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forms his part, is apt not only to feel a strong necessity for rest, but to pant and sigh for a more retired and soothing kind of rest than his position often permits him to attain. The flock of a faithful shepherd may be sufficiently fed for the preservation of their lives, and even for the chief purposes of their existence, through supplies of food furnished to them within the confinement of a fold in some crowded locality. They may all have opportunity for resting their wearied limbs upon some barren rock or upon some dry and unfruitful plain. The hardness of the surface may be alleviated by artificial means, and all care may be taken to secure their substantial comfort. But something, in such circumstances, would still be felt wanting. The green verdure of a fresh and rich pasturage, in a fertile valley, is longed for as a precious boon,—needful for the full accomplishment of their purpose of rest-precious from its satisfying and exhilarating tendency. "O for some quiet resting-place," is frequently the utterance which, if it do not escape from the lips, corresponds, at least, to the heartfelt desire, of many a labourer in many a sphere. "O for some rich refreshment, far away from the pressure of the busy throng with which I have to do! O for green pastures!" is the aspiration of not a few sons and daughters of Adam, who, crowded together, are compelled to do their work, and receive their nourishment, in the dry localities of busy money-making and hard worldliness. "O for the softness and beauty of a holiday life, enjoyed for a season with a chosen number of loving friends!"

There is a kind of dryness in the soil of earthly life, there is a kind of hardness in the track of earthly ways, the evil of which the greater part of men do not perceive, and which no retirement from the world will cure. "Oh!" says the genuine Christian to himself, "the soils on which I naturally tread are all dry and parched the walks that naturally lie before me are all hard and stony; because the burden of guilt presses heavily upon them, and because I find in them no foundation for peace with God, and no vigorous strength wherewith to serve Him. But Jesus has given me peace through His precious blood, and Jesus pours down His Spirit's influence for the refreshment of those that seek Him. O, how shall I enjoy more abundantly the presence of Jesus with my soul? How shall I feed more pleasantly and quietly on the Bread of Life? O for quiet spiritual resting-places! O for a rich exercise of faith! O for freedom from the dust of secular concerns! O for green pastures!"

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II. Let us attend to the Discovery of Green Pastures.

We can easily conceive of a poor, wandering, lost sheep, stumling in darkness; and, when light shines forth on the scene around, perceiving no place of comfort, and no promising path. We may picture to ourselves its disconsolate wanderings to and fro, even while no enemy appears, and its despairing cry when the wolf is seen approaching. Let us suppose also that, in the very crisis of the animal's fate, a strong step and a vigorous arm are interposed between the ravager and his victim. Let us look upon the shepherd, suddenly appearing in dark and wonderful conflict with the beast of prey. Let us see him shed his blood. Let us see him give his life to save that lost and foolish sheep, and let us observe the means of safety thus secured. Let us imagine the shepherd, recovered from fearful wounds and risen from the grasp of death, coming forth to guide the wanderer to the true fold. Let us fancy his hand pointed to a green spot far off, and the trembling animal beginning to discern something of the brightness of that spot, through the mists which are gathered on the immediate scene in which it moves. Then cheerfulness would revive in its heart. Then the instinct of hope would cause it to follow joyfully the footsteps of its deliverer.

We are warranted by Scripture in applying this analogy to the case of a once lost, but now recovered sinner.

The blindness of all men by nature is great and deplorable. We wander far from God, without knowing what we are doing. The child perseveres in its wayward courses; the young man or young woman pursues with eagerness the paths of earthly gaiety; the prosperous man of business becomes more and more intent, every day, upon his schemes of aggrandisement; the ambitious leader of a party sees nowhere to halt in his exciting career. These are all taken up with their several objects. They often think themselves wise in their generation. They often obtain the approbation of admiring circles gathered round them. But often they are all blind to the true character of the roads which they are rapidly traversing. Often they are blind to the danger of the dark mountains which they are approaching, and to the spiritual barrenness of the soil in which they are sowing their seed. But suddenly some one among them is awakened to the terrible certainties of his lost and wandering state. Conviction of his guilt, and experience of his corruption, have opened his eyes to discern a fearful abyss before his feet. He knows not which way to turn. The guilt of his sin stares him in the face.

The wrath of God breaks forth into view, as a stern reality. The devil's power over him becomes manifest. The gates of hell are visible to his conscience, standing open for his reception. Trembling on a desolate spot, far from the fold of God, he beholds the approach and hears the sound of a roaring lion, or a howling wolf, close at hand. But what steps are these that come between him and the enemy? Here is a countenance of love, and an arm of strength. Here are garments stained with blood. Here is the Good Shepherd giving His life for the sheep. Here is one who has vanquished the destroyer and driven him away. Here is the seed of the woman bruising or crushing the serpent's head. Here is one lifted up on the Cross-the Son of God suffering in the flesh-that, believing on His name, I may have pardon and peace through His blood. Here is Jesus, the resurrection and the life. Here is Jesus, the Shepherd-King, restoring my soul, standing by me in the darkest waters, with His rod and staff, to bring me to His Father's everlasting refreshment on the other side of Jordan. Here is a beloved One who will make me to lie down in green pastures. My guilt is all blotted out through His great sacrifice; and the mighty working of His Spirit, having regenerated my soul, is now preparing me for the full enjoyment of Himself and of His Father in Him, through the action of a faith that worketh by love. Thus have men and women, otherwise worn out and depressed by the ills that flesh is heir to, and by indescribable sorrows, found delightful consolation for their desolate and bereaved hearts. Thus also have even the lambs of the flocks been enabled in early days to lie down in pastures, the greenness of which on earth has been speedily exchanged for the everlasting freshness of a heavenly resting-place.

