Required reading
The Works (Vol 4) of John Newton (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Sermon XIII (The great shepherd).
My summary
This week Newton preaches on 'He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.' (Isa 40:11)
Newton teaches us about the Messiah as Shepherd of his people.
We learn about the:
(i) shepherd;
(ii) shepherd's flock;
(iii) shepherd's care and tenderness over the flock.
A good portion of the sermon is concerned with the different members of the flock.
What grabbed me
I liked Newton's words about the shepherd's care for ministers who are represented in the passage as 'those that have young': ' Ministers, likewise, have painful exercises of mind The apostle Paul speaks of ' travailing in birth again, till Christ be formed in our hearers.' When we know of any newly awakened, and beginning to seek their salvation, how solicitous is our care to bring them forward, to comfort them, to warn them against the devices of their hearts, and of their enemies ! And how piercing our grief and disappointment, if they miscarry ! How much is felt in sympathy for the trials of the flock ! What wisdom, faithfulness, courage, meekness, and unction from on high, are necessary to the due discharge of what we owe to the flocks of which we have the oversight? Who is sufficient for these things ? And when we have done our best, our all, what defects and defilements have we to mourn over ? But this is our great consolation, that he, who knows us, and leads us, considers ' our frame, and remembers that we are but dust.' '
The work of a minister is indeed one of many trials - thankfully the good shepherd is nearby.
Next week's reading
Read Sermon XIV (Rest for the weary).
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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