The Canton times., 1902-11-28

ing Sneep Out oA 'hS A~. =,
of sin. Wandering sheep IN Chris-
tian America, in chaotic South
America, in darkest Africa, in devil
worshiping Asia, in cultured, intel
lectual Europe, and in the isles OF the
sea; wandering sheep everywhere
Wandering sheep caught in the thick
cts of worldly pleasures, IN the .nich-
cts of greed for gold, in the thlchets
of perso onal desires and ambitions;
wandering sheep straying over the
desert wastes of sin; wandering
sheep falling AN easy prey 10 the
wild beasts of human passion and de-
sire; wandering sheep falling over
the precipice into the blackness ana
death of the bottomless pit.
The wandering sheep is helpless
sheep. What is more helpless than a
sheep at all times? 1t is absolutely de-
pendent upon the shepherd for leaa- a.
ing. for protection, for its FOOD anu irs
drink. But wandering sheep! l.
plunges blindly into the briars ana
tbistles. it stumbles and falls over the
rocky ground, it heedlessly rushes over
the precipice into the chasm below OF
ont into the barren wastes away from
pasture lands and the flowing streaihs'
And the world like wandering sneep'
is belpless. 1t rushes blindly hlther
and thither, knowing not whittier II IS
tending; it seeks the broad way OF us
own desires and recklessly draws near
hn n
destruction. 1t is utterly helPiess'
but Jesus. the Good Shepherd, is al
vays within reach and quickly hears
the cry for help. But if no cry OF help-
less need is raised, the Good ShePheru
cannot find and save the wandering
sheep. 1t is related OF an orien.al
shepherd who searched day after aay
for his lost sheep that at last he found
it cold and stiff and dead, ma
den in the thicket close to tne
pathway over which he had passed
and repassed in his search. One FAINT
bleat from the helpless sheep wouiu
have brought the sorrow-stllcheh Il
shepherd to it's side, and it woulo not
have perished, but would have been
tenderly lifted to the strong, wliiihs
shoulders of the shepherd and carried
back to the fold and safety. Ana Oh !.
if the lost sheep of the world wouio
only raise one faint cry for help ana
salvation as Jesus. the Good Shep-
herd, passes to and fro seeking for the
lost sheep, how quickly it would reacn
His ear. and His nail-pierced feet
would speed to the side of the helpless
and diving one, and the nail-plerced
hands would reach out and with in
finite love and tenderness release the
fettered soul from the cruel thorns
and the tangled briars. Helpless, dy-
ing sheep of the world, send out your
cry to the Good Shepherd before IL Is
too late and you are left cold and life
less on the mountain side OF sin!
The wandering sheep is sure and
easy prev of the wild beasts which lurk
in the thicket and among the rocks
Utterly powerless to resist attack, lts
life is speedily crushed out ,and Its
life's blood sucked up by the blood
thirsty beast. The world as wander
ing sheep is utterly powerless to re-
sist the attack of it's adversary, the
devil. Unlike real sheep, it is true thai
it does resist and fight against the
devil, but he is just as certain OF his
final victory over that soul as is the
great lion that is crunching the bones
of the helpless, dying lamb. just as
certain!-unless faint cry for hell
goes out to the Good Shepherd, when
like the contemplate coward that he
is. the devil sinks off in ignominiou:
defeat. The world thinks it gives th'
devil some pretty hard raps, some
times. but the hardest rap the worlt
ever gave him was like the tickling
stroke of feather, and it set hin
and all his legions of black devils tt
shouting with glee. The devil play'
his victim like cat plays with thu
mouse. They are perfectly helpless
within his grasp, unless the cry O
faith to the Good Shepherd bring
Him to their side, for He alone cal
set them free from the wiles and pow
er of the devil.
The Supreme Victory.-"The Goo'
Shepherd giveth His life for tn
sheep" Greater love hath no mai
than this, that man lay down hi
life for his friends" In the Father
House the only begotten Son of Go'
beheld sinful and perishing man a
scattered and wandering sheep plung
ing helplessly to destruction. H.
laid aside His crown. His scepter ant
His k;ngly robe and came all tn
way from Heaven to earth to becom
the Good Shepherd which giveth HI