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Steward. I suppose the Chief Shepherd sets great store by the wool: for it is said of Mesha, the great sheepmaster, that he "rendered unto the king of Israel an hundred thousand lambs, and an hundred thousand rams, with the wool," 2 Kings iii. 4.

Shepherd. My great Sheepmaster sets least store by the wool of any thing belonging to the flock for it has been often known that, in hot weather, when the flies are busy, and any one of the sheep has got maggoty and whimsical, that he hath taken the shears, and stripped it of its whole fleece, and in the following winter it hath had little or no covering in the cold, Job xxiv. 7. Besides, no farmer who keeps a middling flock thinks himself badly off, if the wool of the sheep defray the expenses of the shepherd: for the manure that he obtains by folding sends forth plentiful crops; so that he finds his account in the crops of the ground, and in the lambs of the flock.

Steward. I understand you. The sheep, the lambs, and the manure, which is for the King's husbandry, all belong to the great Sheepmaster; and the wool also, which he gives and takes away at his pleasure: but the offerings, and the clippings of the wool, they belong to you. But then, why does Wisdom, after she has enjoined the shepherd to be diligent to know the state of his flock, and to look well to his herds, tell him that the

lambs are for his clothing? Prov. xxvii. 23, 26. I suppose she means the wool of the lambs.

Shepherd. She does. Wisdom knows that the lambs are the most forward with their offerings, and the most willing to be clipped, of any: for the Chief Shepherd carries the lambs in his bosom, Isa. xl. 11; so that they are sure to be warm; consequently, they neither trust in, nor cleave to, the wool. But, when once they quit the bosom, they fly to the wool; and then the shepherd may go all the year round, and stand all sorts of weather, hail, rain, blow, or snow, without a fearnothing, or what is commonly called a twilly coat to his back. You read of one of the best Shepherds that ever carried a crook suffering hunger, cold, and nakedness, 2 Cor. xi. 27.

Steward. Most people who have sheep mark them at shearing times. Do you mark them when you clip them?

Shepherd. Some yield no wool at all, and others profitable clippings. We set our private marks upon both these, so as to know them again; and the great Sheepmaster sets his mark upon them also.

Steward. What is the right Owner's mark? Tell me, I pray thee, that I may be enabled to know it, if I should see a creature that bears it.

Shepherd. The Chief Shepherd's mark is mental leanness, or what is called starving at heart. Such never fat inwardly. The great Shepherd is as sparing of his herbage as they are of their wool;

and gives them no more at feeding times than they give him at clipping times. No wool, no grass. I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat; naked, and ye clothed me not. And his declaration to such is, "I will not feed that dieth, let it die; and that that is off, let it be cut off." the flock of slaughter, Zech. xi. 7.

you: that to be cut

But he says, he will feed even the poor of the flock,

Steward. I know it is written, "He which soweth sparingly, shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully, shall reap also bountifully." Wisdom's words are verified, the liberal are blessed, and the miser is starved; "There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty." However, don't cut too close; nor act at your clipping feast like churlish Nabal, who kept a feast like a king, and yet refused, on that good day, to relieve David, who was the king's son-in-law.

Shepherd. The disinterestedness of the shepherd, as well as the faithfulness of the steward, shall surely be brought to light.

Steward. Shall you be at leisure on Friday

next?

Shepherd. I always endeavour to settle accounts, and pay my debts, after clipping time is over; so that I shall not be able to go far from the tent, but should be very glad to see you there.

Steward. I shall have plenty of time upon my hands while Little Faith's banqueting lasts, for all the young princes and princesses will invite him while his joys abound. Some will entertain him till their own cupboards are empty, and he will feast others till he has not one penny left, and then my work will come on again; so that you may be sure of my giving you a meeting at the tent. Till then, farewell. The Chief Shepherd of Israel be your guide and guard!

Shepherd. The Lord of the household be with the Steward! and then he will act with discretion, give to each a portion of meat in due season, and rule in righteousness.

DIALOGUE THE SEVENTH

Steward. So, I have found you in the tent! Clipping time is now over, I suppose?

Shepherd. Yes; the shears are done with for this quarter.

Steward. Did you find your account in the wool? I suppose a good fleece is worth five shillings; is it not?

Shepherd. I believe a house-steward is a better judge of a quarter of lamb than he is of a fleece of wool. If a farmer gets half a crown, or three shillings, a fleece, take one with another, he has not much cause to complain, though he shear his flock but once a year. And, if an industrious shepherd gets food and raiment for himself and his household out of the clippings, it is enough for him; and he will be contented with it, and grateful for it.

Steward. And such shepherds are the most useful in their day, and the happiest men in all the field.

Shepherd. Through the sovereign clemency of the great Sheepmaster, I know that to be true by blessed experience. Pray, how goes Little Faith on? Is he come down from the mount yet?

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