Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-07-03

is very different thing from arriving
there. Remember Lots wife Sse
looked back with longing te the place
from which she came and was destroyed
Half way between Sodom and the eisy
OF Refuge that storm comes upon her
and its salt and birthstone gather on bel
garments until they are so stiffened she
can not proceed, nor can size lie down,
because of this dreadful wrapping
around her garments and limbs; and
long after her life has gone she Sill
stands there so covered up by the
strange storm tat she is called pillar
OF salt. IS some sailor on the ships deck
| Il the wintry tempest stands covered
with mail of ice. Ten Thousand times
| ten thousand men have been DESTROYED
half way between Sodon and the city
of Refuge. Orpah might as we'll never
have started as afterwards to turn back.
Yet multitudes have walked in her FOOT.
steps.
Again: Let oHr subject impress upoE
US the truth that those who have once
felt it their duty to leave their natural
| state can not give UP their duty and 60
back to hardness OF heart without a
struggle. 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." All.
my nearer, it requires more decision
and perseverance 10 stay away from the
Kingdom of God than 70 enter it. Al
though she did not know it, Orpah
passed through greater struggle in
turning back into the land of Moab than
would have been necessary TO take her
clear through te Bethlehem. Suppose
you that those persons who have re-
manned in their evil ways have had no
struggle? Why, they have been obliged
to fight every inch of their way. The
road to death is not such easy travelling
as some ministers have been accustomed
to describe it. From beginning TO end
it is fighting against the sharp sword of
the Spirit. 1t is climbing over the
cross. 1t is wading through the deep
blood Of the Son of God, 1t is scaling
mountains of privilege. 1t is wading
through lakes Of sorrow 1t is breaking
over communion tables and baptismal
fonts and Tulpits and Bibles. 1t is
wedging ones self through between
pious kindred who stand before and
press us back and hold on to us by their
prayers even after we have passed them
in our headlong downward career.
We talk about taking up the cross and
following Jesus, but that cross is not
half so heavy as the burden which the
sinner carries. 1t is a very solemn
thing to be a Christian, but it is more
solemn thing not to be Christian.
There are multitudes who, afraid of the
self-denials of the Christian, rush into
the harder self-denials of the unbeliev-
er. No yoke but Christ's, however tight
and CALLING! Orpah goes back to her
idolatries, but she returns weeping; and
all who follow her will find the same
sorrows.
The Bible says in regard to the place
where Christ was buried: 'In the midst
of the garden there was sepulchre;"
and in tie midst of the most flowery en-
ii
chllliness of death. Although they
may pull out the arrows that strike
their soul from the Almighty's CULVER,
there remains a sting and a smarting.
If men wrench themselves away from
Christ they will bear the mark of His
hand by which He would have rescued
them. The pleasure of the world may
give temporary relief from the upbraid-
ings of conscience, but are like stupe-
flying drugs that dull the pain only tenn
porarily.
In the last century in England lived
the immortal Shenstone. Portions of
his life were given to the writing of po-
etry, but this was not evidently the
field for which nature had equipped
him. His name will never be forgotten
because of the home which he adorned
and beautifed, until there probably
never has been so bright a spot since
the Garden of Eden as what he loved to
cali 1.-THE Leasowes." In addition to
the marvels which nature had
wrought he added the perfection of
art. Arbor and terrace and slope and
rustic temple and reservoir and urn and
fountain here had their browning. Oak
and yew and hazel put on their glory of
verdure. What the greenness of deep
grass and the foam of cascade and the
glitter of still lake could give of beauty
were added. No life was more diligent
and no soul more ingenious than those
of Shenstone, and all that genius and
4 20 ho IL
ment of that treasured spot. What
more could one want to make home
happy? Yet there is one man who sits
signing in those bowers and casting
gloomy looks upon those parks, and the
mirth of leaping waterfalls makes no
melody in his ear. 1t is Shenstone, the
owner of Leasowes. Il have lost my
road to happiness" says the respondent
man. Il am angry and enviOus, and
detected, and frantic, and disregard all
present things just as it becomes a mad
man to do" My friends, there is no
solid happiness in any thing but relig-
ion. 1 care not how bright a home
Orpah has in Moab. when she turns
away from duty she turns away from
peace.
Again: This subject teaches that a
religious choice and the want of it fire.
luently divide families. Ruth and Or
pah and Naomi were tenderly attached.
They were all widows and their life had
been consecrated by baptism of tears.
In the fire of trial their affections had
been forged. Together they were so
united, you can hardly i'm
agine them separated. Yet fatal line
IS drawn dividing them from each other,
perhaps forever. Naomi can not live in
l heather country. She must go into
that there among the Nous |