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"that are scattered; so will I seek out My "sheep, and will deliver them out of all places "where they have been scattered in the cloudy "and dark day.

"And if this doctrine be well-founded (I "continued) what a volume of consolation it "holds forth to the sheepfold of Jesus, under "their own diseases, weaknesses, and wan

derings; and the long wanderings and "wayward obstinacies and rebellions of their "unrecovered relations and friends, for which

they mourn so frequently at the mercy seat. "The lion and the bear may have taken the "tender lamb from the fold; but our David "will in His time, and not ours, and the "properest time too, go out after him, and "deliver him from his devouring mouth. My "sheep (saith Jesus) shall never perish. That's "enough!-Fear not then, little flock; it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the

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kingdom. And how eternally secure must "be every one of the fold, when the final pre"sentation of them before the throne of glory "is to be expressed in these words; Behold, "I and the children whom the Lord hath given " me!§"

When I had finished my remarks, my friend thanked me. "I am much pleased, (he said) I assure you, with your ideas on "the subject. You have, in my opinion,

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very sweetly spiritualized the incident of the

+ Ezek. xxxiv. 11. 12.

§ Isaiah viii. 18.

Luke xii. 32.

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strayed sheep and you certainly have ample authority from scripture for the several ob"servations you have made. The frequent “allusion which is there adapted to the various "circumstances of a sheepfold, is expressly "done with this intention, to describe the "LORD's gracious dealings with His people.

"There is one view of the subject which "hath often struck me, but which, so far as "my reading extends, hath not been suffi

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ciently noticed, if at all, by any writer; I "mean, where Jesus is following the thou"sands of His fold, through all their wayward

paths, amidst the lion's den, and over the 66 mountains of darkness, His eye is still over "them for good, and His arm unremittingly, "stretched forth to keep them from everlasting "ruin; though they, as yet in their uncon"scious state, senseless either of His presence "or His favour, are making Him to serve with "their sins, and continue to weary Him with

their iniquities ! There is somewhat in this ❝ view, which opens to them a most precious "and endearing trait in the character of the "LORD JESUSs; when once the fi'm which "obstructed vision in them is removed, to see things as they are, and that He hath brought home any of His wanderers to His fold, on * His shoulders rejoicing!

"If you and I, my brother" (he added) "had the faculty of discerning objects spiri"tually, we should discover many in this situa"tion now, who appear, to every eye but His

"who knows His own under all disguises, as

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goats, from their behaviour; but yet are the "real sheep of JESUS, which by and by He will (6 gather out, and say to them as He did to the "church of old, come with me my spouse from "the lion's dens, and from the mountains of the leopards.

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"Gracious Power!" (he exclaimed)" while "speaking of Thy long-suffering to Thy people, "oh! let me never forget, for how many years that long-suffering was extended to "me!"

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"And to me" (I cried).. -A moment of "silence followed, when my friend resumed his "discourse.

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"I cannot help remarking, my friend" (he said) how wonderfully the LORD hath brought you on your way; and particularly in the knowledge of Divine things. Many there are, "who, notwithstanding they are very precious plants which the LORD's right hand hath planted, do not make great advances. But "I may truly say of you, as the Apostle did of "the church of the Thessalonians, your faith "groweth exceedingly."

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"Alas!" (I replied) "I fear I do not grow "at all. I cannot perceive in myself any "progress. "Do not say so" (he answered); "for this borders on unthankfulness. In our "desires after greater measures of knowledge "and grace, let us never overlook the less; nor, "while we earnestly beg the LORD to bestow "more, unthankfully forget what He hath al

"ready given. It is very true, as the Apostle "observes, that our highest attainments in the

present state are only as the attainments of "children; and that if any man think he "knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet "as he ought to know. Nevertheless, an apprehension of the very first principles in grace, nay, the circumstance of being matriculated in the school of JESUS, is an unspeakable "mercy, which a whole life of thankfulness is "not sufficient to acknowledge.

"Look back, my brother," (he added) “from "the first traces you can discover of God's "manifestations in your mind, to the present "period, and compare your situation then with "now, and you will at once perceive what rapid "advances you have been making in the Divine "life, under the teachings of GOD the HOLY "GHOST. And this is, in fact, the only method, 66 whereby to form a true estimate of ourselves. "For when we draw conclusions from the "present only, or calculate our growth merely

by our desires of being finally saved, or when "we erect as a standard, whereby to judge "ourselves, the excellency of others more "advanced all these models, being ill-con"structed and ill-chosen, must invariably induce "mortifying views of ourselves by the comparison. This is not, therefore, the right plan, by which we are to ascertain our state. "if we so judge of our progress in grace, as we "estimate proficiency in the works of nature, the method will be more accurate. In the

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"vegetable kingdom, for instance, however cer"tain an advance in growth may be, yet the most intense eye can never discern any one plant actually growing. But, by the comparative observation of a few days, every one "is enabled to discover, that a progression has * taken place.

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"And while I am speaking of this subject of growth in grace, I would desire to add "another observation, which is intimately "connected with it. The Apostle says, grow in 66 grace, and in the knowledge of our LORD "and SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST. Now, if I

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really grow in grace (as increasing grace "humbles more and more the soul) I shall grow more sensible of my own worthlessness, "and Christ's all-sufficiency; deeper views of "sin in my fallen nature will induce all those 66 gracious effects, which tend to enhance the "Saviour; a conscious sense of want will "awaken as conscious a desire of having those "wants supplied; and every day's experience "will make self more lowly, and CHRIST more "exalted. This is to grow in grace and in the "knowledge of our LORD together. The pro66 gress of grace therefore, connected with the progress of the knowledge of the LORD, must "ever produce those effects. A little grace, "like the dawn of day, when shining in the "heart, enables the believer to discover by this twilight somewhat of the darkness around. "In proportion as the light advances, he sees "the objects clearer. But he then only be

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