon us to let us know it, "For he testifies of Christ," and "sheds abroad the Father's love in our hearts."

Now this is bringing forth our righteousness as the light and our judgment as the noonday, which, blessed be God, my soul has often enjoyed. Therefore, "Commit thy way to him; trust also in him, and he will bring it to pass; and he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. When the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in his wings, then we shall go forth, (that is, from all confidence in the flesh,) and grow up, (that is, into Christ our living Head,) and that in all things.

66

66

But this is not always enjoyed. Oh no! This faith is tried with fire, and every fiery trial has this voice in it: "Trust in the Lord." Paul says, Who hath delivered, who doth deliver, and in whom we trust he will yet deliver." The devil will come as he did to Peter. Says Christ, "Whom say ye that I am?" Peter says, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." "Blessed art thou, Simon!" But after this, Simon, Simon, Satan hath desired to have you, (he does not like your faith,) to sift you as wheat;" and so he did with a witness. But did his faith fail? No. "Why," say you, "he cursed, swore, and denied the Lord; and is not this faith failing?" No; Christ's prayer was that his faith might not fail. But," say you, was that prayer heard?" Yes; Christ told his Father at Lazarus's grave, I know thou always hearest me." 66 But," say you, "I think yet his faith failed." But I say, No, it was not in exercise, and the fear of man and unbelief were dominant. But when Jesus looked on him, up sprang his faith; and after this, Christ put it three times to him whether he loved him; and he appealed to Jesus, "Lord, thou knowest that I love thee," and Christ did not contradict him. Paul says, "Faith works by love." Therefore Peter must have had faith

66

66

But faith must be rooted up before it can be said to fail, for Peter stood firm as a rock after this; and Paul tells you "by faith we stand." Read the Acts, and see how boldly he stands up against the Pharisees. Now these times call for trust.

66

There is a set of hypocrites that will swarm round us in these trying times with a Where is now thy God?" &c., and we are dumb men, in whose mouths are no reproofs. They will try us not a little, as also they did our blessed Lord: "He trusted in God that he would deliver him, let him deliver him,” said they, "if he delight in him." And we in a measure shall tread in his steps; for they having heard us boast of the Lord's goodness to us, when he leaves us a little while and suffers them to have all the power (as they think) in their own hands, they laugh at our trusting in the Lord. But though we are pinched to the uttermost, and are ready at times to go to Egypt for help, yet he appears again, and we cry out in the midst of our troubles, Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him." Now here no hypocrite can stand; and this is trust, and a trying of that trust. (To be continued.)

THE SWORD OF JUSTICE AWAKENED AGAINST GOD'S FELLOW.

PART OF A SERMON BY RALPH ERSKINE, PREACHED BEFORE THE ORDINANCE OF THE LORD'S SUPPER, JULY 3, 1720.

(Continued from page 15.)

Third. To show you the need of his being both God and man in one person: "The man, God's Fellow." The cause of God, and the cause of man is referred to Christ; therefore he partakes of both natures, that he may be faithful to God, and merciful to man; a fit Mediator between God and man, to lay his hand upon both parties, because he partakes of both natures. Our Redeemer must be both

subject to the law, and fulfil the law meritoriously. Now, if he had not been man, he could not have been subject to the law, and if he had not been God, he could not have merited by fulfilling the law; but now, being God-man, by his obedience he hath magnified the law, and made it honourable. Our Redeemer was to give his soul an offering for sin. Now, if he had not been man, he could not have had a soul to offer; if he had not been God, his soul could not have upheld itself, but must have died when his soul was exceeding sorrowful even unto death; but now, his divine nature did support his human body and his human soul, under the weight of that burden which would have crushed a world of men and angels. Our Redeemer must both suffer and satisfy. Now, if he had not been man, he could not have suffered; and if he had not been God, he could not have given satisfaction by his sufferings; but, being Godman, his sufferings are dignified with infinite value and virtue. Our Redeemer must both die for us, and conquer death. Now, if he

had not been man, he could not have died, and therefore he took on him our nature, that he might taste death for every man; if he had not been God, he could not have destroyed, nor conquered death; but now, he is declared to be the Son of God, with power, by the resurrection from the dead." There is the Man that is God's Fellow. But now,

Fourth. Consider the account we have of his mediatorial office, "My Shepherd." Here you may a little view, 1. How he comes to be called a Shepherd. And, 2. How the Lord of hosts comes to call him his Shepherd: "My Shepherd."

(1.) Then, how he is called a Shepherd. This will appear by noticing a few scriptures wherein he is so designated. He is called "the Shepherd of Israel." (Psal. lxxx. 1.) He is called the "Shepherd of souls." "Ye were as sheep going astray, but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls." (1 Pet. ii. 25.) He is called the good Shepherd. "I am the good Shepherd.' (John x. 11.) O but it suits him well to commend himself! "I am the good Shepherd; the good Shepherd giveth his life for his sheep." He is called the great Shepherd. "Now, the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect," &c. (Heb. xiii. 20.) He is called the chief Shepherd. "When the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away." (1 Pet. v. 4.) He has all the qualities of a good and great shepherd. Does a shepherd take care to provide for his flock and feed them? so does Christ. "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want." "He shall feed his flock like a shepherd.' (Isaiah xl. 11.) He feeds them with the bread of life. Does a shepherd water his flock? so does Christ; he gives them not only meat for their nourishment, but drink for the refreshment of his weary flock, even the water of life, proceeding out of the throne, through the conduit of the gospel; by which I understand the Spirit, that well of water springing up to everlasting life; and the influences of his grace, by which he strengthens, purifies, and comforts his people. Does a shepherd lead his flock to convenient pastures? so does Christ. "Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock." He leads them to green pastures, and beside the still waters of gospel-ordinances and promises: and these pastures are sweeter to them than honey or the honey-comb. Does the shepherd heal his distressed flock? so does Christ. His name is Jehovah Rophi, "I am the Lord that healeth thee." Are there any here that are poor diseased sheep, plagued with atheism, unbelief, enmity, and pride? plagued with a backsliding heart? what think you of that Shepherd that says, "I will heal your backslidings, and love you freely?" Does the shepherd seek out the lost sheep till he find it? so does Christ. "He came to seek

