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Let the distant nations repair to me with new force of mind; and let the people recover their strength.

ANNOTATIONS AND REFLECTIONS.

In the above extract from Isaiah's prophecy it is expressly predicted, that GOD HIMSELF would come and visit his people, and manifest his almighty power by means of his ARM (that is, as we may judge from other parts of Scripture, his WORD), who would hold out before him the reward and the recompence, which he intended to bestow on his faithful servants; that he should not appear in terrible majesty, as on Mount Sinai, but like a good shepherd, gathering together all who were willing to be received into his flock; feeding them with heavenly doctrine, and comforting the faint-hearted. But that the world might not suppose the ALMIGHTY would divest himself of his glorious majesty to effect his purpose, the Prophet was inspired to call to mind the infinite and incompre hensible power and wisdom of the SUPREME BEING; and how presumptuous it is to judge of his dispensa. tions by the short standard of human abilities! The LORD, therefore, encouraged the faithful to trust in the completion of his promises, however unintelligible they might appear. How comfortable is it to reflect, as this portion of prophecy, suggests, that the "infinite power and unsearchable wisdom of GOD is unweariedly and everlastingly engaged in strengthening, comfort. ing, and saving his people! It is impossible to read this description of GOD, the most sublime that ever was pen ned, without being struck with inexpressible reverence and self-abasement at the contrast between the Great JEHOVAH and every thing reputed great in this world, how admirably imagined, how exquisitely finished! What

What atoms and inanities are they all before him, who sitteth on the circle of the immense heavens, and views the potentates of the earth in the light of the grasshoppers; those poor insects that wander over the barren heath for sustenance, spend the day in insignificant chirpings, and take up their contemptible lodging at night on a blade of grass! We will now see what Ezekiel prophesied concerning the shepherds or teachers of Israel.

SECTION_LXXXVIII.

PART OF THE PROPHECY OF EZEKIEL.

From Ezekiel, Chap. xxxiv.

AND the word of the LORD came unto Ezekiel, saying, Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the LORD unto the shepherds, Wo be to the shepherds of Israel, that do feed themselves: should not the shepherds feed the flocks?

Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe yourselves with the wool: ye kill them that are fed; but ye feed not the flock.

The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and cruelty have ye ruled them.

And they were scattered because there is no shepherd and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered.

Dr. Smith's Summary View,

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My sheep wandereth through all the mountains, and upon every high hill; yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.

Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: As I live, saith the LORD GOD, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock:

Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD.

Thus saith the LORD GOD, Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock, neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.

I will save my flock, and they shall be no more a prey, and I will judge between cattle and cattle.

And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.

And I the LORD will be their Go», and my servant David a prince among them. I the LORD have spoken, and I will make with them a covenant of peace.

Thus shall they know, that I the LORD their GOD am with them.

And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your GOD, saith the LORD GOD *.

* The intermediate verses of this chapter are omitted here, as they seem to relate solely to the final restoration of Israel.

ANNOTA.

ANNOTATIONS AND REFLECTIONS.

Taken in a spiritual sense, this prediction agrees with our LORD's constant description of the Scribes and Pharisees; it may therefore be applied to them, though originally addressed to the teachers of Israel, who, in the days of Ezekiel, suffered the people, through their carelessness, to be tempted by the surrounding nations to idolatrous practices. The doctrine of traditions was as subversive of the true religion as worshipping idols; therefore those who were persuaded to adopt them, were equally led astray.

From comparing this section with the former one, concerning the good shepherd, we learn, that the ARM of the LORD was to be united with a prince of the house of David; which union certainly subsisted in the person of JESUS CHRIST; but let us now read what our Blessed LORD himself declared concerning the good shepherd.

SECTION LXXXIX.

THE PARABLE OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD,

From John, Chap. x.

AND JESUS said, For judgment 1 am come into this world that they which see not, might see; and that

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they which see, might be made blind.

And some of the Pharisees who were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?

JESUS said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not

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by the door into the sheep-fold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door, is the shepherd of the sheep.

To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice; and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

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And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him for they know his voice.

And a stranger they will not follow, but will flee from him for they know not the voice of strangers.

This parable spake JESUS unto them: but they un. derstood not what things they were which he spake unto them.

Then said JESUS unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

All that ever came before me, are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not hear them.

I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

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.

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

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 catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

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