Metaphor. | Parallel.
Sheep are clean Beasts, tame and gentle; not wild, as Tigers, Lions, Foxes, or Wolves; nor unclean, as Dogs, Swine, &c. | SO the Saints of God are a People tamed, as it were, by God's Spirit, from that natural Wildness and Perverseness, made gentle, willing to come into Christ's Fold, cleansed from Impurity of Heart and Life.
II. Sheep are simple, a harmless Sort of Creatures, not crafty, ravenous, and devouring, as those Sort of Beasts above-mentioned. | II. So the Saints of God are holy; they are taught to be simple concerning Evil:1 Be ye (saith Christ) as innocent as Doves. They seek the Hurt of no Man; not like Romish Wolves, who delight in nothing more than in Blood and Rapine, shedding the Blood of those who do not wrong or injure them, but desire to live peaceably in the Land.
III. Sheep are meek and patient under Sufferings: Hence our Saviour is said to be led as a Lamb to the Slaughter; 2and as a Sheep is dumb before the Shearer, so opened he not his Mouth. See Lamb. | III. So the Saints and People of God are meek and patient under God's hand, both when they suffer for their Sins, or for the Trial of their Graces; as appeareth in Job, David, Stephen, &c.3 I held my Peace, I opened not my Mouth, because Lord, thou diddest it.
⟨p. 122⟩IV. Sheep, as they are patient, so they are profitable, both in their Lives, and by their Death. There is scarcely any Creature that brings its Owner greater Incomes than Sheep; they are good both for Food and Clothing. | IV. The Saints are very profitable many ways; the Benefit the World receives by them, or for their Sakes, is very great; they are called the Light of the World, and the Salt of the Earth; now the Profit the World receives in both these respects, is not little. Had there been ten of those Sheep in Sodom, God had not destroyed it; besides, the Angel told Lot, he could do nothing till he was out of the City. What a Blessing was Joseph to his Master, whilst he abode in his House, and Jacob to Laban! They yield the World much Profit, by the Doctrine they preach, by the fervent Prayers they daily put up to Almighty God, and their holy and good Examples:4 Let your Light so shine before Men, that they may see your good Works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.
V. Sheep are obedient, and ready to follow their Shepherd whithersoever he goeth.
Metaphor. | Parallel.
SHeep are clean Beasts, tame and gentle; not wild, as Tigers, Lions, Foxes, or Wolves; nor unclean, as Dogs, Swine, &c. | SO the Saints of God are a People tamed, as it were, by God's Spirit, from that natural Wildness and Perverseness, made gentle, willing to come into Christ's Fold, cleansed from Impurity of Heart and Life.
II. Sheep are simple, a harmless Sort of Creatures, not crafty, ravenous, and devouring, as those Sort of Beasts above-mentioned. | II. So the Saints of God are holy; they are taught to be simple concerning Evil:1 Be ye (saith Christ) as innocent as Doves. They seek the Hurt of no Man; not like Romish Wolves, who delight in nothing more than in Blood and Rapine, shedding the Blood of those who do not wrong or injure them, but desire to live peaceably in the Land.
III. Sheep are meek and patient under Sufferings: Hence our Saviour is said to be led as a Lamb to the Slaughter; 2and as a Sheep is dumb before the Shearer, so opened he not his Mouth. See Lamb. | III. So the Saints and People of God are meek and patient under God's hand, both when they suffer for their Sins, or for the Trial of their Graces; as appeareth in Job, David, Stephen, &c.3 I held my Peace, I opened not my Mouth, because Lord, thou diddest it.
⟨p. 122⟩IV. Sheep, as they are patient, so they are profitable, both in their Lives, and by their Death. There is scarcely any Creature that brings its Owner greater Incomes than Sheep; they are good both for Food and Cloathing. | IV. The Saints are very profitable many ways; the Benefit the World receives by them, or for their Sakes, is very great; they are called the Light of the World, and the Salt of the Earth; now the Profit the World receives in both these respects, is not little. Had there been ten of those Sheep in Sodom, God had not destroyed it; besides, the Angel told Lot, he could do nothing till he was out of the City. What a Blessing was Joseph to his Master, whilst he abode in his House, and Jacob to Laban! They yield the World much Profit, by the Doctrine they preach, by the fervent Prayers they daily put up to Almighty God, and their holy and good Examples:4 Let your Light so shine before Men, that they may see your good Works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.
V. Sheep are obedient, and ready to follow their Shepherd whithersoever he goeth.
- 1Mat. 10.16
- 2Isa. 53.7.
- 3Psal. 39 9.
- 4Mat. 5.16.
