heart of Haman, the Jews' enemy; who, notwithstanding all his prosperity, his increase in riches, in children, and in favour with the King, was not satisfied while Mordecai the Jew sat at the gate. It is the hammer of truth that breaks the egg, draws forth the viper, and sends them home, like Haman, mourning, and having their head covered, Esther vi. 12.

Shepherd. It must; especially when they hear of the King's decree, and that evil is determined against them by the King, Esther vii. 7.

Steward. They will all act as Haman did at last, stand up to make request for their life to the queen and beg oil of the seed royal too, when the King appears in person; for their lamps will go out as soon as the archangel's trump alarms their consciences, and proclaims the King at hand.

Shepherd. If the righteousness of the King be the children's only brightness, and his salvation their only lamp that burneth, Isa. lxii. 1, no sparks of human kindling can blaze before divine radiance, or maintain their flame before divine salvation, which is an eternal lamp. Sun, moon, and stars, shall all withdraw when the Sun of Righteousness appears. And, can we expect strange fire to stand the conflagration of divine wrath, when the work of Jehovah's hands, the luminaries of heaven, fail! Nay, "Behold," saith the King, "all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks; walk in the light of

your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled: this shall ye have of mine hand, ye shall lie down in sorrow," Isa. 1. 11.

Steward. That is the fearful end predicted, and the awful doom appointed, into which they want to plunge even the heirs of promise; by raising rebellion in their minds which they can never quell; and in which they have so far succeeded, as to make them disaffected for a time; which has exposed them to various punishments, but never to banishment or disinheritance: confiscation of daily necessaries, and being prohibited the court, have been the sorest punishments that have ever been inflicted on the seed royal. Israel hath never been forsaken of his Sovereign, nor have the heirs of promise ever lost their right.

Shepherd. It is well for such as poor Little Faith that the King is infinitely wise, and therefore knows his own children; and that he is of one mind, therefore none can turn him.

Steward. Little Faith dwells in the bosom of Everlasting Love. They may strip him of his ornaments, peace, and happiness; and seduce him from the presence chamber, and from the gates of the palace; but never from the King's favour, for that is eternal; nor from the promised inheritance, for that is sure to all the seed.

Shepherd. And they must be aware of this as well as you, for their fruitless toil must have apprised them of it: besides, if they can enshrine themselves in the heart and affections of them for

a while, it is only like the unsettled affections of a nurse child, that calls all daddy and mammy who feed it; but, when brought home to its own parents, they are all forgot.

Steward. So it is with the King's seed: all who affect them are admired by them, and he that strives for their heart and affections is sure to gain them; but, as soon as the King smiles, the heart, soul, and all, go weeping back again to the King, saying, "O Lord, our God, other lords besides thee have had dominion over us; but by thee only will we make mention of thy name."

Shepherd. And it is but robbing the King himself of their love at best; for the very law that these Hagarenes contend for tells them that they shall love their King and Maker with all their heart, and soul, and mind, and strength: so that they are violators of the legal rule, and robbers of the King himself, all the while they contend for it.

Steward. They are thieves and robbers; and the King gives them no better names.

Shepherd. Nor do they deserve better: for I see clearly that the whole intent of these Hagarenes, in all their proceedings, is to deceive; and they seem to be as desperate, and as unwearied in it, as he that set them on, and keeps them at it.

Steward.

It is so. And to move the bounds that sovereign Majesty has fixed, so as to lay all

open, and set the families of heaven and hell on a level, is the end aimed at; else why are so many bastards disguised, and pushed into the family? and why are so many snares placed to entangle the seed royal, and draw them away to the castle?

Shepherd. And, when they get any of the weaklings of the King's seed away, what do they with them?

Steward. The first thing they attempt is to blind their eyes. The Hagarenes can do nothing with them, unless they can blind them. He that has got the seeing eye will look well to his own way. The blind are suffered to lead none but the blind. They often use astronomical lectures, which lead them to admire the wandering stars. And this shews who sends the lecturers, for it is the god of this world that blinds the minds of them that believe not, whoever may have the honour of being the instruments.

Shepherd. And then, I suppose, they serve them as some shepherds have served a strolling sheep that has strayed from my flock and fold. They were sure to disfigure them they have fleeced them, and clothed themselves with their wool; but they never fed them; nor could they, for they were starving themselves.

Steward. I have seen Little Faith come home in the same shattered condition; pale and wan, with a fallen countenance and a hungry belly; his robe of humility half off and half on; his shoes

slipped, and with sore heels, like a boy that has been after birds' nests, with large holes in his stockings: yea, they have made bare his legs, and uncovered his thighs, Isa. xlvii. 2; insomuch, that he walked naked, and they saw his shame, Rev.

xvi. 15.

Did

Shepherd. And what did you do with him? you let him come into the palace in such a trim as that, with all his filthiness in his skirts? Lam. i. 9. What a figure must he cut among the rest of the children! They would get about him like a shoal of birds; and he must appear like a speckled bird in the midst of them. Hence the King's complaint in the following verse: Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, and trodden my portion under foot," Jer. xii. 10.

66

Steward. Indeed he would not come publicly into the company of the King's children: for he would creep up upon the stairs, and bob about upon the lobbies, or any where, to get out of sight; and, if he could but borrow or steal a needle, he would endeavour to draw the holes up, or stop them, by putting a piece of new cloth to the old garment, which only made the rent worse, Matt. ix. 16. I have caught him cross legged ere now. What,' said I, are you turned taylor? You are got at your old grandfather and grandmother's employ, are you? You are sewing your fig-leaves together, Gen, iii. 7. Wo to him that covers with such a covering,

Isa, xxx, 1.