司布真讲道第3211号
为牧师和学生作的一篇讲道
发表于1910年8月18日
司布真于1877年4月13日在牧师学院会议上的讲道
耶稣说：“你牧养我的羊。” — 约21:16
主对他们，特别是对西门说这番话的人，回去当了渔夫。“西门彼得就去，把网拉到岸上。那网满了大鱼。”在你们职业生涯的早期，你们大多数人是渔夫，得人如得鱼的人，确实，毕生作得人如得鱼的人，这应该成为你们的雄心壮志；但现在你们成为比这更进一步的人，渔夫已经发展成为牧羊人。渔夫代表传福音的人，他把网撒进水里，把鱼拉到岸上，但基督说“牧养我的羊”，这并不是对这种人说的，这句话是留给那些更成熟，有更多经验的人的。你们当中很多人多年来扎根在一个领域，虽然你们继续在打渔，但我相信你们会越来越想起，现在你们有其它当行的本分；你们既要打渔也要牧养，既要撒网也要挥动杖。我们现在离开了从前在当中飘荡的大海，驻守在我们自己的群羊之间，靠着主的力量站立和喂养：我们不会停止不去做传福音的工作，但我们特别关注牧师的本分，因为曾经说过“你们把网撒在船的右边”的那一位，现在对我们说：“你牧养我的羊。” 我现在是对主曾经向他们显明祂自己的门徒说话；愿现在祂在这欢乐的时候重新差遣我们，叫我们回家去的时候，把祂对彼得说的这句话扎根在我们心里！
I. 这算得上是一种按立，按立彼得担任牧职。他需要在众人面前得到主承认，因他曾在众人面前跌倒；他的按立是以对这工作的考察开始。“耶稣对他说：‘约翰的儿子西门，你爱我吗？’”我们的主不首先询问人内在的光景，就不接纳任何人作祂群羊的监督；任何人也不应当不深深自省，查究自己内心，就胆敢接受这样的职分。有很多问题，是应当向我们内心发出，就像当在神的面来回答；因为这尊荣，没有人自取，惟要蒙神所召，也不是神让每一个人都合适做这工作，唯有主膏抹的人才合适做这工。你们会观察到，这考察是针对彼得内心的光景，所以是触动到他全部信仰最深处的源头；如果没有爱，一切都是枉然，一切都是缺乏。
爱是一位牧师首要的资格，如果你要按牧师的身份服侍基督，就必须要爱基督。我们的主对付的是最至关重要的一点。祂的问题不是，“约翰的儿子西门，你认识我吗？”虽然那也不会不合理，因为彼得曾经说过，“我不认得那个人。”祂本可以问：“约翰的儿子西门，你知道神极奥秘的事吗？”他确实知道，因为他的主曾称他是有福的，因为他知道的，不是属血肉的指示他的。我们灵魂的监督考察他的，不是他的智力天赋，也不是他别的属灵资格，而是只考察这一点：“约翰的儿子西门，你爱我吗？”如果爱，那么“你牧养我的羊。”这岂不清楚让我们看到，牧师首要的资格，就是至高无上地爱基督，只有这样的人才有资格爱基督的羊。如果你爱耶稣，你就会尽这职分：你的爱要保守你与主在一起，它要把你不断置于祂直接的监督下，要确保你得到祂的帮助。爱祂，这要生出对祂羊的爱，你对他们的爱，要赋予你对他们的权柄。有经验为证，说怒气冲冲的话，我们是绝不能赢得对我们会众一丝的权柄，但用忍受一切的爱，我们得到几乎是对他们绝对的权柄；确实，对我们而言是好的唯一权柄，必须以这种方式得到。我极荣幸去爱一些最令人不快的人，直到他们爱上我为止；对一些最苦毒的人，我拒绝对他们生气，坚信他们能变得更好，这就全然把他们争取过来了。通过实际的爱，我已经如此赢得一些人的心，我相信要他们说我的坏话，这就等于是要他们殉道。这也是所有已经试过爱神圣力量之人的经历。
弟兄们，请学习爱人，把他们爱到基督那里去的艺术。我们被那些爱我们的人吸引；当最心硬的人感受到“那个人爱我”，他们就会马上被你吸引；因为你比他们更接近救主，你就是按着正确的方向吸引他们。除非你爱神的百姓，否则你就不能在他们犯罪、受试探、试炼，遇到困难时照顾他们，正确看顾他们；除非你心中有爱的鲜活泉水向他们涌出，否则你就会对教牧的工作变得厌倦。母亲不会厌倦坐在床边照看她生病的孩子，因为有爱支持着她；她比花钱雇请回来的护士要坚持长好多个小时，爱把她要垂下的眼睑支撑起来。同样，“雇工逃走，因他是雇工，并不顾念羊，”但是“好牧人为羊舍命。”如果你真爱羊，你就会愿意为他们付出生命的时间，甚至为他们的缘故舍命。就这样，我认爱是牧师首要的资格；即使你们有了爱，我也相信你们不会在任何别的方面有欠缺，而是彻底预备好去行各样的善事。 不要忘记对你们说的关于学习和文化的事，但与此同时要记住，在教牧工作中，内心比头脑有更大的威力。在这事奉中，一个谦卑、敬虔、没有受过多少教育，但有一颗宏大热情的心的人，要远比头大，但内心是和石头一样坚硬，像小小钻石一样的冰块，小得就算他被解剖，不用显微镜都看不见的人更蒙祝福。
主耶稣基督把对爱这个问题的检查，和“牧养我的羊”这个使命联系在一起，因为我们牧养神群羊的工作，是我们爱主的证据。我们岂不是告诉会众，爱不仅要在言语上，也必须在行动上表现出来吗？我们试验人愿意为基督做什么，以此判断他是否爱基督。他愿意为基督忍受什么样的苦和辱骂？他要把他什么样的财产分别为圣来服事祂？他愿意怎样把自己交给主使用？我们可以通过确定谁是真正牧养基督的群羊，为主所救赎的人的益处，把自己交出来，看出身为牧师，我们中间哪些人是证明他对基督的爱。耶稣对他说“你爱我吗”的这个人，是之前说过“主，如果是祢，请叫我从水面上走到祢那里去”的同一个人。我们当中一些人会很愿意冒险那种水上行走，因为那是异乎寻常和短暂的事，这会合我们胃口，因为我们不习惯辛勤工作坚忍。我们的热心是大的，我们会像彼得一样冲出去，虽然我们要像他一样，很快就开始下沉。请好好留意，基督不是说：“约翰的儿子西门，你爱我吗？那么来在水面上走。”主似乎在说：“你年轻时这样的事做得够多了，现在去安静牧养我的羊吧。这是艰苦、疲劳和安静的工作：如果你没有对我的爱，你会很快对它厌烦。‘牧养我的羊，’‘牧养我的羊，’‘牧养我的羊；’三次我命令你做这工作，让你只要活着，就继续做这工，因为这样，你就证明你对我的爱是真实。”弟兄们，回到你们的羊群那里，好好牧养他们，就这样表明你们爱主的新证据。
