Newport weekly independent., 1902-11-21

ratriarchs and the prophets watched | for the coming of the Deliverer. We 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 | typfed the Christ and was accept able with God, and it 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-faccd 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 flight of the Philistines, then the de- liverance for the nation of Israel. Oh, that was a 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
 
 story never grows old in Heaven or in earth? The angels beheld the con- tlict with bated breath and marveled at Gods wonderful way of salvation; the redeemed in Heaven and earth re- loice 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 the way @gA
 That mark out the mountains traSsct They were shed for one who had gone Ere the Shepherd could bring him back Lord, whence are Thy hands so rent and torn?
 They are pierced tonight by many a thorn E But all thro' the mountains. thunder riven,
 And up from the rocky steep. There rose glad cry to the gate of Heaven,
 Rejoice! 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. It is said that Napoleon knew the name of every man in his army, rf, ,I 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 ether hand the sheep know the Shep- herd, and as they know Him they grow into His likeness. Such a 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 My voice, and they follow Me-" His sheep have two characteristics which stamp them as His: In their ears, "They hear My voice." and in their feet, "Thcy follow me-" It 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 1 oriental countries, and where the leader of the flock is marked by the bell which tinliles 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 l of time ad joins the pasture of eter-