The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1890-08-28

| Bethlehem as that her sister RuGh anu
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
soul. Perhaps it was during revival
of religion they resolved upon a Chris
tan life, and made preparations to
leave Moab. Before that they were in
different to the sanctuary; churches
were necessary evils. The minister al
most always preached poor sermons, be-
cause they had not the heart to
| hear them. They thought the bread
was not good because their appetite was
poor Religion did very well for in
valids and the aged, but they had no
desire for it. Suddenly change came
upon their soul. They found that some
thing 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
a swamp that rise out of decay and
death. Losing their self-control, they
were startled by their own prayer:
"God be merciful to me sinner ="
They did not expect it, but the Holy
Ghost was in their soul. Without
thinking what they were doing, they
brushed the dust off their family Bible.
The ground did not feel as firm under
them nor did the air seem as bright
They tried to dam back the food OF
their emotions, but the attempt failed,
and they confessed their anguish of soul
before they meant to. The secret was
Quit They wanted to know what they
must do to be saved.
With Ruth and Naomi, weeping,
Orpah started for the land of Bethle'
hem. 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 thei1
case and was preaching right at them
They thought the sermon was very
short, nor did they once coil themselves
u2 in their pew with their eyes shut
and head averted with an air of I'M
moved dignity. They began to pray
with an earnestness that astonishec
/ themselves and astonished others. SHOW
ing the plane or writing up accounts OF
walking the street when you NIGH
. have thought their mind entirely upon
= the world, they were saying within
. themselves "Oh that I were Chris
. tian!" Orpah is fully started on thu
road to Bethlehem. Christian friends
, observing the religious anxiety of thu
) awakened soul say: "He must certainly
: be Christian. There is another sol
= der in Christ's ranks, another sick on
! has been cured of the leprosy." Tit
y observers turn their attention anothe
q way; they say: "Orpah is safe enough
q she has gone to Bethlehem"
. Alas! Alas! Starting out for Heaven il
! very different thing from arriving
o there Remember Lots wife. She locke
y back with longing to the place fror
q which she came and was destroyed
: Half way between Sodom and the Cit
9 of Refuge that strange storm como
q upon her, and its salt and brimston
4 gather on her garments until they ar
4 so stiffened she can not proceed, no
q can she lie down because of this dread
IS full wrapping around her garments an
7 limbs, and long after her life has gon
4 she still stands there so covered up b
= the strange storm that she is called
a pillar of salt, as some sailor on ship
a deck in the wintry tempest stands COY
"A cred with a mail of ice. Ten thousan
% times ten thousand men have been d.
% stroyed half way between Sodom an
. the City of Refuge. 0rpah might
IA we'll never have started as afterward
10 turn back Yet multitudes have wake
70 in her footsteps. Go among those tt
N least interested in sacred things al
" you will find that they were once out
:. the land of Moab. Every one of the
=. prayed right heartily and studied the
o. Bibles, and frequented the sanctuar
10 but Lots wife looked back wistfully
an Sodom, and Orpah retreated from IL
40 company of Ruth and Naomi. It is q
SO impressive thought that after Orpa
he had gone so far as actually to look ov
into the land of Bethlehem she turnt
We back and died in Moab
ne The Bible says, in regard to the plat
wv where Jesus was buried, sin the mid
wv of the garden there was a sepulchre
ds and in the midst of the most fiowery e
d, joyments of the unpardoned there is
ID. chilfiness of death. Although they mi
no pull out the arrows that strike the
DIV soul from the Almighty's culver, the
IN remain a sting and a smarting. II nj
ST. wrench themselves away from Chri
1T. they will bear the mark of His hand !
nd which He would have rescued thel
JUS The pleasures of the world may gi
ID. temporary relief from the upbraidin
ey of conscience, but are like stupefyil
nut drugs that dull the pain only temp
to rarily. Ahab has great kingdom, al
he you would think he ought to by hap
a with his ceurtiers and chariots and D;
We aces, yet he goes to bed sick becau
for Naboth will not sell him his vinegar
Ike Hannah is Prime Minister OF the gre;
ey est nation in the world, and yet o
M poor man who will not bow the he
a makes him miserable. Herod mono
ur- olizes the most of the worlds hont
of and yet is thrown into rage becau
Or they say little child is born in Beth
his hem who may after awhile dispute I
led authority. Byron conquered the VOL
nut with his pen, and yet said that he fl
,be m IRE unhappiness from the criticism