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in the morning of youth, rejoicing in holiness, solacing themselves with spiritual food, having the dew of heaven lying all night upon their branches, Job xxix. 19.

Poor innocent lambs! the period is not far distant, when many of you will be led to the slaughter, nor will you repine at your fate. So the great Shepherd of his flock, for hist people's sins, was led as a lamb to the slaughter, without the least repining at the will of his heavenly Father; and "as a sheep before "her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his "mouth," Isa. liii. 7.

The shepherd robs the flock of its fleece in shearing-time, for the purpose of cloathing, not only himself, but also many others. But in this respect our Lord differeth from all other shepherds; for he, as it were, deprived himself for a time of his declarative glory for the good of his flock: when he, who I thought it not robbery to be equal with God, left the bosom of the Father, came to this earth, and that in the form of a servant, Phil. ii. 6. and wrought out a complete righteousness, a garment indeed without seam, to clothe his flock with; nay, even such a

Now he opens the fold-door, and they rush out all over the dewy pasture.---There let me a while leave him with his fleecy charge, and take a view of the Church, which is, in Scripture, compared to a sheepfold, John x. 16.; and of her Head, who hath taken to himself the amiable name and character of a Shepherd, Psalm xxiii. 1. John x. 14.

The Church, as it were, is set upon a hill, exposed to the view of all her enemies; but "the Lord, her shepherd, is a wall of fire "round about her, and the glory in the "midst thereof," Zech. ii. 5. so that no weapon that is formed against her, in the main, ever hath been, or shall be, able to prosper, Isa. liv. 17.

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The shepherd of that fold, I was just now noticing, is a watchful shepherd; but in this respect our Lord excelleth all other shepherds, for he not only attendeth to the wants of his people early, but he keepeth them, night and day, lest any hurt them: nay, watcheth over them every moment, Isaiah xxvii. 8. "He that keepeth Israel slumber"eth not nor sleepeth," Psalm cxxi. 4. their

groans, cries, and prayers, are sweet bleatings in his ears, and to them he attendeth early in every time of need; for he knoweth their voice, and they know his, John x. 4. 14. whether he speaketh to them in his promises or threatenings.

They that have the Lord for their shepherd, may well, with the sweet Psalmist of Israel, in rapturous strains of melody sing, "I shall not want, for he maketh me to lie "down in green pastures, and leadeth me by the still waters: my fainting soul he "restoreth again, and leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake ; "and by his rod and staff comforteth me ; "so that though I walk through the dark

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valley of death, I will fear no evil: my "head he anointeth with oil, and my cup "runneth over. Surely goodness and mer

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cy shall follow me all the days of my life, " and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever," Psalm xxiii. 1.---5.

Is there some difficult marsh or cliff through which the sheep must pass ? then will the shepherd carry over the lambs, and take care that the ewes that are great with

such, go safely. In like manner, when the Lord's people enter into trials, whether of a temporal or spiritual nature, the Lord maketh himself known to them by his name JEHOVAH SHAMMAH," the Lord is there," Ezek. xlviii. 35. He is there to guide them safely through every difficulty; for he will carry the lambs in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young, Isa. xl. 11. and none of his sheep shall ever be lost, either in the mire of sin, or among the rocks of despair.

The shepherd, ever attentive to his charge, sees when the wolf comes, and defends his flock from his attacks. So the Shepherd of Israel, with his all-penetrating eye, seeth every movement which Satan and a wicked world make against his people, and either defendeth them from their assaults altogether, or ordereth it so, that they shall not be finally overcome by them; therefore the flock need not fear, however feeble they be in themselves, for none is able to pluck them out of his hand, John x. 28,

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Are any of the sheep ever caught among thorns then will the tender-hearted shep

herd hasten to their assistance, cut the retarding twigs, and set the innocent captives at liberty. In like manner, when any of the Lord's flock are entangled with the cares of this world, ensnared with the riches and pleasures thereof; then will their compassionate shepherd cut these pernicious twigs; nay, often, in love to their souls, blast those riches, and mar those pleasures, which held back his people's affections from himself, so that they may set them on things above, renew their strength, go on their Christian journey, and feed on the green pastures of spiritual things, as before.

While I am thus in serious meditation, I begin to be disturbed by a clamorous noise, which seems to come from the farther side of the hill; methinks it is like the barking of dogs. Ah! now I perceive I am right; yonder they are with open mouth pursuing a number of the fleecy tribe.--Oh! what will become of these innocent sheep, they will certainly soon be destroyed, for those cruel dogs are almost close at their heels: fie upon them! will none call them off? Yes, to my great joy I hear a voice threatening them, and calling them

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