News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1890-06-26
DR.. TALMAGES SERMON.
HE breaches ON THE COWARDLY
DAUGHTER-lN-LAW.

Draws from the Book of Ruth-The
Sermon in Full.
BROOKLYN, June 22.-Dr. Talmage
gives another evidence of his genius in
his sermon for today. The Book of
Ruth has furnished the subject for
many sermons, but they have natural
ly been concerned with the central
character of that beautiful story; it re-
NAMED for the popular Brooklyn di-
vine to find in the character of the less
conspicuous widow material for spirit
ual lessons. His text is Ruth /, IA:
''And they lifted up their voice and wept
again: and Orpah kissed her mother-in-
law; but Ruth clave unto her." Fol
lowing is the sermon:
Moab was a heather land. Naomi
is about to leave it and go into the land
of Bethlehem She has two daughters
in-law. Ruth and Orpah, who conclude
20 go with her. Naomi tells them they
had better not leave their native land
and undertake the hardship of the
Journey, but they will not be persuaded.
They all three start out on their jour
ney. After awhile Naomi, although
she highly priced the company of her
two daughters-in-law, attempted again
to persuade them to go back, because of
the hardship and self denial through
which they would be obliged to go.
Ruth responds in the words from
which once discoursed to you: EN-
treat me not to leave thee, nor to re-
turn from following after thee, for
where thou goest | will go. and where
thou lodgest | will lodge; thy people
shall be my people and thy God my
c.1,,f ,.-l.>zlcs thou ,Ifest viii die, and
there will | be buried; the Lord do so
to me and more also if aught but death
part thee and me. Not so with her
sister Orpah. Her determination had
already been shaken. The length and
peril of the journey began to appall her,
and she had worshiped the gods of
Moab so long that it was hard to give
them up From that point Orpah
turned back, the parting being de
scribed in the words of my text: And
they lifted up their voice and wept
again, and Orpah kissed her mothar-in-
law, but Ruth clave unto her
LESSONS FROM THE STORY OF oRPAH.
Learn from this story of Orpah that
some of those who do not leave the
Moab of their iniquities are persons of
fine susceptibility. 1t was compassion
for Naomi in her widowhood and sor-
row that led Orpah to start with her
toward Bethlehem. 1t was not because
of any lack of affection for her that she
turned back We know this from the
grief exhibited at parting. l do not
know but that she had as much warmth
and ardor of nature as Ruth, but she
lacked the courage and persistence of
her sister That there are many with
as fine susceptibility as Orpah who will
not take up their cross and follow
Christ is Il truth which needs but little
demonstration. Many of those who
have become the followers of Jesus
have but very little natural impressi
bility. Grace often takes hold of the
hardest hear; and the most unlovely
character and transforms it. 1t is a
hammer that breaks rocks
In this Christ often shows his power.
1t wants but little geaaralship to con-
quer Il Tat country bat might of artil-
lery and heroism co take a fort manned
and ready for raking cannonade. The
great Captain of our salvation has
forced his way into many an armed
castle. | doubt not that Christ could
have found maIy fisherman natural
ly more noble hearted than Simon Pc
ter, but there was no one by whose con
version he could more gloriously have
his grace. The conversion
or Il score Of JOHNS would not have
the power of the Holy
Ghost as much as the conversion
of one Peter 1t would have been
easier to drive twenty lambs like John
into the fold than to tame one lion like
Peter. God has often made some of
bis most efficient servants out of men
naturally uniinpressionable. As men
take stiff and unwieldy timbars, and
under huge handed machinery bead
them into the hulk of great ships, thus
God has often shaped and bent into his
service the most unwieldly natures,
while those naturally impressionable
are still in their unchanged state.
HOW MANY NEVER BECOME CHRISTIANS!
Oh, how many like Orpah have warm
affections and yet never become Chris
tiansl Like Orpah they know how to
weep. but they do not know how to
pray. Their fineness of feeling leads
them into the friendships of the world,
but not into communion with God.
They can love everybody but him, who
is altogether lovely All other sorrow
rends their heart, but they are I'M
touched by the woes of a dying Christ
Good news fills them with excitement,
but the glad tidings of great Joy and
salvation stir not their soul Anxious
to do what is right, yet they rob God.
Grateful for the slightest favors, they
make no return to him who wrung out
the last drop of blood from his heart to
deliver them from going down to the
pit. They would weep at the door of a
prison at the sight of a wicked captive
in chains, but have no compassion for
their own souls, over which Satan, like
a grim iailer, holds the lock and key.
When repulsive, grasping, unsympa-
thetic natures resist the story of a
Saviour's love it does not excite our
surprise; but it is among the greatest
of wonders that so many who exhibit
Orpah's susceptibility also exhibit Or
pah's impenitency.
We are not surprised that there is
baroness in a desert, but a strange
thing is it that sometimes the Rose of
Sharon will not grow in a garden. On
4 summer morning we are not surprised
but L going among mock siy OF lilies we
saw in them no glittering drops we
would say, What foul sprite has been
robbing these vasesf' We are not sur
prised that Herod did not become a
Christian, but how strange that the
young man Jesus loved for his sweet
nezs of temper should not have loved
the Redeemer. Hard hearted Felix
proud Nebuchadnezzar re-
Dented and cruel Manasseh turned unto
The Lord; but many a nature, affec-
donate and gentle, has fought success
July against divine influences. Many
a dove has refused to come in the win
low of the ark, although finding no rest
for the sole of her foot.
MANY START BUT TURN BACK