The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1890-07-04
STORY OF oRPAH.

DR.. Talmage Discourses on the
Cowardly Daughter-in-Law.
Grace Not Always Strongest With the Best
Natures-The Worship OF Strange Gods
Hard to OVERWHELMINGLY
Great Power.
In a recent sermon at BROOKLYN Rev.
+. Dewitt Taimage took for his SUBJ
iect: 1.-THE Cowardly Daughter-in-Law
-0rpah." His text was Ruth, i. IA:
"And they lifted up their voices and
wept and Orpah kissed her mother-in-
Law, but Ruth clave unto her." He said:
Moab was a heather land. Naomi
is about to leave it and go unto the land
of Bethlehem. She has two daughters
in-law, Ruth and Orpah, who conclude
to go with her. Naomi tells them they
had better not leave their native land
and undertake the hardship of the
Journey, but they will not be persuaded
They all three start out on their Journey.
After awhile Naomi, although she high
ly priced the company of her two daugh-
ters-in-law, attempted again to persuade
them to go back because of the hardship
and self-denial through which they
were obliged to go. Ruth responds in
the words from which once discoursed
to you: "Entreat me not to leave thee,
nor to return from following after thee,
for where thou goest | will go and
where thou loigest will lodge, thy
people shall. be my people and thy
God my God, where thou diest will 1
die and there will DO buried, the Lord
do so to me and more also if aught but
death part thee and me-" Not so with
her sister Orpah. Her determination
had already been shaken. The length
and peril of the journey began to appall
her. and she had worshipped the gods
of Moab so long that it was hard to give
them up. From that point 0rpah turned
back, the parting being described in the
words of my text: "And they lifted up
their voice and wept again, and Orpah
kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth
clave unto her"
Learn from this story of Orpah that
some of those who do not leave the
Moab of their iniquities are persons of
fine susceptibility. 1t was compassion
for Naomi in her widowhood and sorrow
that led 0rpah to start with her toward
bethlehem. IL was not because of any
lack of affection for her that she turned
back. We known this from the
grief exhibited at parting. l do
not know but that she had as
much warmth and ardor of nature
as Ruth, but she lacked the courage and
persistence of her sister. That there
are many with as fine susceptibility as
Orpah who will not take up their cross
and follow Christ is a truth which needs
but little demonstration. Many of those
who have become the followers of Jesus
have but very little natural impress
sibility. Grace often takes hold of the
hardest heart and the most unloyely
character and transforms it. 1t is
hammer that breaks rocks. In this
Christ often shows His power. 1t wants
but little generalship to conquer a fat
country, but might of artillery and
heroism to take fort manned and
ready for raking cannonade. The great
Captain of our salvation has forced His
way into many an armed castle. 1 doubt
not that Christ could have found many
fisherman naturally more noble
hearted than Simon Peter, but there
was no one by whose conversion He
could more gloriously have magnified
His grace. The conversion of a score of
Johns would not have illustrated the
power of the Holy Ghost as much as the
conversion of one Peter.
o, how many, like 0rpah, have warm
affections and yet never become
Christians? Like Orpah. they know
how to weep, but they do not know how
to pray. Their fneness of feeling leads
them into the friendships of the world,
bat not into communion with God.
They can love every body but Him who
is altogether lovely. All other sorrow
rends their heart, but they are I'M
touched by the woes of dying Christ.
Good news fills them with excitement,
but the great tidings of Joy and saliva
ton stir not their soul. Anxious to do
what is right, yet they rob God. Crate
full for the slightest favors, they make
no return to Him who wrung out the
last drop of blood from His heart TO
deliver them from going down to the
pit. They would weep at the door of
prison at the sight of wicked captive
In chains, but have no compassion for
their own souls, over which Satan,
like grim jailer, holds the lock and
key. When repulsive, grasping, I'M
sympathetic natures resist the story of
Saviour's love, it does not excite our
surprise; but it is among the greatest of
wonders that so many who exhibit Or
pah's susceptibility also exhibit 0rpah's
inpenitency.
Again, the history of 0rpah impresses
upon me the truth that there are many
who make a good starting, but after
awhile change their minds and turn
back. When these three mourners start
from their home in Moab there is as
much probability that Orpah will reach
Bethlehem as that her sister Ruth and
her mother-in-law, Naomi, will arrive
there. But while these continue in the
journey they commenced, Orpah after
awhile gets discouraged and turns back. |
This is the history Of many a soul. Per
haps it was during a revival of religion |
they resolved upon Christian life and |
made preparations to leave Moab. Be
fore that they were Indifferent to the |
sanctuary and churches were necessary !
evils The minister always preached |
poor sermons, because they had not the !
heart to hear them. They thought the |
bread was not'good because their appe- |
tite was poor. Religion did very we'll |
for fnvalids and the aged. but they |
had no desire for it Suddenly a /