lived when in this world, it would be but little comfort to us who live eighteen hundred years after Him: if it could only be said that He was the good Shepherd, it would be but of little consequence to us to know it. But, blessed be God, it is our glorious and encouraging belief, that Jesus still is the good Shepherd of mankind : that, though far removed above out of our sight, He still looks down, from His throne of glory at the right hand of God, upon all the sheep of His pasture here on earth, upon all Christians throughout the world, upon all believers and followers of Him. We know that our Redeemer liveth: though He was crucified, dead, and buried, He rose again and not till He had promised to be with us always, even unto the end of the world, did He return to that glory which He left on our account alone. The Son of God is still our Shepherd, still our Protector, Guide, and Friend: the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever. He still directs, encourages, and comforts us by the pure and holy doctrines of His gospel: still strengthens and refreshes with His

Spirit all those who devoutly pray to Him for it. He still healeth those who are broken in heart, and invites us to cast the burden of our souls on Him, that we may find rest and peace: He still watches for our good, not willing that one of us should perish, but that we should all be partakers of His salvation. He is that good Shepherd of our souls who will gently lead us, if we be willing to be led by Him, through all the sorrows, trials, and temptations of this life, and when these shall be past, heaven is the peaceful fold into which He mercifully offers to receive us.

Would to God that every one of us would, each day of our short life, be pressing forward to that happy place! that, with one accord, we would follow our Blessed Shepherd's steps, submitting with joy and gladness to be guided by His counsel, that so we might hope hereafter to be received into His glory! Would that none of us might ever again turn either to the right hand or to the left into the deceitful paths of sin and folly, but patiently continue to prepare for everlasting life, looking to and trusting

in the Shepherd and the Saviour, who died to bring us to it!

But what has been, or what is now the real truth with regard to ourselves? The years which God Almighty has given us, and which are now already gone, have been leading us either towards a far happier or a far more miserable world. We were admitted, indeed, into Christ's flock at our baptism, and were signed with the sign of His cross, in token that for ever after we should belong to Him; and, at our confirmation afterwards, we took upon ourselves the solemn promise which had been made for us, that we would live according to our Saviour's laws: but have we done so? bearing the name of christians, have we been christians in deed and truth? has Jesus Christ always been the guide, the pattern, the example which we have followed? have we never deserted our good Shepherd? never wilfully wandered from Him? never gone like lost sheep astray? has the devil never enticed us to sin against our Saviour, nor our own hearts persuaded us to follow the evil customs of the world

rather than the gospel of Christ? Alas! have we never let God see that eternal life has been wholly out of our thoughts, that we have heeded nothing and cared for nothing, but to get pleasure how and where we could? surely some of us, nay, all of us must feel that we have come short of our duty that in the days which, though now passed, must all be accounted for, sins have been committed or holy things neglected; good forsaken or evil done, enough to cover us, if we had what we deserve, with everlasting punishment and sorrow: so that having nothing of our own to trust to, we have only to throw ourselves (and happy will it be for us if we do so in time) upon the goodness of God, and have reason to join the psalmist in his repentant prayer, Have mercy upon me, O Lord, after Thy great goodness, according to the multitude of Thy mercies do away my offences.

What do the wilful breakers of God's commandments say to this? what does the unclean person think, the whoremonger and adulterer? he who gives himself up to impure and unholy thoughts and actions:

who lives for nothing but to indulge his lusts, and works uncleanness with greediness.

What does the drunkard say to this? the wretched being who will complain to you one day of his poverty and hardships, and yet have no scruple to squander away his weekly earnings, drowning his reason, and making himself lower than a brute beast, instead of laying them by to pay off his debts, or provide for the comfort and support of his family. What must the dishonest man think of it? the thief, the liar, the covetous, the plasphemer, the uncharitable, the unforgiving, and revengeful?

And are there in the flock of Christ such characters as these? yes, my brethren, God knows it: the searcher of hearts, the judge of sinners knows it. Not only is He acquainted with the open wickedness of His creatures, He knows all our secret hidden guilt. He knows that many who have a good appearance outwardly, are foul within: that many have committed grievous crimes which men have not suspected: that many have dared to do before Him things which they would have been ashamed