23. "I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world : thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word."-John xvii. 6. "All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal Him."-Luke x. 22. At the day of judgment Jesus "shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the king say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."-Matt. xxv. 33.

In what sense can false teachers rob, kill, and destroy God's people?

By taking away the Holy Scriptures, altering the nature of the sacraments, which were intended for the food and nourishment of their souls. God says "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children."-Hos. iv. 6. The Scriptures direct us to Christ. "That

which was written was upright, even words of truth. The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd."-Eccl. xii. 10. How does God rebuke unfaithful pastors?

"As I live, saith the Lord God, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there

was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock; therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord; Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their month, that they may not be meat for them."-Ezek. xxxiv. 8-10. "Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord. Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I wlll visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the Lord."-Jer. xxiii. 1. "Woe to the idle shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened."-Zech. xi. 17. And our Saviour remarks, "Can the blind lead the blind? Shall they not both fall into the ditch?"-Luke vi. 39.

upon

Is there any promise of faithful teachers?

Yes. "I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding."-Jer. iii. 15. And St. Peter, having received a command from Christ to shew his love by feeding the sheep and lambs of his fold, John xxi. 15-17, charges ministers; "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the

oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; nor for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away."-1 Pet. v. 2-4.

Must all be fed alike?

The shepherd should, if possible, know his flock, that he may minister to their several necessities, but to each he must give the Word of God, giving to all their meat in due season."

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Some may be weak, timid and young, which makes it necessary that they should have food of a different quality from that which would be proper for stronger and more established christians. Perhaps you can tell me what St. Paul said about this?

"I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are able."-1 Cor. iii. 2. "We were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children."-1 Thess. ii. 7. "Of whom (Christ) we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age; even those who by reason of use, have their

senses exercised to discern both good and evil." -Heb. v. 11-14.

What is meant by the meat and milk of the Gospel ?

The doctrines and "deep things of God," 1 Cor. ii. 10; and the sweet promises of the Gospel.

As God has given authority and power to the under shepherds to feed His flock, what falls to our part as the sheep?

Respectfully to attend to their instructions and rebukes, and, as we are taught in the catechism, "to submit ourselves to all our spiritual pastors, and masters."

What does Christ say of those who refuse to listen to their message, or as I ought to say, their "Lord's message."-Hag. i. 13?

"He that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth Him that sent me." -Luke x. 16.

What is the promise to those who enter into the fold by the merits and intercession of Christ? "They shall be saved." "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved."-Acts xvi. 31.

What do you understand by the expression "go in and out?"

That the fold is their resting place and not their prison they enjoy a blessed freedom: "if" the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."-John viii. 36. "Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."-2 Cor. iii. 17.

I had better tell you that to "go in and out,"

is a Hebrew phrase, which denotes a capability to perform the duties of life. You must en

deavour to recollect a few examples.

"Moses went and spake these words unto all Israel. And he said unto them, I am an hundred and twenty years old this day; I can no more go out and come in."-Deut. xxxi. 1. "And Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him, and was departed from Saul. Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people. And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the Lord was with him. Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them."-1 Sam. xviii. 12-16. Solomon prayed "Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people."— 2 Chron. i. 10.

Christ's people can discharge as well as, or I may say, better than others, all the social duties; and, while it is their daily study to "adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things," (Tit. ii. 10;)"in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the Grace of God, to have their conversation in the world."-2 Cor. i. 12. Christianity makes a person fulfil his duty in every relation of life—as parent, child, husband, wife, master, servant, subject, and neighbour. It has been said "If a christian were a shoeblack, he would be the best in the parish." I