![]() ![]() They are never at a standstill, but follow him whithersoever he goeth. "They follow me." He writes a copy, and they imitate. (4) Constant progression towards his life. They generally do, and ought to, observe the proper order. ![]() "Get thee behind me." The shepherd is to be in front, the sheep behind. He impulsively wanted to lead, but he was peremptorily ordered to the rear. (3) An acknowledgment of their relative position. It is the attraction of his Person, character, doctrine, life, love - the attraction of food to the hungry they are not driven, but drawn they are filled, and they follow they are impelled and attracted. ![]() "They follow." Why? Because he attracts them. (2) A practical proof of his influence over them and their adherence to him. And they ought for he is a Leader and Commander of the people - the greatest Leader of all ages, the only Leader and Shepherd of souls. They have every confidence in him, and they fully trust and believe and obey. "They follow me." This is a practical acknowledgment of his right and fitness in every respect to lead. " They follow him." The hearing results in following. But its teaching sinks deep in the mind, produces genuine faith in the heart, and full and hearty acceptation and assent in the whole soul.ΔΆ. His voice does not die away in music and end in mere rapturous feelings. (3) Willing acceptation by faith of his teaching. Even all the golden harps of heaven could not produce such a sweet music, and they listen with attention and rapturous delight. They not merely distinguish and know it as his, but attend and hear and to them it is particularly sweet and charming - like the sound of pardon to the condemned, the sound of health to the sick, or the sound of the trump of jubilee to the captives in the land of Israel of old. But believers recognize the voice of Jesus amidst all, and they recognize it as the voice of the Son of God and their Savior. It is a Babel of sounds, and Christ's voice is imitated. In the religious world there are many voices - that of the stranger, the thief, and the hireling. SOME OF THEIR CHARACTERISTICS IN RELATION TO CHRIST. Immanuel's land would be useless without the sheep. The soul would be barren, and the earth morally would be a desert, and would, as in the time of Noah, be utterly destroyed. What would be the richest pasture without sheep to graze it? What would the world be without man - what its scenes without an eye, and its music without an ear? What would man be without faith in Christ and without godliness? The spiritual in man would be a power for evil. Sheep in the East were the most useful property. Believers are useful, and valuable because useful. Its flesh is food, and its fine wool is garment. The sheep is one of the most useful animals of the fields. As such they are his special treasures, his jewels. He knew their value when he made the purchase. Their value can be to some extent estimated from the infinite price given for them - the precious blood of Christ. But believers are his only "purchased possession." The universe is his estate, his property is infinite. His dominion is vast and wide it ruleth over all. They are not merely his workmanship, but the sheep of his pasture. He laid down his life for them redeemed them from the curse of the Law and from sin. "The Father, which gave them me." They are the gifts of his Father's love, given to him in trust for the purpose of salvation. He made them first men, and then Christians - new creatures in himself. Believers Need not Fear that They Shall Perish ![]()
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