The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-07-04
THE RIGHT ROAD,

DR. Talmage Draws Some Val.
liable Lessons From Ruth
and Naomi.
And Applies Them to Those
That Feel Like Following
False Gods.
BROOKLYN Speciul:-Dr. Talmnge took for
his text: Ruth III: "And they lifted up their
voices and wcpt, and Orpah kissed her moth
er-in-lnw, but Ruth clnve unto her." Follow
| ing is the Sermon:
Moab was q heather land. Naomi is
about to leave it and go into the land OF
Bethlehem. She has two daughters. in uw.
Ruth and Orpah. who conclude to go with
her. Naomi tells them they had better not
leave their native land aud undertake the
hardship OF the journey. hut they will not he
persuaded. They all three start ont on
theirjourney. Alter awhie, Naomi, although
she highly priced the company OF her two
daught ers-in-iaw, attempted again to
persuade them to go tack because of the
hardship and self.dcnial through which they
would lie Obliged to CO. Ruth responds in
the words from which l once discoursed to
yon: "Entrcat mo not to leave thee. nor to
return from following after thee for where
thou goest l will go. and where thou lodgcst
will lodge, thy people shall be my people
md thy God my Cod where thou licst will
die and there will l be buried. the Lord do
80 to me nnd more also II aught but death
part thee and me-" Not go with lcr sister
orpali. Her determination had ulreatly been
shaken. The length and peril of the journey
began to appall 10 her, aud she had worship.
ped the gods OF Moab 80 long that it was
| to give them up. From that point Orpah
turned hack, the parting being described in
tho words of my text: And they lifted up
their voice and wcpt agnin and Orpal kiss
cd her mothe:-in-law. but Ruth clnvc to her.
Learn from this story OF Orpnh that some
Of those who do not leave the Noah OF their
iniqnitirs aro persons Of fine susceptibility.
1t was compassion for Naomi in her widow.
hood and SORROW that led Orpah to start with
her toward Bethlehem. 1t was not because
OF any lack o. her affection ior her that she
turned buck. We know this from the elief en-
hibited Mt parting do not know but that
she has had Us much warmth nnd ar-
dor of nature ns Ruth, but she lacked tho
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 n truth which needs hut lit.
tie demonstration. Many OF those who have
become the followers of Jesns Christ have but
very little natural impressibility. Grace Oft
ell takes hold of the hardest heart and the
most unlovely character and transforms it,
1t is hammer That breaks rorks. In this
Christ often shows His power. 1t wants but
little generalship to CONQUER flat country,
but might Of artillery nna herosm
Tor rnking cannonade. The great Captain
of our salvation has forced His wny into
| many CASTLE l doubt not thut Christ
could have found many IL fisherman nntu,.
nlly more noblcleartcd than Simon Peter
but there was no ono by whose conversion
He ,uld more glorionsly have magnied
His grace. The conversion OF n score of
Johns would not have illustrated the power
| Oi the Holy Ghost ns much as the conversion
o! one Peter 1t would have been ensirr to
drive 20 lambs like John into the fold than
to tame one lion like Peter. God has often
made some OF his most efficient servants out
Of men naturally unimprcssionablc As
men take stiff and unwicldy timlcrs. aud
under huge handed machinery bend them
into the hulk ofgrcat ships thus God has
often shaped aud bent into His service tho
most unwieldy natures, Will, those naturally
| impressionable are still in their unchanged
| state.
| oh. how many, like Orpnh, have warm nf-
| icctions md yet never become Christians!
Like 0rpah. they know how to wcep, hut
they do not know how to pray. Their fine
ness of feeling leads them into the friend
| sllipH nj ha world I'm MT int
with God. They can love everybody hut
Him, who is altogether lovely. All other
sorrow rrn'ls their heart. bnt they are un.
tonrhcd by the woes of dying Christ. Good
news fills them with excitement hut the glad
ti,lings of great Joy and salvation stir not
their soul. Anxious to do what il right, vet
they rob God. Grateful for the slightest
| fnvOrs, that mike no return to Him who
wrnng out the last drop OF blood from His
heart to deliver them from going down to
the pit They could weep Mt the door OF n
prison at the sight of n wicked cnptivc in
chains, but have no compassion for their
own souls over which SATIN. like grim Jail
| err. holds the lock an'l key. When rrpulsivc,
grasping. unsympnthctir natures resist tho
story OF II Snvior's love. it does not excite
our surprise; but 1t is among tl." grcntest of
wonders that 30 many who exhibit Orpnh's
susceptibility also exhibit Orpnh's impen.
tpnry. We are not surprised that there is
| barr"nless in u desert, but n strange thing
| it is that some times the Rose of Sharon will
not grow in n garden. On summer morn
ing we are not surprised 10 find II rock with
| out amy dew oni it, but il, going among n
flock D! lilies. We saw in them no elittering
drops, We would say, "Wliat foul spirit has
| been robhnp these vnses?" We are not sur
prised that Herod did not become n Chris
tinn. but how strange that the young man
Jesus loved FOR hi1 sweetness Of temper
should not have loved the Ite.lecmcr.
inrl-heartei Felix trembled. proud Nebu-
chadnezzer repented. and cruel Munnssch
turned unto the Lord; but many II nature
nfiectionnte md gentle. has fought success
fully ngainat divine influences Manga dove
has refused to come to the window Of them
although tnding no rest for the sole OF her
foot.
Again, the history Of Orpah impresses up
on the Truth that there are mnny who make
Il good starting, but inter awhile change their
minds and turn back. When these three
mourners start from their home in Moab.
there il MS much probability that Orpah will
reach Bethlehem as that her sister Ruth and
her mother n-Iaw Naomi will nrrvc there
But while these continue in the Journey they
commenced. Orpah after awhile gets dis.
couragc,l and turns back. This.is..the history
o: many a soul. Perhaps it was during re-
vival OF religion they resolved upon Chris
tnin: lie: and made preparations to leave
Moah. Before that they we're indifferent to
the sanctnry, churches were necessary evils
The minister almost always preached poor
sermons. because they had not the heart to
not good because their appetite was
invalids and the aged, but they
had no desire for it. Suddenly n change
came upon their soul. They found that
solnetl,ins must be done. Every night there
their ,tne. They found that their pleasures
were only false lights of q swamp TINT rise