The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1890-07-03
THE RICH ROAD.
DR. Talmage Draws Some Val
liable lessons From Ruth
and Naomi.

And Applies Them to Those
That Feel Like Following
False Gods
his text: Ruth j., IA: t'And they LITE up their
lr.in-llw, hut Ruth clave unto her." Follow
| Ing is the Sermon:
Moab was heather land Naomi is
About8to leave it and go into the land of
Bethlehem. She has two daughters.in-law,
Ruth and orpah, who conclude to so 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
sheirj After awhile, Naomi, although
! she highly priced the company of her two
daught ers-in-law, attempted again to
persuade them to go back because OF the
hardship and self.donial through which they
would be obliged to go. Ruth responds in
the words from which once dscoursed 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 be buried, the Lord do
| SO to me and more also j aught but death
part thee and me- Not so with her sister
Orpah. Her determination had already been
shaken. The length and peril of the journey
began to appall to her, and she had worship
ped the gods OF Moab SO long that it was
to give them up. From that point Orpnh
| turned back, the parting being described in
| the words Of my text: And they lifted up
their voice and wept again, and Orpah kiss
ed her mothe:-in.law, but Ruth claye to her.
Learn from this story Of Orpah that some
Of those who do not leave the Noah o their
iniqnities are persons Of fine susceptibility.
1t was compassion for Naomi in her widow
hood and sorrow thatled Orpah to start with
her toward Bethlehem 1t was not because
OF any lack OF her affection for her that she
turned back. We know this from the grief ex-
| hlblted at parting. LIDO not know but that
she has had as much warmth and ar
dor of nature rs 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 truth which needs but lit.
tie demonstration. Many o. those who have
become the followers of jesus Christ nave but
very little natural impressibility. Grace Oft
en- takes hold OF the hardest heart and the
! most unlOyely character and transforms it.
1t is a hammer that breaks rocks. In this
christ often shows His power. 1t wants but
fttle generalshipto conauer a fat country,
to take a fort manned and already
for raking cannonade. The great Captain
OF our salvation has forced His way into
many a castle. l doubt not that Christ
could have found many fisherman natu1-
ally more noblehearted than Simon Peter
h11f fIN~1
He ould more gloriously have magnited
His grace. The conversion of a score of
Johns would not have Illustrated the power
OF the Holy Ghost as much as the conversion
of one Peter. 1t would have been easier to
drive 20 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 unweldy 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
limpressionabIe are still in their unchanged
state. ne {
Oh, how many, like Orpah, have warm af-
iections 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
1
Tim, who is altogether lovely. All other
'orrow rends their heart, bnt they are un-
touched by the woes OF a 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 the slightest
favors, that make no return to Him who
wrung out the last drop of blood from His
heart to deliver them from going down to
the pit They could weep at the door OF a
| prison at the sight Of a wicked captive in
chains, but have no compassion for their
own souls over which Satan, like q grim Jail.
ar, holds the lock and key. When repulsive,
grasping, unsympathetic natures resist the
| story of n Savior's love, it does not excite
our surprise; but it is among the greatest of
wonders that SO many who exhibit Orpah
! suscepti bility also exhibit Orpall's impeni-
tency. We are not surprised that there is
barrenness in q desert, but strange thing
it is that some times the Rose of Sharon will
not grow in a garden. On a summer morn
ing we are not surprised to find a rock with
out any dew on it, but if, going among q
flock of lilies. we saw in them no glittering
drops, we would say, "What foul spirit has
seen robbinP these vases?" We are not sur
prised that Herod did not become a Chris
tlan. 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-
CHduueZzer sTepenUeQ, anu cruel ManaSSeh
turned unto the Lord; but many a nature,
affection ate and gentle, has fought success
fully against divine influences. Many q dove
has refused to come to the window of the ark
although finding no rest for the sole OF her
loot.
Again, the history of Orpah impresses up.
on 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 m other in-law Naomi will arrive there
But while these continue in the Journey they
commenced. Orpah after awhile gets dis.
eouraged and turns back. Thisisthe history
q many soul. Perhaps it was during a re-
yival OF religion they resolved upon Chris
balm. life. and made preparations to leave
Moab. Before that they were Indifferent to
the sanctury, 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. Religion did very well for
invalids and the aged, but thew
aad no desire for it. Suddenly change
:Sme upon their soul They found that
something must be done. Every night there
was thornin Sheir pillow. There was gall in