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

Rev. Thos. II. McCa:lie, ID. d., OF
Chattanooga, Tenn, delivered the fol-
lowing sermon before the Graduating
Glass and pupils of Salem Female
Academy, Sunday, June I'd, his text
being taken from Proverbs, 81: 10 /;
and Ruth L: 16, and entitled "Ruth's
Decision
This is the decision of a young wo'
man and, we may say, her confession
of faith 1t was made under these
circumstances.
In the little village of Bethlehem
above 1900 years before our Lord
was born in that place, there lived
EIimelech and Naomi, with their two
sons.
Driven by the distress of a famine
they left their own country and went
to dwell in Moab. There they So
journed for more than ten years. The
two sons married in that country.
The wife of the one was Orpah; of the
other Ruth. Elimelech died, likewise
the two sons, leaving the mother and
her two daughters-in-la law alone.
Naomi soon began to realize that
the hand of the Lord was against her,
that she had sinned in fleeing out of
the land of promise, and that there
fore Affections had come upon her.
She determined to make haste and re.
turn to her own country. This deci
sion she announced to her two daugn-
ters-in law. They decide to accom-
pany her. They all start for the land
of Israel, for Naomi has heard that
there is bread in abundance there.
But they have not gone far, before
Naomi determines to test the sincerity
and earnestness of her daughters in
law. She knows the poverty, the
trials, and the hardships that are be-
fore her. Once she had plenty, now
she is going back to home empty,
destitute and cherries. Moab is rich
and prosperous. She would not, there
fore, for a moment consent to draw
these young women away from their
pleasant homes, their fathers, mothers,
brothers and sisters into q land where
distress and trial awaited them, with
out apprising them of the fact and
testing their fidelity to her and to her
God. She urges them to return to
their old homes and to their gods.
They avow their love for her and their
desire to accompany her. She COM
mends their faithfulness in the past,
points them to the blessings of 3 good
home yet in store for each of them in
Moab, tells them plainly of her in
ability to do anything for them in the
future and urges them to return each
to her mothers house, for it grieveth
me much," she said, "that the hand of
the Lord is gone out against me-" I'm
der this urgent and testing pressure
the young women make different decis-
ionswh ch affect their lives and destinies
for time and eternity. The narrative
says "Orpah kissed her motherin
law" Ga farewell kiss), "but Ruth
clave unto her."
1t was the crisis in the history of the
two young women. Such crises come
in the life of every one. At first
Orpah thought she would 60 with Ma
omi. Natural affection prompted that
way. The memories of past joys,
mutual trials and united sorrows point
ed to a continued relationship with
this mother in Israel. But she had
not then looked the difficulties in the
face She had not thought of the
poverty, of the houseless and homeless
condition of Naomi, of the toll that
awaited her, the scant fare and of the
sickness of heart that comes to one far
far from home and in land of stran-
gers. She hao not thought of the
blessings she was leaving behind, OF
the plenty yet in mothers house, OF
the ease and luxury in Moab homes
She had been floating on stream OF
natural affection that she now per.
ceives for the first time to be leading
to trial and hardship and poverty and
that decision must be made at once
and forever whether she will go with
Naomi, and choose the God of Israel
for her God, or return to her OWL
people and to the gods of her people
So soon therefore as she fairly faces
the question and sees that decisor
must be made, she makes it. She
kissed her mother-in- and bads
her final farewell. She goes back t.
Moab's wealth, but to Moab's coming
night she goes where there is plenty
nov, but want by and by. She save,
her life, but she loses it. Lik,
Demas, who forsook Paul, she love,
this present world and forsakes Naom
for it. Like the seed in the stony
ground which sprang up quickly ant
bid fair to do well, but soon perishet
beneath the scorching rays of a sum
mer's sun. Orpah started fair bu
brought no fruit to perfection.
How sad it is when any who ha
started for heaven to turn back ant
walk no more with the people of God
Such decisions as this are taking plac'
in the everyday history OF human
lives all about US.
But from such picture we turI
/ with giauness to the decision of Ruth
"She claye to Naomi" and how beau
tifully Goes she express her unalter
able attachment to her mother-in- Law
and 10 the God of Israel. "Entrea
me not to leave thee, or to return
from following after thee: for, whith
er thou goest, I will go; and wher
thou lodgest, I will lodge !. thy peopl
shall be my people, and thy God, 10,
God. Where thou diest will / die