这为基督做的牧养工作，是每一颗把自己分别出来交给主的心中爱的渴望。每一个真正爱祂的人，都渴望为祂做一些事情：it cannot do otherwise, love must serve its beloved, it yearns to go and lay its offering at his feet. No pressure was needed to make the forgiven sinner wash Christ’s feet with her tears, and wipe them with the hairs of her head, and anoint them with precious ointment; her heart suggested it, and she hastened to obey; and if you, my brethren, are true pastors, you cannot help looking after the wandering sheep, you naturally care for your people, you have a sacred instinct which compels you to be lovers of men’s souls. You see how little girls, as if it were in them naturally to act as nurses, will kiss their dolls, and fondle, caress, dress, and care for them as mothers do for their children; and just so we have seen mere lads converted to Christ, and intended by the Lord to become pastors, who, before they have been out of their teens, have begun to speak of Jesus to their little friends and companions. The Lord has caused them even from their new birth to feel a shepherd’s propensities strong within them. It was so with some of us, we could not have helped preaching even if we would, we were born to preach when we were born again; let us then indulge the sacred passion to the full.
Brethren, since we have been at this work, it has been to us the stimulus of
love. The way to love another more is to do more for him. When a man has
done a kindness to you, he will love you; the receiver may be unmindful of
the favor, but the giver has a better memory. There is no fear of our Lord’s
ceasing to love us, since for us he has suffered even unto death; the
supreme sacrifice made once for all renders it impossible that he should do
otherwise than rest in his love. Even so, if we labor and pray, and practice
self-denial for others, we are sure to love them all the more. Then, too, as
you go on feeding Christ’s sheep, building up his people, and cheering his
discouraged ones, you will love your Master more, and your love for him
will act again upon you, and cause increased love to the people, and so on
evermore. Those over whom you have most agonized have delighted you
most when at last they have been converted; your joy has been increased as
you have waited for the realization of your hope.
