Connecticut western news., 1890-06-25


 pented and cruel Manasseh turned unto the Lord; but many a nature, affec tionate and gentle, has fought success. fully against divine influences. Many a dove has refused to come in the win dow of the ark, although finding no rest for the sole of her foot. .a
 MANY START BUT TURN BACK.
 Again, the history of Orpah impresses upon me the truth that there are many who make a 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 a soul. Perhaps it was during a revival of religion they resolved upon Chris tian life and made preparations to leave Moab. Before that they were indiffer ent 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. Re igion did very well for invalids and the aged, but they had no desire for it.
 Suddenly change came upon their soul. They found that something must be done. Every night there was a thorn in their pillow. There was gall in their wine. They found that their pleasures were only false lights of a swamp that rise out of decay and death. Losing their self 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 Without thinking what they were doing they brushed the 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 attempt failed, 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.
 THE START FOR BETHLEHEM.
 With Ruth and Naomi weeping Or. pah 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 earnestness that astonished themselves and aston ished others. Showing the plane or writing up accounts, or walking the street when you might have thought their mind entirely upon the world, they were saying within themselves, "Oh, that were a Christian!" Orpah is fully started on the road to Pethle hem. Christian friends observing the religious anxiety of the awakened soul say, "He must certainly be a Christian. There is another soldier in Christ's ranks; another sick one has been cured of the leprosy" The observers turn their attention another way. They say, "Orpah is safe enough; she has gone to Bethlehem"
 Alas! Alas Starting out for heav- en is very different thing from arriv- ing there. Remember Lots wife. She looked back with longing to the place from which she came and was destroy ed. Half way between Sodom and the city of Refuge that strange storm comes upon her, and it's salt and brim- stone gather on her garments until they are so stiffened she cannot pro- ceed, nor can she lie down because of this dreadful wrapping around her gar ments and limbs; and long after her life has gone she still stands there so covered up by the strange storm that she is called pillar of salt, as some sailor on ships deck in the wintry tenn pest stands covered with mail of ice.
 Ten thousand times ten thousand men have been destroyed half way be- tween Sodom and the city of Refuge. Orpah might as well never have started as afterward to turn back. Yet multi tudes have walked in her footsteps. Go among those the least interested in sa- cred things and you will find that they were once out of the land of Moab. Every one of them prayed right heart fly and studied their Bibles and ire quented the sanctuary, but Lots wife looked back wistfully to Sodom and Orpah retreated from the company o1 Ruth and Naomi. It 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.
 TO TURN BACK MEANS TO STRUGGLE.
 Again, let our subject impress upon us the truth that those who have once felt it their duty to leave their natural state cannot give up their duty and go back to hardness of heart without a strug gle. After Orpah had thoroughly made up her mind to go back to the place from which she started she went through the sad scene of parting with Ruth and Naomi My text says: ''They lifted up their voice and wept.." Ah
 my nearer, it requires more decision and perseverance to stay away from the kingdom of God than to enter 1t. Although she did not know it Orpah passed through g. greater struggle ir turning back into the land of Moat than would have been necessary tc take her clear through to Bethlehem
 Suppose you that those persons who have remained in their evil ways have
 had no struggle9 Why, they have
 been obliged to fight every inch of theil | w.y The road t0 death is not sucf