The Russellville Democrat., 1890-07-03
THE STORY OF oRPAH
Discourse by Rev. T. Dewitt Tal-
 mage in Brooklyn.
The Tender Hearted sinncr, Who, Meet ing Obstacles In His Path, Turns to the More Attractive Al.
 luremcnts of Sin.

by Kew T. De AHt IaimaBe III Vho Brooklyn Academy, founded upon an in- eident in tbe beautiful story of Ruth. His text was:
 And they lifted mp their voices and wept and Orpab kissed her mother in law, but Ruth ciaye into hcr.-Ruth t, l4,
 Moab was heathen 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 20 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 Iy prized the company of her two daugh- ters-in-law, attempted again to per suade them to go back because Of the hardship and self-denial through which they would be obliged to goy Ruth re- spends in the words from which l once discoursed to you: "Entreat 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 God; where thou diest will I die and there will be buried; the Lord doso to me and moro 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 tho 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 0rpal, turned back, the parting being described in the words of my text: And they lifted up their voices and wept again, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clave unto her" s
 Learn from this story of 0rpah that some Of those who do not leuve the Moab of their iniquities arc persons of fine susceptibility. It was compassion for Naomi in her widowhood and sor- row that led Orpah to start with her toward Bethlehem. It was not because of any lack of affection for her that she turned back. We know this from the grief exhibited at parting,k I do not know but that she had as much warmth
 
 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 a truth which needs but little demonstration. Many of these who have become the followers of Jesus have but very little natural impressi bility. Grace often takes hold of the hardest heart and the most unlovely character and transforms it. It is hammer that breaks rocks. In this Christ often shows His power It wants but little generalship to conquer fiat country, but might of artillery and horoism to take fort manned and ready for raking cannonade. Tho great Captain of our salvation has forced His way into many an armed castle. doubt not that Christ could have found many fisherman naturally moro nobie- hearted than simon Peter, but there was no one by whose conversion He could more gloriously haye magnifed His grace. The conversion of a score Johns would not have illustrated the power of the Holy Ghost as much as the conversion of one Peter. It would have been easierto drive twenty lambs like John into the fold than to tame ono lion like Peter. God has often made some of His most efficient serv- ants out of men naturally unimpres- sionable. As men take stiff and un- wieldy timbers, and under huge handed machinery bend them into the hulk of great ships, thus God has often shaped and bent into His service the most unwieldy natures, while those naturally impressionaole are still in the unchanged state.
 Oh, how many, like Orpah, have warm affections, and yet never become Christiansl 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 every body but Him, who Is altogether lovely. All other sorrow rends their heart, but they arc un- touched by tho 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 tho 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 repulsiye, grasping, unsym- pathetic natures resist the story of Saviour's love,it does not excite our sur prise; but it is among tho greatest of wonders that so many who exhibit Or pah's susceptibility also exhibit 0rpah's impenitency. We are not surprised that there is barrenness in desert, but a strange thing is 1t that sometimes the Rose of Sharon Will not groW in 2 gar den. On summer morning we are not surprised to find 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 yases?" We are not surprised that Herod did not be- come a Christian, but how strange that the young man Jesus loved for his sweetness of temper should not have loved the Redeemer. Hard-hearted Felix trembled; proud Nebuchadnezzar and cruel Manasseh turned unto the Lord; but many a nature, af- fectionate and gentle, has fought suc- against Divine influences. Many dove has refused to come in the window Of the ark, although finding no rest for the sole of her foot
 Again the history of 0rpah impresses upon mo 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 for 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 arrive there. But while these continue in the journey they commenced, 0rpah after awhile gets discouraged and turns s. la l.