Steward. If time permit, and Providence direct, I will wait upon you there. Till then, may the Shield of Help, and the Sword of Excellency, be with you! and then you will never know the want of an offensive or defensive weapon.

Shepherd. I thank you for your blessing; and, by the assistance of Him that guides us into all truth, and brings all divine things to our remembrance, my petitions shall be in your calamity,

DIALOGUE THE TENTH.

Steward. O Shepherd! how have I been wearied in body, and buffeted in mind, by the adversary, in my searches and researches after you! I had almost despaired of finding you; and, in my heart, was turning back to the palace. You have served me as Jacob served his highly-favoured son: you told me that you should be feeding the flock in Shechem, when I have found you in the suburbs of Dothan.

Shepherd. I believe Joseph's brethren and I had different motives: they left all their flocks in Shechem, and came to Dothan; whereas I came to seek a strayed sheep in Dothan, that I might take it back to the flock in Shechem. There was but one parcel of ground in all the land of Canaan that Jacob gave, by special will, to his son Joseph, John iv. 5; and it certainly is the most fertile spot, for herbage, in all the holy land; and yet, from this highly-favoured spot the flocks, one and all, are prone to stray, and at this season of the year especially so that a shepherd seldom knows where to find them.

Steward. Servitude is often found to be grievous, and the yoke of it is seldom easy long together: but it will not be long, at most, before

we shall hear the soul-satisfying invitation of"Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things; I will make thee ruler over many things. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord!"

Shepherd. That sweetens all; and the frequent foretastes of it keep hope and expectation on their watch-tower. Pray, how comes Little Faith on? Has he taken his final leave of the sand bank? and, are the hornets all dead, or all fled, yet? or is he, like one of the old inhabitants of Canaan, still flying before them?

Steward. Little Faith is unstable, still, in all his ways, works, fights, acts, and actings, of credence for his felicity, after his last deliverance by a dream, lasted for some few weeks; at which time he went on cheerfully and comfortably, and therefore suspected that he never should experience, in future, even a single frown from the King; and thought that there was hardly a labyrinth, maze, wilderness, ride, path, or walk, in all the royal territories, but he had travelled through, and was perfectly acquainted with; yea, and that he was so well read in all the laws and records of the realm, that it would be impossible for the most subtle Hagarene ever to beguile, seduce, or deceive him, again.

Shepherd. That is a bad sign. Little Faith has not properly considered the counsel and caution of Wisdom: 'Trust in the King with all thine heart, and lean not to thine own understanding.'

Steward. Excellent advice: but many of our young princes permit their zeal to carry them where credence will not keep them company; and, as they do not tread their ground in faith, they are sure to have all that ground to go over again; for it is treading in the steps of the faith of the ancients that is to bring the seed royal to the promised throne and dignity. But, alas! poor Little Faith had heard of a certain orator being appointed to deliver an oration at Hagar's castle; and that he was a singular man; one that enforced all the laws of Zion; spoke the language, and defended the doctrines, of the chapel royal: that all his orations were delivered with welltempered zeal, unaffected language was used, and undissembled loyalty appeared, in every ha

rangue.

Shepherd. That strumpet "hath cast down. many wounded; yea, many strong men have been slain by her. Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death," Prov, vii. 26.

Steward. It is true: but caution is not sufficient; they must be made to feel it. Little Faith set off, to make full proof of his wisdom and understanding. And, by what I can learn, the report that Little Faith had heard was in a great measure true: he heard the laws of Zion enforced, the language of the court spoken, and the doctrines of the chapel royal advanced: but, at the close, a secret dash was given to the whole; but

suddenly backed with such a stern look and zealous warning to all who were disloyal, that Little Faith was zealously affected; confusion began to operate on his mind; his consistent views of the mystery of faith, and the sweet harmony of Zion's laws in his soul, vanished; universal charity grasped his heart, and fleshly passions put him in motion to his fingers ends; till his deluded soul began to shake the wing, and hover over every reprobate in the tents of Kedar.

Shepherd. Universal charity is a false name: it extends itself to all the Hagarenes, it is true, but not to the seed royal; much less to the King, and those who are in paradise. Love to the Hagarenes is always attended with rebellion against the King. Well may Wisdom counsel her children to keep their heart with all diligence; for, if the affections of the heart stray, every thought goes after them. It is with the affections as it is with a flock of sheep: drive one through the hedge, or over the ditch, and, if there be a thousand behind, every one will follow.

Steward. Little Faith found it so: his comforts, meditations, pleasing thoughts, and soulsatisfying promises, withdrew; and he began to look shy and cold upon all his brothers and sisters; and often shunned me, if he met me, as if he did not see me, or was too deep in thought to notice any one that passed him. But he did not deceive me so; for I knew where he was as well as he did, and therefore I was determined to try