September 10

John x. — 19. There was a division, therefore, again among the Jews for these sayings.

20. And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad: why hear ye him?

21. Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?

22. And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.

23. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch.

24. Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.

25. Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.

26. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

27. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me;

28. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

29. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

30. I and my Father are one.

31. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.

32. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I showed you from my Father: for which of those works do ye stone me?

33. The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy, and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

34. Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?

35. If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;

36. Say ye of him whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest, because I said, I am the Son of God?

37. If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.

38. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works; that ye may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in him.

39. Therefore they sought again to take him; but he escaped out of their hand.

40. And went away again beyond Jordan, into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode.

41. And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle; but all things that John spake of this man were true.

42. And many believed on him there.

The true sheep are identified by certain marks, partly in themselves as the experience of believing souls, and partly in the feelings and purposes of Christ toward them. Tholuck has grouped together these marks under the following heads: "1. They understand Christ's call; 2. He knows them by their sympathy; 3. They direct themselves by his will; 4. He gives them eternal life; 5. They never lose it; 6. No power can snatch them away from him." If we hear the Saviour's voice, and follow him with a loving, trusting obedience whithersoever he leadeth, we may safely leave to him our guidance, our protection, our final salvation. The one thing which concerns us is, that we do truly follow him. The assurance of

eternal life is grounded in his love, and in his oneness with the Father, which is so entire and absolute, that he could say, without metaphor and without qualification, "I and my Father are one." The Jews understood him to make himself God; and so far from correcting their understanding of his words, in order thus to free himself from this odious charge, Jesus proceeded to justify his words by an appeal to his works. To us, both words and works, confirmed by the resurrection, the ascension, and the coming of the Holy Ghost, are a warrant for the highest faith in Him who is able to give unto us eternal life. By knowing Christ in the experience of our hearts, we shall know the Father.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 70, 135, 159.

Blessed be God, the Father of all mercies, for the mercies of the past night; for shelter, safety, comfort, rest, and peace. How precious are thy thoughts unto us, O God! how great is the sum of them! When we awake, we are still with thee. So would our hearts rise to thee, O Lord! with the morning light, with the incense of prayer and praise; yea, we would present our bodies unto thee a living sacrifice. May this, our reasonable service, be made holy through the blood of Jesus, and acceptable through the Spirit of all grace! May the Holy Spirit like a dove descend and rest upon us, making our home and our hearts the abode of peace!

Help us this day to live unto thee, and in all

our works and ways to do that which is well-pleasing in thy sight. Prosper, we beseech thee, the labor of our hands, our studies, our various callings; bless to us the means of knowledge and improvement; make us thoughtful of others, considerate of the poor and afflicted, wise and ready unto every good word and work. We commend unto thee our kindred and friends, beseeching thee to grant them the promise of the life that now is; and in the world to come, life everlasting. We pray for thy holy Church universal, for the coming of light and peace and salvation in the latter-day glory to all the earth, through Christ our Lord; and to thy name be power and glory and dominion, world without end. Amen.