Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1891-09-24
COME YE THIRSTY.
People Of All Races and Chimes Are
Invited to Drink of the
Water Of Life.
none Are Too Poor or Too Mis-
cradle to Be We'll
coined.

the New York and Pennsylvania ex-
position, which is being held here
Sept. l to Sept. 8. 1t is combined
exposition OF cattle, sheep, horses and
valuable stock OF all kinds from the
two states. The sermon was preached
on the fair grounds to a great
audience offarmers, horsemen, drovers
and stock raisers from near and far,
as well as citizens from the adjacent
cities. Secretary Stanley, OF the
Young Mems Christian Association of
Elmira, presided. DR.. Talmage's text
was Genesis 1913: "And they said,
we cannot, until all the focks be gath
cred together, and till they roll the
stone from the wells mouth; then we
water the sheep"
There are some reasons why it is
appropriate that should accept the
invitation to preach at this great in
ter-state fair, and to these throngs OF
countrymen and citizens. 1t is APP
propriate that I come because was
a farmers boy, and never saw a city
until | was nearly grown, and having
been born in the country / never got
over it, and would not dwell in cities
day if my work was not appointed
there. You OLD FARMER OUT THERE!
How you make me think OF my father!
You elderly woman out there with
cap and spectacles! How you make me
think of my mother! And now while
the air is filled with the bleating OF
sheep, and the neighing of horses and
the lowing of cattle, | cannot find q
more appropriate text than the one l
read. 1t is a scene in Mesopotamia,
beautifully pastoral. A well of water
of great value in that region. The
fields round about it white with three
focks of sheep lying down waiting for
the watering. l hear the bleating
coming on the bright air, and the
laughter OF young men and maidens
INDUCING in rustic repartee look off
and see other focks OF sheep coming.
Meanwhile, Jacob, a stranger, on the
interesting errand OF looking for a wife,
comes to the WELL A beautiful shep-
herdess comes to the same well. l see
her approaching, followed by her
fathers flock Of sheep. 1t was a
memorable meeting. Jacob married
that shepherdess. The Bible account
of it is: Jacob kissed Rachael, and
lifted up his voice and wept." 1t has
always been a mystery to me what he
found to cry about. But before that
scene occurred, Jacob accosts the shep.
herds and asks them why they post
poned the stacking of the thirst of
these sheep, and why they did not
Immediately proceed to water them.
The shepherds reply to the effect:
eve are all good neighbors, and as a
matter OF courtesy we wait until all
the sheep of the neighborhood comeup.
Besides that, this stone wells mouth
is somewhat heavy and several OF us
take hold OF it and push it aside, and
then the buckets and the troughs are
filled, and the sheep are satisfied. We
cannot until all the focks be gathered
together and till they roll the stone
from the wells mouth, then we water
the sheep"
Oh, THIS is A THIRSTY WORLD!
Hot for the head and biistering for
the feet and parching for the tongue
The worlds great want is cool, re-
freshing, satisfying draught. Wewan-
der around and find the cistern empty.
Long and tedious drouth has dried
up the worlds fountains, but nearly
10 centuries ago a shepherd with
crook In the shape OF a cross and feet
cut to the bleeding, explored the des-
ert passages of this world, and one
day came across a well thousand |
feet deep, bubbling and bright and
opalescent, and looked to the north
and the south and the east and the
west, and cried out, with a voice
strong and musical, thatrang through
the ages: "Ho, every one that thirst
eth, come We to the waters!"
Now a great flock of sheep today |
gather around this gospel well. There
are great many thirsty souls. I
wonder why the focks of all nations
do not gather-why SO many stay
thirsty; and while / am wondering
about it my text breaks forth in the
explanation, saying: ave cannot I'M
til all the f1ocks be gathered together,
and till they roll the stone from the
wells mouth; then we water the
sheep"
If a herd of swine come to a well
they angrily iostle each other for the
precedence; if drove of cattle come
TO a well they hook each other back
rom the water, but when the flock of
sheep come, though a hundred of them
be disappointed, they only express it
by sad bleating.
THEY COME TOGETHER PEACEFULLY.
We want a great multitude to come
around the gospel well. know there
are those who do not like a crowd
they think crowd is vulgar. If they
are oppressed for room in church
t makes them positively impatient
and belligerent. Not so did these
Oriental shepherds. They waited until
I'll the aocks were gathered, and the
more focks that came, the better they
liked it. And SO we ought to be
anxious that all the people should
;ome: Go out into the highways and
hedges compel them to come in. Go
10 the rich and tell them they are in
lIgent without the gospel Of Jesus