The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-08-29

pented and cruel Manasseh turned unto
the Lord; but many a nature, affec-
tionate and gentle, has fought success
fully against divine influences. Many
a dove has refused to come in the win
dow of the ark, although finding no rest
for the sole Ct her foot.
MANY START BUT TURN BACK.
Again, the history of Orpah impresses
upon me the truth that there are many
who make 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 ar
rive there. But while these continue
in the journey they commenced Orpah
after awhile gets discouraged and turns
back. This is the history of many
soul. Perhaps it was during a revival
Of religion they resolved upon Chris
tan life and made preparations to leave
Moab. Before that they were indiffer-
ent to the sanctuary; churches were
necessary evils. The minister almost
always preached poor sermons, because
they had not the heart to hear them
They thought the bread was not good,
because their appetite was poor. Re-
igion did very well for invalids and the
aged, but they had no desire for it.
Suddenly a change came upon their
soul. They found that something must
be done. Every night there was a
thorn in their pillow. There was gall
in their wine. They found that their
pleasures were only false lights of
swamp that rise out of decay and death.
Losing their self control they were
startled by their own prayer, "God be
msrciful to me. sinner" They did
not suspect it, but the Holy Ghost was
in their soul. Without thinking what
they were doing they brushed the dust
off the family Bible. The ground did
not feel as firm under them, nor did the
air seem as bright. They tried to dam
back the flood of their emotions, but
the attempt failed, and they confessed
their anguish of soul before they meant
to. The secret was out! They wanted
to know what they must do to be saved.
THE START FOR BETHLEHEM.
With Ruth and Naomi weeping Or
pah started for the land of Bethlehem.
They longed for the Sabbath to come.
Straight as an arrow to the mark the
sermon struck them. They thought
the minister must have heard of their
case and was preaching right at them.
They thought the sermon was very short,
nor did they once coil themselves up in
their pew with their eyes shut and head
averted with an air of unmoved dignity.
They began to pray with an earnestness
that astonished themselves and aston
ished others. Showing the plane, or
writing up accounts, or walking the
street when you might have thought
their mind entirely upon the world,
they were saying within themselves,
"Oh, that l were Christianw Orpah
is fully started on the road to Pethle-
hem. Christian friends observing the
religious anxiety of the awakened soul
say, 'He must certainly be a Christian.
There is another soldier in Christ's
ranks; another sick one has been cured
of the leprosy" The observers turn
their attention another way. They
say, "Orpah is safe enough; she has
gone to Bethlehem"
Alas! Alas! Starting out for heav-
en- is very different thing from arriv-
ing there. Remember Lots wife. She
looked back with longing to the place
from which she came and was destroy
ed. Half way between Sodom and the
city of Refuge that strange storm
comes upon her, and it's salt and brim-
stone gather on her garments until
they are so stiffened she cannot pro-
coed, nor can she lie down because of
this dreadful wrapping around her gar
ments and limbs; and long after her
life has gone she still stands there so
covered up by the strange storm that
she is called pillar of salt, as some
sailor on ships deck in the wintry tenn
pest stands covered WITH mail of ice.
Ten thousand times ten thousand
men have been destroyed half way be-
tween Sodom and the city of Refuge.
Orpah might as well never have started
as afterward to turn back. Yet multi
tudes have walked in her footsteps. Go
among those the least interested in sac
cred things and you will find that they
were once out of the land of Moab
Every one of them prayed right heart
lily and studied their Bibles and fire.
quented the sanctuary, but Lots wife
looked back wistfully to Sodom and
Orpah retreated from the company of
Ruth and Naomi. 1t is an impressive
thought that after Orpah had gone so
far as actually to look over into the
land of Bethlehem she turned back and
died in Moab.
TO TURN BACK MEANS TO STRUGGLE
Again, let our subject impress upon us
the truth that those who have once felt
1T their duty to leave their natural state
cannot give up their duty and go back
to hardness of heart without a strue-
gle. After Orpah had thoroughly
made up her mind to go back to the
place from which she started she went
through the sad scene of parting with
Ruth and Naomi. My text says: ''They
Lifted up their voice and wept" ALI,
my nearer, it requires more decision
and perseverance to stay away from
the kingdom of God than to enter it.
Although she did not know it Orpah
passed through a greater struggle in
turning hack into tho land &c MI