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

plaid.
Next mention the shepherds csook.
This was . rod with . curve at
the end. which,, when a sheep
was going astray was thrown over it's
neck and In that way II was pulled
back. Wnen the sheep were not go
ing astray. the shepherd would often
use It as sort Of crutch, leaning on
1t. but when the sheep were out Of the
way the crook was always busy pull
ing them back. All we. the sheep,
have gone astray, and had II not been
for the shepherds crook we would
have fallen long ago over the preci.
pices.
Here Ii q man who IL making too
much money. He II getting very vain.
He says: AFTER . while I shall be
independent Of all the world. o my
soul, eat, drink and be merryw Busi.
ness disaster comes to him. What is
God going to do with him? Has God
any grudge against him? Oh, no!
God is throwing over him the shep-
herds crook and pulling him back
into better pastures. Here is man
who has always been well. He has
never had any sympathy for invalids.
He calls them coughing wheezing nui-
sances. After awhile sickness comes
to him. He does not understand what
God is going to do with him. He says,
SIS the Lord angry with meT Oh. no!
With the shepherds crook he has been
pulled back into better pastures. Here
is happy household circle. The
parent does not realize the truth that
these children are only loaned to him,
and he forgets from what source came
his domestic blessings. Sickness drops
upon those children and Death swoops
upon a little one. He says, "Is God
angry with meT No. His shepherds S
crook pulls him back into better pas
lures. do not know what. would
have become Of us II 1t had not been
for the shepherds crook. Oh, the mer-
cies Of our troubles! You take up ap-
pies and plums from under the shade
of the trees, and the very best fruits
OF Christian character we find in the
deep shade Of trouble.
When | was on the steamer coming
across the ocean, got cinder in my
eye, and several persons tried to get IT
out very gently. but it could not be
taken out in that way. was told
that the engineer had facility in
such cases. l went to him. He put
his large, sOoty hand on me, took a
knife and wrapped the lid of the eye
around the knife. / expected to be
hurt very much, but without any pain
and instantly he removed the cindcr.
Oh, there come times in our Christian
life when our spiritual vision Is being
spoiled and all gentle appliances fail!
Then there comes some giant trouble
and black handed lays hold of us and
removes that which would have ruin
ed our vision forever. | will gather
all your JOYS together in one regiment
Of ten companies, and will put them
under Colonel Joy. Then will gather
all your sorrow together in one regi-
mcnt of ten companies and put them
under Colonel Breakhenrt. Then
will ask. Which Of these regiments has
gained for you the greater spiritual
victories? Certainly that under Colo.
mel Breakheart.
frhnpn ic animal thDf CT nl nc
more violently than n sheep when you
corner it and catch hold of it. Down
in the glen | see n group of men
around Il lost sheep. A plowman
comes along and seizes the sheep and
tries TO pacify 1t, but it is more fright.
encd than ever. A miller comes along
put down his grist and carcsses the
sheep. and it seems that If 1t would
die Of fright. After awhile some one
breaks through the thicket. He says
'Let The have the poor thing" He
comes up and lays his arms around
the sheep and its is Immediately quiet
Who is the last man that comes? 1t is
the shepherd. Ah my friends, be not
afraid of the shepherds crook! 1t is
never used on you save in mercy. tC
pull you back. The hard. cold iceberg
of trouble will melt in the warm gull
stream Of divine sympathy.
There is one passage | think you
misinterpret, "The bruised reed he will
not break" Do you know that the
shepherd in olden times played upon
these reeds? They were very easily
bruised. but when they We're bruised
they were never mended. The shep
herd could so easily make another
one. he would snap the old one and
throw it away and get another. The
Bible says 1t is not so with our Shep
herd. When the music is gone out OF
mans soul, God does not snap him
In twain and throw him away. III,
mends and restores. 1.-THE bruised reed
he will not break"
When in the o'erhanglng heavens OF
fate
The threatening clouds of darkness
dwell.
Then let us humbly watch and wait,
1t shall be well, 1t shall be well.
And when the storm has passed away