This feeding of the sheep is to the love which is the matter in question a
sphere of communion. “Feed my sheep” unites us in service with Jesus.
Love longs to be with Jesus, and in fellowship with him. The Lord was
about to ascend to heaven when he said to Simon, “Feed my sheep,” and
Simon could not as yet go with him; but if he would accompany his Lord
while abiding here, he must follow on his Lord’s work, and abide with his
Lord’s flocks. If we will undertake labors of love, for those whom he has
redeemed, if we will go wherever his sheep are lost, seeking, —
“With cries, entreaties, tears, to save,
To snatch them from the fiery wave,” —
we shall soon find ourselves where Jesus is. He is always at that business,
he seeketh poor sinners still; and if we are engaged in the same search, we
shall be with him, we shall enter into his feelings, we shall share his desires,
and feel his sympathies. When thus with him, we shall witness his heart
breaking throes, and almost see his bloody sweat streaming down when he
was agonizing for souls, for we shall in some feeble measure feel the same.
You cannot understand your Lord till you have wept over your
congregations; you will understand him then, as you see him weeping over
Jerusalem. If you feel towards your hearers that you could die to save their
souls, you will then have fellowship, with the death of your Lord. In grief
over backsliders and joy over penitents you will commune with the
Redeemer in the most practical manner. You must feel a shepherd’s
feelings, and give, practical proof of it by daily feeding the flock, else will
your fellowship with the great Shepherd be mere sentiment, and not a fact.
So much about the previous examination of the candidate for the pastorale.
But it is worth noting that the examination is often needed in after life, for
we need to be kept right as well as to be made so. Our Lord comes to us
this morning with the old question, he pauses at each man, and questions
him just as at the first. He seems to say, you have read many men’s books,
do you still love me? You have heard many conflicting opinions, do you
still love me? You have been very poor and hardworked, do you still love
me? Your people have treated some of you very badly, you have had to go
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from place to place, you have been slandered, reviled, maligned, do you
love me still? You have been sorely put to it to find discourses; I have
sometimes left you, as you thought, to make you own your weakness, do
you still love me?” Imagine that he changes his tone, and says, “Simon, son
of Jonas, you have not been all that you promised. You thought you would
go to prison and to death with me, and you never dreamed that you could
have been so cold-hearted in my service as you have been, and have lived
at so great a distance from me as you have done; but do you still love me?
If so, remember that in going back to your ministry, you must gather
renewed strength from renewed love. Love me more, and then feed my
sheep.” We rejoice as we listen to his gracious voice, and each one of us
answers, “Lord, thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee; and
I will feed thy sheep.”
II. Secondly, let us LOOK AT THE PERSON EXAMINED IN RELATION TO
THE WORK. Perhaps he may bear the same relation to you as he does to
me. Painfully do I know myself to he a successor of one of the apostles; —
not of Judas, I hope, but certainly of Peter. I could have wished that it had
been John whom I had succeeded; but although it is only Peter, it is some
consolation to know that he also was “an apostle of Jesus Christ”
notwithstanding his terrible fall.
Why did the Savior examine Peter rather than any other? Because Peter
was in peculiar need of a re-ordination. Had he not received it from his
Lord, some would have said in after days, “Was he really an apostle?” and
others would have replied, “He thrice denied his Master, surely he is not
one of the twelve.” We cannot help feeling that blindness has seized the
church of Rome when she boasts of the commission to feed Christ’s sheep
having been given to the apostle Peter, when with half an eye anyone can
see that our Lord addressed these words to Peter because at that time he
was the least of the twelve. He had denied his Master, the others had not,
and, therefore, he was the one concerning whose apostleship distrust was
most likely to arise. The sheep would in all probability have refused to
recognize him; they might have said, “We cannot receive food at your
hands, for we remember how you were frightened by a silly maid, how you
denied your Lord, and supported your denial with oaths and curses.”
