to be observed, and taken knowledge of, by Him, as when man makes acquaintance with a stranger, or may be said to know his fellowman. It is, in some such way to be known by Him, as He is known by the FATHER: to be made one with Him, therefore; and, by virtue of such union, to be blessed with Heavenly influence. This is the portion of His 'sheep'! The Good Shepherd does more than search them out, and know them. He does more than know their down-sitting and their uprising; as well as so observe them, that there is not a word in their tongue but He knoweth it altogether. He directs their path, and guides their steps, and keeps their foot from falling. Moreover, He supplies good words; so opening their lips, that their mouth shall ever shew forth His praise. Thus far then, concerning the declaration, I know My sheep.' - On the side of Man, it must be implied by the words which follow, (and am known of Mine,')—that there is a deep and mysterious Communion between GOD and Man, of which Man is directly conscious. And here we would speak humbly; lest it should be thought that we lay claim to privileges which we enjoy not; and draw from an experience which we possess not. But holy men are here our teachers; and they tell us wonderful things concerning this intercourse of the soul with its REDEEMER. Thus, speaking of the Sacrament of the LORD's Supper ; or rather, of the high spiritual delights which spring from that most sacred participation of CHRIST'S Body and Blood; one says, 'The very letter of the Word of CHRIST giveth plain security that these mysteries do, as nails, fasten us to His very Cross: that by them we draw out, as touching efficacy, force, and virtue, even the blood of His gored side. In the wounds of our REDEEMER, we there dip our tongues. We are dyed red both within and without. Our Hunger is satisfied, and our Thirst for ever quenched. They are things wonderful which he feeleth; great which he seeth, and unheard of which he uttereth, whose soul is possessed of this Paschal Lamb, and made joyful in the strength of this new wine!'... How shall we find a more striking indication that our SAVIOUR CHRIST not only knows His sheep, but, in return, is known of them ?—The words are Hooker's. Hither, then, are to be referred all those sweet heavenward yearnings, those blessed stirrings of the heart, which good men discourse of so familiarly; only, doubtless, because they experience them so largely that confidence in a SAVIOUR who never yet failed those who truly trusted in Him: that certainty that love, somehow, was concealed in the bitterest cup :-that cheerful Hope which is the very rod and staff of dying men :— every display of Faith, in short, which faithful hearts exhibit; no less than those daily strivings to keep the thought of Him immediately before the inner eye; making Him the object, the secret object, of every act, of every hour, of every day—all these, we repeat, are signs of that deep and mysterious communion to which we allude; and which we suppose our Blessed LORD to have intended, when He said,—'I know My sheep, and am known of Mine.' Many are the places of Holy Scripture where this Divine experience is more or less clearly alluded to: but St. John it is who tells us most; and who puts his information into the most precious, because the most practical shape. Great is the danger lest men should be misled by Enthusiasm, or by Blindness,-by Spiritual Pride, or by any other snare of the Enemy,-into a mistaken view of their own state; deluded into the notion that they are themselves of the number of those who know CHRIST, as well as are known of Him. The beloved Disciple, therefore, has left more than one solemn caution on this subject. He that loveth not, knoweth for GOD is Love'.' Hereby we do know that we know Him,' he says again. And what is the ground of that certainty? the sign by which we may know that we know Him? Hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His Commandments. He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His Commandments, is a liar, and the Truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth His Word, in him verily is the Love of GoD perfected. Hereby know we that we are in Him' 'In Him' that expression surely reveals all! In the World, but not of it: so in the World, that we may yet truly be said to be in CHRIST! All those expressions in Holy Scripture which allude to the Life which is hid with CHRIST in GOD,' these surely remind us of the true nature of that Heavenly knowledge which the text declares without describing . . . . To each one of us may God grant a large measure of it, for JESUS CHRIST's sake! b 1 St. John iv. 8. C 1 St. John ii. 3. The Third Sunday after Easter. THE SORROW OF GOD'S SAINTS. ST. JOHN xvi. 20. Ye shall weep and lament, but the World shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. THOSE who read their Prayer-Book with attention will have observed that this is the first of four successive Sundays which take their gospel from the xvith chapter of St. John. They will have been struck with the care and skill displayed in so distributing the several parts of the chapter in question, that each successive Sunday shall have what is most appropriate to it. All, however, agree in one respect: namely, that they look forward; and contain allusions more or less distinct to the great outpouring of the SPIRIT which took place at Whitsuntide. It may be well to advert briefly to the words preceding the text in the gospel for the Day. JESUS said to His Disciples, A little while, and ye shall not see Me: and again, a little while, |