der concern for their spiritual interests. He knows the circumstances of each individual among them: his wants and sorrows; the trials and temptations to which he is parti cularly exposed; and the peculiar support and consolation of which he stands in need. He sees those infirmities which his people lament, and those sinful inclinations under which they groan: and is touched with. tender compassion for them: and while he chastens and corrects them for their profit, "in all their afflictions he is himself afflicted." He sees the conflict which they are carrying on with their subtle enemy, and with an ensnaring world: and knows how unable they are, in their own strength, to resist and overcome. He knows how to pity and succour them under temptations, seeing "he himself suffered, being tempted." He. knows the weakness of their nature; for he himself also "took part of the same; and, sin only excepted, was " in all things made like unto his brethren."*- In this respect also Christ "knows his sheep."

We now proceed to the second part of the

text.

II. "I am known of mine."

Not only does Christ know his sheep, but they know Him. And what is meant

by their knowing him? It is not a mere knowledge of his being, his person, and his offices, drawn from the Bible, or from sermons, and placed only in the memory. It is not a mere assent to the things which we are told of Him in the Scriptures. Numbers, who are not Christ's people, know Him in this sense of the word. It is an inward and heartfelt, a practical knowledge of Christ which is here meant. Such a knowledge as can be gained only by the teaching of the Holy Spirit. And in this sense, none but those who are really his can know him. Let me point out some few particulars in which this knowledge

consists.

1. The people of Christ know him as their Wisdom. They are sensible that in spiritual things, they are wiser than they formerly were. Once they were living in darkness and ignorance as to heavenly things. They now perceive, that while they thought themselves wise, they were fools. They knew nothing as they ought to have known, of God, of themselves, of sin, of the gospel. But a great change has been wrought in them. Their understandings have been opened. They see things more distinctly than they once did. They have new thoughts of GOD, of their souls,

of salvation. And who has wrought this work in them? Christ. He has taken away the veil from their sight. He has "anointed their eyes with eye-salve, that they may see. Hence they know Him in a way in which others cannot know him.

Others

may have "heard of Him with the hearing of the ear," but these spiritually see him. They have now an inward knowledge of Him, to which they once were strangers, and of which others can form no idea. And should any one attempt to reason them out of this knowledge, they would say to him, as the blind man, restored to sight by our Lord, said to the Pharisees who endeavoured to persuade him that he had received no benefit from Jesus, "One thing I know, that whereas I was blind, now I see."+

2. The people of Christ know him as their Peace. They have found the power of his blood, in cleansing the conscience from guilt, and in speaking peace to the troubled mind. They have been made sensible of their danger as sinners, of the wrath and punishment which they have brought upon themselves; and they have trembled at the thoughts of a judgment to come. Convicted and alarmed, they have looked around for help. And where have they

found it? In Christ. Looking unto him, they have felt their fears taken away, their burden lightened. In his one sacrifice for sin, they have seen a sufficient atonement for all their sins. By faith they have beheld him, bearing their sins in his own body. on the tree, and thus by the blood of his Cross, they have found an inward peace and joy which they had in vain sought by other means. Hence they know Christ in a manner, in which others, who have never tasted his pardoning love, are unable to know him. They know him as their peace. They know him as their refuge, to which they constantly flee for protection, from the accusations of Satan, and the threatenings of the law. They know Him as the fountain in which they daily wash their souls from the guilt of sin. They know him as the Saviour, by a believing trust in whose merits, they are enabled to "go on their way rejoicing."

3. The people of Christ know Him as their Sanctification. Though they are as yet far from being perfect; and have much sin remaining in them, for which they are greatly grieved and humbled; vet still they are conscious that a very surprising change has been produced in their hearts. They feel that they do not love and serve sin

as they once did. They do not live as they once lived, in the allowed disregard * of any known duty. They have been enabled to gain the mastery over some bad habits, some evil tempers; and they have learned to find pleasure and delight in those holy exercises, which they once formally attended, or despised, or hated. Who is it that has done all this for them? Christ. They are sensible that this is His doing; and it is marvellous in their eyes." It is only since they have been brought to trust on Him, that they have found the corruptions of their hearts in any degree subdued. Formerly, they could occasionally make good resolutions of amendment, and could utter many serious promises of forsaking this or that particular sin, but in the time of temptation, all their good resolutions and serious promises melted away and came to nothing. It is only since Christ has been their "all in all," that they have been able to stand. Nay, even now they are taught by a daily sense of their own weakness, to feel the reality and importance of his promised help. When they attempt any thing in their own strength, they are sure to fail; but when they go forth trusting on his grace; when they find, that "his strength is made perfect in their weakness" and that they