The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-03-07

with skepticism as to the Divinity of
wise him to make a special, close study
of Johns Gospel. In connection with it
he might read carefully THE Christ of
History" by DR.. John Young, and emf
nent Presbyterian of Scotland; the
Life and Words Of Christ" by DR..
Cunningham Geikie, of the Established
Church of England; 1.-The Philosophy
of the Plan of Salvation" by Rev.
James Walker, of Boston, an able Bap-
fist minister, long 6 dead, we sup
pose. These are able, thoughtful,
scholarly works of marked interest and
value. Other works to follow, if nee
essay, could be suggested. We believe
that this brief course of reading would
remove all doubts from an ingenious,
honest, receptive min in search really
of the truth. Plate asked the Master,
What is TRUTH" This morning let
us for a few minutes turn to the Cos
pei by John the Divine, Chapter 10.
We will begin at the beginning. The
Apostle whom Christ so loved, reports
Christ a. teaching that He is the Door
of the sheep, and the Shepherd of the
sheep. The first verse opens: Verify,
verify, I say unto you, He that enter
eth not by the door into the sheepfold,
but climbeth up some other way, the
same is a thief and a robber." The
Importance as the repetition of Yer
lily" shows. IN the 7th verse He re-
peats it again. Be sure hen that you
give very special heed to His words,
that are forever true. We should be
unusually attentive n inclined to
heal and learn when the Great Teach
er begins by repeating Verify, verify,
I say unto you" He alone is the good
Shepherd. All others are blind lead
ers of the blind and cannot see and do
not know. There are clearly true and
false shepherds as this lesson of Jesus
teaches. The true Disciples enter in by
the right door. The thieves and rob-
bers essay to climb some other way.
Christ said II am the way" The door
may be open, but there are characters
who prefer to sneak in some other
way. They not only would climb in,'
break in, but they would do so as
thieves and robbers, clearly trying to
rob the Christ, and to beguile or steal
the sheep. We have told our readers
before that We have fondness for Rev.
William Burkitt, of pious memory and
devout life, whose notes on the New
Testament are so rich in spiritual
truth and withal so sound and sensible.
Turning to him We find him saying
that in this parable of the true and
false shepherd, that He is rebuking
one bad class-that He represents a
good and bad pastor and teacher, and
gives US a fourfold mark and character
of the good shepherd" We have seen
already that the good shepherd enters
by the door-goes into the church
through Christ. He enters as a con-
verted believer, as one called to preach
the unsearchable riches of Christ, is no
imposter, resorts to no ~''clandestine
methods. or indirect means" In the
second verse we read: But he that
entereth in by the door, is the shep-
herd Of the sheep" Christ Himself
is the door. The ~"sheepfold' is the
enclosure for the sheep Of Christ-that
is the church, the body of believers,
Christ's own people, his disciples. The
shepherd" is clearly the teacher or
feeder of the flock Of Christ. THE OBJ
ject is to describe a true and faithful
pastor in contrast with such blind and
false shepherds as the Pharisees"-
Warren, Vol. 1, p. 324. In third verse
we learn that TO this true shepherd
there is really welcome. ITO him the
porter openeth" and the sheep hear his
voice." This means. Burkitt thinks
that the Holy Spirit openeth the
heart Of men to receive Jesus Christ
and h doctrine of the Gospel. which
the faithful shepherds deliver in His
name, and by authority received from
Him." Clearly that is the meaning.
The keeper % the door, or porter"
as he is called, must guard well the
door and the Holy Ghost opens he
door for the faithful, seeking, believing