Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-07-03

and Hophni Jonathan Edwards, the good,
and Pierrepont Edwards, the bad, belong TO
the same family. Aaron Burr, the dlssolute,
had a most excellent father. Dying yet I'M
mortal nearer, by the solennity of the
parental and filial and conjugal relation,
by the sacredness of the family hearth, by
the honor of the family name, by the memory
of departed kindred, point out this parting
of Ruth and Orpah.
Again, this subject suggests to me two oil
the prominent reasons why people reIuss Ine
kingdom of Christ. There may have been
many other reasons why Orpah left her SIS
ter and mother-in-aw and went back home,
but there were two reasons which 1 thlnk
were more prominent than the rest. she hao
been brought up in idolatries. She loved
the heather gods which her ancestors had
worshiped. and though these blocks of wood
and stone could not hear she thought they
could hear. and though they could not see
she Thought they could see and though they
could not feel she thought they could feel.
A new religion had been brought to her at
tention. She had marrieda cody man. she
must often have heard her mother-in-law
talk of the God of Israel. She was so much
shaken in her original belief that she con-
cluded TO leave her idolatries, but coming TO
the margin of the land of Bethlehem her
determination failed her and speedily she re-
turned to her gods.
This is the very reason why multltudes OF
persons never become Christians They cam
not bear to give up their gods. business Is
the American juggernaut that crnsnes more
men than the great car of the Hindoos. TO
it they say their morning and evening pray
ers. A little or Christs religion may creep
into the Sabbath, but Monday, Tuesday.
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Satur-
day are the days devoted to this American
idol. Every hour there is a sacrifice on tine
altar Home duties, health OF body, manly
strength and immortal affections must all
burn in this holocaust. Men act as though
they could take their bonds and mortgages
and saws and trowels and axes and day
books with them into the kingdom of heaven.
There are many who have no unholy
thirst for gold, yet who are devoting them
felves to their worldly occupations with
ruinous intensity. Men of the Stock Elk
change, men of the yardstick, men OF the
saw. men of the trowel, men OF the day
book, what will become of you, If unfor-
| given. in the great day when there are no
| houses to build, and no goods 70 sen, anu
/ no bargains to maker 1t is possible 10 de-
vote ones self even TO lawful Gaining until
! AZ becomes sinful. There is no excuse on the
earth or under the earth for the neglect OF
our deathess spirit Lydia was seller OF
nurnle vet she did not allow her offensive
occupation to keep her from becoming a
Christian. Daniel was secretary OF state
and attorney general in the empire OF baoy
! lon, and yet three ticles Gay ne lounu
time TO pray with his face toward Jerusa-
lem. The man who has no time to attend 10
religion will have no time to enter heaven.
But there are others who. while their
! worldly occupation has no particular fascina-
ton over them, are entirely absorbed IN tne
rains that come to that occupation. ms Is
the worship OF Mammon. The ring OF dol
lars and cents is the only litany they ever
otter. Though in the last day the earth ltseil
] TN. .Nl |. foVfhinu a bean of Qghps
scattered in the whirlwind, they are now CIV
ing their time and eternity for the acquisition
OF so much OF it as you might at last hold IN
the hollow Of one hand.
The American Indian who gave enough
land TO make State out OF for string o.
beads made a princely bargain compares
with the speculation Of that man who gains
the whole world and loses his own soul. How
much comfort do the men take who died un'
forgiyen ten years ago, leaving large for
tunes TO their heirsl Do they ever come ~
to count the gold they boarded or wall
through the mansions they builtl Though
they could have bought an empire, they haV'
not now as much money as you nave I'M
moment in your pocket. Solomon iookee
upon his palace and the grounds surrouhdiht
III pools trimmed with gold and circhns
roads along which at times rushed his four
teen hundred chariots, while under the out
branching sycamores and cedars walked TINT
anes and peacocl1s which by the navy 0
Hiram had been brought from Tarshish: an'
from the window curtains with em0roiderel
gold and purple through which came out IN
thrill of harps and psaiter1es mlnghng WIZ
the song of the waters.
When Solomon saw that all these luxurie
Of sight and sound had been purchased by
his wealth, he broke forth IN the exclama
tion ,sMoney answereth all things" But "
cannot receive 1t as literal. 1t cannot stu
the voice OF conscience. It cannot drowl
the sorrows of the soul 1t cannot put
bride in the hand of death. 1t cannot VI
lock the gate OF heaven. The tower OF ,
loan fell and killed eighteen Of Its admireri
but this idol to whose worship the exchal'g'
and hanks and custom houses OF the worlt
have been dedicated, wiz fall and crush &
death its thousands. But cannot enumer
ate the idolatries to which men give them
selves They are kept by them from re
ligious life. I've cannot serve God and Nam
mon,n and the first thing that Christ doe
when He comes into the temple OF the soul
to drive out the exchangers.
But it was not only the gods Of Moab tina
made Orpah leave her sister and mother-ir
law. She doubtless had dread of the hart
) ship to which they would be exposed on tn
, tourney to Bethlehem, and Orpah was nc
, alone in the fear. Doubtless some OF 70
have been appalled, and driven back by I'll
} self denials of the Christian ife. Inc bsuI
/ of the world, the charged OF hypocrisy who
5 they would sometimes be obliged to confron
: has kept many away from the land OF Bet
) lehem. They spend their life In counting II
/ cost. and because Christian life demands
/ much courage and faith they dare not beg
!. to build. Perhaps they are COURAGEOUS
Q every other respect. They are not timld
i presence of any danger excspt that OF uus
0 ing in the infinite mercy of Christ.
{, The sheep are mora afraid Of the shepher
Il than of the wolves. They shrink away fro
e the presence Of Christ as though He were
y tyrant rather than a friend who sttcSe
{. closer than brother. They feel more So
a in the ranks of the enemy where they mu
n suffer infinite defeat than in the army
: Christ, which shall be more than conquero
Is through Him that loved them. Men shiv
4 and tremble before religion as though tn
le were commanded 70 throw their life ava
: as though It were a surrender Of honor al
IL manliness and reason and self-respect and
= that is worth keeping.
{ What las God ever done that His mer
n should be doubtedg Was there ever sorr
' Of His frailest child that he did not pit
l. Was there ever soul that He left unhelT
& in the darknesss Was there ever mari
z that He did not strengthen IN the nam
n