The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1890-06-25
window of the ark, although finding no


rest for the sole of her foot. fM
! Again, the history Of Orpah impresses
upon me the truth that there are many
who mako . good starting, but after
awhile change their minds and turn
back. When these three mourners
start from their home in Moab there is
as much probability that orpah will
reach Bethlehem as that her sister Ruth
and her mother-in-law Naomi will ar
rive there. But while these continue In
the journey they commenced, orpah after
awhile gets discouraged and turns back.
This is the history of many soul. Per-
haps 1t was during revival Of religion
they resolved upon Christian life, and
made preparations to leave Moab. Be-
fore that they we're 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 we'll for invalids and the aged, but
they had no desire for it. Suddenly q
change came upon their soul. They
found that something must be done.
Every night there was thorn in their
pillow, There was gall in their wine.
They found that their pleasures were
only false lights Of swamp that rise
out Of decay and death. Losing their
Belf-control they were startled by their
own prayer, "God be merciful to me a
sinner" They did not suspect it, but
the Holy Ghost was in their soul. With
put thinking what they were doing, they
brushed tho 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 the flood Of their
emotions, but the attemptfailed, and they
confessed their anguish Of soul before
they meant to. The secret was out!
They wanted to know what they must
do to be saved.
With Ruth anu Naomi, weeping 0rpah
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 unmoved dignity.
They began to pray with an earnest
ness that astonished themselves and as
tonished others. Showing the plane or
writing up accounts or walking the
streets when you might have thought
their mind entirely upon the world,
they we're saying within themselves 20
that we're Christianl" orpah is fully
started on the road to Bethlehem. Chris
tian friends observing the religious
anxiety Of the awakened soul say: "He
must certainly be a Christian. There is
another soldier in Christ's ranks, an
other sick one has been cured Of the
leprosy." The observers turn their at.
tention another way; they say: "orpah
is safe enough, she has gone to Bethle.
hem"
Alasl Alasl Starting out for Heaven Is
q very different thing from arriving
there. Remember Lots wife. She looked
back with longing TO the place from
which she came, and was destroyed
Halfway between Sodom and the city o.
Refuge that strange storm comes upoI
her, and its salt and birthstone gather
on her garments until they are SC
stiffened she can not proceed, nor car
she lie down, because OF this dreadful
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 1,
called pillar Of salt, as some sailor on
ships deck in the wintry tempest stands
covered with mail Of ice. Ten thou
sand times ten thousand men have been
destroyed half way between Sodom and
the city OF Refuge orpah might as well
never have started as afterwards TO turn
back. Yet multitudes have walked In
her footsteps. Go among those 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 their Bibles
and frequented the sanctuary, but Lott
wife looked back wistfully TO Sodom
and orpah retreated from tho company
Of Ruth and Naomi. 1t is an impressive
thought that after orpah had gone sc
far as actually to look over into the land
OF Bethlehem she turned back and died
in Moab.
Again: let our subject bnpress upor
US the truth that those who have once
felt II their duty to leave their natura
state can not give up their duty and gC
back TO hardness Of heart without I
struggle. After 0rpah had thoroughly
made up her mind TO 60 back TO the
place from which she started, she wen
through the said scene Of parting with
Ruth and Naomi My textsays: "Thel
lifted up their voices and wept" All, m!
hearer, II requires more decision and
perseverance TO stay away from thu
kingdom of God than TO onter itl Al
though she did not knowit. 0rpahpasset
thfough . greater struggle In turning
haeklnto the land OF Moab than wonls
hass bsen necessary 10 take her eleAl
through TO Bethlehem. Suppose yot
that those persons who have remained
in their evil ways have had no struggle'
Why, they have been obliged 10 hght
every inch Of their way. The road u
death IL not such easy travelling as som,
ministers have been accustomed 10 do
scribe It. From beginning 10 end 1t h
fighting against the sharp sword of th,
spirit. II is climbing over the cross. Il
is wading through the deep blood O
the Son Of God. II Is scaling th,
mountains Of privilege. 1t 10 wadinf