Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1890-06-23

| enoi ions, but the Il tempt failed and thel
confessed their anguish Of soul before they
meeat tcs The 81 cret was outl They
waDtod TO know VIII al they must do to b.
SAVED.
ON, THAT WIRE A CHRISTIAN"
With Ruth and Naomi weeping Orpal
started for the land of Bethlehem. They
lon1ed for the Sabbath to come Straight
~ in arrow TO the NJ ark the sermon struck
them. They though the minister must
have heard Of their use md was preaching
right at them. They thought the sermon
WIS very short, nor did they once coil
themselves up in their pew with their eyes
| cbut and head ayerts with an air of un-
moved dignity. They began to pray with
M earnestness that sstonished themselves
and astonishcd other. 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 themse, yes: ooh, that were
Christian Orpah Is fully started on the
road to Bethlehem. Christian friends OBJ
serving the religious snxiety of the awak-
ened 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"
Alasl alasl Starting out for heaven is a
very different thing from arriving there.
Remember Lots wife She looked back
with longing to the place from which she
came, and was destroyed. Half way be-
tween Sodom and the city of refuge that
strange storm comes UPON her, and its salt
and birthstone gather on her garments I'M
til they are so stiffened she cannot proceed,
nor can she lie down because Of this dread
ful wrapping around her garments 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 tempest stands covered with a mail
of ice. Ten thousand times ten thousand
men have been destroyed half way between
Sodom and the city OF refuge Orpah
might as well never have started rs after
ward to turn back. Yet multitudes have
walked in her footsteps. Go among those
the least interested in sacred things, and
you will find that they were once out of
the land of Moab. Every one of them
prayed right heartily and studied his
Bible and frequented the sanctuary, but
Lots wife looked back wstfully to Sodom,
and Orpah retreated from the company of
Ruth and Naomi. 1t is an impressive
thought that after Orpah had gone so far
as actually to look over into the land of |
Bethlehem she turned back and died in |
Moab.
THEY LIFTED UP THEIR VOICE AND wEPT." |
Again, let our subject impress upon us
the truth that those who have once felt it |
their duty to leave their natural state can.
not give up their duty and go back TO hard. |
ness of heart without a struggle. After
Orpah had thoroughly made up her mind |
to 90 back to the place from which she
started she went through ihe sad scene of
parting with Ruth and Naomi MY text
says, They lifted up their voice and wept"
All, my nearer, it requires more decision
and perseverance to stay away from the
kingdom of God than to enter it. Although
she did not know it, Orpah passed through
q greater struggle in turning back into the
land of Moab than would have been neces
sary to take her clear through to Bethle-
hem. Suppose you that those persons who
have remained in their evil ways have had
no struggle? Why, they hare been obliged
20 fight every inch of their way.
The road to death is not such easy tray
ling as some ministers have been accus-
,omed to describe it. From beginning to
md it is fighting against the sharp sword
If the Spirit. 1t is climbing over the cross.
I is wading through the deep blood of the
on of God. IL is scaling mountains of
privilege. 1t is wading through lakes of
orrow. 1t is breaking over communion
ables and baptismal fonts and pulpits and
Bibles. 1t Is Wedging ones self through
between pious kindred who stand before
md press us back and hol,. on to us by
heir prayers even after we have passed
hem in our headlong downward career.
10 man ought to think of undertaking to
20 back into Moab after having come
within sight of Bethlehem unless he have
heart that cannot be made to quake, and
sure foot that will not slip among inf
ute perils, and an arm that con drive back
he Son of God, who stands in the center
f the broad road spreading out his arms
nd shouting into the ear of the thought
ess pilgrim, 'Stopl stopW
CHRISTIANITY Is A SOLEMN THING
We talk about taking up the cross and
Jesus, but that eros Is not half
o heavy as the burden which the sinner !
arries. II is very solemn thing to be
christian, nut it is more solemn thing /
OF 60 be "a Christian. There are multi I
ldes who, afraid of the self d,nials of the {
rash into the harder self deni- {
Is of the unbeiever No yoke Tut Christ's, $
owever tight and gallingl Orpah goes q
ack to her idolatries, but she returns q
'eeping, and all who follow her will find |
ne same sorrows. just in proportion as {
ospel advantages have been numerous i
ill be the disturbance of the heart that {
ill not come to Christ b
The Bible says in regard to the place
here Christ was buried: I'm tie midst of Y
10 garden there was n sepulchCr;n and In Il
he midst of tho most fowery eajoyments t
the unpardoned there is a clilliness of T
cath. Although they may pul ont the o
rows that strike their soul from the Al. @
ighty's quiver there remain ing and
narting. If men wrench thems( Ives away g
ON Christ they will bear the m irk Of his u
and by which he would havu rescued u
icm, The pleasures of the world may 1t
We temporary relief from the upbraidings II
conscience, but are like stupefy ing drugs II
Iat dull the pain only temporarily. ALab
Is great kingdom, and you would think u
, ought to be happy with his courtiers
nj chariots and palaces, yet he goes to W
I'll sick because NabOth will not sell him u
5 vineyard. Hannah is prime minister II
the greatest nation in the world, and q
L one poor man who will not rDw the ID
'ad makes him utterly miserable Herod G
the most Of the world honor v,
Ill yet is thrown into rage because they l
Y little child is born in Bethlehem who v,
ny after awhile dispute his authority. S
ron conquered the world with MS pen, O
Il yet said that he felt more unhtppiness Q,
I'm the criticism of ths most literate Il
'der than he experienced pleasure from OF
q praise OF all the talented. m