The Lambs and Their Shepherd

Spurgeon opens with an extended portrait of the "lambs" of Christ's flock — not all young in age, but all young in grace — cataloging their common weaknesses: shallow doctrinal knowledge easily upset by opponents, limited experience that has not yet proved the promises under fire, emotional tenderness that loses sleep over slanders mature saints would smile at, timidity about open confession, and a recurring fog of doubt that makes them wonder whether they are saved at all — while insisting throughout that these same lambs are genuine sheep, fully bought by Christ's blood, as dear to him in eternity past and future as the strongest believer, and as truly possessing the spiritual nature of harmlessness, cleanliness, guilelessness, and tractability as any veteran saint. He then traces the dangers surrounding these lambs — persecuting mockery that may drive them to seek comfort in the world's warm side, doctrinal wolves in Antinomian or Arminian sheep's clothing, the particular peril of ungodly marriages (which far more often drag the godly down than pull the ungodly up), the direct assault of Satan, and the more treacherous hugging of a world that has learned to flatter rather than threaten — before turning with relief to the text's great promise: the same infinite God who measures the oceans in his palm and weighs the mountains in a balance also gathers these feeble lambs with his arm and carries them in his bosom, keeping them near by providential shelter, godly human helpers, unusual joy, and above all a simple childlike faith that runs straight to the Father with every trouble. He closes with three voices from the Shepherd: to the lambs, "Follow Me" — keep close to Jesus and you will realize the comfort of the promise; to the unconverted, "Come unto Me" — the same gentle Shepherd who stoops to carry lambs will not break the bruised reed; and to the strong sheep, "Feed My lambs" — the surest proof of love for Christ is to spend oneself watching over, warming, and strengthening the feeble ones he has gathered in his arms.Sermon delivered by Charles Spurgeon on November 15, 1863.