and rich provision for them. For he does not bring them into barrenness-They shall not want-I will feed them in a good pasture.-It appears in affording them repose, as well as food. For they want rest, as well as supplies, especially at noon. And, says he, I will not only feed my flock, but cause them to lie down-He maketh them to lie down in green pastures.-It appears in recalling them when wandering-He restoreth my soul, says David. - It appears in defending them-They shall never perish, says the Shepherd, neither shall any pluck them out of His hand. It appears in accommodating himself so kindly and tenderly to their age and weakness-" He shall feed his flock like a shepherd; he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young."

Thirdly. See them in their final state. Here he does much for them; and they are often deeply affected with it, especially when they consider where he found them, and what they once were. But when they look into his promises, they see that he intends to do infinitely more. How great is the goodness which he has laid up for them that fear him! Earth is too narrow to contain it. Time is too short to display it. It doth not yet appear what they shall be. There is a land of pure delight; a better, a heavenly country, prepared to receive them. There is, indeed, a dark valley to pass, before they can enter it—But it is safe and short-and their Shepherd is with them there; and his rod and his staff will comfort them. And when they have passed it, "they shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb, which is in the midst of the Throne, shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters; and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." Blessed Jesus! how well hast thou said, "I am the good Shepherd"!

Oh let those that belong to him, love him, and

honour him with their confidence. Trust in him at all times, ye people. Resign to him all your interests. It is enough that he careth for you. You know his aim. You know that all his ways are mercy and truth.

But are we a part of his charge? Are we sheep? Are we lambs? How may I know this? They are marked-marked in the ear-and marked in the foot. My sheep hear my voice-and they follow me.

OCT. 13.-" And I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him." Mal. iii. 17.

IF a man spares any one, it will surely be his own son. The very relation pleads for him. Even a faulty child is a child still; and is not easily turned out of doors, like a servant. Absalom had risen in rebellion against his father; and David was compelled to fight with his own son-But, Oh! said he, on the eve of the battle, deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom! Who can imagine his feelings, while thinking of the action! With what hope and fear was his parental bosom fluttering, when the messenger arrived with the result! Who does not seem to hear his very heartstrings break, as he goes up into the chamber, weeping, "O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!"-But when a son is dutiful; and the father sees that he desires, and aims, and endeavours to please him! Now this is the image God here employs, to raise our confidence the more. I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. In the same strain is our Saviour's tender appeal: "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good

gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him!" God's own children, who serve him, need sparing mercy. It is exercised towards them four ways.

First. He spares them as to exemption. This has often been seen in times of public and general calamity. Does the flood come and sweep away the world of the ungodly? An Ark is provided for the saving of Noah and his house. Are the Cities of the Plain destroyed? Lot is sent forth out of the overthrow. Darkness that might be felt enveloped the Egyptians; but the Israelites had light in all their dwellings. When the executioners were approaching Jerusalem, Set a mark, said God, upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for the abominations that are done in the midst of the land. Some of his servants are taken away from the evil to come. Pious connexions removed by death, are often spared the sight of relative troubles, under which, perhaps, they would have sunk. Many a pious youth, like Abijah, has come to an early grave in peace, and been housed from after-storms-The Heathens said, They whom the gods love, die young. How often has he spared us-spared our lives, our senses, our limbs, our substance, our relations and friends with regard to all of which, we must gratefully acknowledge, It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Secondly. He spares them as to correction. As his Word tells us, "He that spareth the rod hateth his son ;" He will not himself refuse to strike, when it is needful. Whom the Lord loveth, he therefore chasteneth-But how? What is the prayer of his people? O Lord, correct me, but with judgment: not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing. And he hears them; and spares them as to the degree of the affliction. "In measure, when it shooteth forth, thou wilt debate with it: he

stayeth his rough wind in the day of the east wind.” They are afflicted, but they have alleviations. It might have been much worse; it is so with others. One comfort is gone; but many remain. Cast down, but not destroyed. "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust." For the same holds with regard to continuance he will not always chide, neither will he keep his anger for ever. "I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made." See an instance of this sparing goodness expressed with incomparable tenderness, with regard to Ephraim: "Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord."

He

Thirdly. He spares them as to exertion. considers their strength, and will not require of some, what he ordains for others. A father, in his family, would not impose upon an infant, the service he would lay upon the young man. To some, in Thyatira, the Lord said, I will put upon you none other burden. The children are tender, says Jacob: and the flocks and herds with young are with me; and if men should over-drive them one day, all the flock would die. How much does this remind us of another, of whom it is said, "He shall feed his flock like a shepherd; he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young." When our Saviour was blamed for not enjoining fastings on his disciples, he replied: "No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment; for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. Neither do men put new wine into old bottles; else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and

the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved." There is, says Henry, in well-doing, an over-doing; and such over doing, as may prove undoing. Many religious people are blameable here. They expect too much to be given up before persons have realized the comforts of the Holy Ghost. They want to effect every thing at a stroke. They forget their own ignorance and slowness when God began to deal with them-They forget Him who does not despise the day of small things. They forget Him who said to his followers, I have yet many things to say unto you; but ye cannot bear

them now.

Fourthly. He spares them as to acceptance. Their best actions are imperfect. Their holiest duties are defiled. Their obedience needs pardon. To whom does not this apply? Nehemiah had done much for the cause of God: but does he appeal to justice, to reward him? No; but to mercy, to forgive him: "Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy.' Paul, after extolling Onesiphorus so highly, prays that even he may find mercy of the Lord in that day. I am looking, says the great John Howe, dying, for eternal life; not as a profitable servant, but as a pardoned sinner. Where is the Christian, however distinguished his attainments, who, even in looking over his Sabbaths, and his communions at the Lord's Table, and every alms-deed he ever performed, is not constrained to pray, "Enter not into judgment with thy servant, O Lord; for in thy sight shall no flesh living be justified"?-Well; he will spare you, as to your deficiencies in duty. He takes the design. He regards the motive. He looketh at the heart. He will pardon what is yours; and reward what is his own. For he views you and your services through the mediation of his dear Son, in whom he is well-pleased. Ah! he spared not him, that he might spare you. If we sin, we have an Ad