A Baptist Abroad: Travels and Adventures of Europe and all Bible LandsWhittle, Walter Andrew
Religion
A Baptist Abroad: Travels and Adventures of Europe and all Bible Lands
Whittle, Walter Andrew
Europe -- Description and travel; Middle East -- Description and travel
The English and Presbyterian churches have missions here. The former is
in a flourishing condition, but the latter is at a stand-still because
of some trouble with the Turkish government. The English have an
Orphans’ Home here in which they feed, clothe, and educate one hundred
orphan girls—as some go out others come in. Some of these girls are
almost grown, and many of them are bright and beautiful. I have just
had the sweet privilege of preaching to them. Oh, how it stirs one’s
heart to stand here in Nazareth and preach! to stand here where _Jesus
was brought up_, and preach _His gospel_ to _His people_—the Jews!
After preaching I sang several songs for the people. In turn, the
orphan girls in a sweet tone of voice sang for me a beautiful song
which touched me deeply, and which I have translated, that the reader
may also enjoy it.
“We are little Nazareth children,
And our Father placed our home
’Mid the olive trees and vineyards
Of His earthly childhood home.
“For the Lord who loves the children,
And was glad to hear their praise,
Cares that Nazareth children know Him,
Do His will and choose His ways.
“Cares that they should keep in memory
All that sacred life spent here;
Try in heart to walk beside Him,
Safe and happy in His fear.
“And we know that He is coming—
Every knee to Him shall bow—
And the joyous shouts to meet Him
Shall begin in Nazareth now.
“Jesus, Savior, dwell within us,
Make a temple of each heart,
Pure and loving, true and holy,
For thy service set apart.”
CHAPTER XXXI.
A CHARACTERISTIC SCENE IN THE ORIENT.
Shepherd Tents—Many Flocks in One Sheep-Cote for the Night—Many
Merchants from Different Countries—Ships Anchored—Arabs at
Meal—Arabs Smoking—Shepherds with their Reed-Pipes—Merchants’
Response—Music and Dancing at Night—Bustle and Confusion in the
Morning—Fight Like Madmen—Over-Burdened Camels—Camp Broken
up—Dothan and Joseph’s Pit—Money-Loving Mohammedans—Crafty
Jews—Return to Tents—The Shepherds Awaken—Crook, Sling and
Reed-Pipe—David and Goliath—Shepherds under the Star-Lit Sky—“Glory
to God in the Highest.”
NOTHING could present a scene more characteristic of Oriental life than
a half dozen shepherd tents, black and dingy, pitched, not like Jacob’s
tent on the mountain top, but like Isaac’s tent in the valley, in the
midst of an olive grove, by the side of a flowing fountain. Here by the
tents is a corral, or sheep-cote, enclosed by a rock wall, on top of
which is a rough hedge of dry, thorny bushes, placed there to keep the
robbers, as well as the jackals and wolves and other wild beasts, from
molesting the sheep.
Many flocks, both of sheep and goats, are brought to this one cote for
protection during the night, and the swarthy shepherds, each with a
loose garment of coarse camel’s hair carelessly thrown around him to
hide his nakedness, occupy the tents in common.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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