September 9

John x. -1. Verily, verily, I say unto you. He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3. To him the porter openeth, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4. And, when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him; for they know his voice. 5. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him; for they know not the voice of strangers. 6. This parable spake Jesus unto them; but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. 7. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not hear them. 9. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

10. The thief cometh not but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth; and the wolf cateheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. 17. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

In Palestine, where lonely farm-houses would be exposed to robbers, all the farmers of a district live compactly in a village; and at night the sheep of various owners are driven into a common fold within the village, or into a walled enclosure upon the sheltered side of a valley near the sheep walks. I have seen a shepherd knock at the door of the fold in the morning, and utter a peculiar cry; when the door would be opened, and his own sheep, knowing his voice, would come out, and follow him to the pasture. But the voice of a stranger would cause them to run with alarm. In the mount in districts, flocks are often assailed by wild beasts and robbers; but the true shepherd so identifies himself with his flock, that he will defend them at the risk of his life. So David defended his father's sheep from the lion and the bear. Jesus looked

upon the chosen flock of Israel, the prey of false teachers, selfish leaders, corrupt priests; and with self-sacrificing love he came to call them to the way of life, to lead them to holiness, to feed them with true knowledge, to watch over and defend them with love, and to give his life for their salvation. But the shepherd of Israel seeks his true flock also through the wide world. Many are they among the Gentiles who shall hear his voice; and there shall be, not one fold, as erroneously translated in v. 16, but one flock, gathered out of many folds, and known all as one by their following the one Shepherd. The grace of Christ, seeking and saving the lost, cannot be shut up within any one compartment of his visible Church. The unity of the flock is in himself; and that unity is made manifest through an essential harmony of faith and spirit.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 24, 56, 70.

O thou great and good Shepherd! thou hast watched over us in the hours of darkness and of sleep; thou hast defended us from evil; and, with our awaking consciousness, we find thee still at our side. As our eyes open to behold the light of day, our souls would look up and rejoice in the light of thy countenance. We have heard thy voice in thy Word, and we would follow thee. Remembering that Satan goeth about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour, we beseech thee to keep us from his wiles, deliver us from temptation, defend us from evil. [Blessed Saviour, care for the children of this family, as lambs of thy flock; guide, nourish, and defend them.]

O God, who art the only worthy portion of our souls! keep us from that love of this world which

would draw us away from thee. May the grace of Christ preserve us from sin, and the love of Christ constrain us unto holy living! May thought, motive, temper, speech, action, all be regulated by his blessed teaching and example! In trials, succor us; in dangers, defend us; in sorrows, heal us; in death, grant us thy staff to comfort us.

Our Father in heaven, be thou the father of this family, supplying all our need, and binding our hearts unto thyself. Unite with us in the household of faith all who are dear to us; and bless and multiply the family of thy people till it shall embrace all the kindreds and peoples of the earth. Gather thy whole Church as one flock under the one Shepherd, for the sake of Him who died to save us. Amen.