invites them by the promises of the Gospel. He admonishes them by all the dispensations of his providence. He solicits them by the suggestions of his Holy Spirit.

If they listen to these merciful invitations, "he brings again those who were driven away”—he brings them to the full enjoyment of the rich blessings Tof his religion.

"He binds up that which was broken"-he imparts consolation to the broken and the contrite heart, by the assurance of pardon: he says to every humble and penitent sinner; "Let not thy soul be any longer cast "down, nor thy spirit disquieted within thee: arise, "and follow me in peace, for thy sins are forgiven "thee."

If the repenting offender be desirous to obey the heavenly call; to follow his Master to the mansions of bliss through the path of holiness; "he will then "strengthen that which was sick"-he will enable him to run in the way of God's commandments without fainting; to walk in his ordinances without being weary; he will cure the spiritual maladies of the afflicted penitent, and cause him to proceed from strength to strength, till he appear before God in the pure regions of immortality. Are these the words of truth and soberness? Are these the gracious assur ances of him who cannot deceive? Let me then entreat those who have wandered from the path of their duty, and who are inclined to persist in their errors, to consider their forlorn condition, and to ask with the deepest solicitude of heart, "What they can do to be "saved from the wretchedness that surrounds them ?"

Behold, the Bishop and Shepherd of your souls has

!

come to seek, and is ready to save you, although you have been long lost to virtue and to happiness; although you have been broken and torn by your cruel adversaries, and made sick by the venomous contagion of sin. Only repent, believe, and obey the Gospel, and every evil will be remedied: he will guide you by his wisdom, protect you by his power, bless you with his love, and at last crown you with his glory.

These are strong declarations, but we are authorized to make them by the word of Christ himself. In the addresses of our Lord to his people, he repeatedly presents himself to them under the endearing character of a Shepherd. Viewed in this light, all his offices are those of tenderness and love. Not one of his faithful and obedient people escapes his merciful notice; his vigilant eye is continually over them: "I am the good "Shepherd," saith he, "and know my sheep, and am "known of mine."

He fleeth not like the hireling, in the hour of danger, and leaveth the wolf to catch and scatter them, but is ready to hazard even his life in their defence.

He goes before them, to direct and encourage them in the right way; and they follow him, for they know his voice.

He is very compassionate to all their infirmities; he gathers the lambs with his arm, and carries them in his bosom; and gently leads those that are with young.

He abundantly supplies all their spiritual wants; he feeds them in a green pasture, and leads them forth beside the waters of comfort: they lack nothing: even when they pass through the valley of the shadow of death, they need not fear any evil; for even there he is with them, and his pastoral rod and staff comfort them.

Happy are the people who live under the guardianship of such a kind and powerful Protector! We, my brethren, have been received into the congregation of Christ's flock, and have been signed with the sign of the cross, to designate our character, and intimate to what Master we belong. Highly, then, does it concern us, to inquire what rules he has prescribed for the regulation of our conduct; what sentiments, and what sort of deportment are best suited to creatures so entirely dependent as we are. And here, let it be observed, that in our intercourse with our Lord, the great Shepherd of the sheep, humility must be the ground work of all our services; this must influence the thoughts of our heart and the actions of our life. For, it ought to be deeply impressed upon our minds, that he who was so compassionate to those who were lost and driven away; he who is so ready to bind up the broken and to strengthen the sick, has also declared, "But I will destroy the fat and the strong;" that is, to such as are sensible of their weakness and necessity, and who, therefore, commit themselves entirely to my care and protection, I will yield every necessary assistance but those who are confident in their own wisdom and strength; who depend not upon my bounty; who will not submit to my directions; who deem themselves sufficient for their own security and happinessthose who are thus haughty, presumptuous, and refractory, I will miserably destroy.

As this spirit is altogether unbecoming in redeemed sinners, and is repugnant to a cordial reception of the Gospel, we find it condemned with great severity, in every part of the word of God. It is said, "That he "bringeth down the mighty from their seat, but exVOL. II.

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"alteth the humble and meek: that the hungry are "filled with good things, while the rich are sent empty "away that the wise man must not glory in his "wisdom, nor the mighty man in his strength; for "that the weakness of God is stronger than man, and "the wisdom of the world with him is foolishness: "that imaginations must be cast down, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of "God; and we must bring into captivity every thought "to the obedience of Christ: that vain mortals too "often delude themselves with the fond imagination, "that they are rich and increased with goods, and have "need of nothing; when in reality, they are wretched, “and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” These declarations are exactly consonant to that of the text; "I will destroy the fat and the strong." At this awful hour of decision, the dreadful denunciation will be verified," Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, "and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth "from the Lord. The lofty looks of man shall be "humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed "down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that "day."

Think of this, ye who imagine that there is no need of an immediate revelation from heaven to enlighten the darkness, to instruct the ignorance of mankind; ye who suppose that the human understanding is commensurate to all truth, and therefore reject the mys teries of our religion; ye who rely upon your own native strength, and therefore ask not the aid of God's Spirit; ye who depend for acceptance upon the perfection of your obedience, and therefore disclaim the doctrine of atonement, and seek not the kingdom of

heaven in the humble garb of penitents, but with the haughty demeanour of those who demand the payment of a debt, instead of petitioning for an unmerited favour. Be assured, that this disposition is most offensive in the sight of God; is altogether inconsistent with our rank and condition among intelligent beings; and effectually precludes us from all that blessedness which the Gospel of Christ was intended to confer, in this world and the next, in time and through eternity. He is in reality most strong, who places most dependence upon the strength of his Almighty Protector: he is best directed, who takes the wisdom of God for his guide: he is most abundantly supplied with all good things, who is most inclined to ascribe whatever he receive, to the mere bounty of heaven.

Let us, then, be persuaded to walk humbly with our God; or, as it is expressed in the Gospel, to know the voice of our Shepherd, and to follow him whithersoever he may think proper to conduct us, submitting ourselves entirely to his holy will and pleasure. Thus shall we be authorized to draw comfort from the concluding words of the text, "I will feed them with "judgment." He will adapt his relief to our necessities, whatever they may be. If, at any time, we grow too confident and careless, he will gently admonish us, by some check of conscience, declaration of his word, or dispensation of his providence. If, from a consciousness of our weakness and depravity, we begin to sink into the depths of despondency, he will cheer us with the gracious promise, that, in his name, repentance and remission of sins may now be preached to all people. In a word, whether our necessities relate to mind, body, or estate, of this we may rest assured,