to Moses that he might carry them in his bosom, that he might show
gentleness and patience towards them, under all the provocations
wherewith they would provoke him from that time till he had brought
them to their land. But he failed in the work; he could not exercise
it, because he had not that sufficiency of patience towards them.
But now it is said of the person speaking in the text, that "he
shall gather his lambs with his arm, shall carry them in his bosom,
and shall gently lead them that are with young."

4. The Father's giving them to him to save them, declares that he
hath a SUFFICIENCY OF WISDOM to wage with all those difficulties
that would attend him in his bringing his sons and daughters unto
glory. He hath made him to us to be wisdom; yea, he is called Wisdom
itself. And God saith, moreover, that he "shall deal prudently." And
indeed, he that shall take upon him to be the Saviour of the people,
had need be wise, because their adversaries are subtle above any.
Here they are to encounter the serpent, who for his subtlety
outwitted our father and mother when their wisdom was at highest.
But if we talk of wisdom, our Jesus is wise, wiser than Solomon,
wiser than all men, wiser than all angels; he is even "the wisdom of
God." And hence it is that he turneth sins, temptations,
persecutions, falls, and all things, for good unto his people.

I do not doubt but there is virtue enough in the blood of Christ,
would God Almighty so apply it, to save the souls of the whole
world. But it is the blood of Christ, his own blood, and he may do
what he will with his own. It is also the blood of God, and he also
may restrain its merits, or apply it as he sees good. But the coming
soul, he shall find and feel the virtue thereof, even the soul that
comes to God by Christ, for he is the man concerned in its worth.