revives them. Nor are they in heaviness without a need-be for it. All his difpenfations towards them are medicinal, defigned to correct, or to reftrain, or to cure, the maladies of their fouls. And they are adjusted, by his wisdom and tenderness, to what they can. bear, and to what their cafe requires. It is he, likewife, who heals their bodily fickness, and gives them help in all their temporal trouble. He is represented to us, as counting their fighs*, putting their tears into his bottle, recording their forrows in his book of remembrance; and even, as being himself touched with a feeling of their infirmities †, as the head feels for the members of the body.

He reflores them. The power and fubtilty of their enemies, are employed to force, or entice them from his rule; and too often prevail for a feafon. The fheep turn afide into forbidden paths; and whenever they do, they would wander, farther and farther, till they were quite loft again, if he were not their Shepherd. If he permits them to deviate, he has a time, to convince them, that it was an evil and a bitter thing to forfake the Lord their Shepherd ‡, and to humble them, and to bring

* Pfal. lvi. 8.

+ Heb. iv. 15.

R 3

Jer. ii. 19.

them

them back. Thus they become more fenfible of their own weaknefs, and of their obligations to his gracious care; for he will not fuffer their enemies to triumph over them. He will not lofe one of his true flock; not one convinced finner, who has, indeed, and in truth, furrendered and entrusted his all to him. They must, and they fhall, fmart and mourn for their folly; but he will, in due season, break their fnares, and lead them again into the paths of peace, for his own name's fake.

.

The flock are not all beep. There are among them lambs. These are especially mentioned, and for thefe he expreffes a peculiar tenderness. He will gather them in his arm, and carry them in his bofom. Though they are weaklings, they fhall not be left behind. This is a beautiful and pathetic image, If a lamb is weary, poor and unable to keep up with the flock, it fhall be carried. This claufe affords encouragement,

I.

1. To young people. Early ferious impreffions are often made upon the hearts of children, which we are to cherish, by directing their thoughts to the compaffion of the good Shepherd, who has faid, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of fuch

is

is the kingdom of God *. This high and holy one, who humbles himself to notice the worfhip of the heavenly hoft, hears the prayers of worms upon the earth; and his ear is open to the prayers of a child, no less so, than to the prayer of a king.

2. To young converts. Thefe, at whatever age, are children in the Lord's family, lambs in his flock. They are, as yet, weak, unsettled, and unexperienced. Almoft every day brings them into a new and untried fituation. They often meet with oppofition and discouragement, where they have promised themfelves help and countenance. Perhaps their nearest friends are displeased with them. They are liable, likewife, while they are enquiring the way to Zion, to be perplexed by the various opinions, and angry contentions, prevailing among the different religious perfons, or parties, to whom they may address themselves. They are frequently discouraged by the falls and mifcarriages of professors, fome of whom, it is poffible, they may have admired, and looked up to, as patterns for their own imitation. Add to these things, what they fuffer from new and unexpected

discoveries of the evil and deceitfulness of their hearts; the mistakes they commit, in judgment and practice, for want of a more folid and extenfive knowledge of the fcriptures; and the advantage the great enemy of their fouls derives from these their various

difficulties to affault their peace, and obstruct their progrefs. What would become of them in fuch circumftances, if their faithful Shepherd had not promised to lead, and uphold them, with the arm of his power?

There is, likewife, particular mention made of those who are with young. These he will gently lead. If we take the word according to our version, it may signify a state of conviction, or trouble. Many are the afflictions of the righteous*, by which they are often wearied and heavy laden. But when their fpirits are overwhelmed within them, he knoweth their path. Jacob would not permit his cattle, that were with young, to be † over-driven for one day, left they should die. Much less will this good Shepherd suffer the burdened, among his flock, to be hurried and tempted, beyond what they are able, or what he will enable, them to bear.

Pfal. xxxiv. 19.

+ Gen. xxxiii. 13.

But

But the word fignifies, Thofe that have young, rather than those that are with young. Two forts of perfons in the Lord's flock, who come under this defcription, feel an efpecial need of his compaffion, tenderness, and patience.

1. He only knows the feelings of the hearts of parents. What folicitude and anxiety they have for their young ones, the fucklings, if I may so speak, of the flock, which mingle with all their endeavours, to manage rightly the important charge committed to them, and to bring their children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

2. Minifters, likewife, have painful exercises of mind. The apostle Paul speaks of travelling in birth again, till Christ be formed in our hearers *. When we know of any newly awakened, and beginning to feek his falvation, how folicitous is our care to bring them forward, to comfort them, to warn them against the devices of their hearts, and of their enemies! And how piercing our grief and disappointment, if they mifcarry! How much is felt in fympathy for the trials of the flock! What wisdom, faithfulness, courage, meek

* Gal. iv. 19.

nefs,