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"Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have "is thine:" though it is evident that the parable was intended to rebuke the vain confidence of the proud Pharisees, as well as to encourage humble penitents.

But should any person doubt respecting this interpretation; we may remember that angels in heaven need no repentance: yet the Saviour's care, and labour, and sufferings, were not employed about them; but in behalf of poor lost sinners on earth nor does he rejoice over angels, as he does over every sinner that repents.-Even those who have been brought home to his fold, and are walking in his ordinances and commandments, need not that kind and degree of repentance, which they do, who are yet wandering in the broad way: and every new instance of one brought to repentance excites fresh joy in heaven; because the good Shepherd "rejoices that he has found his sheep "that was lost;" and calls on all his friends to rejoice with him,

There are publick successes, which make whole nations resound with joyful acclamations: yet we are not taught by the sacred oracles, to think that the angels of GOD generally unite in rejoicings of this kind. But had we been previously informed, that one event, and but one, frequently occurs on earth, which fills all heaven with joy and praise, our curiosity would have been excited, our imagination would have been earnestly employed, our

expectations would have been raised; and probably we should have felt some disappointment, as well as surprise, when we found it was merely, because some poor criminal, perhaps scandalous for his crimes, perhaps neglected because of his low condition or mean abilities, in a cottage, an almshouse, or a prison, was weeping for sin, crying for mercy, and almost overwhelmed with a sense of guilt, and dread of merited condemnation ! Yet "there is joy in the presence of the angels of "GOD, over one sinner that repenteth."

Without entering into a minute interpretation of the parable, we may, from the text, remark three particulars.

I. The event here referred to; "I have "found my sheep which was lost."

II. The instruction contained in the representation given, that CHRIST himself rejoices in this event; "Rejoice with me.”

III. The instruction to be derived from the exhortation given to all his friends to rejoice with him.

I. The event, "I have found my sheep "which was lost."

This leads our reflection back to the considera

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tion of all that hath been previously done, in order to the finding of the lost sheep; and to the height, and depth, and length, and breadth of "the love of CHRIST, which passes knowledge;" even his love to sinners, considered as strangers to repentance, and living in allowed and heinous disobedience.

"We were as sheep going astray, but we have "returned:" (or have been brought back or concerted,) "to the Shepherd and Bishop of our “souls.”—“I have gone astray," says the Palmist, "like a sheep that is lost." Indeed this is the constant emblem in Scripture, of our condition, as estranged from GOD, and seeking happiness from the world.--Other views of our state and character shew our criminality, as apostates and rebels, and enemies to GOD; and are suited to humble us before him: but this especially illustrates our misery and danger.-What more helpless and exposed than a lost sheep? It can neither flee from its enemies, nor resist them. It is surrounded with dangers of which it has no dread, and against which it can take no precaution: and unless again brought under the tender faithful care of the shepherd, it must at length, in one way or other, be destroyed.

In such a world of temptation as this is, if we believe what the Scripture teaches, that "our adversary, the Devil, like a roaring lion, goeth "about seeking whom he may devour;" and that,

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as "transformed into an angel of light," he uses, with immense success, a vast variety of artifices to deceive men to their destruction; we shall readily perceive, that we are exposed like lost sheep to numberless dangers, of which very few are at all aware, and from which none, left to themselves, could possibly escape.

Such is every man's condition, while living impenitent, having forsaken GoD, and continuing to walk according to the course of this world.

When we consider our criminality; we may conceive of the Almighty as looking upon us with just and holy abhorrence; but the emblem of lost sheep gives us the idea of his unspeakable condescension and commiseration.

Let us then consider the love of the great and good Shepherd, to us poor lost sheep. He, who, in human nature, could with propriety use the words, by which JEHOVAH distinguished himself when he appeared to Moses, and say, "Before"Abraham was, I AM :" He who spake to his disciples, exactly as JEHOVAH had done to Moses;

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Certainly I will be with thee:" "Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world:" He, who could promise to give his disciples "a mouth "and wisdom, which no enemy could gainsay or "resist:" He, whom "all angels worship," came into the world, was made in the likeness of men, became flesh, and tabernacled among us. But what brought him down from the realms of light?

Love! not to our character or conduct, but love to us as lost sinners!-He pitied our wretchedness, while he abhorred our crimes! He anticipated even our desires, and our consciousness of misery and danger! "It is a faithful saying, and worthy of "all acceptation, that CHRIST JESUS came into "the world to save sinners; even the chief of "sinners."-"Ye know the grace of our LORD "JESUS CHRIST; how that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor; that ye, "through his poverty, might be made rich."

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When he thus assumed "the form of a servant," from compassion to the lost and wretched; he did not appear in a state of outward splendour, but in the deepest poverty; and while he refused to act as a Judge, and shunned those who would have made him a King; yet, as the tender Shepherd seeking his lost sheep, he performed, and so dignified, the office of a preacher, by making that his peculiar constant employment.

With weary, toilsome steps, he traversed the whole land of Israel; (a stranger to those accommodations with which the most of us are indulged;) and made it the business of his life to seek out and save the lost. He pitied the ignorant and neglected, "because they were as sheep not having "a shepherd;" and allowed himself no space for rest or refreshment, (often reserving only the nocturnal hours for secret devotion,) that he might lose no opportunity of bringing lost sheep to the fold

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