The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-03
CHURCH OF THE COVENANT.
SERMON BIT THE REV. ARTHUR MITCHELL, {

SERMON BIZ THE REV. ARTHUR MITCHELL, OF
CHICAGO.
The Rev. Arthur Mitchell, OF Chicago, preached
an eloquent and impressive sermon yesterday
morning in the Church OF the Covenant tPresby-
teran) Park avenue, corner OF Tpirty.dlth street.
The congregation was large and attentive one.
the TEXT was taken from the FIRST chapter OF the
BOOK OF Ruth, aud the thirteenth verse. In the
words:-" Thy people shall be my eople ana thy
God my God.n
The preacher said, in substance, that this little
Book OF Ruth IL full OF the rosy fragrance
OF flial affection and steadfastness In
the paths OF duty ana or virtue. IL is the story or
young Moabitisn woman; the history OF her love
and journeyings 10 the land OF Moab, aRd her re-
turn to judah. when her husband died IN the
land OF Moab Naomi resolved TO retrace her weary
steps with Ruth and 0rpan, Der two daugnters-in-
law and 20 again TO the country OF the lsraelites
She vividly pictured to the two Moabitish women
the fatigues ana sacrifices which both would hayo
TO make IN following the steps OF their motner-n-
law.
oRPAH RRPENTs
and returns to the land Of MOAB her native place,
and to tne idols there worshipped; but the stead
tast, faithful Ruth hung upon Naomis neck
beseecning her IN no wise to let her daugh-
ter 20, saying, in the words OF the text
"Whtner thou goest | Will 30. and where
4
be my people and TN God my God.n Ruth. true TO
the best instincts OF tue human heart, sought
labor where with to aid her be oyed Naomi. ana she
CLEANED IN the fields OF BOaz Her goodness and
strength OF nearL oegat love Tor ner In the breasts
Of Others, and from ner sprang David, the great
King vi Israel, from wnom IS descended inc son
OF Nan. even Christ. Ii was love, the purest and
most unselhsh sentiment OF the human mind, that
gut1eu Ruth TO these great things. In her love TO
Naomi she learned ialtn IN God. How often mas
not the calm ana holy solace Of gentle, truthful
Naomi, sued IFS influence on and inerGdcahly fixed
about
IS tue heart, not reason. that nrst feels
God. All the sophstlcal intrenchments
In winch men iOrty themselves oY
unbelef have often surrendered at the summons
OF one gentle voice aud lovely disposition Men
are not 10 be con erted By reason alone. but by
appeas 70 their better natures or love ana faith.
Gentle mothers are the ordinary missionaries OF
converts are so numerous as those OF loving
daughters, gentle sisters or anectionate wives.
How often mas not man been recalled from sin by
the voice OF mother? Fewer things are more
dnicult 70 resist than the loving appeas from
THE MOTHERS LOVE.
soft and touching, u.s. above all other things, ire
slstlbe In us appeals to our laith. We see men IN
everyday life VINO followed the example 81 Ruins
slater, VINO, wnen called upon TO endure hardsnlps
and make sacrifices IN the cause Of duty, drew
back and went away from the right pain. Urpanis
resolution failed her, ana she turned back 10 ner
own people and their ldOatrOus gods. sue was
like unto the rich Young man who saw aud loved
CLrist. He mad Kept all the commandments, but
would not sell his great possessions, take up the
cross aud follow our divine Master. lie desired
cost; 30 he went away sorrow u aud would not
p TT with bis vast earthly Possessions iol hfe
everlasting hereafter He. ike many others,
could almost kiss Christ, while leaving Him was
sda within himself Tor he aud they, ike kutn,s
sister, mad not courage 10 follow the true patn III
Ruin mad DOT continued faithfully at tue side OF
her loved Naomi, David had not lived 70 sing his
immortal songs or praise and glory to God aud to
Israel Tie glorious example VI THIS young
MoADitish woman VINO LEFT country ana Kindred
for the sake OF sacred love and uoly
faith, NAV well be placed siae by sl1e VITA that OF
tue patriarch Abraham, when ne lett ms own peo-
pie aud went out INTO tne wilderness 10
SEEK the TRUE COP.
Her example IL Ike unto those OF the holy
Saints James and Joan, VINO left every
thlng-even abandoning ships on tue sea-
10 follow Jesus. How lliellke, how beautl-
fol are the Worus $50 they two went,
until they came 10 Bethlehem. And IL came 70
pass when tneJ we're come 10 Bethlehem that ali
Tue city vas moved ABOUT them and they said =
is this NaomlY they passed "A DESERT road,
when terminated In abundance at the green
nelds Oh Bethlehem. fney had arrived az haven
Of rest alter passing tiresome journey 10
sweet converse and mutual lnterninRmR
Of sous Ny the way la the end them
love, faith and sleaUIastness In the true pain
were rewarded, anu Tie wOras o. Christ
amply veuned wnen lie said that II 4 man leave
his mouse auu lrieudB or Ills sake and the Gospels
he wUuld receive reward a nundredf0ld, even
lie everlasting. 1uls sublime example or the
youthlul Ruth should ever be present ia the minds
Ol loung people. heT nrmness ana resoluhOn 90