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a woman of grace, and of good understanding. When she came the second time, she brought Deborah a small present in her hand; but she refused it, saying, 'I am of my father Abraham's mind; I will never take any part of the portion of the children of this world, even from a thread to a shoe-latchet.' She asked how Little Faith did? She told her, Never better in soul, though very weak in body. She then asked, if her husband ever inquired after her? Deborah replied, No. She added, 'Did you tell him that I called to see him?', Deborah answered, 'I did not; nor shall I, except he asks me.' I must withdraw: I am going to market, to buy those things that we have need of against the feast. The feast of tabernacles is coming on, and then I shall be busy enough.

Shepherd. I expect every day to be ordered upon the upland commons. The sheep seem to be too full fed; too great a plenty of the good old pastures makes them dainty; they are every . now and then prowling away, to get a bite of something new.

Steward, It is just the same with the King's household. I have known some of the children go three miles from the palace, to get a little winę mixed with water, when they have left wines on the lees well refined at home, Isa. xxv. 6; which they have been welcome to without money, and without price. But, when these curious jaunts procure sensible barrenness to them, which is often attended with a long fast, it brings them

both to their palate and their appetite; and, when they come to know the real value of the old wine, they do not straightway desire new, for they say, The old is better, Luke v. 39.

Shepherd. Clipping-time is coming on, and I hope that will be over before we go upon the upland commons; for, when once the sheep get among the heath and thorns, the clippings amount to but little. Mr. Steward, adieu. The Lord entertain thee with the fatness of his house, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob.

Steward. If you should be gone before I come again, leave a few lines, wrapped up, and buried in the ground close to the root of the sycamore-tree, and lay a stone upon it.

Shepherd. I will.

Steward. Peace be with thee, whether in the uplands or lowlands! You may open your mouth wide to the great Shepherd, and he will give you a blessing: the south land shall go with springs of water; yea, the upper and the nether springs, Josh. xv. 19. And what would you have more, but the kingdom?

Shepherd. The kingdom, and all.

Steward.

Believe! and all shall be thine!

FOR MR. FIDELITY,

STEWARD OF HIS MAJESTY'S HOUSEHOLD.

Lowland-palace, Salem.

Alas! my brother! My highly-favoured hut, you now behold; and the adjacent vallies, my soul's delight; where footsteps divine have oft been trac'd; and where immortal Majesty mortals has deign'd to visit, and with worms convers'd! The Shepherd's gone; the flocks, and bells, are gone; the verdant vales are left; while I, reluctantly, must range the dreary, desart waste!

When love divine shall burn, and Heaven shall smile; and thou the throne besiege, with supplications arm'd; equipp'd, remember me, while minę with thine shall mix.

So

prays thy Brother,

And thy faithful Friend,

THE SHEPHERD,

DIALOGUE THE SEVENTEENTH.

Shepherd.

Here comes the faithful Steward; one of the excellent of the earth, in whom is all my delight!

Steward. You have a much better opinion of me than I have of myself. If you knew as much of the Steward as I do, you would change your voice, and often stand in doubt of him. I have been five times to visit the hut in your absence. Pray, what sort of a time have you had upon the commons? By the note that you left me, you went off with a heavy heart.

Shepherd. Indeed, I did. But these words came sweetly to my mind, and sent me off in good spirits; "Feed the flock which is among you, taking the oversight of them, not by constraint, but willingly." And I found the good Shepherd better to me than all my fears; for I expected nothing but labour and toil, and that the commons would have been so barren, that the sheep would have been scattered all over the country, whereas I never saw the sheep-walks better stored. The herbage is always very scarce there; but then, if the good Shepherd blesses it with dew and showers, the sheep are always satisfied, whether the pasture be much or little; and

this they convinced me of by their abiding on the walks, without shewing the least inclination

to stray.

Steward. When servants can give satisfaction, it makes the yoke of servitude sit easy, whether it be on the Shepherd or on the Steward.

Shepherd. It does: and I have been convinced that the good Shepherd is not confined either to this hut, or to any other place; but he has confined himself to his flock, and his faithful servants. Pray, have you paid your constant visits to Little Faith?

Steward. Yes, I have visited him every day, or every other day, as opportunity offered, ever since you left the hut.

Shepherd. Pray, how does he do? Is he still in the injured lover's hell?

Steward. No; nor do I believe that he will ever be put into that furnace again: he may go into another fire, but never more into that; for, when once a child has been burnt, he will ever after dread the fire; and he will be sure to defend himself from that quarter by all the force of prayer; and, you know, all things are possible to them that believe, and Little Faith is a believer.

Shepherd. Nobody doubts that; and glad am I at my heart that the poor soul is delivered from those bands and nets. But, pray, how goes the renewing work of grace on? Is his soul restored to the joys of divine salvation? And is he blessed

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