CHAP. X. Of his Chrift diftinguished from all falfe Teachers, ver. 1. purchafing to himself an univerfal Church, ver. 16. Why Jefus did not in exprefs Terms declare himself to be the Meffias, ver. 25. Humility and Teachableness the neceffary Preparatives to receive the Gofpel; and that Infincerity is the only Caufe of Men's Unbelief, ver. 26. Of Jesus's being the Son of God, ver. 33. 1 & 2. After thefe Things, Jefus obferving how the Chief Priests and Pharifees grew every Day more and more enraged to fee many of the People follow him and embrace his Doctrine; and knowing on the contrary how ready they would be to encourage the People to follow any fuch false Teachers, as would flatter them in their Vices, and spread Doctrines fitted to promote the worldly Defigns and Temporal Grandeur of their Rabbies and Elders; and how Thefe Men themfelves, without any Regard to the true Design of their Office, did, with only covetous and ambitious Intentions, affect to be looked upon as the Guides and Leaders, the Shepherds and Paftors of the Flock of God: He rebuked them for their Corruptions, and afferted his own Authority, and diftinguished himself from all falfe Teachers, in the following Manner; accommodating his Difcourse, as ufually, with figurative Expreffions alluding to the prefent Occafion. Verily, faid he, whoever goes into a Sheepfold, not regularly by the Door, but climbing dif orderly and violently over the Fence; cannot be look't upon as any other than a Thief or an Enemy, that comes either to steal or to deftroy the Sheep. For without doubt the true Shepherd, that is fent to feed and V Erily, verily, I fay unto you, He that entreth not by the door into the fheepfold, but climbi eth up fome other way, the fame is a thief and a robber. 2 But he that entreth in by the door, is the fhepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the porter openeth; and the fheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them look after the Sheep, will not go in by any other Way, than by the Door, and by that Way which the Owner of the Sheep has appointed. Thus, whoever undertakes to feed and guide the Flock of God, to teach and inftruct his People; and yet goes not to them in the Way which God has appointed, and following the Method which He thinks fit to reveal, but will go in a Way of his own inventing, and according to his own Fancy or corrupt Inclination; is certainly, notwithstanding any pretences of Zeal or Authority, an Enemy and Hinderer of Mens Salvation. For without question, every one that fincerely, and free from worldly Defigns, intends only to teach and inftruct Men in the Way of Salvation; will go entirely in fuch Method as God fhall think fit to appoint, and will fubmit wholly to his Directions. 5 And a ftranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. 34. To the Shepherd that comes in this Way and Manner, the Porter openeth the Door; and the Sheep which are committed to his Charge, hear and know his Voice; and he calls them by their Names, and leads them out to Pasture, and goes before them himself, and they willingly follow him. Thus to Chrift, and to all fincere Preachers of Righteousness, who come not with any worldly Defigns, but wholly in the Way that God has appointed; good and well-difpofed Perfons, prepared by pious Inclinations and the Grace of God, readily fubmit themfelves, and receive Inftruction, perceiving the Authority and Excellency of the Doctrine propofed to them. 5. But to a Stranger that climbs up over the Fence, the Sheep will not go; but will flee from him, not knowing his Voice, but being terrified at his coming. Thus by falfe, proud, and worldly-minded Teach ers, who perfift obftinately in Ways of * 8. All that have fet themselves up in other Ways, and have pretended, or do pretend to teach Men other Methods of Salvation, and other Doctrines in oppofition to mine; are Thieves and Rob*Ferem. bers, who deftroy and scatter the xxiii. 1. Sheep, inftead of feeding them; that is, serve their own proud, ambitious and † covetous Ends, inftead of teaching Men faithfully the Doctrine of Salvation. But fincere, honeft, and well-difpofed Perfons, do by the Grace of God escape their Deceits, and are not feduced by them. + Ezek. xxxiv. 3 & 4. 2, 9. I am the Door of God's Sheepfold; the Way, which God has revealed for the Salvation of Men. Whofoever believes on Me, as the Author of Life and Happiness; embracing my Doctrine, and feeking for Salvation only through Me, under my Guidance, and in that 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he fhall be faved, and shall go in and out, and find pa Aure. to The thief cometh not, but for to fteal, 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 fhepherd: the good fhepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, feeth the wolf the sheep, and fleeth: Method which God has revealed by Me; 10. Impoftors, Deceivers, and cor- into the World, t is to inform the Ig-+ Ifa. xl. 11. I am the good Shepherd, the See E- 12 & 13. Whereas they that are hired for Wages, and perform their Service only in profpect of Gain, without having any natural and affectionate Con cern for fuch as are committed to their Care; when they fee any Danger ap- Benefit of others. 14 & 15. I am 14&15. I am (I fay) the good Shep herd, the great Guide and Leader of the Flock of God. And there is fuch a mutual Affection, fuch a Likeness and Agreeableness of Difpofition, between Me and thofe Perfons whom I am to lead, instruct, and take particular Charge of, as a Shepherd doth of his Sheep; that they perceiving the Excellency and Agreeableness of my Doctrine, quickly know and difcern Me from all falfe Teachers, and come unto Me; and I know and readily embrace them. Even * in the fame manner as, by reafon of the perfect Unity and Agreeableness that is between Me and my Father, I am abfolutely and intimately acquainted with His Will, and He knows and entirely loves Me. Such an Affection, I fay, and Agreeablenefs there is between Me and my Sheep. And a fignal Inftance of this Affection on my part, I fhall fhortly give; which is, that I fhall lay down my Life for their Sakes. 16. Moreover, befides those of God's ancient Flock, the Ifraelites, who fhall believe and obey Me, and by Me be brought to Salvation; there are also other well-difpofed Perfons, featter'd through the World in other Places and Nations, who fhall at length hear the Sound of my Doctrine, and become my Difciples. These likewife will I bring and unite to the former; and they shall 14 I am the good fhepherd, and know my beep, and am known of mine. 15 As the Father knoweth me, even fo know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the fheep. 16 And other fheep I have, which are not of this fold: them alfo I muft bring, and they fhall hear my voice; and there fhall be one fold, and one fhepherd. * Καγώ γινώσκω * πατέρα, ought not to be rendred, even fo know I the Father; but fimply, and I know the Father. For these Words are not the latter Member of the Similitude, ( as our Tranflation makes them) in refpect of the foregoing Words in the fame Verfe; but this whole Verfe is one Member of a Similitude, in refpect of the former Verse. 17 There |