316 Confrderationr to fupport the hearts of thofe that hwspr &c, call'd the fheep, the fheep would come after them (as when you call a dog) and therefore faith Chrift, My fheep heart my yea e, and they will follow me ; Suppofe when the ihepheard carne, a great part of the flock carne after the fhepheard,upon his call, but one or two fheep that were intangled in the bry- ars, and were ffriving and firugling to get out of the bryars, but could not, they knew. the thepheards voice, and would have fòllowed the fhepheard, but when they fee they cannot follow him, then they fall a bleating and crying after the Ihey- heard, till the thephèard take notice of them, and when this fhepheard comes to the place, and fees the poor fheep labou- ring to get after the ihepheard, will he not pitty this fheep, and fo untangle it from the bufhes that it is got into : This is the poor weak Chriflians cafe that is got into the bryars of fome corruption, and intangle.d in fome distemper ofheart or other, and Chrift calls to the foule and the foul knowes the voice of Chrift and loves Chrifc,and it would faine follow after Chrift whofe voice it hears,and the foul is tugging and ftriving but it is got into the bryars: now Chrift hears the voice of this fheep, and comes and fees it in the bryars and obferves how it would faine get after him, and pirryes this poore Cheep, and fo at length gets it out of the bryars, and doth provide for it as much as for any of the other : If this be thy condition, though Grace be not come yet, yet from thy delire thou mayft have comfort, and comfort from this very text , Bleffed are they that hxner and thiri after righteoufneffe, for they fhall 6e fates. fled. SERMON
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