The farmer and mechanic., 1915-04-13
amt SONG THAT SETS SPIRITS
SINGING.
1,,, International sunday School Les
Ion For April Is Is "Thc Shepherd
~ .,Iru Psalm 23.
nv WILLIAM Il. ELLIS.

fr print shop in London 1 once |
,...bt = photograph of a remarkable |
.,t,tfna called The Good Shepherd"
-, have never been able to learn
"",.tbius about the original. The pic
t'r. shows a steep hillside, covered
v,th rocks and briars. One whose ra-
.t,,t brow proclaims him the Good
SLenherd is clamoring toilsomely
@",'o to where lamb is caught amid
Ems horns. The sun is setting; the
5oy soon will be gone. In the sky
ho,.rs an eagle; and the beholder
,'c.oeives that if the Good Shepherd
toe. not get the lamb the bird Of prey
wiU More of Scripture teaching is
wrought into the painting than one
finds in any other treatment OF the
same theme.
the great teaching which repre-
sents man as a straying sheep, and
God aS the Shepherd of souls, is
found in two great picture passages
IN The Bible, one in the Old and one
in the New Testament The old
writer's. who took more time for care
ful study of the Bible itself than We
do today were fond of pointing out
the ptrallelism.
n1uhtless the most popular piece
Of literature in all human speech is
this ancient hym Of trust, which
seems to thrill forth naturally from
the sweet flute of the shepherd boy
David. on the hills of Bethlehem. ct
while written with the simplicity OF
the open fields, it bears the profound
convictions of man who has suffered
deeply. and having, drunk life to ths
drees returns to the childlike faith OF
his hoyhood. The poem sounds the
universal note:
Jehovah is my shepherd; I shall no
want
He maketh me 10 lie down in greer
pastures;
He leadeth me beside still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
He guideth me in the paths of right
eousness for His names sake.
Yea. though l walk through the val
ley of the shadow Of death,
j will fear no evil; for Thou art wit
me;
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfor
me-
Thou preparest a table before me
the presence Of mine enemies
Thou hast anointed my head wit
OIL
Ny cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and lovingkindne:
shall follow me all the days {
my life;
And shall dwell in the house
The Common Need.
When the old prophet wrote "a
~ like sheep have gone astray"
voiced no new sentiment. Every ma
al all aware Of himself knows h
own sheep quality. His proneness
follow a multitude to do evil" h
tendency to lag from tested leade
ship; his aptness for folly; his wea'
ness and defencelessness. all a
In, ho tpfv fixyn q
III his sincerest hours he is surest
his need for shepherding.
Ihis deep human sense OF depen
ence breathes from the oldest liter
ture. The comfort of the Scriptur
consists In such teachings as n
unes are in His hands; Casting
your care upon Him for He careth
you; God is our refuge and streng
very present help in trouble"
We want a shepherd for our sou
we never get beyond the need
the comfort of Gods tender. patie
care. Some one who is wiser tn
We are, and stronger and sufficit
toi our spirits needs. is the huns
ol all hearts. Such simple songs
,liS stir us, when the grand ep
lea'e us unmoved
vas wandering sad and weary
hen my Saviour came to me;
md the world has ceased to v
me:
AAd | thought l heard Him say,
~ lie came along His way,
1!h Foolish souls. come near Me:
MY sheep should never fear Me;
am the Shepherd true
At last | stopped TO listen;
las voice could not deceive me
~ His kind eye glisten.
=" anxious TO relieve me;
an" thought / heard Him say.
a. lie went along His way,
Nh. dying souls. come near me.
MY sheep should never fear Me.
ann the Shepherd true
thought His love would weaker
- more and more He knew me
hut ii burneth like a beacon.
And its light and heat go thro
me.