The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1898-03-02

ness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of
Heaven"
Furthermore, consider the shepherds
pasture grounds. The old shepherds
used to take the sheep upon the noun
tains in the summer, and dwell in the
valleys in the winter. The sheep be-
ing out of doors perpetually, their wool
was better than if they had been kept
in the hot atmosphere of the sheep cot.
Wells were dug for the sheep and COW
cred with large stones, in order that
the hot weather might not spoil the
water. And then the shepherd led his
flock wherever he would; nobody dis
puted his right. So the Lord our Shep-
herd has large pasture ground. He
takes us in the summer to the noun
tains, and in the winter to the valleys.
Warm days of prosperity come, and we
stand on sun-lit Sabbaths, and on hills
of TRANSPORTATION; and we are so high
up we can catch glimpse of the pin
nacles of the heavenly city. Then cold
wintry days of trouble come, and we
go down into the valley of sickness,
want and bereavement, and we say:
''Is there any sorrow like unto my sor-
row." But, blessed be God, the Lords
sheep can find pasture anywhere. Be
tween two rocks of trouble turf 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 narrowest spot. And so Gods
sheep can pick up comfort where 9TH
ers can gather none. "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
A thousand sacred sweets
Before we reach the heavenly fields.
Or walk the golden streets.
Consider the shepherds fold. The
time of sheep-shearing was very glad
time. The neighbors gathered to-
gether, and they poured wine and
danced for joy. The sheep were put in
place inclosed by avail, 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 sheep-fold. Good news
L have to tell you, in that our Lord the
Shepherd has a sheep-fold, and those
who are gathered in it shall never be
touched by the jackals of temptation
and trouble. 1t has a high wall-so
high that the joys cannot get out.
How glad the old sheep will be to find
the lambs that left them a good many
years ago! Millions of children in
Heaven! Oh, what a merry Heaven it
will make! Not many long-meter
psalms there. They will be in the ma
jority, and will run away with our
song, carrying it up to a still higher
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
varnish of funeral casket. Rather
let your religion to-day come out and
show you the sheep-fold that God has
provided for you. All, you say there is
a river between this and that Iknow
it; but that Jordan is only for the
sheep-washing, and they shall go up
on the 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 inclosure. The night of
their sin howls with jackals; they are
thirsting for their blood. The very
moment that lamb may be frisking
upon the hills bear may be looking at
it from the thicket.
In June, 1915, there was a very noble
party gathered in house in st. James
Square, London. The Prince Regent
was present, and the occasion was made
fascinating by music and banqueting
and by jewels. While quadrille was
being formed, suddenly all the people
rushed to the windows. What is the
matter9 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 dispersed; lords, ladies, and
musicians rushed into the street, and in
Is 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 it's gayeties and frivolities, if you
could hear the sweet strains of the
gospel trumpet announcing Christ's
victory over sin and death and hell,
you would rush forth, glad in the eter-
nal deliverance! The Waterloo against
sin has been fought, and our Com
mander-in-chief hath won the day.
Oh, the joys of this salvation! do not
care what metaphor, what comparison
you have: bring it to me, that may
use it. Amos shall bring one simile,
Isaiah another, John another. Beauti-
full with pardon. Beautiful with peace.
Beautiful with anticipations. Or to
return to the pastoral figure 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
listen. To-day my Heavenly Shepherd