The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-04-14


and consecrnte ourselves to 11iin aud
His service.
When there are many floclts Of
sheep 1t is necessary to mark them for
And our Saviour marks
us. There nro two marks OH Christ's
sheep not found on any others, but al-
ways on ali OF His One son tho eur,
My sheep hear My voice.; tho other
on tho foot, They follow Me-" They
hear spiritually. The spiritual ear lis
tens to God for Ills counsel Ills cons
mand, His promise.
Do not rest satisfied with hearing
only tho voice OF tho prcncher--l,ear
Hin. besecch you. give less heed
to tho livery of tho servant and more
care to tho message OF tho Master.
Liston wnrily, II you please, but Judge
wisely OF tho matter See how much
pure grain, how much OF Christ,
Is In the sermon. Use your sieve; put
away all tho chnff; take only tho good
whent--hear Christ! None Of His 1nis-
take His voice. "Whntsoevcr Hc satin
unto you do it, His sheep hear His
voice."
'"rhey follow Him" They are gently
led, not driven. They follow Him, as
the captain OF their salvation; they
trust in Him to clear the way. The
sheep OF Christ follow Him rs their
teacher and their example. They de-e
sire to be in this world as lie was.
It Is their mark, that to II greater or
less degree they have Christlike
spirit They would be altogether like
their Lord. They love Him. and they
follow in His footprints; put their feet
down where He placed His and then
again and again, in the selfsame step,
follow where He trod till they climb
at last to the throne.
Keep close to Christ, seek to be
In Ills chosen flock. and to have His
mark distinctly upon your feet.
Oh, the privilege OF Chrlsts sheep!
'I know them" Our Shepherd knows
| your person and all about you. He
| knows your sins. Do not let that dis
may you, for He has blotted them all
| out. He knows your corruDtions; but
| lie will help you to vanquish them.
He knows your fierce and strong temp
| tations. He knows it; He knows IT.;
and He will help you through 1t all
and strengthen you to overcome. The
| Lord knows all your trial: your sick
| child, your business troubles, the
| SANDER which has wounded, the hap
plness which has como. He knows oil
the meaning of your groans, your
disappointments, your hidden longings
and the secret desire Of your heart.
You need not speak or write 1t. 70
understands 1t all; lie knows 1t every
4 whit. He knows your anxiety, your
secret sacrifice. your hidden love. He
knows. and He feels 1t all as II II
4 were Els own.
There is q mutual knowledge. II
know the1n"-His thoughts go towards
them. "They follow Me'-their
thoughts go towards Him. Ilc leads
the way, or else they would not fol
! low. What the one does the others
return through grace, and what grace
puts into the heart Of the sheep the
Shepherd recognizes and helps to In
crease.
Christ and Els church thus become
part of each other. Els the Voice ce
theirs the faint echo Of It, Still !
is a true echo, and you shall know
,,ho ,ra Christ's by this
: Do you echo what Christ saith?
Do YOU follow where He leads?
Have you the ear-mark?
Have you the foot-mark?
"My sheep saith Christ as II
stands in tho midst OF His disciples.
my Shepherd" let US ono and q
: reply.
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