The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-06-08
CHRIST WAS THE
 GREAT SHEPHERD pr, [, s. HandIey Delivers a
 Strong Sermon. TEXT TAKEN FROM JOHN In the Early Ages sheperd Life Was Very Honorable, and the Most Influential Men Were Herd
 CTS of Flocks.
TEXT TAKEN FROM JOHN

The Rev. Dr. L. S. Handley delivered a strong sermon at the Central Presby- terian church yesterday morning. taking as his text John 1O:27 My sheep shall hear my voice, and they shall follow me; and give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish" Extracts from pr. Hand1eys sermon follow;
 ',rhe shepherd life was very common in the east in the early ages. It was a most honorable life. and in many cases the wealthiest and most influential men were shepherds. Abraham of old was a shep- herd, and he was the friend of God and the father of the faithful. No more honor able man lived in his age than ne.
 The Great Prototype.
 'sThe Holy Spirit made him the great prototype of the son of man, the Savior of the world. Isaac, Jacob. Moses and David were also shepherds
 "When David wrote, The Lord is my shepherd he was either tending his flock in the fields of Bethlehem or the Holy Spirit clothed him with the spirit of his shepherd life.
 Paxton says, Tn modern times the number of cattle in Turcoman focks. which feed in the fertile plains of Syria are incredible. There are many shepherds employed. The master and his children were the most deeply interested ones, but when they were insufficient they hired men to help care for the great herds
 Christ sheperd.
 "The Lord says: T am the Good Shep- herd, the Good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep Hence the scathing sig nificance of His reference to false teach CTS or hirelings.
 Christ has a people in the world who will hear his voice. He calls them his people. his sheep, his elect.
 They belong to him both by the cove nant with the father and by purchase. and they will be his by personal dedca- ton. He has paid the price of their re- demption by shedding his own precious blood.
 Shall Hear Ills Voice.
 They will hear his voice and will fol- low him. No man knows them until they come out from the world in response to the gospel call.
 "very many hear the voice of Jesus in the home where the godly father and mother early lead the child to Jesus by faithful training and earnest prayer. Sam uel and Timothy are the types of thous- ands In all ages who have known the scripture from childhood.
 Very many hear the voice of Jesus as they read the story of love divine.
 "very many hear the voice in the Sab bath school class where the faithful teach CT tells the story of Jesus and his love. ''Very many hear the voice as the word is preached by a faithful minister.
 Raising Up Men and Women.
 The Lord is raising up men and women in this age as in no other who are say ing to the church as did Isaiah of old, Here am l, send me
 "To hear Is to believe the divine mes sage, and to believe Is to be made par takers of the life that Is to be. "The Lord will persevere and gather in all the sheep. Many, many stray away like Peter, but the Lord will find them. They shall sing with David Thou re- storest my soul
 Many are like the prodigal, but the Lord will gather together those whom the father hath given him.
 "Brethern the Lord reigns. let the earth rejoice."