The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1890-08-28
THE STORY OF oRPAH.
Discourse by Rev. T. Dewitt Tai
mage in b ooklyn.
The Tender. Hearted Sinner, Who, Meet
ing Obstacles in His Path, Turns
to the More Attractive AL
lurements of Sin.

brooklyn ACADEMY, lOunueu upoh OH III
cident in the beautiful story of Ruth.
His text was;
And they lifted up their voices and wept,
and Orpah kissed her mother-in law, but
Ruth clave TITO her.-Ruth l., a.
Moab was heather land. Naomi is
about to leave it and go into the land of
Bethlehem. She had two daughters-in-
law, Ruth and Orpah, who conclude to
60 with her. Naomi tells them they
had better not leave their native land
and undertake the hardships of the jour
ney, but they will not be persuaded.
They all three start out on their Journey
After awhile Naomi, although she high
ly priced the company of her two daugh-
ters-in-law, attempted again to per-
suade them to 60 back because of the
hardship and self-denial through which
they would be obliged to 60. Ruth re-
spends in the words from which
once disconrsed to you: "Entreat
me not to leave thee, nor to re-
turn from following after thee, for
where thou goest / will 60, and where
thou lodgest [ will lodge; thy people
shall be my people and thy God my
there will be buried; the Lord doso to
me and more also of 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 appal her, and she
had worshipped the gods of Moab SO
long that it was hard to give them up.
From that point Orpah turned back, the
parting being described in the words of
my text: s'And they lifted up their
voices and wept again, and 0rpah kissed
her mother-in-law, but Ruth clave unto
her."
Learn from this story of Orpah that
some of those who do not leave the
Moab Of their iniquities are persons of
fine susceptibility. It 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. 1 do not
know but that she had as much warmth
and ardor of nature as Ruth, but she
lacked the courage and persistence o
her sister, That there are many with
as fine susceptibility as Orpah who vii
not take up their cross and follow
Christ is truth which needs but little
demonstration. Many of these WHIT
have become the followers of Jesus
have but very little natural impressi
bility. Grace often takes hold of the
hardest heart and tho most unlovell
oh nd {va uufO 10
hammer that breaks rocks. In thi
Christ often shows His power 1t want
but little generalship to conquer fla
country, but might of artillery an,
heroism to take fort manned ant
ready for raking cannonade. The grea
Captain of our salvation has forced Hi
way into many an armed castle.
doubt not that Christ could have foun
many fisherman naturally more noble
hearted than Simon Peter, but Their
was no one by whose conversion II
could more gloriously have magnife
His grace. The conversion of scor
Johns would not have illustrated tn
power of the Holy Ghost as much a
the conversion of one Peter. 1t woul
have been easier to drive twenty lamt
like John into the fold than to tam
one lion like Peter. God has ofte
made some of His most efficient ser1
ants out of men naturally unimpre,
sionable. AS men take stiff and ur
wieldy timbers. and under huge
handed machinery bend them into tn
hulk of great ships, thus God has ofte
shaped and bent into His service tn
most unwieldy natures, while tho:
naturally impressionaDle are still in I'll
unchanged state.
Oh, how many, like Orpah, ha,
warm affections, and yet never becon
Christians! Like Orpah, they kno
how to weep, but they do not know no
to pray, Their ineness of feeling leaC
them into the friendships. of the worlt
but not into communion with Go
They can love every body but Him, wi
is altogether lovely. All other sorro
rends their heart. but they are u
touched by the woes of dying Chris
Good news fills them with excitemen
but the glad tidings of great ioy al
salvation stir not their soul. Anxio
to do what is right, yet they rob Go
Grateful for the slightest fayors, tn,
make no return to Him who wrung o
the last drop of blood from His heart
deliver them from going down to Il
pit They would weep at the door of
prison at the sight of wicked capt.
in chains, but have no compassion 1
their own souls over which Satan, Iii
grim jailer, holds the lock and Ike
When repulsive, grasping, unsyl
pathetic natures resist the story of
saviour's love, it does not excite our 81
prise; but it is among the greatest
wonders that so many who exhibit {
pah's susceptibility also exhibit orpal
impenitency. We are not surpris
that there is barrenness in desert, b
a strange thing is it that sometimes t.
Rose of Sharon will not grow in a "a
den. On summer morning we are n
surprised to find rock without a,
dew on it. but, if going among flo
os Hikes, we saw in them no glitteri
drops, we would say: What foul spri
has been robbing these vases?' \
are not surprised that Herod did not |
come a Christian, but how strange tn