Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-06-26

~, .uoliA chdnge came upon their soul
lhey found that something must be done
Every night there was a thorn in their pil
low There was gall in their wills. Thee
found that their pleasures were only false
hghts OF "A swamp that rise out of decay
and death. Losing their self control they
Were startled by their own prayer, ''God be
merclful to me sinner They did not
suspect 1t, 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 un.
der 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 70. The secret was Quit They
wanted to know what they must do to be
saved
'oH, THAT WE'RE A CHRISTIAN"
With Ruth and Naomi weeping Orpah
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 IN
moved dignity. They began to pray with
an earnestness that astonished themselves
and astonished 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. ooh. that were
Christian Orpah is fully started on the
road to Bethlehem Christian friends OBJ
serving the religious anxiety of the awak-
ened 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;
''OTpah is safe enough, she has gone to
Bethlehem.
Alas! alas, Starting out for heaven is a
very different thing from arriving there
Remember Lots wife She looked back
with longing to the place from which she
came, and was destroyed. Half way be-
tween Sodom and the city Of refuge that
strange storm comes upon her, and its salt
and birthstone gather on her garments I'M
Ill they are so stiiiened she cannot proceed,
nor can She lie down because Of this dread.
ful wrapping around her garments and
limbs, and long after her life has gone she
still stands there, so covered up by the
strange storm that she is called a pillar Of
salt as some sailor on ships deck in the
wintry tempest stands covered with mail
of ice Ten thousand times ten thousand
men have been destroyed half way between
Sodom and the city Of refuge Orpah
might as well never have started as after
ward to turn back Yet multitndes have
the least interested in sacred things, and
you will find that they were once out Of
the land of Moab. Every one of them
prayed right heartily and studied his
Bible and frequented the sanctuary but
Lots wife looked back wistfully TO Sodom,
and Orpah retreated from the company OF
Ruth and Naomi IL is an impressive
thought that after Orpah had gone So far
as actually to look over into the land OF
Bethlehem she turned back aud died in
Moab
''THEY LIFTED UP THEIR VOICE AND wEPT"
Again, let orr subject impress upon as
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 20 hard
ness of heart without a struggle. After
Orpah had thoroughly made up her mind
to 20 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 lcarer. it requires more decision
and perseverance, TO stay away from the
Of God than to enter IL. Although
she did not know il. Orpah passed through
a greater struggle in turning back into the
land Of Moab than wogld have been neces-
sary to take her clear through to Bethle
hem Suppose you that those persons who
have remained in their evil ways have had
no struggle2 Why, they have been obliged
to fight every inch of their way.
The road @ death is not such easy trav-
cling as some ministers have been aceus-
toned to describe IT, From beginning TO
end it is fighting against the sh@r1 sword
Of the Spirit. II is climbing over the cross.
1t is wading through the deep blood Of the
son of God It is scaling mountsins Of
privilege 1t is wading through lakes Of
sorrow. Il is breaking over communion |
tables and baptismal fonts and palpits and
Bibles. It is wedging ones self through |
between pious kindred who stand before |
and press as back and hold on To MS by 1
their prayers even after we have passed 1
them In uur hcadlong downward career /
10 man OUGHT 70 think 81 undertaking 70 I
20 back into Moab after having come
within sielit az Bethlehem unless he have
! heart that cannot DE made 20 qagke. and /
! sure foot that viii not slip among inf /
mite per-ils. ana an arm that can drive sack
.he son Of God, who stands in the center
# the bread road spreading out bis arms
and shouting into the ear Of the thought
less pilgrim, stop. stop!"
CHRISTIANITY Is \ soLEAIN THING.
We talk about taking up the cross and
following Jesus. but that cross Is not half
% heavy as the burden which the sinner
.arries. 1t is very solemn thing to be
Christian. bur il is a more solemn thing
,ot TO be a Christian. There are multi
aid,s who. afraid Of the self denials of the
Christian. rush into the harder self deni-
lis of the unbeliever. Novoke bus Christ's,
however tight and gallingl Orpah goes
,ack TO her idolafries. but she returns
yeeping. aud an vino follow her viii find
he same s5rrows. just in proportion as
,ospel advantages have been numerous
rili be the disturb auce Of the heart that
sill not come to Christ.
The Bible says in regard 60 the place