Little Faith has enjoyed the King's presence, and a sense of his love; which Cain never did. 'Cain expected the approbation of the King, and acceptance with him, on the footing of merit; while Little Faith loathes himself in his own sight for his misdemeanors. Cain was an infidel, Little Faith is a believer. Cain was a servant, Little Faith is a son. Cain's envy sprang from pride, self-will, and perverseness; Little Faith's envy springs from lovesickness, having lost the enjoyment of the King's face, and left his first love. Cain was enraged because he could not find acceptance by his supposed worth; Little Faith's raging jealousy springs from loss of what he never deserved. Cain hated the King; Little Faith loves him. Cain wanted to bow the King to his humour; Little Faith to lie passive, and to enjoy his Sovereign. Cain's rage is common to an irreconcileable enemy; Little Faith's is common to an unfeigned lover.

Steward. The loyalty and affection of Little Faith are obvious enough to every person of discernment, though they may not appear so to himself; for a person confused and bewildered in a fiery trial cannot make a proper judgment of any thing. And never was Little Faith more puzzled and perplexed than he is at present: he declares that his feelings have been more distressing, under this envying of his brother's happiness, than ever they were in the sandbank. or when pursued by the hornets, or even in the jaws of Lion.

Shepherd. I must withdraw. I am going to fold a fresh piece of land, which lies in ridges, Psalm lxv. 10; and therefore the harrow must be run over it before I can pitch the fold there, otherwise I shall have many of the sheep in the furrows before morning.

Steward. In the furrows! What do you mean by that?

Shepherd. When we fold a piece that is plowed in ridges, we run the harrow over it, in order to fill the furrows, and level it a little; and, when the sheep be in a piece of stubble that lies in ridges, I am obliged to attend closely; for, if a sheep lies down near to a furrow, and happens to roll on its back into it, it cannot get up again, but would lie and perish if the shepherd did not lift it up. "Wo be to him that is alone when he falleth, for he hath not another to help him up.”

Steward. And, pray, did you ever find any fallen in that manner?

Shepherd. O yes, often. It is very common for sheep to get in the furrows. But, it is worst for the ewes great with young: they frequently get into them; and, if they get furrow-laid, they are the most helpless of any, for they have little power to struggle; and, if they do, they only hurt themselves, for they are sure never to get up unless they are lifted up; nor can they go, when up, without the hand of him who gently leads those that are with young. On

which accounts I never care to be absent from the flock long together, unless they are upon plain ground.

Steward. You are the best judge of your own business. Let not my regard for your company and conversation bring your mind into bondage. When opportunity offers, be so kind as to call on me at the palace royal, and let it be when it is most convenient to you. Farewell: and I hope you will find the flock under the tender care of the Chief Shepherd, who hath promised that they shall feed in green pastures, and lie down in safety.

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Shepherd. I thank you for your good wishes: and hope you will find the royal fraternity in prosperity also; and Little Faith recovered from his flaming jealousy, according to the ancient mise: "I will bring the third part through the fire; and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried. They shall call upon my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people; and they shall say, The Lord is my God," Zech. xiii. 9.

VOL. IX.

DIALOGUE THE TWELFTH.

Steward. Good morning to you, Shepherd! You are welcome to the palace royal.

Shepherd. I believe so, otherwise you would not have invited me; nor should I have found my heart inclined to come. A subject who is truly loyal may approach the palace without shame, fear, or a fallen countenance; which a hypocrite cannot do.

Steward. True. I have been almost impatient for your coming, Shepherd. It is now six weeks since I left you at the hut. I was looking out at one of the upper windows when you came over the hill Mizar: I knew it was you by your garb, your step, and your crook; and I thought of the ancient saying of Zion, "How beautiful, upon the mountains, are the feet of him that publisheth peace!" And so are the feet of them that know peace.

Shepherd. If there is any thing beautiful, comely, or amiable, about me, it is all derived from the Perfection of Beauty; for, by nature, I was altogether unsightly, deformed, and loathsome: therefore, by sovereign clemency, I am what I am.

Steward. I am glad to find you so tender of the Chief Shepherd's honour: he has promised to

turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon his name, and serve him with one consent; and that language is very perceptible in you. Pray, which way did you come in?

Shepherd. I came in, as usual, by the porter's lodge. Every one employed by the Chief Shep herd has a right to come in by the door: hirelings, thieves, and robbers, climb up another way. But all those presumptuous tracks are the paths of the destroyer, Psalm xvii. 4; "and whoso breaketh an hedge, a [the old] serpent shall bite him," Eccles. x. 8.

Steward. I fancy you have been perusing the mother of all good books again, for you seem to be very ready with her proverbs and dark sayings. Pray, did the porter speak to you when he let you in?

Shepherd. Yes: he looked through the window, to see who was coming; and, when I knocked, he opened the door, gave me a smile, and said, 'Who is there?' I replied, 'A shepherd.' He answered, 'What, the Chief Shepherd?' I replied, 'No; but, if you let me in, you will let him in, for we are one.' And he said, "To him the porter openeth."

Steward. And what reply did you make him? Shepherd. When he said, "To him the porter openeth," I answered, "And the sheep hear his voice; and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out; and the sheep follow him,