yourselves, behold Jesus prepares his grace, his providence, and his church, for you. Every thing suited with your comfort, peace, perseverance, and happiness, is prepared in your Shepherd's hand and heart; and it is from his fulness alone you can receive grace for grace. Even afflictions become excellent pasture to correct those humours, and carry off those disorders, to which the flock of Christ are subject. This faithful Shepherd will never leave nor forsake his sheep, but be sensibly present with them in the hour of dissolution. This was one reason why David so highly exulted in his Shepherd. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. To which we shall only add, that the period will arrive when this great Shepherd will personally appear in his glory, and all the holy Angels with him, and sit upon the throne of his glory. Before him all nations shall be gathered, and he shall separate one from another, as a shepherd divideth the sheep from the goats; his sheep he will welcome to his celestial fold of glory; the others will be dismissed his presence, and consigned

to woe.

From this view of the character and office of Jesus, the Shepherd of Israel, no wonder we find such strong epithets used in the Scripture to declare his excellence. Peter celebrates him as the Chief Shepherd, as he is not only the proprietor of the flock of grace, but that it is from him all his ministers, as under shepherds, receive their call, qualifications, and success of their labours. Paul calls him, the Great Shepherd of the sheep. Great indeed! in wisdom, power, and love; great in the extent of his redeemed flock, a number that no man can number; and although great were the sufferings he en

dured in accomplishing the salvation of his flock, yet inEnitely greater will be that glory in which he shall appear at the last day. The whole of which receives additional lustre when we consider the perfection of his NATURE as MAN. He was without spot or blemish; this pure nature, taken into union with the GREAT GOD, must needs produce a glorious MEDIATOR, and an all-sufficient SHEPHERD for his people. Here then, may we not with ardent prayer unite with David, Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; 'thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth! "Let thy power and thy glory appear in gathering in thy ransomed flock from among all nations, that they may unite and rejoice in one fold, under one Shepherd, for ever more.”

A subject of very infinite importance now remains for us to determine. Are we numbered with the flock of Christ? and, can we with the utmost sincerity say with David, The Lord is my Shepherd? To be introduced among the visible flock of any denomination of Christians is not, of itself, sufficient to determine this point. We have already said, concerning the good Shepherd, that he putteth forth his own sheep, and goeth before them, and they follow him. As the sheep lodge in the -fold through the darkness of the night, and by the rising sun are put forth to feed beneath its cheering rays: so Jesus, by his Spirit, regenerates the souls of his flock, puts them forth from their carnal, unbelieving state, and thereby renders them visible as his sheep. The mark of his bloody cross, from whence all their salvation flows, he puts upon them, and then gives them power and love to follow him as their chief and good Shepherd. Has this taken place between Jesus and you? He came to save the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and none

Y

but those who feel how far they have wandered from God - in the paths of disobedience, will prize the grace of this blessed Shepherd. Read the parable of the lost sheep, recorded in Luke xv. and may this gracious Shepherd make it a mean of convincing you of your danger, and then gather you to the arms of his mercy.

The flock of Christ, more or less, from the depravity of nature, the force of temptation, and the sufferings of life, are subject to fear. It would be enough for you to listen to the voice of your Shepherd, who says, Fear not, little flock. But that ancient promise of his pastoral office before recited, affords you still greater consolation. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd; he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom. Amidst all your sins and fears fly to his arms. Remember, Jesus your Shepherd will not only take care of you and your concerns, but he has gone before you through death to heaven, to prepare a place for you. The chief Shepherd shall appear to receive you to himself, no more to revolt from him, nor sin against him. In his bosom you shall for ever rest, and drink pure joy from the fountain head for ever and ever.

MORNING PRIVATE DEVOTION.

PSALM CXxxix. 18.

When I awake I am still with thee.

Soar'd yet another day to see
The light, O may I walk therein;
Increasing more and more in thee,
A birth to God, a death to sin.
Till meet for heav'n I wing my flight,
And raise thee with the saints in light.

Langly

1

IT is universally acknowledged that religion consists in the enjoyment and worship of the most high God. The man who, by faith of the operation of God, is practically convinced that in this vale of tears he has no solid happi❤ ness but what is derived from communion with his everlasting Father in Jesus Christ, knows that days and months and years are no more to him than as he is assisted to walk in the light of God's countenance; improve the dispensations of providence, and anticipate that blissful state in which the SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS creates eternal day. Under such impression, David penned this most excellent psalm.

Early as the dawn, sensible of the divine presence, he was solicitous to begin the day with God, and improve its various and successive events. From past experience Christians must be deeply convinced, that the day which is begun with sensible communion with God, ends with indescribable pleasures. On the contrary, when God is not enjoyed, and duty is wholly neglected, or indiffer ently performed, they unavoidably rush on the business

of the day, as the unthinking horse into the battle, and seldom fail to meet with some bitter cup, or fatal snare, before the curtain of the evening falls. I shall, in this lecture, offer you some instructions to assist your morning devotion, sincerely hoping God may make them beneficial to all.

REFLECTION. Preserved through the dangers of thenight, intreat God to teach you, habitually, to meet the unfolding eye-lids of the morning with reflection; and; like the attracting magnet to its pole, your soul may fix: upon your Lord and Saviour. Your mind thus disposed, I wish you to reflect on God's goodness in your preser-vation, especially if health attends your person. How many of your fellow creatures, at the same moment, may be left on beds of painful, languishing sickness; how many may have had their sleeping moments interrupted by devouring flames, or by the robber's hand! and many others may have made their beds their tomb, since the last setting sun, and gone the way from whence they shall not return! These thoughts will create in your heart a most charming sense of God's sparing goodness to you. It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed ' because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is his faithfulness. Remember, another day is now adding to the term of your life, and that each leaves the number less. Alas! how swift they fly! The AGED should remember that the current of time runs sensibly the stronger the nearer it verges to eternity; and, of course, very little time remains for you. It should be the duty of YOUTH to implore God, so to teach them that they may number their days, and apply their hearts unto wisdom. Each of you may now reflect, how many dark, sinful, and dangerous days you have passedi