import, Why should I be forsaken and neglected by him, as if I had belonged to another shepherd, that is, to some of the princes or nobles encamped around?'

If we prefer the other rendering, Why should I appear as one veiled'-considering the veil as a token of widowhood', or harlotry2; then the expression means, Why should I appear as a widow, or be treated as an harlot, when I am 6 the bride of Solomon.'

The mention of the shepherds tents,' in the following verse, shews that shepherds when they met with good pasturage, used to pitch their tents; and there they generally continued till the want of fresh pasturage led them farther and the supposition of the shepherd retiring with his flock to rest at noon, is perfectly agreeable to the eastern manners. PLATO speaks of sheep nooning themselves, and VIRGIL informs us that the shepherds usually retired with their flocks to some shady retreat at the fourth hour, or two hours before noon.

2. The reply of the virgins demands our next attention, it comprizes these directions-seek him in the way himself hath marked out-follow him in the traces of his flock-wait for him among the tents of his shepherds.

This idea strikes out an easy and simple me

thod of allegorizing this section, which may suggest several natural and useful remarks, without the danger of losing ourselves in wanton or unintelligible fancies.

HERD.

1. We remark the office of Christ as a SHEPSo under the Old Testament, Messiah was designated by this character: Awake, O 'sword, against my SHEPHERD, against the man ' that is my fellow (or companion) saith the LORD ' of Hosts'.' He claims himself the character of the good shepherd',' and he is styled, by the different writers of the New Testament, the great shepherd, the chief shepherd, the shepherd and bishop of our souls; and he well answers to every part of the shepherd's character. Does it require knowledge, care, attention? He says, I know my sheep, I call them by their names, they hear my voice and follow me.'-Does it imply de. fence, support, protection? The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He leadeth me into green pastures, beside the still waters.' • He restoreth my soul: yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they shall comfort me.'-Does this office require tenderness and affection? He shall feed his flock like a shepherd, he shall gather the lambs in his bosom, and carry them in his arms, and gently lead those that are with young.'

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1

1 Zech. xiii. 7.

2 John x. 11.

'I am (saith he) the good shepherd: the good shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep.'

2. We might run a like parallel between the character of sheep, and that of believers. Sheep are remarked as harmless, clean, simple, useful creatures sociable, but too apt to wander; defenceless, and therefore often injured. All these particulars apply beautifully to the flock of Christ, whether under the Old Testament or the New. They are, in their degree, holy, harmless and 'undefiled.' They naturally associate together, yet are too apt to wander from the fold of God;' they are the most useful members of society, yet often abused and persecuted; as it is written, For thy sake are we killed all the day long we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.'

3. We observe more particularly the manner in which Christ executes his pastoral office: he feeds them, and causes them to rest at noon. He feeds them this seems to include or to imply all the various offices which Christ executes as our Redeemer. He is a king, and feeding implies (as already noted) the exercise of his regal government. He is a prophet, and feeds them ' with knowledge and understanding.'-He is a priest, and strange and incongruous as it may seem, he feeds them with his own flesh and blood,' which he hath given for their redemp. tion for this good shepherd hath laid down his life for his sheep.

He causes them to rest at noon;' that is, in the hottest seasons of persecution, in the

a retreat for his people.

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for a little

overpast'.'

severest times of tribulation, the Lord Jesus hath 'Come my people (saith 'he) enter into the chambers, and hide yourselves moment, until the indignation be When the church is When the church is persecuted in the book of Revelation, a retreat is prepared for her in the wilderness,' and so the Lord preserves a seed to serve him in despite of the rage of all his enemies. But when it is necessary for the honour of his cause, that they should come forward and boldly witness for his name, even to the death, then his chariots of celestial fire await to bear them to glory and an immortal crown.

4. We may observe the language and argument of the spouse-'0 thou whom my soul loveth," why dost thou withhold thy presence, and treat 'me as a stranger, unknown and unbeloved by. thee?-As a harlot, apostate from thy love? or as a widow, deserted and forsaken?' Note, (1.) The Lord's own people are subject to the with. drawments of his presence, and to mental distress, not only the same as others, but peculiar to themselves. (2.) That our love to Christ, as it is a principle implanted by his grace, may be pleaded as an argument for farther mercies: Forsake

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not thou the work of thine own hands.' (3.) True believers are subject to be mistaken for hypocrites and mere professors. They may ap

1 Isa. xxvi. 20.

Z

pear so much alike, either by the declension of the one, or the imitation of the other, that no eye but that which searches hearts may be able certainly to distinguish them.

5. In the answer returned by the virgins, we may learn how we are to discover the pastures of the good shepherd: or in other words, the paths of truth and holiness; for to both these may the direction be applied: Go forth by the foot6 steps of the flock.'

(1.) This method is recommended in our enquiries after truth; Stand ye in the way, and • ask for the old paths, that ye may walk therein.’ The misfortune has been, that, in this case, many have begun their researches at too late a period. Instead of enquiring the sentiments of those venerable men, the prophets and apostles, they have contented themselves with the opinions of the doctors of the second and third century, or later, when the church was already corrupted with error and with heresy; and when the writers often became so heated and perplexed with controversy, that they not only contradicted one another, but themselves; and it is in many cases impossible to get a clear and determinate opinion from them.

(2.) In seeking for examples to regulate our conduct we should apply to the same authorities. Christ himself is the first and best example in all cases, where his example will apply and after him his apostles and first ministers, the Christian.