The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1898-03-03

20 Win oet - ths Gate.
You have noticed that dlResent
1ocks Of sheep have different marks
upon them; sometimes . red mark.
sometimes q blue mark. solnetimesva
straight mark and sometimes q crook
ed mark. The Lord our Shepherd
has q mark for his sheep. II II q red
mark-the mark Of the cross. BLESS
ed are they that are prosecuted for
righteousness sake for theirs Ia the
kingdom of heaven"
Furthermore, consider the shepherds
pasture grounds. The old shep-
herds used to take the sheep upon the
mountains in the summer and dwell
10 the valleys In the winter. The sheep,
being out Of doors perpetually. their
wool was better than II they had been
kept in the hot atmosphere of the
sheep cot. Wells were dug for the
sheep and covered 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 disputed his right. So
the Lord our Shepherd has large pas
ture ground. He takes us In the sum-
mer to the mountains and In the win
ter to the valleys. Warm days Of
prosperity come and we stand on sun
gilt Sabbaths, and on hills Of transfig-
uration, and we are 80 high up We can
catch glimpse of the pinnacles 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, rs there
any sorrow like unto my sorrowY
But, blessed be God, the Lords sheep
can find pasture anywhere. Between
two rocks of trouble a tuft of succu-
lent promises; green pastures beside
still waters; long, sweet grass between
bitter graves. You have noticed the
structure Of the sleeps mouth? 1t is
SO sharp that it can take up blade Of
grass or clover top from the very mar
rOwest spot. And so Gods sheep can
pick up comfort where others can
gather none. "The secret Of the Lord
is with them that fear him." Rich
pastures, fountain fed pastures, for all
the flock of the Good Shepherd.
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
danced for JOY. The sheep We're put
in n placed inclosed by wall, where
1t 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 l have to tell you, in that
our Lord the Shepherd has a sheep
fold, and those who are gathered in 1t
shall never be struck by the storm,
shall never be touched by the jackals
of temptation and trouble. 1t has Il
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 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 majority and will run away
with our song. carrying 1t up to still
higher point Of ecstasy. Oh, there will
be shouting If children on earth
clapped their hands and danced for
joy, what will they do when 10 the
gladness of childhood on earth is add
al hn .,In nf phi11h,n1 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
undertaken planning cotiins and driy-
ing hearses. Your religion smells Of
the varnish of n funeral casaat
Rather let your religion to-day come
out and show you the sheepfold that
God has provided for you. All, YOU
say. there is n river between this ana
that! | know 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 Shep-
herd. They heard his voice long a.G.
They are safe now-one fold ard o.
shepherd!
Alas for those who are finally found
outside the inclosure. The night OF
their sin howls with jackals. They -"
thirsting for their blood. The very
moment that a lamb may he fris ing
upon the hills bear may be looking
at it from the thicket.
In June, 1915, there was n very mo-
BILE 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 q
quadrille was being formed, suddenly
all the people rushed to the windows.
What is the matter? Henry Percy had
arrived with the news that Wator, D
had been fought and that England had
won. the day. The dance was aban-
doned, the party dispersed, lords, la
dies and musicians rushed into ,Ne
streets, and in fifteen inmates from
the first announcement of the good
news the house was emptied of all It's