The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-11-25
WEEKLY SERMON
THE SHEPHERD AND THE FLOCK
~ the Rev. r. A. jackson. of Engiand.

sIie cslleth Ills own sheep 10y name
and ieadeth them out" Among the
many figures in which our Lord is
presented To US, this OF the Good
X shepherd is one of the most charm
ing. Perhaps " is necessary 10 nave
lived ia the hili-eouutry 81 The Eass
fully to appreciate it's great homciineSs
ana wealth.. II belongs L. a. life out
cf-do.9s under ;he warm Syrian sun
assa Tie clear shining Syrian stars. a
afe os spaciouaness simplicity. and
Wonderful friepaliness. 1t Seems r.
Be tar enough removed from the hurry
huriy OF our modern manner. nut since
its appeal IS 10 the inward soul of
things lis meaning viii not he missed
"Ie calleth his own sheep b
Iarae." 1t Is told by Scotch tray
.iier thai, meeting under me walls
OF Jerusalem shepherd bringing home
his nock, he changed clothes with him,
ana, thus disguised. began TO call tbs
sheep. They remained inoLonless-
Then the shepherd himself raised HE
Voice. and they all has led towards
him, In spite Of his strange garments.
Another writer SAYS The shep-
herd depends upon the sheep to
follow him, and they In turn expect
hiiu never 10 leave them. They run
after hInl II he appears 10 be es-
eaping from them, ard are terrified
when he is oat OF sight. or when any
stranger appears instead OF him. las
cells 10 them from tine 10 time 10 let
Them know he ~ at hand. The sheep
listen and Continue grazing. but IL
anyone else tries TO produce the Same
peculiar cries and CULTURAL sounds,
they look around with i startled air
and begin to scatter"
Such is the inwaroness OF thls
pastoral figure of the East. where the
shepherd has an intimate knowledge
cf the Individual members of his flock.
and whore the sheep frequently an
swer TO their names, Is dogs and
horses do among ourselves lie call
eth Ills own sheep by name"
Here is the warm heart Of our
holy religion. II * n history. yes,
philosophy yes. 81 creed. yes; an
institution. yes a faith, yes. q sure
and certain hope, yes. II is all that.
but IL Is much more than all that. Ii
lis q personal relationship. All the
rest is academic: We can argue about
1t: we can disagree. But this Ia
friendship, this is love, This is life for
eyermcre.
There are one or two things about
which we never argue, fney are OUT
side the region OF argument man
does not argue about his mothers
love. for example; nor does he argue
abou. his own. He does not argue the
fact that he lives and moves and has
a being. He does not argue the facts
Of light and darkness and time and
sleep. Simply these great things are.
Argument seeks 10 sfft, TO prove. to
make clear; but these things do not
need sitting. they are their own proof.
aud they are abundantiy clear.
Ii is well there are few things
like that. Argument fs not 10 be
dispataged Conducted with good
feeling argument sharpens the wits.
widens interest, and gives point TO
reality.
but there are few things outside
the region Of argument and this is
one. the love of Christ to me II
fs not that / will NOT argue: | can
not. II does not bear argument II
ts too big, too real, too deep, too dear.
Tile cslieth them by name II
you 70 10 stay at an hotel you ask for