Therefore, came the voice to Peter, who needed it. If there is one with us
now who feels like conscience-stricken Peter, let him hear the text. Dear
friend, if you have any doubt about your call, and even if there should be as
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grave cause for that doubt as there was in Peter’s case, yet still, if you feel
that you love the Lord, hear him again commission you with “Feed my
sheep.” In your present condition, which its rather that of the weeping
penitent than of the assured believer, it will be well to go to your work
very steadily, for it will comfort you, deepen your piety, and increase your
faith.
Our Lord called Peter to this work because it would be peculiarly
beneficial to him. He knew how sincere was his repentance, and how
hearty was his grief on account of his great sin; and, therefore, lest he
should be overtaken with too much sorrow, he said to him, “Feed my
sheep.” If nothing had been spoken personally and specially to him, he
might have mourned heavily, saying, “Alas, I denied my Master, I swore
that I never knew him;” and when the Lord was gone up again into glory,
instead of standing up as he did on the day of Pentecost to preach that,
ever-memorable sermon, he might have been found at home weeping;
instead of going up to the temple with John at the hour of prayer, he might
have kept in his chamber, and there mourned all the day. Grief is best
expelled by other thoughts; when you have been cast down, it is well when
some important engagement has called off your attention from your
trouble, and I think the compassionate Master raised Peter out of what
might have grown into a morbid condition of continual grief by bidding him
feed his sheep. He seemed to say, “Come hither, my dear disciple. I know
you are sincerely penitent, and I have fully forgiven you for denying me as
you did. Mourn no longer, but go and feed my sheep.” Then, as the Lord
fed the sheep by him, and blessed him to the conversion of others, he
would feel certain that his Lord did not remember his faults, and thus he
would learn how perfect was the pardon he had received. I do not know
that there is a brother with us this morning who is in the condition of Peter;
but if I did know such an one, and could read his heart, I would go out to
him, and say, “Come, brother, we are not going to cast you out; we
consider ourselves lest we also be tempted. You have been converted once
as a sinner, you must now be converted as a minister; and when you are
converted, strengthen your brethren. Yes, my brother, go back to your
Lord and Master, and then, with all your soul inflamed with love for him,
feed his sheep, and the Lord bless you in so doing! “
Dear brethren, in Peter’s case we see, a man zealous for his Lord, but of
imperfect character, and we see how his failure had been overruled by
God to prepare him for is life-work of feeding Christ’s sheep. John did not
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want such preparation, and the other nine did not require it. It was only
Peter who needed to be thus rebuked by a display of his own weakness.
This man was too great, too self-confident, too much Peter, and too little a
disciple; and he must therefore, come down. Probably nothing could have
brought him to his true bearings like his being left to see what was in his
heart. We speak with bated breath when we say that, to some men, a
painful break-down has been the making of them. They became from that,
time free from their former self-esteem, all were as cleansed and emptied
vessels, fit for the Master’s use. A deep sense of our weakness and a
humbling consciousness of unworthiness form a considerable part of our
qualification for dealing with Christ’s sheep. Because you are a sinner, you
will deal lovingly with sinners; because you know what backsliding means,
you will be very gentle and forbearing with backsliders because you have
broken your own bones, you will be very careful how you handle those
who have broken theirs.
You see, then, that this feeding of the sheep, as I have already shown you,
would benefit Peter in the particular condition in which he then was, and it
is not hard to see that it would benefit him by keeping his rashness in
check. I know some beloved brethren who are impetuous, and, God bless
them, I love them none the less for that, especially when they know how to
bridle their impetuous spirits, and only allow them to dash out against evil;
but some are rashly impetuous and strong-headed, and it will need
considerable discipline to make them into useful, workable men; but when
the Lord has done this, they will become those determined, independent,
resolute men of mark and mind who are so valuable to the Church of God.
Such brethren want the education of a pastorate at once to curb and to
develop them. You did not know how foolish you were till you had to deal
with fools, and found that you could not suffer them gladly. You did not
know how passionate you could be till you had to meet with quick
tempered people like yourself. You did not know how rash you could be
till you fell into the society of a dozen rash men like yourself, who egged
you on in your fool-hardiness. You have now discovered that, where you
fancied there was a great deal of strength, there was a vast amount of
weakness. I believe that the Peter of the Epistles grew out of the Peter of
the sea of Tiberias and the Peter of the denial, by means of the grace given,
him, while feeding the flock of God. Peter was a bigoted, narrow-minded
Jew, and could not readily believe that any others beyond the chosen nation
were to be saved; but when he mixed with mankind, and was sent to the
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house of Cornelius, his heart grew larger, although it was not as large as it
should have been till Paul boldly withstood him to the face because he was
to be blamed. “Feed my sheep” is, therefore, beloved, a commission
intended for your own good as well as theirs.
