Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-09-17


WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
For they know his voice Better still:
They know his call. You have tried II
yourself, perhaps, at the farm. Your voice
rang out quite Justify and you threw all the
persuasion possible into your tones, but the
sheep and horses grazed right on unmind-
full of your summons. Then the good
farmer himself lifted his volce. and at the
first cry every head was up and presently
the animals were all about you. rubbing
their necks against you. Tho secret this:
they knew the call of the master And so
does the world.
L am the door OF the sheep. There is Q
door for tho sheep-let them know It, door
especially fitted and fashioned for them.
Have they been trying other ways2 1t has
been a vain, troublous and tiresome effort.
Philosophy Is not door; neither Is culture.
Pride falls to find entrance. self-tnust Is
deceitful, acknowledgements discovers no
entering place. But to tho meek and lowly
a door opens wide right In front OF them.
and over 1t is written, @Come unto me all
ye that labor and are heavy laden. and
will give you rest Weary. worried sheep,
there IL a door expressly for you. and it Il
this moment wide open. Enter.
Go In and out In the original 10 Il. go
In and go out, and IL Is well TO mark the
emphasis. 1t is DIR. A. ]. Gordon, IL IL not,
who notes here the freedom that belongs to
the people OF God, freedom of exit as we'll
as of entrance. freedom to labor as well as
TO restp For what Is our fold but tarry-
ing place whore We may gather strength
for each days duties In the service OF
souls7 This is our liberty of the sheepfoid.
a liberty, indeed. OF tho Spirit. since 10
goes about TO do the Spirits work. Learn.
In Christ's name. TO go out as we'll as 20
go I'm.
am come that they might have life. and
that they might have IL more abundantly.
For this, o Lord, thou art come; thou art
nlw H. tl.s,sn nh I'D n Amw.n 49,.
I have not far to go for salvation. The
wide space betwixt sin and holiness. bctwixt
Weakness and strength, betwixt Ignorance
and wisdom has been crossed by thee.
Mine Is but step Nay, child, ait Il only
that you look aud live.n am come, sweet
words. Then let me just rest In thee.
blessed Shepherd and the work Is done. No,
not fully, astill there's more to follow.p
For IL II not life only. but abundant life
that am TO have. life that overnows 50
that there is enough for me and for my
neighbor too: yes twelve baskets full
after 1 have had sufficient Is it for this
that thou CONTEST TO me, my Masterf Then
let me be satisfied with nothing less Come.
Lord Jesus, even so, comei
lay down my life for the sheep We
show the strength Of our enlistment In any
enterprise by what We invest I'm II Here
is one who invests, lays down. his life We
prove our devotion 20 our friends by what
we cast into the scale OF friendship. Here
is one who places his life at tho disposal OF
these who are his. Surely the shepherd
loves the sheep. There can be no doubt OF
that. The only question; Do the sheep love
the shepherd OF. rather. Are they 80 near
10 him as TO learn hts lover
sOb. dearly, dearly has he loved,
And we must love him. too:
And trust In his redeeming blood.
And try HIS works TO do"
Next Lesson. Quarterly Review. Mis-
sions or Temperance. Temperance Lessons