A golden mine opened, or, The glory of God's rich grace displayed in the…

5. Sheep are tractable and obedient, being ready to follow their Shepherd whithersoever he goeth. It is the Custom in some Countries for the Shepherd in leading the Sheep, to go out before them; to which practice our Saviour doth here allude: So Believers are obedient to Jesus Christ, they are tractable, and learn to follow him; My Sheep hear my Voice, and they follow me. Thou shalt guide ¹me (saith David) by thy Counsel. Christ's Precepts are the Saints Directory, and his Practice their Pattern. Hence Paul exhorted the Corinthians, to follow him as he followed Christ. Ministers are to be followed and imitated, no further than they follow and imitate Jesus Christ.

1. 1Psal. 73. 24.

6. Sheep love to feed in green Pastures; in clean and wholesome Fields or Meadows. So do the Saints and People of God love sound and wholesome Truths, good Doctrine, Food that is fit and proper for their precious Souls; they must not, will not feed in the Soul-rotting Pastures of Mens Inventions, nor on the corrupt Glosses of cloudy Doctors that lived in the dark Times of the Church. The Spouse from hence enquires of Christ where he ¹feedeth, and where he maketh his Flock to rest at Noon? that is, where his Blessed Gospel is truly preached, and his Holy Ordinances are duly and in a right manner administered. And he directeth her to ⟨p. 110⟩go forth by the Footsteps of the Flock, and to feed her Kids besides the ²Shepherds Tents; that is, to follow the Doctrine and Example of the Primitive Church, which only is our Rule and Pattern in all Gospel-Worship.