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2. We must pay it without reluctance

[All have not the same trials to endure; but all will meet with some which shall prove a test of their sincerity-Whenever, or in whatever degree, we be tried, we must shew our decided “ purpose, our fixed determination-We must hate" (that is, we must esteem as worthless and of no account) our nearest friends, our dearest interest, yea, our very lives, when they stand in competition with our duty to God-Nothing must tempt us to draw back from him-If once we draw the sword, we must throw away the scabbard-If we slay not our spiritual enemies, they will destroy us-We must "endure to the end if ever we would be saved"-On the other hand, we have every encouragement to "war a good warfare;" for, if we go forth in the strength of the Lord God, we shall be "more than conquerors through him that loved us"-] We conclude with an ADDRESS to

1. The inconsiderate Christian

[Men promise at their baptism that they will renounce the world, the flesh and the devil; but never afterwards think of fulfilling so much as one of their engagements-They expect wages without work, and victory without a conflict-But such conduct will expose them to "everlasting shame and contempt," and will ultimately involve them in irrecoverable ruin -Let it be remembered then, that, as it is no easy matter to be a Christian, so nothing but real Christianity will be of any avail-If we accept not salvatian on the terms which God has prescribed, it is in vain to hope that we shall ever participate the blessings it affords-]

2. The mistaken Christian

[It is too common to imagine that we can retain the friendship of the world, and preserve at the same time our fidelity to Christ-But we are plainly warned to the contrary -Our Lord elsewhere assures us that we cannot serve God and mammon-And St. James affirms the friendship of the world to be enmity with God; and that whosoever desires to be the friend of the world, he is thereby constituted the enemy of Goda-Would to God that this were more considered!But many, because they make some sacrifices, suppose that they come up to the terms which Christianity demands, when, in fact, they retain their bosom lusts, and sacrifice only those, which their change of situation, or their more advanced age, has rendered less importunate-Instead of being jealous of their own sincerity, they are over-confident: and instead of being filled with shame and sorrow on account of their defects, they are ever pleading for indulgence, and la

a Jam. iv. 4.

bouring to persuade themselves that they come up to the mark prescribed to them in the scriptures-Let such persons beware, lest, while they value themselves on their more liberal and enlarged sentiments, they deceive their own souls, and be found wanting in the day of final retribution-If when Christ calls them to forsake all, they are striving to forsake as little as possible; they have good reason to fear that they have not the mind which was in Christ Jesus-]

3. The timid Christian

[Many, when the hour of trial comes, are ready to faint and draw back-But what are our trials when compared with those of thousands who have gone before us? We have not yet resisted unto blood-Besides, have we not been told repeatedly, that if we have no cross we must not expect a crown?Let us recollect that, "if we turn back, God's soul shall have no pleasure in us;" and that the whole world will be a poor exchange for an immortal soul-"As soldiers we must expect to endure hardness"-Let us then "be strong and very courageous:" let us "fight the good fight, and quit ourselves like men"-And let us reflect for our encouragement, that, though our "enemies may encompass us like bees," "there are more for us than against us"]

4. The stedfast Christian

[Have any ever found cause to regret that they endured the cross? Will any complain they ever suffered too much for Christ? Has not a rich reward been invariably enjoyed by them in the testimony of their own conscience, and in the consolations of God's Spirit? Yea, whatever they have suffered, have they not had "an hundred fold more given them even in this present life; and will they not have life everlasting also in the world to come?"-Surely the intrepid Christian has "chosen the good part; nor shall it ever be taken away from him"-Go on then, "strong in the grace that is in Christ Je"See that lose not the things that ye have wrought; but that ye receive a full reward"" Be faithful unto death, and God shall give you a crown of life"-]

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CCLV. THE LOST SHEEP...

