Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1913-09-04
PLEA FOR RETURN
Invitation of the Gospel Is to All
Wandering Sheep to Come
Home.
VTvHERE are but few animals to

which men like to be likened
IL To call man dog, pig, don.
key. a snake or a monkey is to in
suit him. You may call him a lion or an
eagle and he win feel eomplimented,
because these creatures are accepted
emblems of strength, courage and dig
nifty.
In the scriptures the sheep is chosen
oftener than any other animal to sym.
bolize the nature of mana very just
representation, for men and sheep are
much alike. They are alike in this
particular. that they move in masses.
Men and sheep go with the crowds
to the right or The left. forward or
back, to the bad or the good. with q
facility and unanimity that is 2
perpetual puzzle.
When men break away from God
and run into disobedient ways they
are like sheep. So the prophet con
tesses. All we like sheep have gone
astray." Again, when meh are loyal
to God, are trustful and teachable
they are like sheep. So Jesus says
My sheep hear my voice. and
know them and they follow me-
Sheep are both good and bad and &c
are men. In one place we are eau
toned. Beware OF men," for men will
oppose righteousness. In another
place We are counseled, Quit you like
men,, for manhood means strength
enterprise and achievement.
In well-known text both qualities
are represented. "Ye were going
astray like sheep--heedless willful
disobedient. but are now returned
to the shepherd" -coniiding submits
sive, amiable. Once you were scam
pering away. breaking through the
hedge. leaping over the fence, running
from protection. food and safety into
forbidden places and places OF peril
But you have come back and are feed
ing quietly within call of the Shep
herds voice and contented under his
eye.
When man is won from his sinful
courses to goodness 1t may be de-
scribed as return. How so? That's
easy. | have known a man whose an
cestors came from England, but who
himself was born In America, to say
Il hope some time to return 10 the
old home in England" How could he
speak OF returning" to place where
he had never been? There Is a kind
OF unity in the family life. In his an.
cestors he came to America, and In
their descendant there is return.
II we go back far enough we can
find our ancestors In the fold OF Christ
living in home he had prepared fol
them. In Eden the family to which
we belong was happily shepherded BY
the son of God. But they left the fold
and weakly followed. like sheep
Therefore. whenever one seeks a re
newal of the old happy relations 1t is d
return.
The invitation of the gospel Is q
call to come back home. 1t is a mes
sage to prodigals. to which class we
all belong. Waste no time In lament.
ing the lost Eden. but turn and see
that its gates are wide open and en-
trance Is free to ALL Paradise re.
gained Is not poetic fancy.
There Is a sense in which the faith.
full Christian is often returning to his
Shepherd. The ideal life, the life at
which he aims, Is life of unbroken
fidelity to his lord. But he is aware
that he comes far short OF that pur.
pose every day. His confession OF
defect and his prayer for pardon are
return. 1t is plainly written in the
experience OF many of u.s. We know
that after wandering of heart in respect
Of faith and duty, when he say. 4 will
arise and go to my father" he will see
us from afar and hasten to welcome
us.
Let me tell you little, true story
which is also parable that requires
no interpreter A romantic New Eng
land boy stole away from his widowed
mothers house one night and went to
sea- Three years later he came back.
1t was late evening when he reached
the house. He tried the door and 1t
opened for him. His mother, sitting
in the dimly lighted room, gave him
welcoming embraces. Later he asked
her why she left the door unlocked.
Her answer was, THAT door has never
been locked since you left me for !
said he will come back some day and
when he comes. at any hour, he must
find the door unlocked"
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Overcoming.
If one can keep sweetness Of thought