Newport weekly independent., 1902-11-21

sire; wandering sheep falling over the precipice into the blackness and death of the bottomless pit.
 A wandering sheep is q lost sheep. What though the sun does shine, and the way seems easy and fringed with the succulcnt blades of tender grass? What though the sheep seems for a time to thrive and prosper as well away from the shepherd and flock as with them? It is lost sheep, just the same, and cannot find it's way back alone. This is one of the peculiar ites of sheep. A wandering sheep is always lost sheep. The thicket is just ahead, the thorny path, the des- ert waste, the rocky steeps and the chill mountain air. The wandering sheep sooner or later falls into these perils, and soon perishes if the faithful shepherd does not go out after the lost and bring it back to the shelter of the fold. The world is like unto wandering sheep. It is lost. It cannot find it's own way back to the fold and safety, but the Good Shepherd has gone out into all the world seeking that which was lost. If the sheep will but hear His voice He will lead back to the green pastures and the still wa. ters of Eternal Life.
 The wandering sheep is helpless sheep. What is more helpless than sheep at all times? It is absolutely de- pendent upon the shepherd for lead ing, for protection, for it's food and it's drink. But a wandering sheep! It thistles, it stumbles and falls over the rocky ground, it heedlessly rushes over the precipice into the chasm below, or out into the barren wastes away from pasture lands and the flowing streams. And the world, like a wandering sheep, is helpless. 1t rushes blindly hither and thither, knowing not whither it is tending; it seeks the broad way of it's own desires and recklessly draws near CT and nearer to the abyss of it's own destruction. It is utterly helpless, but Jesus, the Good Shepherd, is all ways within reach and quickly hears the cry for help. But if no cry of help less need is raised. the Good Shepherd cannot find and save the wandering sheep. It is related of an oriental shepherd who searched day after day for his lost sheep that at last he found it cold and stiff and dead, hid- den in the thickct close to the pathway over which he had passed and repassed in his search. One faint bleat from the helpless sheep would have brought the sorrow-stricken shepherd to it's side, and it would not have perished, but would have been tenderly lifted to the strong, willing shoulders of the shepherd and carried back to the fold and safety. And oh! if the lost sheep of the world would only raise one faint cry for help and salvation as Jesus, the Good Shep- herd, passes to and fro seeking for the lost sheep, how quickly it,would reach His ear, and His nail-pierced feet would speed to the side of the helpless and dying one, and the nail-pierced hands would reach out and with in finite love and tenderness release the fettcred 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 it is too late and you are left cold and life less on the mountain side of sin!
 The wandering sheep is a sure and easy prey of the wild beasts which turk in the thicket and among the rocks. Utterly powerless to resist attack, it's life is speedily crushed out and it's life's blood sucked up by the blood thirsty beast. The world as a wander ing sheep is utterly powerless to re- sist the attack of it's adversary, the devil. Unlike real sheep, it is true that 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 help goes out to the Good Shepherd, when. like the contemptible coward that he is, the devil sinks off in ignominious defeat. The world thinks it gives the devil some pretty hard raps, some times, but the hardest rap the world ever gave him was like the tickling stroke of a feather. and it set him and all his legions of black devils to shouting with glee. The devil plays his victim like eat plays with the mouse. They are perfectly helpless within his grasp, unless the cry of faith to the Good Shepherd brings Him to their side, for He alone can set them free from the wiles and pow CT of the devil.
 The Supreme Nictory.-"The Good Shepherd givcth His life for the sheep" Greater love hath no man than this, that man lay down his life for his friends" In the Fathers House the only begotten Son of God beheld sinful and perishing man as scattered and wandering sheep plung- iEg helplessly to destruction. He laid aside His crown. His scepter and His kingly robe and came all the way from Heaven to earth to become