words employed to describe the elder's duty, are suited to the two figurative representations here given us of the objects of their care. If viewed as the flock of God, they are to feed, or rather, as the word properly signifies, they are to act the part of shepherds to them. If viewed as the property of God, or the family of God, they are to act the part of overseers in reference to them. The Israelitish people are often in Scripture termed the flock of God, and their rulers appointed by him as their shepherds: they are represented as the peculiar property and as the family of God, and their rulers as overseers, tutors, governors, appointed by the Father. The Christian church is the antitype of the Israelitish people. The whole body of believers are the flock of God, the property of God, the family of God; for in the new economy all things are of God by Christ Jesus. We are Christ's, Christ is God's. Jesus Christ, who laid down his life for the sheep, is the Great Shepherd, the Chief Shepherd, whose own the sheep are. To him is committed the care of the property which was purchased, redeemed to God, by his blood; and he, as the Son, is entrusted with the management of the whole family called by his name. He is the shepherd, and bishop or overseer, of their souls.1 Christian elders are here represented as under-shepherds, under-overseers; and it is their duty to that portion of the flock of God, committed to their care, that the Apostle here refers to.

It has, I believe, been very generally supposed by interpreters, that the expression rendered "feed" refers solely to instruction; and that rendered by "taking oversight," to discipline and government. If the term "feed" adequately represented the force of the original term, there might be a good deal said for this mode of interpretation; for, no doubt, knowledge is mental food, and instruction is spiritual feeding; but the truth is, the word signifies generally, act the part, discharge the duty, of a shepherd, and is ordinarily, when used in a figurative sense, significant of ruling, being

John x. 11-14. Heb. iii. 6. 1 Pet. ii. 25.

applied to kings. To procure and administer food to the flock is an important part of the shepherd's duty, but it is not his only duty; he must strengthen the diseased, and heal the sick, and bind up the broken, and bring again that which was driven away, and seek that which was lost. He must go before them, and guide them, and govern them. The whole duties of the Christian eldership are included in shepherding the flock; and equally extensive is the other figurative representation of the elder feeding, that is, exercising, the taking care of. If it refer to property, how can such a property, consisting of immortal minds, be taken care of? Must not instruction, putting them in the way of taking care of themselves, be a part of the overseer's work? and, if it refer to a family, must not the good steward, tutor, and overseer, the ruler over his master's family, not merely superintend the conduct of the household, keep them at their proper work, out of mischief, away from danger, but "give to every one his portion of meat in due season?" The first term does not, then, exclusively refer to instruction; nor the second to superintendence and government. They are two figurative representations, each of them embracing the whole compass of the duty of the eldership of a Christian church.

§ 2. Of the duties themselves.

The whole of the duties of the Christian eldership do, however, naturally enough range themselves under the two heads of instruction and discipline, or superintendence and government, and to these in their order I wish very briefly to call your attention.

(1.) Instruction.

First, then, Christian elders are to act the part of shepherds and overseers to those under their care, by providing and administering instruction to them. It is an important part of the shepherd's duty to find whole

1 Luke xii. 42.

some nourishing pasture for his flock. It is an important duty of the overseer of the family to see, that every member of it be furnished with a sufficient portion of suitable food. It is the truth as it is in Jesus, the doctrine and the law of Christ, that in the spiritual economy serve a purpose analogous to that which food does in the animal economy. Suitable wholesome food must be eaten and digested, in order to health and bodily growth, and, indeed, to the continuance of animal life; and Divine truth must be understood and believed, and thus become influential on the intellect, and conscience, and affections, in order to the continuance and to the healthy exercise of the functions, of the spiritual life of the new creature. The private members of the church, as well as the ministers of Jesus Christ, are "nourished up by the words of faith and good doctrine," whereunto they attain; and the "new-born babes grow" by "the sincere milk of the word," which the instincts of their new nature lead them to desire.

