April 14

For ye were as sheep going astray, but are now returned to the shepherd and bishop of your souls.—1 Peter 2:25.

It was the style of kings to be called shepherds, and is the dignity of the ministers of the gospel to have both these names. But this great shepherd and bishop is peculiarly worthy of these names, as supreme: he alone is the universal shepherd and bishop, and none but an antichrist, who makes himself as Christ, killing and destroying the flock, will assume this title, which belongs only to the Lord, the great owner of his flock. He himself is their great shepherd and bishop. All shepherds and bishops who are truly such, have their function and place from him; they hold of him, and follow his rule and example, in their inspection of the flock. It were the happiness of kingdoms, if magistrates and kings would set him, his love, and meekness, and equity, before their eyes in their government. And all those who are properly his bishops are under special obligations to study this pattern, to warm their affections to the flock, and to excite a tender care of their salvation, by looking on this arch-bishop and arch-shepherd, as our apostle calls him, and in their measure, to follow his footsteps, spending their life and strength in seeking the good of his sheep, considering that they are subordinately shepherds of souls, that is, in dispensing spiritual things; so far the title is communicable.

The Lord Jesus is supremely and singularly such; they, under him, are shepherds of souls, because their diligence concerns the soul, which excludes not the body in spiritual respects, as it is capable of things spiritual and eternal, by its union with the soul. But Christ is sovereign shepherd of souls above all, and singular, in that he not only teaches them the doctrine of salvation, but purchased salvation for them, and inasmuch as he reaches the soul powerfully, which ministers by their own power can not do. He lays hold on it, and restores, and leads it, and causes it to walk in his ways. In this sense it agrees to him alone, as supreme, in the incommunicable sense.

And from his guidance, power, and love, flows all the comfort of his flock. When they consider their own folly and weakness, this alone gives them confidence, that his hand guides them; and they believe in his strength far surpassing that of the roaring lion, his wisdom in knowing their particular state and their weakness, and his tender love in pitying them, and applying himself to it. Other shepherds, even faithful ones, may mistake them, and not know the way of leading them in some particulars, and they may be sometimes wanting in that tender affection that they owe; or, if they have that, yet they are not able to bear them up, and support them powerfully; but this shepherd is perfect in all these respects. The young and weak Christian, or the elder at weak times, when they are big and heavy with some inward exercise of the mind, which shall bring forth advantage and peace to them afterwards, them he leads gently, and uses them with the tenderness that their weakness requires.

And, in general, he provides for his flock, and heals them when they are any way hurt, and washes them and makes them fruitful; so that they are as that flock, described Song of Solomon 4:2: they are comely, but their shepherd much more so. They hear my voice, and follow me. And they shall never repent having done so. To follow him, is to follow life, for he is the life. He is in that glory which we desire; and where would we be, if not where he is, who, at his departure from the world said, Where I am, there they shall be also! To this happy meeting and heavenly abode, may God, of his infinite mercy, bring us, through Jesus Christ our Lord! Amen.

"Jesus the good Shepherd is: Jesus died the sheep to save; He is mine, and I am his: All I want in him I have,— Life and health, and rest and food, All the plenitude of God.

"Jesus loves and guards his own: Me in verdant pastures feeds: Makes me quietly lie down, By the stream of comfort leads: Following him where'er he goes, Silent joy my heart o'erflows."