and to save that which was lost." Does the shepherd take special care of the poor tender sheep, that is so far behind that it can hardly follow the flock? so does Christ. 'He gathers the lambs in his arms, carries them in his bosom, and gently leads those that

are with young." Does the shepherd prevent the straying of the sheep, and bring back such as go astray? so does Christ; he prevents their total apostasy, according to his covenant: "I will make an

everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me." (Jer. xxxii. 40.) Hence comes it that his sheep never go back into perdition. "Though he fall, he shall not utterly be cast down; for the Lord upholds him with his hand." (Psal. xxxvii. 24.) Hence come their recoveries after falls, because this Shepherd gathers and brings back his straying sheep. See a sweet scripture to this purpose, Ezek. xxxiv. 11, 12, 13, 16, 23, compared particularly with verse 16. As this may be a sweet word to poor sheep, that have nothing, and see they have nothing: no good, no grace, no faith, no love, no repentance, no good qualifications of their own, nothing to recommend them to God but their want and necessity; and to weak sheep, that find they can do nothing, cannot pray, cannot believe, cannot mourn, cannot communicate, and therefore see an absolute need of Christ to be their righteousness and strength: so it may be an awakening word to the fat and strong sheep, those that are fat and full in themselves, and think they are increased with goods, and stand in need of nothing; that they have a good heart to God, and are not so ill as some persons: and to those that are strong, who think they can pray. and hear, and believe, and communicate well enough; what should hinder them? But whilst the poor and weak will be fed with mercy, the fat and the strong will be fed with judgment. Let the poor weak sheep, though sensible of great strayings, yet conceive hope. This Shepherd seeks that which was lost, and brings again that which was driven away. Were you driven away with a head-wind; driven away by the devil; driven away from your Shepherd by temptation and powerful corruption? Why, yet he brings again that which was driven away. Does a shepherd defend his flock from troubles, and such as would make a prey of them? so does Christ. When grievous wolves, whether in church or state, would destroy the poor sheep, whether in their persons or principles; yet "upon all the glory there shall be a defence," and "no weapon formed against them shall prosper." For "there is no enchantment against Jacob, nor divination against Israel." Does a shepherd know all the sheep of his flock, by his own mark upon them? so does Christ. "The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal: The Lord knoweth them that are his." As his sheep hear and know his voice from the voice of a stranger, so he knows them, and calls his own sheep by name. (John x. 3.) But,

(2.) How does the Lord of Hosts come to call him His Shepherd? "Awake, O sword, against MY Shepherd." Why, he is God the Father's Shepherd in several respects; which I touch at only in a few words.

66

He is God's Shepherd, because God made him so; he has the Father's commission for this effect: 'Him hath God the Father sealed." (John vi. 27.) Christ was appointed and authorised; he

was elected for this effect: "Behold my servant, whom I uphold: mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth.' He transacted with him for this effect: "I have made a covenant with my chosen." He formally called him to this employment, and set him up to be a Shepherd: "I will set up one Shepherd over them, and he shall feed them; he shall be their Shepherd." (Ezek. xxxiv. 23.) He qualified him for this work, by a supereminent unction: Í have put my Spirit upon him, and he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles." He is God's Shepherd, because God gave him the sheep: they were, and thou gavest them me." (John xvii. 6.) They were thine by election; and thou gavest them to me, to be redeemed by me. This donation of the sheep to Christ is begun in election, and accomplished in effectual vocation: "All that the Father hath given me shall come to me."

66 Thine

He is God's Shepherd, because God recommends all his sheep to his special care: "This is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he has given me I should lose nothing." (John vi. 39.) God has given him the "heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermost ends of the earth for his possession." All whom he chooses to be the objects of his special love, he lodges as a trust in the hands of Christ. He gave him the charge of the sheep; and his instructions are, not only to lose none, no not the least of them, the weakest of them, but to lose nothing; and as he will lose none, no person, so he will lose nothing, no part of the person, neither soul nor body.

He is God's Shepherd. Why? God appointed him to lay down his life for his sheep; "I lay down my life for my sheep; I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. This commandment have I received of my Father." (John x. 18.) Christ suffered death, not only voluntarily, but in a way of subjection. to his Father, that so the merit of his death might be every way full and acceptable to the Father. And so again,

He is God's Shepherd, because God approves of his undertaking and work, as his Shepherd, and loves him for this very reason. (John x. 17.) He approves of his doing and dying. His soul is delighted in this Shepherd: "Mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth.' He openly declares his affection in him: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." "The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness' sake."

66

In a word, he is God's Shepherd, because God the Father and Christ are equally concerned in keeping the sheep. (John x. 27-30.) The Father does so intrust Christ with the sheep, as yet that he casts not off the care of them. They are in the Father's hands as well as Christ's: "I and my Father are one;" though personally distinct, yet essentially one. The Man that is God's Fellow in this, has fellowship with the Father, that the Father's sheep are his sheep; and his sheep are the Father's sheep; and they are equally concerned and engaged in keeping the sheep; only Christ, as Mediator, is engaged for them as the Father's servant. and commissioner: "My Shepherd."