The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1889-06-13

way for the future Church Of God in
that city. So it is womar's quiet, un-
known, unheralded seed d-p!antlng, wat
ering and nourishing that keeps feeble
churches alive, puts strong men into
| the pulpit, cheers and sustains them
when there, and keeps courage and
faith and hope alive when. others
hearts are failing them for fear. It
was Lydia that bio the gospel welcome
and gave its heralds home in her
house when it was for the first time
proclaimed ON the shores of Europe
1t was Priscilla that taught the elo
quent Apollos more perfectly the way
Of life, and Paul delights to acknowl-
edge his Indebtedness to the consecrat-
ed women who SO efSctually aided
him in his work. 1t was the prayers
and tears and faith ofa Monica that
gave to the church St. Augustine.
And in every age it is these quiet,
earnest workers who have moulded the
men whose memorials linger with US
and which we will not willingly let
die.
And how thorough was the work ON
Ruth's part. There was no half-heart-
edness in it. She was not content to
have barely enough religion to be
saved-but as St. Peter tells us, she
wonld have an entrance ministered to
her abundantly into the everlasting
kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.
From the tolls ofthe journey she would
not shrink the poor fare and the
humble lodgings that would suffice for
Naomi, should also satisfy her. The
people of God, though poor and de-
spised, would henceforth be her people
thy people shall be my people, and
thy God my God. And she coveted
no higher honor than to die and be
buried with the people of Israel.
This was heing in earnest. This
was religion that would make its
mark on the earth. This was sur
render of the whole heart to God. 1t
was the zeal Of Paul, the fire and
courage of Peter and the thunders OF
the two sons OF Zebedee. No wonder
that the Spirit of God spreads the
memorial of this brave and devout
young woman on the annals of the
Church of God, for she merits it.
And who will initiate her?
To you young ladies Of the gradu-.
ating class, and to you who go out of
these academic halls to return no
more, and to all others, we ask, what
are your decisions ? To whom and to
what will you cling? What is the goal
of your ambition What prizes in
life will you seek? Will you seek the
elegance, the ease, the pleasures, the
riches and the honors Of the world :?
These are offered you. They are laid
at your feet. You are and will be in
vited to make your choice of them.
They are very attractive. They bid
high for your love and for your souls.
Multitudes cannot resist the attractive
temptation. They cannot consent to
seek first the Kingdom Of God and
His righteousness.
But what will you seek Will you
seek first and above all to win Christ,
to have this pearl Of great price, to
seek to serve him in every place and
relation, to struggle for holier, higher,
wider spheres OF activity in His cause?
Can you look on the worlds plenty,
wealth, ease and honors as nothing
compared with finding, knowing, sit
ting at the feet of and serving Christ =?
Can you look at the simple, pastoral
life of Ruth, Ut her poverty, her Bit
terness of temporal distress, her unhes-
itating hardship, willingly endured in
euotopsnoo f,r Loseol& .,.I
nother-in law, that she might enjoy
fellowship and communion with Is
rael's God and with the people of
Israel, can you contemplate it with
delight and in spirit and heart choose
it, rather than the world, for yourself?
Can you with the eye of faith see
that tor Ruth and for yourself there
lies beyond the toll and the conflict
the blessings Of rest, and home and
love and crown of righteousness ?
Ruth CLEANED in the field and toiled
in the service Of her aged friend, but
by and by there came rest in has
bands home, and for age on age nc
splendors that poetry and romance
shed over its heroes can excel the
brightness that gilds the name of this
proselyte of righteousness and ances-
tress Of our Lord. So shall it be with
you. True, and firm and steady in
your fidelity to your Lord as the nee.
die to the pole, willing to endure trial
and loss and suffering for Him, by and
by shall come rest and honor and ar
unfading crown of righteousness.
Consecrate your lives to Christ. Gt
out into your homes, and into The new
homes that God in his providence ma,
give you and let your light shine.
Rev. DR.. Wellits, Of Philadelphia
uses this language:
''See that little fountain yonder-
away yonder in the distant mountain
shining like a thread of silver through
the thick copse and sparkling like
diamond in its healthful activity I
is hurrying on with tink ling feet t.
bear its tribute to the river See, i
passes stagnant pool, and the poo
halls it: Whittier away, maste
streamlet p Il am going to the river t,
bear this cup of water God has giver
me- sAh, you're very foolish fo
that you will need it before the sum
mer's over. 1t has been backward
spring and we shal. have hot summe
to pay for it-you will dry up then.
We'll, said the streamlet, 'ifI am t,
die SO soon had better work Will
the day lasts. fl am likely to los
this treasure from the heat, ma,
better do good with it while / hav
it. So. on it went, blessing aud re