Daily Republican., 1889-07-22
RUTII'S LOVE,
AND our sAvioR's. WHICH is
INFINITELY GREATER.
In Midsummer Old Asbury is All Aglow
With Holy Zeal and Pastor Hanna
breaches on Love and
Constancy.

Come, winters dreary storms, or sum-
mer's torrid heat come, devastating cy-
clones, or labor strikes; year in and year
out our centenarian, "Old Mother
Asbury," holds her 8 o'clock Sunday
morning prayer and experience meeting,
always rejoicing In Holy Spiritual power,
and always finding the last one the best.
Aged saints, with young and cheerful
hearts, talk of their blessed walk with
God, some twenty, some thirty and some
fifty years.
Although Pastor Hanna was there yes
terday morning he kept all his ARE in,
with accumulate 8, until later at half
past ten, he let 1t out from bis pulpit to
large audience, for the majority Of AS
buys NEARLY 800 members, with rela-
tives, neighbors aud friends, go to
church even In midsummer.
When the pastor read the third chapter
OF first John, It appeared his sermon
would be on "Love," which theme he
had greatly emphasized at the preceding
Friday evenings prayer and experience
meeting.
For the purpose of explaining brief
cessation Of pastoral calis, OF which he
has made s23 since the recent beginning
OF his official year, he stated his calls
would, by request of the trustees, be for
$500.
A very little girl, who has Just been
converted at Mountain Lake camp meet
Ing, was admitted on PROBATION.
LOVE AND coNsTANcY.
Ruth 1: 16, "Entreat me not to leave
thee" &C., was the text. The story of
Naomi and Ruth, and their family his
tory and travels, were narrated.
The natural love of Ruth leaped all
bounds and was blind to poverty, priva-
tion, hsrdships and soJourn for lie
among strangers. Yet many years later
there came distinguished parsonage, In
her ancestral line, whose love and devo-
! ton were infinitely greater. The Saviour
showed love to enemies was indisp .asible
in Christian character.
II these two women could be so con-
stant, how much mora should those who
now know Christ be constant to each
other. The beautiful words OF the text
are set to winsome music. Ruth knew
not Jesus and the story of redemption.
Her love was the natural outburst of a
loving heart. How much more, In love
and constancy, should his followers stand
firmly together and avoid behind-the back
upkind criticism OF each other. Jesus
said: "As have loved you that ye also
love one another"
Brother Freemasons sometimes ex.
hibit love Tor one another that ought to
make some church members feel
ashamed. But we must go further than
this and love even our enemies. When
the preacher starts out in the morning,
rejoicing in divine love, he feels sad W.
deed as soon as he convt rses with scmt
one full Of sour and bitter criticism Of
brethren.
1.-two women in dark despair and pov
erty can 80 love as did Ruth and Naomi
let us never doubt the constancy of God I
love, whose character Is Infinitely above
mans. His virtues contain no dros.
and his graces are perfect. We SET
good men, but God is Infinitely tal
above the best. The most constant
; people are the noblest. Men with this
highest thoughts are the most constant
None are SO poor, SO little or so misera.
BILE as not to be objects of the love ol
God and the visits OF those who bear the
spirit of Jesus. He bore patiently with
Judas and chsritably with Peter, whom,
instead OF upbraiding, he told to "feed
! bis sheep" His constancy OF devotion
is immovable.
If the love of those women could be &c
constant and Gods love to us so constan,
and infinite, ought not our love TO God be
equally constant and abiding.
Do you think Naomi could have de
serted Ruth after taking her over Ito hel
own country and kindredI She would
have been All migrate. God is better
friend 10 us, and the sacrifice he ha:
made for us is infinite and his love Il
inhnlte. Every body is included In tht
love of Christ.