Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1898-03-04

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the shepherd led his flock wherever he
would. Nobody disputed bis right. SO
the Lord our Shepherd has a large pas
ture ground He takes Us in the summer
TO the mountains and in the winter TO
the valleys Warm days of property
come, and we stand on sun gilt Sabbaths
and on hills Of transfguration, and we
are so high up we can catch glimpse
of the pinnacles Of the heavenly city.
Then cold wintry days Of trouble come,
and we 60 down into the valley Of sick
ness, want and bereavement, and We
say, Is there any sorrow like unto my
sorrows" But, blessed be God, the
Lord S sheep can find pasture anywhere.
Between two rocks Of trouble a tuft Of
succulent promises, green pastures be-
side still waters, long sweet grass be-
tween bitter graves. You have noticed
the structure Of the sleeps mouth! 1t
is so sharp that it can take up a blade
of grass or clover top from the very mar
rowest spot. And 80 Gods sheep can
pick up comfort where others can gather
none. 1.-THE secret Of the Lord is with
them that fear him." Rich pasture,
fountain fed pasture, for all the flock Of
the Good Shepherd.
The hill Of Zion yields
thousand sacred sweets
Before we reach the heavenly fields
Or walk the golden streets.
Lastly, consider the shepherds fold.
The time of sheep shearing was a very
glad time The neighbors gathered TO-
gether and they poured wine and dane
ed for JOY. The sheep were put i'll
place inclosed by a wall, where it was
very easy to count them and know
whether any of them had been taken by
the jackals or dogs. The inclosure was
called the sheepfold. Good news | have
to tell you, in that our Lord the Shep-
herd has a sheepfold, and those who are
gathered in it shall never be struck by
the storm, shall never be touched by the
jackals Of temptation and trouble. lthas
a high wall-so high that no troubles
can get in-so high that the joys can
not get out. How glad the old sheep
will be to find the lambs that left them
O good many years ago. Millions Of chill
dren in heaven. Oh, what a merry
heaven it will make! Not many long
meter psalms there. They will be in
the majority and will run away with
our song, carrying it up TO a still high
er point of ecstacy. Oh, there will be
shouting. If children on earth clapped
their hands and danced for Joy, what
will they do when to the gladness Of
childhood on earth is added the glad
ness of childhood in heaven?
1t is time we got over these morbid
ideas Of how we shall get out Of this
world. You make your religion an un-
dertaker planning coffins and driving
hearses. Your religion smells Of the
yarnish of a funeral casket Rather let
your religion today come out and show
you the sheepfold that God has provided
for you. All, you say, there Is river
between this and that. l know it, bat
that Jordan is only for the sheep wash
ing. and they shall 60 II On tbs other
banks snow white They follow the
great Shepherd They heard his voice
long ago. They are safe nOW--one fold
and one Shepherd.
Alas for those who are finally found
outside the inclosurel The night Of their
sin howls with jackals; they are thiSst-
ing for their blood. The very moment
that lamb may be frisking upon the
hills bear may be looking at it from
the thicket.
Eternal Deliverance.
In June, 1915, there was very noble
party gathered in a house in st. James
square, London. The prince regent was
present, and the occasion was made fas-
cinating by music and banqueting and
by Jewels While quadrille was being
formed suddenly all the people rushed
to the windows. What is the matter!
Henry Percy had arrived with the news
that Waterloo had been fought and
that England had won the DAY. The
dance was abandoned, the party dis
persed. lords, ladies and musicians rush.
ed into the street, and IN 10 minutes
from the first announcement Of the good
news the house was emptied Of all its
guests. Oh, ye who are seated at the
BANQUET of this world or whirling in
its gayeties and frivolities, if you could
hear the sweet strains Of the gospel
trumpet announcing Christs victory
over sin and death and hell, you would
rush forth, glad in the eternal deliver
ance. The Waterloo against sin has
been fought and our Commander In
Chief hath won the day. Oh, the joys of
this salvation do not care what met
aphor, what comparison you have, bring
it to me, that l may use It, Amos shall
bring one simile Isaiah another, John
another. Beautiful with pardon. Beau
tifdl with peace. Beautiful with antici-
pations. Or to return to the pastoral tg-
ure of my text, come out Of the poor
pasturage Of this world into the rich
fortunes Of the Good Shepherd.
The shepherd of old used to play
beautiful music. and sometimes the
sheep would gather around him and lis
ten. Today my heavenly Shepherd calls
to you with the very music Of heaven,
bidding you to leave your sin and ac-
cept his pardon. Oh, that all this flock
would hear the piping of the Good Shep-
herd.
A BEAUTIFUL NEW SILK.
inf