CHRIST A SHEPHERD. Book U. ',VII. Let t.he Chritlian Church from hence learn to hold faft what (he h~th r«;eivrd. for the Tr:nh, as it is in Jelus, had a great and faithful Wirnels, who confirmed it by Imghty M1racles, and fealed it with his own Blood. C H R I S T A S H E P H E R D. I am the good Shepherd, &c. Eyw "I'' o""""' ox"'"• Joh11 x. 1 r. MET A PH 0 R. I. A Shepherd is cholen and ap· pointed to toke care of the Sheep, being a Man fkilful in do– ing that Work and Bufmefs. I!. A Shepherd knows his Sheep, he knows their Number, and knows them particularly from Sheep that are none of his, and one from ano– ther. III. A Shepherd marks ·his Sheep, whereby they are diftin– guifhed from others. PARALLEL. I. JESUS Chrift is chofen of God and appointed to take the Care and Charge of the Chun;h, a11d very capable tQ undertake that bleffed Work. II. !-know my Sheep, faith Chrift, mrd aill know1t of mjne. He takes fpecialNotice of every particular Saint, he knewMofes by Name. Hu knows their Wants, th~ir Sufferings, their We&kneffes, their Sickndfes, and whatever Service lhey do for his holy Name.fake. Ill. The Lord J efus hath fet his <;>wn Imago upon his People. The Mark which they always bear upon them, is, Holinefs, Meeknejs, Qbedience, by which they are diftingui1hed from the Worl~, Rro. vii. 3• 4· Set a Mark ttpoll the Men that mourn, Ezek. ix. 4· Chrift's Sheep are fealed in their Foreheads and Hands. I. For Diftinc'tion. 2. Secrecy. 3· Security. IV. A Shepherd feeds his Sheep, IV. Chrift feeds his Flock like a Shepherd, !fa. he leads them to green Paltures, xl. IJ. Pfal. xxiii. 1, z. John x. 3, his great Care and Springs of Water .: Should not is to put them into good and fat l'all:ures, and leads the Shepherd feed the Flock, Ezek. them by theft:illWaters, lfa. xlix. 10. Pr~v. viii.6. .xxxiv. 2. and iv.z. 'jer.iii. I5· He gives them good Doctrine, V. A Shepherd .preferves his Flock, he takes ca~e they do nor feed in .unwhnlfome Paftures. and defends them from Enemies. VI. A Shepherd hath a Fold for his Sheep, whither he brings them for their better Security, and his .QINO Profit. VII. AShepherd keeps hisShe"P .together, fufrers them not to !tray .and ftraggle abmad left they fi10uld be luft. VIH. A Shepherd, if any of his Sheep be fer upon l>!y Dogs .0r Wolves, will ·v~nture l1is Life for them, w defend wd refcue them fro<11 thofe Eeaits of l'rey ; as David i 0r a Lamb, .fought •wi~h a LioH and a .Be;u:, 1 £am. xv.ii. 36, l7. IX. A Shepherd is .very tender of his Flock, wiU nGL over-drive 1 them, takes fptcia~ Care of the Lam'bs, and thofe !lhar ar-e weak .and feeble, Gen. xxx.iii. ."3 3 feeding tbem with Knowledge and Underflandi~g. V. The Lord Jefus, to preferve his Church, doth often charge and caution them to beware of, and avoid all pernicious and evil Doctrine, falfe Teachers, f.3c. And he con\inually~efends them from Sin, Satan, and all other Enen1ies. VI. The Lord Jelus hath his Church for his Fold, whi1her he brings his Elect for their better Security, and his own Glory. 'lhe Lord added ;<nto the .Church .daily fuch as jhould be favcd, Afls i~ 47· Gkiry to G;;din tbe Chprch, thrPugboti/ all Ag~s, Eph. iii. 21. , • VU. The Lord Jefus frequendy a.ITemples l1i~ People ·together, and will not allow any to ftraggle abmad, or be l1ke Lambs 10 l~rge Plos:es: Expprt one anoth£r daily, -&c. Heb. x. z5· VIH. CMfl: laid do.wn his Life for his S{leep, ex-p.0fed .himfelf ,to great Sorrows and Mif~ries for t·h<ir Sak-es, ;md engaged with tbe cn1elleft of f.pe– mies, who fought tp 1nake a .prey .of,_;~Ad devour •hiJ; Fl0ck, whis:h all rhe M~hce of wicked Mep, who lay S11.4rep .to e~;trflp tbew, c:mn0t accomplifh, 'fer. v, ~{,, · IX. Chrift is exceeding tender of weak and fee– hit Cibr~li-ia·ns, f)e /b.4ll _gather Jl¥ f..P.mbs "liJith 'his Arm, and carry them in bis Bofom, mztl gent!) lead thofe that pre with young, !fa. .xl.) I, StrmgtheJ< ye the wee~ !JnJtds, .and •oJJfirm Jhe je;b,le Knees, Jja. XXX¥, 3· '-, X. Chrifl:
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