The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-08-29
DIR. TALMAGES SERMON.
He breaches ON THE COWARDLY
DAUGHTER-lN-LAW.

Tho Brooklyn Divine Gives Another Evil
dence Of His Genius in the Lessons He
Draws from the Book Of Ruth-The
Sermon In Full.
BROOKLYN, June 22.-Dr. Talmage
gives another evidence of his genius in
his sermon for today. The Book OF
Ruth has furnished the subject for
many sermons, but they have natural
~ been concerned with the central
character of that beautiful story; it re-
manned for the popular Brooklyn d.
vine to find in the character of the less
conspicuous widow material for spirit
ual lessons. His text is Ruth i, A.:
"And they lifted up their voice and wept
again: and Orpah kissed her mother-in-
law; but Ruth clave unto her," Fol
lowing is the sermon:
Moab was heather land. Naomi
is about to leave it and 60 into the land
of Bethlehem. She has two daughters
in-law, Ruth and Orpah, who conclude
to go with her. Naomi tells them they
had better not leave their native land
and undertake the hardship of the
Journey, but they will not be persuaded.
They all three start out on their jour
ney. After awhile Naomi, although
she highly priced the company of her
two daughters-in-law, attempted again
to persuade them to go back, because of
the hardship and self denial through
which they would be obliged to go.
Ruth responds in the words from
which once discoursed to you: CEN
treat me not to leave thee, nor to re-
turn from following after thee, for
where thou goest l will go, and where
thou lodgest l will lodge; thy people
shall be my people and thy God my
God; where thou diest will die, and
there will be buried; the Lord do so
to me and more also if aught 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 de-
scribed 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.
LESSONS FROM THE STORY OF oRPAH.
Learn from this story OF Orpah that
some of those who do not leave the
Moab of their iniquities are persons of
fine susceptibility. 1t 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. l do not
know but that she had as much warmth
and ardOr of nature 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 a truth which needs but little
demonstration. Many Of those 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. 1t is a
hammer that breaks rocks.
In this Christ often shows his power.
1t wants but little generalship to con
quer fiat country, but might of artil
lery and heroism 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 fisherman natural
| ly more noble hearted than Simon Pc
ter, but there was no one by whose con
version he could more gloriously have
magnified his grace. The conversion
of score of Johns would not have
illustrated the power of the Holy
Ghost as much as the conversion
of one Peter. 1t would have beer
easier to drive twenty lambs like Johr
into the fold than to tame one lion like
Peter. God has often made some O
his most efficient servants out of mer
naturally unimpressionable As me1
take stiff and unwieldy timbers, ant
under huge handed machinery benz
them into the hulk of great ships, thu
God has often shaped and bent into hi
service the most unwieldly natures
while those naturally impressionabl'
are still in their unchanged state.
HOW MANY NEVER BECOME CHRISTIANS
Oh, how many like Orpah have warn
affections and yet never become Chris
tiansl Like Orpah they know how t,
weep, but they do not know how t,
pray. Their fineness of feeling lead
them into the friendships of the world
but not into communion with God
They can love everybody but him, VIII,
! is altogether lovely. All other sorrow
rends their heart, but they are un
touched by the woes of dying Christ
Good news fills them with excitement
but the glad tidings of great Joy AM
salvation stir not their soul. Anxiou
to do what is right, yet they rob God
Grateful for the slightest favors, the
make no return TO him who wrung on
the last drop of blood from his heart t.
deliver them from going down to tn
pit. They would weep at the door of
prison at the sight of wicked captiv
in chains, but have no compassion TO
their own souls, over which Satan, Xix
grim jailer. holds the lock and key
When repulsive, grasping, unsympa
thetic natures resist the story of
Saviour's love it does not excite on
surprise; but it is among the creates