Morning journal and courier., 1881-10-17
gournal altb GOurisr.
Monday Morning, Oct. 17.. 1881.
First ME Church.

Discourse by Rev. L.. s. Weed, D. D.-Tho
 TVyenty-Third Psalm the Basis Of the
 Sermon.
 At the First NJ. E. church yesterday, Rev. L. s. Weed, D. D., former pastor, now of the New York avenue NJ. E. church, Brook lyn, N. Y., supplied the pulpit in exchange with Rev. Mir. Buck In the morning he preached very able discourse to large congregation, passing his remarks on the words familiar, xxiiid Psalm, "The Lord is my Shepherd, ,"&c.
 In his opening remarks the preacher said: Probably there is no Psalm in the whole col lection more familiar or more often memor- ized than this. He said that in calling the attention of his hearers to it in detail, he thought he might enable them to see some- thing new and yet more charming in it's words
 Continuing, he said 1t is Psalm of i'm agery. David was shepherd, full of faith and love, and when he came up out of tho home circle to visit his brethren, and when he talked about Goliah they rebuked him and asked him who he left those few sheep with in the wilderness, and had he not better go back and look after them. He said the Lord is my shepherd, take care of them and he takes care of me. No man could pass through the tolls and fatigues of 8 shepherds life without love for his flock, and his love for his flock led him to love God. He must have had knowledge. When David said the Lord is my shepherd, he meant a great deal. When he said he maketh me to lie down in green pastures he meanta great deal. We are in the midst of everything that the soul needs to feed upon. Again, he Ieadeth me beside the still waters Not stagnant waters as still would seem to indicate but the waters are quiet and the sheep have been hurried and they now come to the cool, luscious waters and with their shepherd can slake the waters in perfect safety and quiet. It is wonderful how we sometimes read the word of God We have read these words in trouble, when all at once we are in the rest of quietness, the waters are still and God has revealed himself to us, the waters are quiet. We hope in God and our souls are at rest.
 No wonder that the Saviour was the para ble of the lost sheep. So are we, it is so easy for. us to get away from God. In the midst of our studies and the pressing facts of life we may sometimes forget God and wander away from him, but God searches us out and brings us back "He restoreth my soul" We ought to be thankful that God
 
 back again.
 ''He leadeth me in the paths of righteous ness" meaning, no doubt, that he leads us in the path or right way. It may not be our way, but he leads us. Now don't go to mur- muring if your hearts are loyal to God, but believe what he sayr, that he leads you in the right way. Yea though walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.'' We are travellers, not merely sheep now, and as we travel on we meet varied ex- periences, until we come to a ravine. The pathway seems downward into the gorge of the mountain; 1t may be that wild beasts are lurking therein, and if I enter wild beasts may spring upon me and destroy me. am afraid and say l won't go there, first; but then I bethought myself, and said; ''I will fear no evil" because God is with me. There come times when we cannot relate ourselves to circumstances. We look upon the right and the left and there the self satisfying thought, ''I will fear no
 evil for thou art witE me-" He feels God is
 here, he is all about ms and will go on and
 fear no evil Thy rod and thy staff they
 comfort me" It may be the rod and staff means our instrument of defense and owner ship, and that it defends and helps the flock
 out of those in trouble and danger. Out of
 their ownership comes the comfort that the
 Psalmist speaks of Now when we know that God is defending and protecting us, is it any thing strange that the Psalmist should say
 ''Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me?" Now the imagery changes. We are the guests of God and he is our host. e Thou pre- parest a table before me.' You invite friends to your house and you set before
 them the best your house affords. So God | sets his table before you and you are his in | vited guest, and we look over the past and
 see many pleasant experiences that God has prepared for us and how amply he has pre- pared for us a table. He provides for our l happiness, there is abundance beyond what | our necessities require. There he not only | provides for our happiness, but he protects l it, by preparing table for us in the presence of our enemies. It is no matter how great | our enemies may be; if our hearts are right | with God, he will protect us. He will lift us | up and endow us with honor and prerogatives. God exalts us, and if we are obedient we l shall come at last to enjoy his favors around | his throne. The dignities of earth are noth- ! ing compared to what God shall bestow upon us when he annoints our heads with oil. If we become Gods guests there is a continuity l in our hopes and prospects, and goodness | and mercy will follow us all the days of our life. There is nothing like owning something
 that shall not slip out of our hands, and God 1 comes in with thought of absolute perma- nency and says you shall abide in the house ! of the Lord forever. Let your hearts rise in thankfulness.