The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-06-23
0RPAH'S TURNING BACK.
RUTH's BRAVERY IN oLINGING TO
NAOMI.


The Timid Daughter-in-Law's Action
an Illustration OF the Course Fol-
lowed by Many Starting Out on the
Road to 5alvatloa-Talmege Paints
the Moral in Vivid Word Painting.
BROOKLYN, June 22.-Dr. Talmage gave
another evidence Of his genius in bis sermon
to-day. The book Of Ruth has furnished
the subject for many sermons, but they
have naturally been concerned with the cen
trail character Of that beau iful story; it
remained for the popular Brooklyn divine
to find In the character Of the less conspicu-
Gus widow material for spiritual lessons.
His text is Ruth |, IA: "And they lifted
up their voices and wept, and Orpah kissed
her mother-ln-law, but Ruth clave unto
5r." Following is the sermon:
Moab was IA heathen land. Naomi is
about to leave IL and go into the land OF
Bethlehem. She has 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
hardship OF the journey. but they viii nos
be persuaded. They all three start out on
their journey. After awhile Naomi, al
though she highly priced the company Of
her two daughters-in-law, attempted again
to persuade them to go back because Of the
hardship and sef-denial through which they
would be Obliged TO go. Ruth responds in
the words from which 1 once discoursed to
you: "Entreat me not TO leave thee, nor to
return 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 die and there will l be buried,
the Lord do 80 to me and more also II sught
but death part thee and me-" Not 50 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 Orpah turned back the parting
being described in the words of my 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 Orpah that
some of those who do not leave the Moab Of
their iniquities are persons of fine suscepti-
bility. IL was compassion for Naomi In
her widowhood and sorrow that led Orpah
to start with her toward Bethlehem. IL
was 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 nature as Ruth, but she lacked
sister. That there are many with as
fine susceptibility as Orpah who will
not take up their cross and fol-
low, Christ is q truth which needs but little
demonstration. Many Of those who have
become the followers OF Jesus have but very
little natural impressibility. Grace often
takes hold of the hardest heart and tho most
unlovely character and transforms it. 1t ig
q hammer that breaks rocks. In this Christ
often shows his power. IL wants but little
generalship to conquer a fat country, but
might Of artillery and heroism to take a
fort manned and ready for raking cannon
ade. The great captain Of our salvation has
forced his way into many an armed castle.
doubt not that Christ could have found
hearted than Simon Peter, but there
was no one by whose con-
version he could more gloriously
have magnifed His grace. The conversion
Of a score of Johns would not have illus
trated the power of the Holy Ghost as
much as the conversion Of one Peter. It
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 servants out of
men naturally unimpressionable. As men
take stiff and unwieldy 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
impressionable are still in their unchanged
state.
0, how many, like Orpah. have warm
affections and yet never become Christiansi
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 q 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 tho
slightest favors. they make no return
10 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 a 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, grasping,
unsympatheEic natures resist the story Of
savior's love. 1t does not excite our sur
prise; but it is among the greatest Of won
ders that so many who exhibit Orpah's
susceptibility also exhibit Orpah's impeni-
tency. We are not surprised that there ia
barreness in desert, but strange thing Is
IL that sometimes the Rose OF Sharon will
not grow in garden. On summer morn
ing we are not surprised to find rock
without any dew on 1t, but IL, going among
a flock of lilies, we saw in them no glitter
ing drops, we would say: "What foul
sprite has been robbing these vasesp 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 Nebu-
chadnezzar repented, and cruel Manasseh
turned unto the Lord; but many a nature,
affectionate and gentle, has fought success
fully against divine influences. Many a
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 Orpah impresses
upon me the truth that there are many who
make good starring. but after awhile
change their minds and turn back. When
these three muurners start from their home
in Moab there is as much probability that
Orpah 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, Orpah
after awhile gets discouraged and turns
back. This is the history of many a soul.
Perhaps it was during revival of religion
they resolved upon a christian life, and
made preparations to leave Moab. Before
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