Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-06-26
DR. TALMAGE'S SERMON.
HE BREACHES ON THE cow
ARDLY DAUoHTER-IN-LAW.
rhs Brooklyn Divine Gives Another Evi-
donce OF His Genius in the Lessons He
Draws from the Book Of Ruth-HIs Ser

mon In Full
DR.. Talmage gave another evidence of his
genius in his sermon at Brooklyn, on Sun
day. June "a. The Book Of Ruth has fur
nished the subject for many sermons. but
they have naturally been concerned with
the central character Of that beautiful story;
1t remained for the popular Brooklyn di-
vine TO find in the character ofthe less con-
spicuous widow material for spiritual les
sons. His text was Ruth 1. IA: And they
lifted up their voice and wept again: and
Orpah kissed her mother-in-la but Ruth
claye unto her" Following is the sermon:
Moab was aheathen land. Naomi is about
to leave it and go into the land of Bethle-
hem. She has two daughters-in-law, Ruth
and 0rpah. who conclude to go with her.
Naomi tells them they had better not leave
their native land and undertake the hard
ships of the journey. but they will not be
Journey. After awhile Naomi, although she
highly prized the company Of her two
daughters-in-l law. attempted again to per-
suade them to go back, because ofthe hard
ships and self-denial through which they
would be obliged to go.
Ruth responds in the words from which,
once discoursed to you: "Entreat me not to
thee, for where thou lodgest will lodge; thy
people shall be my people and thy God my
God; where thou diest will die, and there
will Ibe 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 OrLah turned
back, the parting being described in the
words ofmy text; And they lifted up their
voice and wept again. and Orpah kissed her
mother-in-law, but Ruth clave unto her.
Learn from this story Of 0rpah 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 widow
hood and sorrow that led 0rpah to start with
her toward Bethlehem. TWAS not because
Of any lack of affection for her that she
turned back. We know this from the grief
exhibited at parting. do not know but that
she had as much warmth and ardor OF ma
ture 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 truth which needs but little dem
onstration. Many Of those who have be-
come the followers of Jesus have but very
little natural impressibility, Grace often
takes hold of the hardest heart and the most
unlovely character and transforms it. 1t is
In this Christ often shows his power. 1t
wants but little generalship to conquer q
fiat country. but might of artillery and hero
ism to 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 many aflsherman naturally
more noble hearted than Simon Peter, but
there was no one by whose conversion he
aanId mora cylOri0ucIV hnva Tnannifipd His
grace. The conversion of q score of Johns
would not have illustrated 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 His most efficient serv-
a nts out or men naturally unimpression-
able. AS men take stiff and unwieldly tim
bers, and under huge handed machinery
bend them into the hulk of great ships, thus
God has often shaped and bent into His serv-
ice the most unwieldlyl natures, while
those naturally impressionable are still in
their unchanged state.
Oh, how many like Orpah have warm af-
fections and vet never become Christians
Like Orpah they know how to weep, but
they do not know how to pray. Their fine
ness Of feeling leads them into the friend
ships 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 un-
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 prison at the sight of wicked
captive in chains, but have no compassion
for their own souls, over which Satan, like a
grim jailer, holds the lock and key. When
repulsive, gasping, unsympathetic natures
resist the story of Saviour's love it does
not excite our surprise; but it is among the
greatest Of wonders that so many who ex-
hibit Orpah's susceptibility also exhibit Orr
pah's impenitency.
We are not surprised that there is bar
renness in desert, but strange thing is
1t that sometimes the Rose of Sharon will
ing we are not surprised to find a rock
without any dew on it, but if going among a
flock OF lilies we saw in them no glittering
drops we would say, What foul sprite has
been robbing these vasesP" We are not
surprised that Herod did not become a
Christian, but how strange that the young
man Jesus loved for his sweetness of tenn
Hard-hearted Felix trembed, proud Nebu-
chadnezzar repented and cruel Manasseh
turned unto the Lord; but many a nature,
affectionate and gentle, has fought sue
cessfully against divine influences. Many
dove has refused to come to the window
Of the ark, although finding no rest for the
sole Of her foot,
Again. the history Of orpah impresses
upon me the truth that there are many who
make good starting, but after a while
change their minds and turn back When
these three mourners start from their home
In Moab there Is as much probability that
Opah will reach Bethlehem as that her sis
ter Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi will
arrive there. But while these continue in
the journey they commenced 0rpah after a
while gets discouraged and turns back,
This is the history of many soul Perhaps
1t was during revival of religion they re-
solved upon Christian life and made prep
arations to leave Moab. Before that they
were Indifferent to the sanctuary; churches
were necessary evils. The minister almost
always preached poor sermons, because
they had not the heart to hear them. They
thought the bread was not good. because
their appetite was poor. Religion did very
well for invalids and the aged. but they had
no desire for it.
Suddenly change came upon their SOUL
They found that something must be done,
Every night therewas athorn in theirpillow.
There was a gall in their wine. They found
that their pleasures were only false lights
Of swamp that rises out Of decay and
death. Losing their self-control they were
startled by their own prayer, God be mer-
ciful to me sinner" They did not suspect
it, 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 under them, nor did the
air seem as bright. They tried to dam back
tho Annd If fh hoi, ayn ationo h,,+ tIno o+4axo,,4