whenever, and in whatever manner we may die, it will be under the care
and direction of Him who will no more see us in the power of the enemy,
than a strong and faithful shepherd would suffer a beloved member of his
flock to fall into the power of the lion.

The last lines of a hymn by Doddridge--

"Then speechless clasp thee in my arms,
The antidote of death"--

are altered, by some compilers, who substitute the word _conqueror_ for
_antidote_. But the author saw the truthfulness of his own chosen
language, though the word in question be not convenient for musical
expression. When we are already stung by a poisonous creature, we take
something which proves an antidote to the effect of the sting. This
medicine is not so much a conqueror, as an antidote; for the poison is
not developed. But the sting is inflicted, and before the poisonous
injury is felt, the antidote prevents it. These words of Christ
correspond to this: "Verily, verily I say unto you, If a man keep my
saying, he shall never see death." How often we behold this verified!
The spectators "see death," in his approach, in his effects; they weep
and tremble, while the dear patient does not "see" it; for something
else absorbs his thoughts, fixes his attention; he is stung, indeed, by
the monster; but Christ is an antidote to death, causes it to pass by
without inflicting pain upon the mind, or in any way hurting its victim.
Dr. Watts illustrates and confirms all this:--

"Jesus, the vision of thy face
Hath overpowering charms;
Scarce shall I feel death's cold embrace,
If Christ be in my arms."

* * * * *

The piece of paper which would suffice to write the twenty-third Psalm
upon it, would not be large enough for a common title deed; and yet that
Psalm, if it expresses our experience, is worth infinitely more than is
conveyed, or secured, by all the registries of deeds under the sun. We
are each of us to see a time when we shall feel the truth of this. If
but these first few words of the Psalm are true in my case, if "the Lord
is my Shepherd," all the rest of the Psalm is a record, a promise, a
pledge, of past, present, and future good.

There are six things declared by Christ to be characteristic of the
relation which he and his people sustain to each other, as Shepherd and
the sheep:

1. "My sheep hear my voice;

2. And I know them;

3. And they follow me;

4. And I give unto them e