The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-03-31

.lst &
CONTExT-Upon receiving sight. the
March 10th, became a believer in Jesus
as did also his relatives dx:22 %, while
the Pharisees were stirred UP 10 still
ono who could work a miracle must be be
OF God, but the latter,rged that on e who
broke the Sabbat II to, work a MIRACLE must
be a sinner dx :l6),The two parties g, were r.
widely separat ed the sone holding to the
evidence of supeTnatura power, the
other bound by i ega lism.t In the alterca-s
ton that foloWedhJ esuss declared His ynlis-
two classes. To5day:S lesson is an .appro-
pirate and important. contiiiua ton s6f ~
thought: Under a most beautifdls hgure
our Lord anl1oun ces that lie VIII soon es-S
&tabllsh His aChurchs ,d1n posedfo all who
hear His call wf1ethfC. Jews or G.enties
5sss +
i2ENTERlNll-1, The sheentfold is!a PLACE
~ constructed in Oriental coliTtyi les. it'
consists Of 10y fat building sree aed
inclosed by a wide stone wall "a single
door or gate furnished the entrance.to
the fold through which the shepherd
No one except thief #or robber would
attempt to enter by climbing the wall
inasmuch as this door was ample + for all
worthy purposes. designed to q, 4 keel. oat
mission. Our Lord !. makes these state
ments oversees and ~ for the purpose OF
explaining the Church-the JEWS con-
lament believers. That ChurchEis intend
ed to protect It's members against the evil
that is in the world, to give them shelter
and comfort In times &of, trouble. .lnto u
there is but one true mode Of admi ttance.
FOLLOWING-Thef sheep do not re-
main constantly in the fold AS there isi
a right way Of entering, toward the even
forth in the morning.The shepherd who
left his flock in safekeeping for the
night returns. Fl e Is recognized by the
Shepherd calls lis own sheep by name,
without even entering, and each one.
recognizing Ills voice responds and
passes out. Howeveltsm flocks there
freely they may mingle together. those
only who belong to him will appear. Hay y,
ing thus brought them into the open field
the shepherd does not3driye or even urge e I
flock will follow (verse ~. There is not no..
the slightest danger Of deception or mis-
take in all this. The sheer, will not fol-
| affrighted verse 81. The porter need.
therefore, give himselfano concern on the
subject. He simply opens the door and :,
So assured that none but the right sheep
| will depart. All this was very familiar to
| Christ's hearers. who had many times
! witnessed such occurrences. t,,,.;
parable was plain enough, but what He
] intended to teach, whatSh would convey.
| none&of his hearers knew (yerse % INA 7 7
plan 10 awaken curiosity first by reciting
something very familiar and then to 4ex-
plain and apply, conceal ling the :, sense ,r,s 9
vnithe dosifs SDer alqsSs skclamSd
verse y. No one may enter the church
except ny coming to- Christ. Whoey aver az {
tempts to come by any ,other.meLi h leS Is
4 any in any former time assumed that
Ipace-and unfortunately many have set
themselves up as heads Of me c r. Tyr =
destroy sf Ss' the flock, and .consoquentiy fear
. cd ~ the sheep Verse 81. Christ Is the
4 doorYand tits his husinesstto admit the e
sheep and 70 exclude al otherS Gal y "
! Verse 100, not merely befa use they en-
tered but because they entered nightly
i Yet the church is not q prison, As tins
n Members RS Viii IL havetilborty under Ghrsts
ss.!eaNaTffR ri "a thus shownhls
relation to the ehurshas an prgaIns'zse
4 closely related to the indiyidual members
4 III that body. He IS the door through
which they pass, and TIE u the one es WIS -,
A the sheep. This change IN tho figure was
4 necessary to make the contrast, between
i Him and the Pharsees. They not only
4 ulsed Imperfect and even selfish and UNI
Who came 10 steal and to kill and de
i the SSwholesome regulations Of the folt
i and and oyerpower the keeper, and resort IS
A any violent measures to accompli sh theil
q sinister purpose. This WAS avery faltn
q ercsed eccesiastical au thority at Jer,l
n salem. Matt. xxlil :lb.la But IIey the Christ
a came on benevolent GRAND hat Iqel
attain attain unto a Richer, moro abund ant iif
than had been possible under, a forme
/ dispensation, And ins doing this J g y
was like a. good shepherd VINO ,sacrln ls 3.
from the mouth OF the lion Verse II,
q delicate all,islon to the death on the. eros
through the malice Of these same Phari
secs,
4 eN-nEscRI The real shepherd -