Regularly and effectually to meet this exigence is one leading object of the Christian eldership; and where suitable provisions are not made for securing the growing intelligence of the members of a Christian church, there must be, on the part of the eldership, most blameable neglect of duty. When the disciples come together on the first day of the week to observe the ordinances, the ordinance of "doctrine" or teaching must be attended to; and the assembled brethren must be taught to hold fast and observe all things, whether doctrine, law, or institution, which the Lord has commanded them. On these occasions, the elders who labour in word and doctrine should be prepared, after close study and fervent prayer, to present to their brethren a clear and impressive exhibition of the meaning, evidence, and practical bearing of some of our Lord's doctrines, or a perspicuous and practical explanation and enforcement of some of our Lord's laws, having a reference to what they know to be the necessities and capacities of their audience, taking care not to confine themselves to a few topics to discant on,

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which may be peculiarly easy to themselves, and palatable to their hearers, but endeavouring, as much as possible, to bring out in the course of these exercises, so far as they have discovered it, "the whole counsel of God;" and withholding nothing that can be profitable, whether it may be pleasing or otherwise. When we consider how much the great body of Christians, belonging to the classes whose time is chiefly devoted to the obtaining the necessaries and comforts of life for themselves and families, must be dependent on the instructions received on the Lord's day for their knowledge of Christian truth, the importance of endeavouring, on such occasions, to communicate the largest possible amount of distinct impressive instruction, both doctrinal and practical, on the part of Christian teachers, must appear great indeed.

The Christian preacher, if he is really wise, when teaching the people knowledge, will give good heed to his doctrine, that it be wholesome and nourishing; and, if possible, palatable. He will seek to find out, first, true and important thoughts, and then plain acceptable words; and he will endeavour that his words be as goads, entering readily, and as riveted nails when they have entered, sticking fast. The teaching elder ill discharges this, his highest duty, who satisfies himself with common-place statement or empty declamation; or who spends the hours of Christian instruction in metaphysical discussions, and questions that profit not. It has been well said, "To preach, to show the extent of our learning or the subtlety of our wit, to blazon them in the eyes of the people with the beggarly account of a few words which glitter, but causing little heat and less warmth, is a dishonest use of sacred time; it is not to preach the gospel, but ourselves :" it is not to feed, but to starve our hearers.

It is the duty of the Christian teaching elder, not only thus to teach publicly on the Lord's day, but also, as God gives opportunity, to teach from house to house, taking such opportunities for presenting Christian truth in a form more familiar than suits the character of public instruction, and more

suited to the circumstances of the individuals addressed. It seems to me also, that a Christian eldership are but following out the spirit of the injunction in the text, when they endeavour to secure for those under their care, the use of a truly select collection of books, fitted to promote the knowledge of Christian truth, the cultivation of Christian feeling, and the performance of Christian duty, by enabling them better to understand their Bibles, and employ their influence to induce them to peruse these books.

The seeking to have their brethren, under their care, growing in accuracy and extent of Christian knowledge, must ever be considered, by the Christian eldership, as the fundamental part of their duty. The church is the school of Christ, and the elders are the schoolmasters. The maxim, that ignorance is the mother of devotion, is utterly inapplicable to the religion of Christ. Knowledge is necessary in order to faith; and a well instructed Christian mind, is the only soil in which can grow and flourish the fair flowers and the rich fruits of devout feeling and holy conduct, "which are by Christ Jesus to the praise and glory of God."

The duty of instructing the brethren, lies with peculiar weight on the teaching elder. It is his business, his appropriate work, to which above all things he must give himself, and to which he must endeavour to make all things subservient. Whatever is cursorily done, this must be carefully done; and he must "study to prove himself a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." At the same time, every Christian elder, though not called to labour in word and doctrine, should endeavour to promote the instruction of the brethren. Every elder, or bishop, should be "apt to teach;" both able and disposed to communicate Christian instruction to his brethren. Indeed, till "the earth be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea," it is the duty of every Christian man "to teach his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord." And the Christian elder, whose ordinary and principal business is to superintend and govern, is not