Newport weekly independent., 1902-11-21
THE GOOD SHEPHERD
Beautiful Relationship Which Christ
 Sustains to His Followers.
Sermon by the "Highway and By way" Preacher on One of the Six striking Declarations
 of Christ.
ICopyright, 1902, by A. N. Kellogg News
 paper Col

sheep."-John 10:l1.
 Like the mothers lullaby to the ear
 of the little tired child as it rests it's
 weary head on her bosom and finds
 rest, and comfort, and safety; like
 the soft clear note of the nightingale
 cleaving the darkness of the midnight
 air and reassuring the atfrighted soul; like the burst of melody floating out
 over the noise of the tumultuous crowd
 stilling it to enrapt silence; like the
 glad songs of the birds and ripping laughter of the children a above the roar of the mighty rushing Niagara; like
 the quiet Hull and the glorious burst of
 sunshine after the backness of the whirling cloud and the rush of the
 tempest, so are the words of our text to the weary, sinsick, troubled soul.
 'I am the Good Shepherd" The words, like the "Peace, be still,' spo- ken over the troubled dashing waters of Galilee, soothing them to placid qui- etness, fall on the ears of the wander
 ing sheep O. the world and draw many of them from the byways of death to
 the green pasture land of Gods love, and the pathway that leads to Life Eternal. The kiss of the prince of the fairy tale was potent to wake the
 sleeping princess and deliver her from
 the spell which bound her. The gen tie, sweet words, "I am the Good Shep- herd" waited on the soft breezes of Gods love around the globe, are able to kindle new life and hope in the fallen sheep, and as the pleading look of helplessness is lifted to the face of the Good Shepherd as He passes by
 His loving arms are outstretched and the sinsick, dying soul is clasped to His bosom.
 David, the simple shepherd lad, whose quick ear had caught the music of the gurgling, splashing mountain streams, and the glad song of the birds, and whose delft fingers had learned to pick out the notes upon his willing, responsive harp, played be- fore k ng Saul when the evil spirit of rebellous heart possessed him, and soothed that turbid soul to quiet ness, and Jesus, with the music of His
  world with His message: "l am the Good Shepherd" and longs to win the wandering world back to God. David, as he tended his sheep, sang: "Ihe Lord is my Shepherd" and the bright star of his hope rose in the fullness O. time over Bethlehem, and Jesus came. declaring: "I am the Good Shepherd" As Davb gently led his focks into .he green pastures and be- side tine still waters which his quick, eye so faithfully searched out, his heart sang in gratitude to God as he felt every desire of his soul gratifed, and he knew that the Lord was leading him beside the still wa ters and making him to lie down in green pastures. And Jesus. the Good came with the living water, saying: "Whosoever drinketh of the water that shall give him shall never but the water that 1 shall give him shall be in him we'll of water springing Up into Life" And He led the way into the green pastures of inexhaustible supply as He said: "I am the Living Bread; he that comath to Me shall never hunger" They say a hungry sheep will never lie down to rest. and David knew his sheep were satisfied as he saw them resting in quiet contentment on the green, slop- ing hillsides of Judea. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, calls to the wandering sheep of the world: "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" He alone can give rest unto the soul, because He alone can feed 1t and quench its thirst. David heard the roar of the wild beasts as it echoed among the rocks and in the thick underbrush which skirted the green pasture where his flock was feeding; he saw the lion and the bear, which had crept up unawares, make off with the little lambs innocently gamboling on the outer edges of the flock, and had swiftly given pursuit. He delivered the lambs out of their dreadful peril and when the lion and the bear turned upon him to rend him he smote them and slew "both the lion and the bear" Jesus. the Good Shepherd, hears the roar of the devil as he goes about through the earth, seeking whom he may devour," but He is able to save unto the uttermost," and when His sheep let Him fight for them the devil is driven away every time and the Good Shepherd turns to His Father in Heaven and says: Those that Thou gavest Me have kept, and none of them is lost" Oh, what q wonderful declaration it is to hear Jesus say: "I am the Good Shep- herd; the Good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep!"
 Wandering Sheep.--God gave to Isaiah a true glimpse of the condi- tion of the world, and the faithful prophet cries out: "All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way" Wander ing sheep out on the mountain side of sin. Wandering sheep in Chris tian America, in chaotic South America in darkest Africa, in devil