The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1890-06-25


half SO heavy as the burden which the |
sinner carries. 1t is very solemn
thing to be Christian, but 1t 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 unba-
lever. No yoke but Christ's, however
tight and galling 0rpah goes back to
her idolatries, but she returns weeping;
and all who follow her will find the
same sorrows. Just in proportion as
gospel advantages have been numerous
will be the disturbance Of the heart that
will not come to Christ.
The Bible says, in regard to the place
where Christ was buried, 'In the midst
of the garden there was sepulcher;"
and in the midst Of the most howery
enjoyments Of the unpardoned there is
chilliness OF death. Although they
may pull out the arrows that strike their
soul from the Almighty's quiver, there
remain sting and q smarting. II men
wrench themselves away from Oh rist
they will bear the mark Of His hand
by which He would have rescued them.
The pleasures Of the world may give
temporary relief from the upbraidings
OF conscience, but are like stupefying
drugs that dull the pain only tempo
rarily. Ahab has great kingdom, and
you would think he ought to be happy
with his courtiers and chariots and
palaces, yet he goes to bed sick because
Naboth will not sell him his vineyard.
Haman Is Prime Minister Of the great
est nation in the world and yet, one
poor man who will not bow the head
makes him utterly miserable. Herod
nionopolizes the most OF the worlds
honor, and yet is thrown into rage be-
cause they say little child is born in
Bethlehem who may after awhile dis
pute his authority. Byron conquered
the world with his pen and yet said,
that he felt more unhappiness from the
criticism of the most illiterate reader,
than he experienced pleasure from the
praise Of all the talented.
In the last century in England lived
the immortal Shenstone. Portions Of
his life were given to the writing Of
poetry, 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 beautihed, until there probably
never has been so bright spot since
the Garden Of Eden as what he loved TO-
call "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 crowning. 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 dill
gence were directed to adornment OF
that treasured spot. What more could
one want TO make homo happy. Yet
there is one man who sits signing in
those bowers, and casting gloomy looks
upon those parks, and the mirth Of leap
ing waterfalls makes no melody In his
ear. II Is Shenstone, tho owner OF tho
Ieasowes. 81 have lost my road 10 hap
piness," says the Respondent man, 81
am angry and envious, and detected,
and frantic, and disregard all present
things just as 1t becomes madman
to do" My friends, there is nc
solid happiness in any thing but religion,
I care not how bright home orpah has
in Moab, when she turns away from duty
she turns away from peace. Amid tho
Bacchanalia OF Belshazzar's feast, and
the glitter OF chalices there always will
come out handwriting on the wall,
fearfully ominous: "Tekel"- weighed
in the balance and found wanting. When
you can reap harvests of bare rocks, and
gather balm ont Of nightshade, and
make sunlight sleep in the heart oI
sepulchers, and build firm house on q
rocking billow, then can an unpardoned
soul find firm enjoyment amid Its trans
gressions.
Again, this subject teaches that re-
ligious choice and the want OF IL fire.
quently divide families. Ruth and
Orpah and Naomi were tenderiy at.
tached. They we're all widows, and
their life had been consecrated by q
baptism OF tears. In the fire Of trial
their affections had been forged. To
gether they were so pleasantly united,
you can hardly imagine them separated
Yet fatal line is drawn dividing them
from each other, perhaps forever. Naomi
can not live in heathen country. She
mustEo into Bethlehem that there among
the pious she may worship the true
God. Ruth makes similar choice, but
Orpah rebels. "And they lifted up their
voice and wept again, and orpah kissed
her mother-in-law, but Ruth dlave unto
her." The history Of this family Of
.Elimelech is the historyof many fani
lies Of this day. How often ~ Ia that IN
q circle OF relatives, while they look
alike, and walk alike, and talk alike,
there Is tremendous difference. Out
wardly united in the afiectionsl rela'
tions Of this life, they are separated in
the most important respects. Some now
are tho children OF light and othera the
children Of darkness. These are alfVs
in Christ, and those arc dead in sin.
Ruth in the land Of Bethlehem, orpah
An Moab. OF the same family are
David and Solomon, worshipers Of the
most high God, and Adonjah and Alb
SALON, who live and die the enemies oi
all righteousness. Belonging 10 the
same family was the holy and devoui
Eli, and tho reckless Phinoas, and Hoph-
nj Jonathan Edwards, the good, and