Sheperdy spiritualiz'd or, The improvement of a shepherd's life to soul-advantage. By James Woode, an unworthy follower of the great shepherd of souls

Application.

A Sheep (though by the Philosopher called a foolish

and sluggish Creature, the most stupid of four footed Creatures, aptest of any thing to wander, though it feel no want, and unablest to return) is not more apt to stray, than God's poor ones are to go astray, and to turn aside from God, and run away from duty: It's one particular wherein the Analogie between Saints and Sheep consists, that both are so apt to stray, and being once out, to go aside more and more. Christs great care therefore towards his, is to fetch them in from their stray-going. 'Twas for this David prayed, Psal. 119. ult. though a sheep still, yet wander, and there∣fore need seeking, q. d. I go astray, running hither and thither, like a silly Sheep to my own loss, unless sought and brought back by thee. Now Christ hath many waies by which, like a good Shepherd, he reduceth his stray-going Sheep.

First, Sometimes he calls them unto him, when they are turning aside from him: he calleth his in the first conversion out of darkness into his marvellous light; from the broad way that leadeth to destruction, to the way of holiness and peace: not to uncleanness, but to holiness, 1 Thes. 4. 7. and when they return to folly, after peace first spoken to them, his voice is heard to call them to return by repentance.▪ Thus Jer. 3. 1. yet return again to me, saith the Lord. Every sin is a going away from God, and therefore is Repentance exprest so often by a returning; and this upon Gods call, Isa. 55. 6, 7. there is a natural Novatianism in the timorous consciences of convinced sinners, to doubt and question pardon for sins of Apostasie and falling after repentance; Christ therefore calleth his hereto: come, return, turn even to the Lord, yea, he followeth after those that run from him, as the Sun-beams do the Pas∣senger that goeth from them; and as is sweetly set out by our Lord in those three parables of the lost Groat,

lost Sheep, and lost Son, Luk. 15. Contrition is Repen∣tance for sin, 2 Cor. 12. 21. Rev 9. 20. conversion is re∣pentance from sin, Act. 8. 22. Heb. 6. 1. to this is Gods call; and this men do upon consideration, Lam. 3. 40. Psal. 119. 59. see that call also, Hos. 14. 1. Sin is a turning the back upon God, i. e. a going away from the chief Good, who is not willing that his should leave Him, and therefore calls upon them to return to Him.

Secondly, if Calls prevail not, he reproveth, chargeth their sin upon them, and commandeth their returns; he doth not only advise to it by an Evange∣lical counsel (as the Romanists distinguish) but requir∣eth it as their expected duty. How he rates his People many times to bring them to better carriage? Will you bring evil upon your selves by your Rebellion? Thus dealt he with David after his foul fall: no doubt but he had many a time heard Gods call to Repentance in his attendance upon the Law and Worship of God for those Ten or Twelve Months, wherein he lay under his Sin without Repentance, but these prevailing little with him hereto, God sends a particular charge against him by the Prophet, by a parable, and the plain expli∣cation and application of it, 2 Sam. 12. 1,-12. he tells him of what he had done for him, and chargeth on him what in return he had done against God, and threatens him for his unrighteous carriage, and all to break his heart, and bring him back from his evil waies; and he no sooner comes in, but he is received; no sooner con∣fesseth, but hath a declaration of pardon. I have sin∣ned, said he, God hath taken away thy Sin, said the Prophet God deals plainly and openly with him, and the Prophet from God, thou art the man, and by such checks, brings him home again to the Lord, Prov. 6. 23. as the Commandment is a Lamp, and the Law a light, so such reproofs or corrections are the way of Life. God chargeth

it upon their Souls to return to him, if they intend to live.

