THE NINETY AND NINE
                                      
   "He rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which
   went not astray." Matthew 18:13
     _________________________________________________________________
                                      
           Words: Elizabeth Cecelia Douglas Clephane (1830-1869).
                    Music: Ira David Sankey (1840-1908).
                                      
     Ira Sankey spotted these lyrics in a British newspaper while on an
 evangelism tour in Scotland with Dwight Lyman Moody. He tore the poem from
the paper, put it in his pocket, and forgot about it. Later that day, at the
 end of their service in Edinburgh, Dwight Moody asked Sankey for a closing
song. Ira was caught somewhat by surprise, but the Holy Spirit reminded him
 of the poem in his pocket. He brought it out, said a prayer, then composed
    the tune on the fly as he sang. Thus was born "The Ninety and Nine."
     _________________________________________________________________
                                      
                 There were ninety and nine that safely lay
                        In the shelter of the fold.
                   But one was out on the hills far away,
                      Far off from the gates of gold.
                    Away on the mountains wild and bare.
                   Away from the tender Shepherd's care.
                   Away from the tender Shepherd's care.
                                      
                 "Lord, Thou hast here Thy ninety and nine;
                       Are they not enough for Thee?"
                But the Shepherd made answer: "This of Mine
                         Has wandered away from Me;
                 And although the road be rough and steep,
                    I go to the desert to find My sheep,
                    I go to the desert to find My sheep.
                                      
                     But none of the ransomed ever knew
                     How deep were the waters crossed;
             Nor how dark was the night the Lord passed through
                   Ere He found His sheep that was lost.
                    Out in the desert He heard its cry,
                    Sick and helpless and ready to die;
                    Sick and helpless and ready to die.
                                      
              "Lord, whence are those blood drops all the way
                    That mark out the mountain's track?"
                "They were shed for one who had gone astray
                  Ere the Shepherd could bring him back."
               "Lord, whence are Thy hands so rent and torn?"
                 "They're pierced tonight by many a thorn;
                 They're pierced tonight by many a thorn;"
                                      
                But all through the mountains, thunder riven
                        And up from the rocky steep,
               There arose a glad cry to the gate of heaven,
                     "Rejoice! I have found My sheep!"
                  And the angels echoed around the throne,
                "Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!
                Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!"
     _________________________________________________________________