It touched me very much to find our Lord addressing Peter by his old name
of Simon, son of Jonas. I do not know why he should not have said,
“Peter, lovest thou me?” John writes “Jesus saith to Simon Peter.” Why did
not our Lord call him so? Was it not, in the first place, to remind him of his
natural weakness? He is not called Petros, the stone, the rock; but the son
of Jonas, the son of a timid dove; and it is under that name that he is
commissioned to feed the sheep. Brethren, if this morning you are filled
with a consciousness of your own weakness and unworthiness, the Master
says to you, “Still go and feed my sheep.” If you are not in your own
opinion fit for the work, still let the sheep be fed. Do not let them suffer
because you are not in a right state of mind and heart. These sheep, what
have they done; Why should they starve? It is only too true that you have
sinned, but let not that sad fact rob the people of a full display of the gospel
next Lord’s day. “Feed my sheep.” Go as Peter, if you can; but when you
cannot do so, go as “Simon, son of Jonas.”
But I think there was a deeper reason, and one which touched me more,
why our Lord said, “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?” This was his
old name before he was converted, for when Jesus first saw him, he said,
‘Thou art Simon, the son of Jonas.’ Nothing will help you to feed the flock
of God, brethren, like recollecting the time and circumstances when you
were first brought to Jesus. If it were possible, which it is not, I should like
to be converted every Sunday morning before preaching. At any rate, I
should like to feel just that tenderness of heart, that admiration for my
Savior, that all-absorbing love, to my Lord, and that wonderment at the
grace of God toward me which I felt when I was converted.
There may have been another reason why Jesus said, “Simon, son of Jonas,
lovest thou me? Perhaps it was because, when Simon had discovered that
Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God, his Master said to him,
“Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona; for flesh and blood hath not revealed
this unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” By repeating that name,
our Lord made Peter recollect, in addition to his conversion, the many
happy seasons which he had enjoyed, in which the Lord had manifested
himself to him as he does not unto the world. We are bound to preach of
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the things which we have tasted and handled. If, like John, we have been in
Patmos, let us not cease to talk of him that walketh among the golden
candlesticks. Come down from the mount to tell of what you have yourself
seen there. Be filled with recollections of all the blessed intercourse you
have enjoyed with Christ, and then speak about him to others, thus the joy
of the Lord shall be your strength. You will have no doubt then of your call
to the ministry, but you will say, “that which was from the beginning,
which we have seen with our eyes which we have looked upon, and our
hands have handled, of the Word of life, declare we unto you.” “We speak
that we do know, and testify that we have seen.”
III. In the third place, I must confine myself to giving you a mere outline
of THE WORK ITSELF, as our time is flying so fast. What have we to do,
then? “Feed my sheep.” In the English, you have the command three times
over, “Feed my sheep.” What are we to do with the sheep? Feed! Feed!
Feed! That seems to be the whole of our business, “Feed my sheep.” Truth
to tell, the middle Greek word properly means shepherdize them, guide
them, lead them, go before them as a shepherd does. The first and last
words are the same, feed. In each of the three sentences there is a minute
difference, but twice out of three times in the original the word is feed. If I
mention nothing else but feeding as the pastor’s duty, it will be the very
best lesson I could have given you, even if other valuable duties are cast
into the shade. Wherever you are weak, be strong in the pulpit. Give the
people a good hearty meal whenever you preach. They will put up with a
great many defects if you will only feed them. An Englishman is in a good
condition if he is fed. Feed him, and he will be all right; but if you dress
him, and do not feed him, he will not care for the clothes you put on him
however fine they are. You may wash him if you like, but you must feed
him. There is an inward, powerful persuader which convinces a man that to
be happy and healthy he must be fed. Now, God’s people are the hungriest
people in the world, they never seem to be satisfied. If you watch a flock of
sheep feeding in a clover field, you will be surprised to see how they will
eat: they eat, and eat, and eat; and so God’s people are a hungering,
craving people. It is written, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst
after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” They “shall be filled;” it does
not say, they shall have a nip and a bite, and then be driven away; and
therefore we are to treat them as God would have them treated, — feed
them, feed them to the full. Never be afraid of being too free with the food,
or of giving them too much sound doctrine and gospel provender.
