The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1902-11-22

rejoice in the fact that the Deliverer
has come. The hope of the world
from Adam until now centers around
the cross. The efficacy of that cross
reaches back to Abel whose faith en-
abled him to offer sacrifice which
typified the Christ and was accept
able with God, and 1t streams for
ward In blessed. life-giving power
until now.
David, the shepherd lad, in the sim
pie garb of the field where he tended
his sheep, went out and met the
mighty Goliath. What magnificent
sight that was! The two armies
drawn up in battle array. The army
of Gods people holding together and
yet stricken to the heart with terror
at the sight of the innumerable hosts
of the Philistines and the great, over
towering giant whose tread shook
the earth and who defied the army of
the living God. The fair-faced youth,
with clear eye and steady hand in
which he held the faithful sling, went
forth across the valley from the
army of Israel to meet the advancing
giant. Faith in God nerved him to
certain victory. The climax drew
on apace. Each stride of the giant
and each spring of the 1.-THE youth
brought the conflict nearer. The
stone is placed, the swish of the sling
breaks the intense silence which fol-
lows the speeches of the two COM
batants, and then at the feet of
David is stretched in helpless, igno-
minious defeat the great quivering
frame of the mighty Goliath. Then
the shout of victory from the army
of Israel, then the panic-stricken
fight of the Philistines, then the de-
liverance for the nation of Israel.
Oh, that was wonderful battle!
Oh, that was an inspiring scene!
But oh, wonderful battle of the
ages! Oh, inspiring scene for time
and eternity! Jesus, the Good Shep-
herd, battling for the life of His
sheep, giving His life for the sheep,
triumphing over Satan and death and
giving life to His sheep! How won
derful! Is it any wonder that the
story never grows old in Heaven or
in earth? The angels beheld the con-
fiict with bated breath and marveled
at Gods wonderful way of salvation;
the redeemed in Heaven and earth re-
joice in the deliverance wrought and
never tire Of telling the story of the
lost sheep and the Good Shepherd
who gave His life to save them. Yes,
they can tell it over and over again,
"But none OF the ransomed can ever know
How deep were the waters crossed;
Nor how dark was the night that the Lord
passed through
Ere He found His sheep that was lost.
Out in the desert He heard its cry
Sick and helpless. and ready to die.
Lord. whence are those blOod-drops all
That mark out the mountains trackr
They were shed for one who had gone
astray
Ere the Shepherd could bring him back
Lord, whence are Thy hands SO rent and
They are pierced tonight by many
thorn
But all thro' the mountains. thunder
riven,
And up from the rocky steep,
Heaven,
'Rejoicel I have found My Sheep
And the angels echoed around the throne.
Rejoice. for the Lord Brings back His
own!"
And Jesus as the Good Shepherd
knows His sheep and His sheep know
Him. 1t is said that Napoleon knew
the name of every man in his army, a
wonderful achievement and --indicat-
ing a close association of the general
with his army, but Jesus not only
knows the names of all His sheep,
but He knows them each and all
through and through. And on the
other hand the sheep know the Shep-
herd, and as they know Him they
grow into His likeness. Such beau
tifully intimate relationship that the
one understands the every need Of
the other, and the sheep respond to
the gentle leading and loving care of
the Shepherd. The oriental shepherd
knows his flock by name and they
follow as he calls them; he leads
them in and out and they find pas
ture. Jesus says: "My sheep hear
NY NoiCc, anu tHey lOilOW NC. his
sheep have two characteristics which
stamp them as His: In their ears,
"They hear My voice." and in their
feet, "They follow me-" 1t is said
that sheep having once learned the
voice of the shepherd never forget it.
And in this country where the shep-
herd is not known as he is in the
oriental countries, and where the
leader of the flock is marked by the
bell which tinkles as he feeds and
draws the rest of the flock after him,
the sheep learn the sound of the bell
and do not forget it.
And Jesus as the Good Shepherd
gives His sheep Eternal Life, and no
man can pluck them out of His hand.
Perpetuity and absolute security are
characteristics which mark the flock
of the Good Shepherd. The pasture
of time adjoins the pasture of eter-
nifty and the sheep of His pasture
here pass over the line into the green
fields of the Celestial Kingdom. And
the safety of the flock is absolutely
certain. Oh, what comfort there
ought to be in this declaration Of