all the grace of it. Again, he is described by his office, under which consideration he was the object of the work mentioned; "that great Shepherd of the sheep;" he who was promised to the church, and the object of its faith and hope, from the beginning; he who was looked for, prayed for, and who was now actually come as the Savior of his flock. He is said to be great on many accounts; in his person, in his power to preserve and save his flock; in his undertaking, and the effectual accomplishment of it; and his glorious exaltation. He is every way incomparably great and glorious.

Note. The safety, security, and consolation of the church much depend on this greatness of our Shepherd.

He is "the Shepherd of the sheep;" they are his own. He was promised and prophesied of, under the name of a Shepherd, Isa. xl, 11; Ezek. xxxiv, 23; chap. xxxvii, 24; and that which is signified hereby, is comprehensive of the whole office of Christ, as king, priest, and prophet of the church. For as a Shepherd, he feeds; that is, rules and instructs it; and being "that Shepherd who was to lay down his life for the sheep," John x, 11; he executes towards them his priestly office also. All the elect are committed to him of God, as sheep to a shepherd, to be redeemed and preserved, by virtue of his office. That which we are here principally taught is, that he "died in the discharge of his office," as the "great Shepherd of the sheep;" which expresseth both the excellency of his love, and the certainty of the salvation of the elect.

The God of peace "brought him again from the dead." Herein consisteth his great acting towards the church, as the God of peace, and herein he laid the foundation for communicating unto us grace and peace. God, even the Father, is frequently said to

"raise Christ from the dead," because of his sovereign authority in the disposal of the whole work of redemption; and Christ is said to raise himself, or “to take his life again," when he was dead; because of the immediate efficacy of his divine person therein, John X, 18.

But somewhat more is intended, than that mere act of Divine power, whereby the human nature of Christ was quickened by a re-union of soul and body; a moral act of authority is also intended. The law being fulfilled and answered; the sheep being redeemed by the death of the Shepherd, the God of peace, to evidence that peace was now perfectly made, by an act of sovereign authority, brings him again into a state of life, completely delivered from the charge of the law. See Psal. xvi, 10, 11.

$4. "Through the blood of the everlasting covenant;" the covenant of grace, which is a transcript and effect of the covenant of redemption, called "everlasting," both in opposition to the covenant made at Sinai, which was but for a time, and accordingly was now removed; and because the effects of it are not temporary benefits, but everlasting mercies, grace, and glory. The blood of this covenant is the blood of Christ himself; which, as a sacrifice to God, confirmed the covenant; and which, as it was sprinkled, procured and communicates all the grace and mercy of the covenant to them, who are taken into the bond of it.

But how is God said to bring Christ from the dead, "through the blood of the covenant?" In reply, we remark, that the death of Christ, if he had not risen, would have not completed our redemption; we should have been yet in our sins. For then evidence would be given, that atonement was not made. The bare resurrection of Christ would not have saved us; for so

any other man may be raised by the power of God. But the "bringing again Christ from the dead, through the blood of the everlasting covenant," gives assurance of the complete redemption and salvation of the church. Many expositors have filled this place with conjectures to no purpose, without so much as looking towards the mind of the Holy Ghost in the words.

$5. "Make you perfect," or rather, (naтaçтioni upas) make you meet, fit, and able. This is what in yourselves you are no way fit and prepared for, whatever light, power, or liberty, you may be supposed to have; it is not absolute perfection, but a bringing of the mental faculties into due order, to dispose, prepare, and enable them, that they may work accordingly. "In every good work;" for every duty of obedience. In general, he designs the application of divine grace, through the `mediation of Christ, for our sanctification, and the daily increases of it.

( n ) "working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ." This is the way the only way-whereby we may be enabled effectually to do the will of God. The efficiency of actual grace for every acceptable act of obedience cannot be more directly expressed. Through Jesus Christ; which may be referred either to working or to acceptance. If to the latter, the meaning is, that the best of our duties are not accepted but upon the account of the merit and mediation of Christ, which is most true; but it is rather to be referred to the former, shewing that there is no communication of grace to us, from the peace of God, but by Jesus Christ, and by virtue of his mediation.

§6. "To whom be glory for ever and ever, Amen.” The like ascription of glory, in the same kind of expres sion, is made to God, even the Father Phil. iv, 20,

"Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever, amen." So 1 Tim. i, 17; 2 Tim. iv, 18. "So it is jointly to the Father and the Son as mediator, Rev. v, 13; See Gal. i, 5. And whereas this assignation of glory to Christ contains divine adoration and worship, with the ascription of glorious divine properties to him; the object of it is his divine person; and the motive unto it, the work of mediation. All grace is from him, and therefore all glory is to ascribed to him without intermission and without end. Hereunto is added the usual solemn note of assent and attestation, "Amen;" so it is, so let it be, so it ought to be; it is true, it is right and meet that so it should be.

Thus shall the whole dispensation of grace issue in the eternal glory of Christ. This the Father designed; this is the blessedness of the church to give him: and let every one who says not "Amen" to it, see that he be not "anathema maranatha."

§7. That which we learn from hence is,

1. That the bringing back of our Lord Jesus Christ, as the Shepherd of the sheep, from the state of the dead, through the blood of the covenant, is the great pledge of assurance of peace with God, or the effecting of that peace, which "the God of peace" hath designed for the church.

2. The reduction of Christ from the dead by "the God of peace," is the spring and foundation of all dispensations and communications of grace to the church; of all the effects of the atonement and purchase made by his blood; for he was rought again, as the Shepherd of the sheep, to the exercise of his entire office

towards the church.

3. All legal sacrifices issued in blood and death; but there was no recovery of any of them from that state,

no solemn pledge of their success.

The only supply of their weakness was their frequent repetition.

4. There is then a blessed foundation laid for the communication of grace and mercy to the church, to the eternal glory of God.

§8. And to HIM doth the poor, unworthy author of this exposition desire in all humility to ascribe eternal praise and glory for all the mercy, grace, guidance, and assistance which he hath received from him in his endeavors therein. And if any thing, word, or expression, through weakness, ignorance, and darkness, which he yet laboreth under, have passed from him that do not tend to his glory, he doth here utterly condemn it. And he humbly prays, that if through his assistance, and the guidance of his Holy Spirit of light and truth, any thing hath been spoken aright concerning him— his office, sacrifice, grace, and his whole mediation any light or direction communicated towards understanding the mind of the Holy Ghost in this glorious scripture that he would make it abundantly useful and acceptable to his church.

And he doth also humbly acknowledge his power, goodness, and patience, in that, beyond all his expectations, he hath continued his life, under many weaknesses, temptations, sorrows, and tribulations, to bring this work to its end. "To HIM be glory for ever and ever, Amen."

What follows are certain additional postscripts, which wereusual with our apostle in his other epistles, of which we shall briefly give an account.

VERSES 22----25.

And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation; for I have written a letter unto you in a few words. Know ye, that our brother Timothy is set at liberty, with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you. Salute all them that have the rule over you: and all the saints, they of Italy salute y C Grace be with you all, Amen.