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Some want to drive the flock, but that will never do; we must feed, not
drive. We will lead them, say you; that is very good but do not lead lean
sheep; feed and fatten them, and then they will follow gladly. Perhaps you
wish to govern them, well, the middle word does mean govern after the
gospel fashion; but if you somewhat govern, yet give two supplies of
feeding for one of ruling. You will be sure to succeed if you keep to the
feeding. Blessed be God, you have not to invent a new food for his sheep;
it is written, “Feed them,” but it is not written, “invent food for them.” God
has appointed the proper food for his sheep; hand that out to them, and
nothing else. The Pope of Rome, who claims to be the lineal successor of
the apostle of whom we are speaking, attempts to feed in a strange manner.
I wonder how many of the sheep are able to feed on his allocutions, and
other specimens of cursing. He seems to be mainly engaged in uttering
maledictions upon the wolves; I see no food for the sheep. How is it that
he has founded no Bible Societies in Rome for the circulation of the pure
Word of God? One of his predecessors has called the Protestant version
“poisonous pastures.” Very well, then, why not circulate a pure version:
Why not spend a part of Peter’s pence in distributing the Epistle to the
Romans? Why not exhort priests, cardinals, and bishops to be instant in
season and out of season, preaching the gospel according to the
commission of the Lord? Verily, Peter at this day is crucified head
downwards at Rome. The tradition is symbolic of the fact, for the apostle
is placed in a wrong position, and exalted to honors which are a crucifixion
to him.
Brethren, you have to feed Christ’s sheep. Our Lord says, “Feed! Feed!
Feed!” He begins with “Feed my lambs.” My little lambkins, or young
believers, — these need plenty of instruction.” Feed my sheep” comes next;
feed the middle-aged, the strong, the vigorous: these do not require feeding
alone, they also need to be directed in their Christian course, and to be
guided to some field of earnest service for Christ, — therefore shepherdize
them. Then, in the last “Feed my sheep“ you have the gray-headed
believers in Christ. Do not try to govern these, but feed them. They may
have far more prudence, and they certainly have more experience than you
have, and therefore do not rule them, but remind them of the deep things of
God, and deal out to them an abundance of consoling truth. There is that
good old man, he is a father in Christ; he knew the Lord fifty years before
you were born; he has some peculiarities, and in them you must let him
take his own course, but still feed him. His taste will appreciate solid meat,
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he knows a field of tender grass when he gets into it; feed him; then, for his
infirmities require it. Feed all classes, my brethren, that is your main work;
mind that you not only act good food for the sheep, but feed them with it.
A farmer one day, after he had listened to a simple sermon, which was the
very opposite of what he generally heard, exclaimed, “O Lord, we bless
thee that the food was put into a low crib to-day, so that thy sheep could
reach it!” Some brethren put the food up so high that the poor sheep
cannot possibly feed upon it. I have thought as I have listened to our
eloquent friends, that they imagined that our Lord had said, “Feed my
camelopards.” None but giraffes could reach the food when placed in so
lofty a rack. Christ says, “Feed my sheep,” place the food among them, put
it close to them.
Take care also that you feed yourselves. “Who rules o’er freemen should
himself be free;” we will alter the line into “Who feeds Christ’s sheep
should feed on Christ himself.” A preacher who is starved in soul will be
likely to starve his hearers. Oh, fatten yourselves on Christ, dear brethren!
Ask to have the promise fulfilled, “I will satiate the soul of the priests with
fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the Lord.”
May the Holy Ghost work this in you!
Having fed them, your work should also comprehend all the rest that a
shepherd does for his flock. Neglect none of these things. Go before them,
set them an example, encourage them, and direct them in difficulty. Let
your voice ever be familiar to them, carry the lamb in your bosom, gently
lead those that are in circumstances of pain and peril, care for all the flock,
be tender with any that may wander, seek after them, and bring them back.
Now what does all this involve? Knowledge. You must “feed them with
knowledge and understanding.” Watchfulness. No shepherd can afford to
slumber; and at one part of the year he must be up all night, for the lambs
are being born. When you have a lambing time on, or, in other words, a
blessed revival, you will need to be especially watchful; and, as the wolf
comes not only at lambing time, but as all other seasons, you should be
always vigilant against him.