Thirdly, when this also will not do, the Lord shakes his Rod, yea, and sometimes laies it on too. By Rod, understand corrections, so termed in Scripture often: He often whips his in from their irregularities. And this sometimes by giving them to meet with disappoint∣ments in sin; though they range thinking to meet with sweeter food, yet they find not the sweetness they ex∣pected, yea, God crosseth them in their evil courses and this in kindness to bring them in. 'Twas none of the least of Israel's mercies, that which God speaks, Hos. 2. 6, 7. I will hedge up thy way with Thorns, &c. Thorns, i. e. difficulties and distresses: so that though sinners follow their sins with the greatest eagerness, yet shall they not obtain their desires. Ah! this is a sweet way of mercy, when God fetches in His from their pursuits of sin, by their not over-taking their sin. Some∣times he whips them for their sin, and gives them to read their sin in their punishment. To go on in sin with∣out punishment is a dreadful judgment, threatned a∣gainst Rebellious Israel. Hos. 4. 14, 17. which words Origen quoting in a certain Homilie, saith, w 1.1 It is the terrible voice of an angry God. Ye shall be without pu∣nishment, saith God, for an argument that ye are Bastards and not Sons: I will not once foul my fingers with you, or be at pains to correct you; take your swinge in sin for me, &c. Never was Jerusalems condition so despe∣rate, as when God said unto her, my jealousie shall de∣part from thee, and I will be quiet, and I will be no more angry, Ezek▪ 16 42. Not a greater plague can be∣fall a man, than to prosper in sinful practices: Bernard

calleth it x 1.2 a pity more cruel than all wrath, a killing courtesie. See Ezek. 3. 20. I will lay a stumbling block before him, viz. of prosperity, I will not recall him by calamities; I will prosper him in all things, and not by affiiction restrain him from sin. His own therefore God will not leave thus alone, but let them feel that sin is an evil and a bitter thing, and scourges them off from it. David found this by glad experience, Psal. 119. 67. Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now have I kept thy word, now that I have been lashed to it, and paid for my learning. z 1.3 Smart makes wit. As the beating of a Garment with a stick, beateth out the Moths and dust; so do afflictions, corruptions from the heart and life. David's lying, his Adultery and Murder, were set home upon him, and he brought in from them, by Gods scourging him, so that he could say as, vers. 71. It is good for me that I have been af∣flicted, that I might learn thy statutes. The Lacedemo∣nians of old, (and the same is said of the Hollanders alate) grew rich by Warr, and were bettered, when all other Kingdoms were undone by it. Christs Sheep make benefit of their crosses, which to others are de∣structive; so that they can set to their seal for confirma∣tion of that word, Psal. 94. 12. Blessed is the man whom thou chastnest, O Lord, and teachest him out of thy Law; whom God lashes, and withal lessos, not which end afflictions sanctified are of singular use. Many may gladly say with him of old, I had been undone, * 1.4 if I had not been undone; the ruin of their estates, the removing their relations, the sickness of their bodies have fetcht them in from their unrighteous courses, and given

them to know God and themselves, whereas before they were ignorant and careless enough (see Job. 33, 14, 15, and to the 24.) which made King Alfred beseech God to send him ever and anon some ••it of sick∣ness; for that (saith he) I ever find my self best, when worst; best in Soul, when worst in body, the sickness of this is a medicine to that.

Fourthly, If neither this bring the sinner in, God hath his Dogs, which he sends out after him, and sets at him to worry him in by sincere repentance. These barking Currs (which would bite too, if not rated by the Lord) are the wicked malevolent ones of the world, who by persecution of Tongue or Hand many a time bring Gods people to repentance and reformation; The Spear thrust into them to kill them, doth but launch the Im∣postume and preserve life. Such a Curr God sent out after David in Shimei, 2 Sam. 16. 5, 6, &c. David had caused the name of God to be blasphemed among the Heathen, Chap. 12. and now he is blasphemed and cursed by a Subject of his. And was not David right∣ly punished by Shimei's railing, for his hearkning so readily to Ziba's flattering? Was he not justly spoiled of honours, who so unjustly spoiled Mephibosheth of his goods? Doth not his calling him bloody man, think ye, mind him of that crimson sin, for the pardon of which he prayed so hard, Psal. 51. 14. Men rail and reproach thee, casting that in thy Teeth, which it may be, thou art not guilty of; consider, is there not a cause? Hast thou not in some thing or otl er run away from God, that he thus barks thee in?

Notes

• w 1.1

  Vis indignantis Dei terribil••••m vocem audire? &c.
• x 1.2

  Misericordiam omni indignatione crudeliorem, &c.
• z 1.3

  Vex∣atio dat intellectum. Quae nocent docent. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.4

  Periissem nisi periissem.