New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-03
THE LESSON OF RlI1H'S LOVE.
TIE Rey Mchet at Che Church Of tie CoDenGnt Presb


TIE Rey Mihheu the Church Of tie COvenant Presby
brtdn).
The Rev. DR.. Mitchell of Chicago preached
at the Church of the Covenant at Parkave and Thirty
hfh-st Presbyteran), yesterday morning His text
taken from Ruth IT, 16: "Aud Ruth said. Enreat not
TO leave thee return from following after thee
for whittier thou gocs will go, and where thou lodges
will lodge thy people shall be my people, and thy God
my God"
This little book OF Ruth consists OF only four chapters
but it is well said that these ncose garden OF roses
"a fragrant and full of mystic flowers those which
the modern traveller still finds blooming and twning
about the solitary ruins Of Israel and Moab this
side the Jordan and beyond" The story
is not OF public affairs or OF mans
hcroism. wOman-the young widow, Ruth-is the
central figure and is the story of her wach casts suc
vail of tenderness and beauty all the narrative
The incidents very few and quite familiar The love
is the lesson and tho charm OF the book. 1t
romantic, but an almost rcverentlal love, and yet
its language OF tenderness and OF fcrvid affection might
well borrowed by in ts most glowing hours
love of the purcst most unseish, and e1traOrd
But while Ruth is rightly viewed as the central figure
of the scene IL would be very unjust and strange If
who, though Of another race aud religion with nothing OF
youth opucnce beauty for her aid and occupying
such position in the household one whose diicny has
from DAYS more ancient STILL until now who notwith.
from both her heather daughters-inlaw such warm
affection, and from one such deathless love:
Ruth the LOVING we may well admire; out
therefore all the more lod and look upon
Naomi the beloved Even Orpah was almost per
suaded follow this belovemother To the people and 10
the God OF Israel, and Ruth was wholly won. Ruth
learned faith In God through love TO Naomi Her faith
gained 10y the pathway OF "a human love. Ruth
from Pagan kindred aud from all the foul abomlnaons
of Moabs foul doaty, won to pety and to the more
steadiast trust in Naoini's God by love for Naomi.
Ife is the great power in our world Words are light
Even religious words from pen or pulpit or from parents
felt 10 be easy things Men not to be converted
by the legercmain OF words OF eloquent words but by
tie welcome influences of loving lives and most OF ALL
by lives where loveness Is felt at home. Some who
seek for usefulness look too far They look for religious
duties The acts OF devotion and OF outer charity
precious, II is true, but there be anything more re-
igious than the duties OF ones hOc Or there any
converts precious than those whom may win by
loving ways at homef gentle mother is q mission
ary ordained by Gods own hand. God only knows
how many have first learned TO love Christ, have first
learned u Christ In Christian mother. Even
had not been told the decision OF Ruth In all It's
strength choice OF IsrePs God who could help seeing
in her Whochcared and unaltcrabe choice the emblem
Of heart embracing Christ, and leaving all 10 limf
The form OF this young MOahtess fOrsaking father
mother and native land Is only another portrait In the
great scripture gallery OF Faith Her youthful