One of the chief qualifications of a true pastor, and one that is not very
common, is a great deal of patience. Perhaps you say, “These people are so
sinful, and erring, and foolish.” Yes, they are like sheep; and if they were
not so, they would not need you or any other shepherd. Your calling would
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be abolished if all Christ’s people were strong, and able to instruct others.
Be very patient with them, as a nurse is with the child committed to her to
watch, and love, and teach. What an honor this office puts upon you! To
belong to the College of Fishermen with Peter, James, and John, is a great
honor; but the work of the pastor is nobler still. Well did they speak of old
of shepherd-kings, for the shepherd’s business is such as is worthy of a
king; indeed, amid his flock he is the truest of kings. What a line of
shepherds can be bated right through the Word of God! Your business is
one which the first martyr followed, for Abel was a keeper of sheep: stand
like him in the midst of your flock, ready to sacrifice life itself at Gods
altar. You are following the business of Jacob, who said to Laban, “In the
day the drought, consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep
departed from mine eyes.” Yours is the calling of Joseph, who even when
exalted to a throne, was still “the shepherd and stone of Israel.” Whatever
your position may be, brethren, be shepherds still. You are following the
trade of that noblest of woman born, I mean Moses, who kept the flock of
Jethro, his father-in-law, in the desert, and there beheld the bush on fire,
out of which God spoke with him. He who led the people like a flock all
through the wilderness was ready like a true shepherd to lay down his life
for the flock, even asking to have; his name blotted out of God’s book if by
that means they might live. You are following the occupation of the men
after God’s own heart. If a man in these days is after God’s heart, let him
be a shepherd of the flock. “He chose David also his servant, and took him
from the sheepfolds: from following the ewes great with young he brought
him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.” I hope, my
brethren, that like him in your youth you have slain both the lion and the
bear, and that if an uncircumcised Philistine comes in your path, you will
defy and destroy him in the name of the Lord. You are following the trade
of God’s only-begotten Son. The Lord had but one Son, and he made a
Shepherd of him. Imitate that good Shepherd of the sheep, who loved
them, and laid down his life for them. Trust that great Shepherd of the
sheep, whom “the God of peace has brought again from the dead through
the blood of the everlasting covenant;” and by-and-by you shall see the
chief Shepherd, and “shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”
Never forget that it is Christ’s sheep that you have to feed. Jesus says,
“Feed my sheep.” Many find fault with the churches of the present day, and
the easiest work in the world is to find fault, but, my dear brethren, bad as I
know some of the churches to be, I know no better people than God’s
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people, and with all their faults I love them still. I find my choicest
companions and my bosom friends among them. I love the gates of Zion,
for, —
“There my best friends, my kindred dwell,
There God my Savior reigns.”
I always feel, in reference to my own people, that if they can put up with
me, I can very well put up with them. They are Christ’s people; therefore
love them, and feel it to be an honor to do anything for those who belong
to Jesus.
Much honor lies in the fact that our Lord says to each of us personally,
“Feed my sheep.” I think that I see him here among us; he of the pierced
hands and the marred countenance, with the thorn crown about his brow,
stands in this hall, and speaks to us. Or, if you will, with all his glories on
he comes among us, he looks on us all, and even on me also, my dear
brethren; and he says to each of us, “Do you see those poor tempted
people? They are my sheep. I have loved them from before the foundation
of the world; will you feed them for me? I have called them out of the
world by victorious grace, will you feed them for me? I have provided
abundant pasture for them, will you feed them for me? I have bought them,
with my blood, behold the memorials of my purchase in my hands and my
feet, my head and my side; will you feed them for me? I have loved you
also, and you love me; will you feed my sheep for me? I will feed you, will
you feed them? Your bread shall be given you, and your water shall be
sure; will you feed my beloved ones for me? I have gone to prepare a place
for them in my own sweeter pasturages on the hill-tops of glory. Will you
feed them till I come again? I will feed them through you by the Holy
Spirit, will you be my instruments?” Do we not all reply, “Beloved Master,
we think it our highest honor to be privileged thus, and cost us what it
may, we will spend our lives in feeding thy sheep”? Brethren, say not much
by way of vow, but say much by way of prayer. Lord, help us all
henceforth to feed thy sheep! Amen.