His fold-although we know that the nearer we are to Him, the greater is our peace-yet we will depart from Him; we choose the evil and refuse the good. Yes, and when we have smarted for our folly, and see the danger of being at a distance from God, still we wander on farther and farther from our true home. And just as one stray sheep leads others astray, so it is with us. First Eve strayed; then Adam; and all we have followed in the same trodden path of evil.

It is possible that you may be astray now. Your conscience may tell you that you are afar off from God at this moment. Ah, if the sheep's danger is great, wandering alone and helpless on the mountains, exposed to every foe, and far removed from the shepherd's care, what must be your danger-without God in the world-without Christ-having put away your only Protector? The Lost Sheep in the Parable just describes your condition; and most forlorn and miserable it is!

But, blessed be God, you need not stray one moment longer. There is a way back to the fold. There is a voice that calls you. For, observe

2dly. The return of the sheep. This describes the sinner's repentance.

Some alas! wander on till they are lost for ever; for the longer we are away from the fold, the less desire we have to return. We get to love the very taste of sin, and to hate the paths of godliness. Oh, how hard we grow -how wedded to our evil ways-how callous to our danger!

It is indeed a great mercy, if grace stops us in our sinful course, and softens us in repentance. What a miracle of mercy it is, if any of us have found our way back! What a blessing, if we can say, "We were as sheep going astray; but are now returned to the shepherd and bishop of our souls"!

That was a miracle which restored the poor sickly Leper to health-which made the Palsied man take up his bed and walk-which called Lazarus from his grave. But it is as great, or even a greater wonder, when a leprous soul is cleansed, a corrupt heart changed, a dead sinner raised to the newness of life. O Lord, do Thou work many such miracles in this our day!

3dly. There was great rejoicing when the sheep was brought back-joy on the Shepherd's part, and joy among his friends. This describes the feeling of Christ and of His Church, when any sinner is converted, and any soul is saved.

There is joy in heaven. The news is brought there, and a thrill of gladness runs through that blest abode. Angels and Archangels rejoice; for "are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation ?" Saved souls rejoice; for they well know the blessedness of salvation. Christ rejoices; for He then "sees the travail of his soul": it was for this He shed His blood, and drank the bitter cup of suffering.

Aye, and there is joy too on earth. For who can be so selfish as not to experience a feeling of thankfulness, when a sinner is brought into the fold of Christ-when a poor lost sheep joins the "little flock"?

But the Shepherd in the Parable seemed to feel more joy over this recovered sheep, than over the rest of his flock, which were already safe. Can we not understand this? Suppose

one of your children is very ill; and you have passed many an anxious hour in watching over it; sometimes despairing of its recovery, sometimes hoping almost against hope. Its spirit seems to flutter between life and death.

But suddenly, as you sit by its bedside, its little eyelids close, and it falls into a sweet sleep. There is a change for the better; and now health begins to return. Oh, would you not rejoice over that recovered child more than over all the rest? You love the others. always have loved them. You are thankful for their health. But still, more thankful are you for that little sufferer; for it has been given back to you, when it seemed to be on

You

the point of leaving you. Such is in some measure the joy that is felt when a sinner repents.

But who are "the ninety and nine" sheep in the wilderness? Our Lord says they are those who "need no repentance." Some consider this to mean the Pharisees and those who fancy they need no repentance. Others take it as describing the Angels, who have never strayed. But I am disposed to think that our Lord means by it those who have re

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pented-whom He numbers among His people -and who, though now on earth, are safe in His hands. It is true, we all need daily repentance. But the repentance spoken of here seems to be that great inward change, when the sinner is brought to know Christ, and heartily to love Him-that repentance which we commonly call Conversion.

4thly. There is one more point, to which I must call your attention. See how this happy state of things is brought about. The lost sheep does not return of its own accord. It does not find its own way back. There is one, who cares for it, who goes after it, follows it up, and, when at length he finds it, deals tenderly with it, and brings it home rejoicing. There is but One whom this picture describes-He who deserves indeed to be called "the Good Shepherd "--who giveth His life for the sheep, and loves them as no other loves them. Why was it that Jesus left the glory of heaven, and came into this wilderness-world? Was it not to seek and to save the lost? Was it not as a shepherd going after his wandering sheep?

And how does He search us, and call us