outmost part of heaven, thence will the Lord gather thee, and from thence will he take thee; he will deliver them from all plases where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day, and will feed them in good pastures, and will bring them to

rest."

When thou art banished from God's house.

"I will be unto them as a little sanctuary in the countrys where they shall come. 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 b

In thy banishment, at those hours when thy soul was wont to be refreshed in the sanctuary of God on the sabbath, and at other times when thou findest thyself to stand in need either of defence or nourishment, apply, "I will be a sanctuary unto you. He shall feed his flock as a shepherd."

"If in this time thou feelest thyself very weak, apply, "He shall gather his lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom; and guide them with young:" they cannot miscarry that are shut up in the bosom of God; nor fear, who are guided by him. Therefore, though we be ever so weak in ourselves, yet here is our comfort,-we are safe in our God. O happy people, saved by the Lord!

a Ezek. xi, 16. b Isa. xl, 11.

When wicked shepherds are over us. "Thus saith the Lord God, behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my flock at their hands and cause them to cease from feeding the flock. Neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them. Because ye have thrust with side and with shoulder, and pushed all the diseased with your horns, till ye have scattered them aBroad: therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will cause the wild beasts to cease out of the land."

When the shepherds feed themselves, and are ready to devour us, apply, The shepherds shall not feed themselves any more; I will deliver my sheep from their mouths, they shall no more devour them."

When, through their greatness and our weakness, they push us so with their horns, that we are scattered, both shepherd from people, and one from another, apply, "I will help my sheep, and they shall no more be spoiled; I will cause the wild beasts to cease out of the land.”

When, through wicked shepherds, thou art come to great misery.

"I will seek that which was lost, and bring

a Ezek. xxxiv, 10, 21, 22, 23.

again that which was driven away; and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick. Though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more; but thine eyes shall see thy teachers."b

When through evil shepherds thou art come to such an estate, as thou feelest thyself to have lost God and goodness, and art driven away from things that might help thee, apply, "I will seek that which was lost, I will bring again that which was driven away."

When thou art even broken with misery and grown very weak, apply, "I will bind up that which was broken, and strengthen that which was weak."

When thy teachers, who should help thee in this estate, are forced to fly and hide themselves, for the fear of the wicked shepherds, apply, "Thy teachers shall not be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers."

When thou settest thyself to fast. "If thou fast in secret, thy Father which seeth in secret will reward thee openly.c "Draw nigh unto God, and he will draw nigh unto you. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up."d

a Ezek. xxxiv, 16. b Isa. xxx, 20. Mat. vi, 18. d James iv, 8, 10.

CHAP. IX.

OF PERSECUTION,

All that will live godly, must suffer persecution: therefore strengthen thyself with these promises.

If thou art railed upon for well-doing. "If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of God, and of glory, rested upon you.",

"Blessed are ye when men revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.b

If thou art persecuted any other ways even unto death.

"He that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.d

When ye lose any earthly blessing for God's cause, apply, "Every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive a hundred fold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

a 1 Pet. iv, 14. b Mat. v, 11, 12. Mat. x, 39% d Mat. v, 10. Mat. xix, 29.

This is the greatest, and yet lawful usury of all others, to part with one outward blessing, and to receive a hundred for it; to lose a miserable life, and to enjoy eternal life; to suffer a short time, and to have a great reward in heaven; to be disgraced, and to have the spirit of glory rest upon us. Therefore when thou art railed upon, apply, "Blessed am I; the spirit of glory rests upon me, therefore they cannot make me vile."

Art thou any way persecuted? Apply, "Theirs is the kingdom of heaven; great is your reward in heaven."

Take they thy life? Apply, "He that loseth his life for my sake, shall find it." Take they away any earthly blessing? "Thou shalt receive an hundred fold at this present." Therefore if usurers gladly let out their money, that hope to receive but eight in the hundred; be ashamed of thyself, that thou shouldest not give one for a hundred, when thou hast the promise of him that never failed to perform.

In partaking with God's people in suffering, that thou mayest be partaker of their com forts.

"As you are partakers of the sufferings; so shall ye be also of the consolation.a

a 2 Cor. i, 7.