Part 100 (2/2)

THE GOOD SHEPHERD By Bernard Plockhorst (1825- )

”Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. When he hath put forth all his own, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.”--_The Words of Jesus_ [End ill.u.s.tration]

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SAVIOUR, LIKE A SHEPHERD LEAD US

Saviour, like a shepherd lead us, Much we need Thy tenderest care; In Thy pleasant pastures feed us, For our use Thy folds prepare; Blessed Jesus, Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.

We are Thine, do Thou befriend us, Be the guardian of our way; Keep Thy flock, from sin defend us, Seek us when we go astray; Blessed Jesus, Hear the children when they pray.

Early let us seek Thy favor, Early let us do Thy will; Holy Lord, our only Saviour, With Thy grace our bosoms fill; Blessed Jesus, Thou hast loved us, love us still.

--_Dorothy Ann Thrupp_.

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WAS THERE EVER KINDEST SHEPHERD?

Was there ever kindest shepherd Half so gentle, half so sweet As the Saviour, who would have us Come and gather round His feet?

There's a wideness in G.o.d's mercy, Like the wideness of the sea; There's a kindness in His justice, Which is more than liberty.

For the love of G.o.d is broader Than the measure of man's mind; And the heart of the Eternal Is most wonderfully kind.

If our love were but more simple, We should take Him at His word; And our lives would be all suns.h.i.+ne In the sweetness of our Lord.

--_Frederick William Faber_

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[Ill.u.s.tration]

THE LOST LAMB FOUND By P. Giradet

Sometimes in winter the sheep suffer greatly from the cold and heavy snowstorms. This is a description of sheep covered by the snow in winter:--

”The flock was buried Beneath a great white billow as high as a barn and as broad as a house. This great drift was rolling and curling beneath the violent blast, tufting and combing with rustling swirls, and carved as if patterns of cornice where the grooving-chisel of the wind swept round. Ever and again the tempest s.n.a.t.c.hed little whiffs from the channeled edges, twirled them round and made them dance over the chine of the monster pile, then let them lie like herringbones or the seams of the sand where the tide has been. And all the while, from the smothery sky, more and more fiercely at every blast, came the pelting pitiless arrows winged with murky white and pointed with the barbs of the frost.”--_Blackmore_ [End ill.u.s.tration]

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GRACIOUS SAVIOUR, HOLY SHEPHERD

Gracious Saviour, holy Shepherd, Little ones are dear to Thee; Gathered with Thine arms, and carried In Thy bosom, may they be Sweetly, fondly, safely tended, From all want and danger free.

Let Thy holy words instruct them; Fill their minds with heavenly light; Let Thy love and grace constrain them To approve whate'er is right; Let them feel Thy yoke is easy, Let them prove Thy burden light.

Taught to lisp Thy holy praises Which on earth Thy children sing, With both lips and hearts, unfeigned, Glad thank-offering may they bring; Then with all Thy saints in glory Join to praise their Lord and King.

--_Jane E. Leeson and J. Whittemore_.

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