III. Let us attend to the Experience of Green Pastures.

It is one thing to enter into the beauty of a description; it is another thing to have personal experience of what is described. It is one thing to behold the picture of a rich and fertile pastureland; it is another thing to be in actual contact with richness and fertility in the locality of our dwelling-place. It is one thing to see green pastures afar off, or even to descry them nigh at hand within fences that exclude intruders; it is another thing to feed upon them and lie down in them. It is one thing even to find an entrance to them for the first time, and to obtain a bare taste of their excellency; it is another thing to understand and appreciate them by a good experience of their preciousness. I may hear the

Good Shepherd's voice calling to me while I wander on the mountains of vanity. I may listen to His call. He may lead me over difficulties to His bright pasture-land. The sight of it may delight my soul. I may set myself without delay to feed upon it. I may eagerly repose my wearied spirit upon its soft embrace. I may thus be ready to exclaim, with adoring gratitude, "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures."

But this exclamation, upon my part, will fall far short of the full meaning which the words of it bear in the lips of one who has long been personally conversant with the refreshment of those pastures. For such an one can talk of a prolonged enjoyment, for many days or years, of the Shepherd's care and provision. In speaking of what the Shepherd does, such an one declares the benefit constantly derived from the Shepherd's habitual course. The sheep have been accustomed to know their Shepherd's voice, to follow His steps, and to rest and feed according to His guidance. They delight in the persuasion of a happy lot belonging to them, in which the experience of the past keeps them satisfied as to the present and the future. "I know in whom I have believed," says one of them, "and I am persuaded that He will keep that which I have committed to Him against that day." "I know my Shepherd," says the established believer; "I feel that I am safe under His teaching, that He gives me habitual peace, and that He sustains me by habitual grace. My provision is good and sure. For He maketh me to lie down in green pastures."

The Psalmist refers, not to one pasture only, but to pastures. The field of enjoyment to which Jesus introduces the once wandering soul is extensive. The provision of the field is various. When brought to be at peace with God, through the blood of the Cross, the soul is set in a large place. The power, the wisdom, and the goodness of the Almighty have prepared innumerable sources of pleasure for His intelligent creatures. The treasures furnished by divine loving-kindness are inexhaustible. But guilt and cor

ruption shut out the sons and daughters of man from the true benefit of creation, and its teeming wonders. I cannot safely be at peace in my prosecution of useful or pleasant inquiries into nature's operations; I cannot, with solid satisfaction, stir up my mind to the consideration of divine attributes, or human character, while I know that condemnation awaits me as a sinner, and I know not how or where to find a refuge. I am therefore in straits of soul, even while the sources of a heaven-born joy are spread bountifully around me. But when my eyes have been

opened to discern the way of peace with God through faith in a crucified Saviour; when I have discovered the Eternal One in my own nature, beckoning to me, and calling me as my tender-hearted and loving Shepherd; when His voice has raised me from the death of trespasses and sins; when I have seen Him giving His life for the sheep; and when I have been freely invited to trust entirely in the shedding of His precious blood for the pardon of my sin, and in His life-giving Spirit for the sanctification of my soul,-now I feel that I have been born again into a new land of liberty and consolation. Now I see all the precious things of God's workmanship, all set before me for my sanctified use and enjoyment. Now, with an enlarged heart, I see how I can run in the way of the Divine commandments. And the more that I continue to follow the footsteps of my Lord, in the employment of earthly opportunities, or in the improvement of spiritual blessings, the greater reason do I find for saying, at every stage of my progress, "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures."

The chief of those pastures to a fervent believer, will always be found in the rich soil of the Divine Word. The language of patriarchs and prophets, compared with that of evangelists and apostles, never ceases to furnish an increasing source of rest, consolation, and spiritual growth for the sheep of Christ's fold. They take an unspeakable delight in studying the ways of God's redeeming love. They rejoice to meditate on the glory of Jesus. They see Him, the Lamb of God, in the excellency of unspotted holiness and purity. They see Him in the astonishing light of His own self-sacrificing devotion. They see Him, the Great Antitype, in whom all the Scripture is fulfilled. They see all the strength and all the beauty of Divine promises gathering round the person of their glorious Shepherd. Their souls are ravished in the contemplation. Their hearts are mightily moved within them, while they taste of His fellowship. They rest upon Him. Their souls live by His strengthening power. They are refreshed and invigorated, daily and hourly, by the views of Him to which faith leads them. They feel that their life is hid with Him in God. They count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Him. Their hearts are set upon Him. He fills them with joy and peace. Each of them is well prepared to say, as the result of a constant experience, "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures."

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