Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1898-04-22

In olde1 times played upon these reedsf |
They wee v-ry easily bruised, bat when /
they we're bruised they we're never mended. ]
tn shepherd could 50 easily maze another /
one. he would snap the old one and throw ]
IN away aud get another. The Bible saws |
Il Is not 80 with our shepherd. Whcn the /
music l. gone out OF a mans sOSl, God does |
not saap him Ia twain and throw him away.
He mcuds ald restores. The bruised |
reed lie will not break"
Next Ispeak OF the shepherds dogs. They !
watch the strayiug sheep and drive them
back again. Every shepherd has his dog,
from the nomads OF the Bible times down
TO the scotch herdsman watching his ilocks
ON the GrampiAn hills. Oar shepherd en-
ploys the criticisms and prosecutions Of the
world as his dogs. There are those, YOU
know. whose whole work II Is to watch the
Inconsistencies Of Christians and bark at
thom. IL one Of Gods sheep gets astray,
the world hOwls. With more avidity than
a shepherds dog ever caught a stray sheep
by the fanks or lugged il by the ears
worldllugs seize the Christian astray. II
ought TO do rs good to know that we are
thus watched. II ought to put us on our
guard. They cannot bite us IL we stay near
the shepherd. The sharp knife of worldly
assault will only trim the vines until they
produce better grapes. The more you
pound marioram and rosemary the sweeter
=
the quicker YOU win get to the gate.
You have noticed that different flocks Of
sheep have different marks upon them
sometimes red mark, sometimes blue
mark. sometimes a straight mark and some
times crooked marx. The Lord our shep-
herd has mark for his sheep. 1t is red
mark. the mark OF the cross. blessed arc
they that are prosecuted for righteousness
sake, for theirs is the kingdom OF heaven"
consular ha Euanhar1gf
pasture grounds. The old shepherds used
to take the sheep upon tie mountains in
the summer and dwell In the valleys In the
winter. The sheep being out OF doors per-
petuaily, their wool was better than ii they
had been kept ia the hot atmosphere OF the
sheep cot. Wells were dug for the sheep
aud covered with large stones In order that
the hot weather might not spoil the water.
Aud then the shepherd led his flock wher-
ever he would. Nobody disputed his right.
So the Lord our shepherd has large pas
ture ground. He takes us In the summer
to the mountains and in the winter to the
valleys. Warm days of prosperity come,
and we stand on sun gilt Sabbaths and on
hills of TRANSPORTATION, and We are so high
up we can catch a 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 bereRve-
ment, aud we say, us there any sorrow like
unto nv sorrow?' But, blessed be God,
the Lords sheep can find pasture any
where. Between two rocks of trouble a
tuft of succulent promises, green pastures
beside 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 n blade of grass
or clover top from the very narrowe 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."
| Lastly, consider the shepherds fold.
| The time of sheep shearing was a very glad
| time. The neighbors gathered together,
and they poured wine and danced for joy.
! The sheep were put in a place inclosed
| by wall, whereit was very easy to count
them and know whether any of them had
been taken by the jackals or dogs. The
Enclosure was called the sheepfold. Good
news have to tell you, in that our Lord
the Shepherd has 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.
1t has high wall-so high that no
troubles can get in--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 merry heaven it
will make! Not many long meter psalms
will run away with our song, carrying it
up 10 still higher point Of ecstasy. Oh,
there will be shouting. II children on
earth clapped their hands and danced for
10y, what will they do when to the glad
ness of childhood on earth is added the
gladness 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 undertaken
planning collins and driving hearses. Your
religion smells of the varnish OF funeral
casket. Rather let your religion to-day
come out and show you the sheepfold that
God has provided for you. All, you say
there is river between this and 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 Shepherd. They heard his voice
long ago They are safe now-one fold and
one Shepherd.
Alas for those who are finally found out.
side the inclosurel The night of their sin
howls with jackals; they are thirsting fol
their blood. The very moment that a LIANT
may be frisking upon the hills bear may
be looking at 1t from the thicket.
In June, 1916 there was very noble
party gathered in house in st. James
square, London. The Lprince 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 te
the windows. What is the matter? Henry
Percy had arrived with the news tina
Waterloo had been fought and that Eng
land had won the day. The dance wa.
, abandoned, the party dispersed, lords, la
dies and musicians rushed into the street
and in fifteen minutes from the first an
! nouncement of the good news the hous,
:: was emptied of all its guests. Oh we wht
are seated at the banquet OF this world o
whirling in its gayeties and frivolities, i
you could hear the sweet strains OF thu
; gospel trumpet announcing Christ's vic
i tory over sin and death and hell, you
( would rush forth, glad In the eternal de
!. liverance. The Waterloo against sin hal
i. been fought, and our COMMANDMENT
Chief hath won the day. Oh, the Joys o
z this salvation! do not care what meta
0 phor, what comparison you have, bring
$ to me, that may use it. Amos shall brin
g one smile, Isaiah another, John another
Q Beautiful with pardon. Beautiful wit
K peace. Beautiful with anticipations. 0
to return to the pastoral figure OF my text
I come out of the poor pasturage OF TIL
9 world into the rich fortunes of the Goo
n Shepherd.
!. The shepherd of old used to play beaut
j full music, and sometimes the sheep woul
J, gather around him and listen, To-day m
= heavenly Shepherd calls to you with th
r very music of heaven, bidding you to leay
Q your sin and accept His pardon. Oh, tht
o all this flock would hear the piping of tt
+ Good Shepherd.