And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
Ver. 16. And other sheep I have] viz. The elect Gentiles, whose conversion to Christ was, among other types, not obscurely foreshadowed,Leviticus 19:23,25, as some divines think. The first three years in Canaan the Israelites were to cast away the fruits of the trees, as uncircumcised. So our Saviour planted the gospel in that land for the first three years of his public ministry. But the uncircumcisions are cast away; that is, to the uncircumcised Gentiles the doctrine of Christ is not declared by general and public preaching. The fruit of the fourth year was consecrated to God: that is, Christ in the fourth year from his baptism laid down his life for his sheep, rose again, ascended, and sent his Holy Spirit; whereby his apostles and others were consecrated as the firstfruits of the promised land. But in the fifth year, the fruit of the gospel planted by Christ began to be common, when the same doctrine was not shut up in the strait bounds of Judaea, or walls of the temple, but was made known (and shall be more and more) to all nations, for the obedience of faith, Romans 16:26 .
There shall be one fold] Of Jews and Gentiles. The full and final restoration of the Jews will happen in the year 1650, as some have calculated out ofDaniel 12:11. I wait and wish it.