Luke xv. 3-7. And he spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of you having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when

he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. THERE is nothing more injurious to ourselves or others than prejudice→

While it operates as a bar to our own improvement, it leads us to put a perverse construction on every thing we see or hear-

It will extract matter for censure even from the most innocent or laudable actions

The malignity of it cannot be seen in more striking colours than in the conduct of the Pharisees towards our `Lord

He conversed familiarly with the most abandoned sinners for their good

Such condescension ought to have been regarded with the highest approbation

But it provoked only the spleen and malice of the haughty Pharisees—

Our Lord however took the best method of silencing their murmurs

By appealing to their own consciences he forced them to condemn themselves

We shall consider

I. The parable

The scope of the parable is, not so much to mark the resemblance between a sinner and a lost sheep, as be-. tween our Lord and a faithful shepherd

The parallel between them will appear, if we consider 1. A shepherd's concern for his sheep when lost

[Though a man had ninety-nine others, he would not be indifferent about the loss of one

If he missed one, he would immediately begin to make enquiries about it

He would not expect it ever to trace back its steps unto the fold again

If he gained intelligence respecting it, he would go in quest of it

a

Leaving the rest in the pasture, he would seek diligently till he found it

a The Jews called all ground which was not arable, The wilder

ness.

And the more it was in danger of being devoured by wolves, the more assiduously would he exert himself for its recovery Such is the conduct of our Lord towards our ruined raceWe all are fitly compared to sheep wandering from the foldb

Never do we think of "returning to the great Shepherd of our souls"

We are every moment exposed to the assaults of a devouring lion

Our compassionate Shepherd came from heaven itself to seek us

His solicitude for us is well delineated by an inspired prophetd

He moreover sends his servants into every part of the worldBy his word and spirit he endeavours to apprehend usNor does he account any labour too great, if he may but succeed at last

Though he has myriads in his fold above, he cannot endure to lose one

Nor, while so much as one of his sheep are wandering from him, will he relax his endeavours to bring it back-]

2. His joy over it when recovered

[When a shepherd has found his lost sheep he seizes it wtih his crook—*

The more it struggles for liberty, the more he labours to secure it

Rather than lose it again he brings it back upon his shoulders

Exulting in his success he announces it to every one he

meets

And receives with pleasure the congratulations of his friendsDo we not here also see the benevolence of our blessed Lord?

Having apprehended us by his grace, he overcomes our resistance

Having prospered in his labour, he regrets not the pains he has bestowed

He is satisfied with all the travail of his soul when he beholds us safe

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With joy he brings us to the society of his peculiar peopleAnd calls on them also to rejoice together with him—

This is beautifully described by the pen of inspiration— And gloriously realized in every quarter of the globe-] Our Lord himself elucidates the parable of suggesting

b Isai. liii. 6.

d Ezek. xxxiv. 11-16. VOL. III.

c 1 Pet. v. 8.

• Zeph. iii. 17.

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II. The improvement of it

-Nothing could be more pertinent than this parable to the occasion on which it was delivered

"Repentance" is properly represented as the return of the soul to God

[While we remain impenitent we are afar off from GodWe wander further and further from the path of lifeBut in repentance we are made to see our guilt and danger— We gladly embrace the mercy offered to us in the gospelAnd give up ourselves to God to be governed by his will, and he saved by his grace-]

Hence the repentance of sinners becomes a matter of joy to all the holy angels

[Whether the glorified saints take any interest in our welfare we know not

But we are sure that angels are not unconcerned spectators of usf

They greatly delight both in God's glory, and our goodThe of established saints is a permanent source perseverance of happiness to them

But the conversion of a sinner fills them with more abundant joys→→→

The more desperate his condition had appeared, the more exquisite is the delight they feel in his recovery

Even "in the presence of God" himself they are attracted by this sight

Not all the glory of the godhead can divert their attention from it

Nor all the felicity of heaven indispose them for rejoicing in it

However strange this idea may seem, it is truly scripturalNothing can be plainer than the affirmation in the textNor can we doubt it without greatly dishonouring the character of Christ—]

In this view the repentance of men should excite joy in us also

[This, though not expressed, is evidently implied in the words of our text

f Heb. i, 14. * They who need no repentance, are those, who having been converted to God, need not Metavolar, an entire change of mind, but only to be confirmed in their present views, and to be rendered conformable to them.

So Jacob on account of his son Joseph. Gen. xlv. 26-284 & 46. 30.

i See also ver. 10.

The faithful witness." Rev. i. 5.

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