The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1890-06-28
THE RIGHT ROAD.
Dr. Talmage Draws Some Val
liable Lessons From Ruth
and Naomi.
And Applies Them to Those
That Feel Like Following
False Gods.

disc UOuS.
BROOKLYN Speciality. Talmage took for
his text: Ruth ] IA: "And they lifte d up their
voices and wept, and Orpah kissed her moth
er-in-law, but Ruth claye unto her" Follow
ing is the Sermon
Moab was q heather land. Naomi is
about to leave it and go into the land OF
Bethlehem. She has two daughters.in-law.
Ruth n 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 BIZ
persuaded. They all three start out on
theirjourney. After awhile, Naomi, although
she highly priced the company of her two
daught e%rs-in-law, attempted again to
persuade them to go rack because Of the
hardship and selfdcnial through which they
would be Obliged to 60. Ruth responds in
the words from which I once diseoursed 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
twill lodge, thy people shall be my people
and thy God my. God, where thou diest will /
die and there will l he buried, the Lord dc
so to me and more also If 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 appan to her, and she had worship,
ped the gods Of Moab SO long that it was
to i've them up. From. that point Orpah
tuaMed 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 mother-in-law, but Ruth clave 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-
hibited at parting. do not know but that
she has had as much warmth and ar
dor of nature as Ruth, but she lacked the
courage and persistence of her sister. That
there are man with as fine susceptibility az
Orpah who will not take up their cross and
follow Christ. is a truth which needs but lit.
tie demonstration. Many o. those who have
become the followers of Jesns Christ have but
very little natural impressibility. Grace Oft
en- takes hold OF the hardest heart and the
most u~nloyely character and transforms it.
1t is a hammer that breaks rocks. In this
Christ often shows His power. 1t wants but
little generalship to conquer a fiat country,
bnt might of artillery and heroism
TO take a fort manned and already
for raking c%annonade. The great Captain
of our salvation has forced His way into
many q castle. /, doubt not that Christ
could a found many O fisherman natui-
ally more noblehearted than Simon Peter
hut there was no one by whose conversion
He g auld more gloriously have magniied
His grace. The conversion OF q score of
Il Johns would not have illustrated the power
oithe Holy Ghost as much as the conversion
Os one Peter. 1t would have been easier to
drive 30 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 un wieldy timbers, aud
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
impressionable are still in their unchanged
state. q
Oh, how many, like 0rpah, have warm Of
fections md yet never become Christiansl
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
With God. They can love everybody but
sorrow rends their heart, bnt they are un-
touched by the woes of q dying Christ. Good
newssflls 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
fay0rss that make no return to Him who
wrnng 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 o
prison at the sight of q wicked captive in
chains, but have no compassion for their
own souls over which Satan, like q grim jail
a N ~ nfda fkn Dab ons1 Enxy II Ihnn #Nnvorvlcyyo
grasping. unsywpathetic natures resist the
story Of n Savior's love, it does not excite
o u surprise; but it is among the greatest of
wonders that 30 many who exhibit Orpah's
susceptibility also exhibit Orpah's impeni-
tency. We are not surprised that there is
barrenness in q desert, but a 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 il, but il, going among q
flock IS lilies. we saw in them no glittering
drops. We would say, What foul spirit has
prised that Herod did not become a Chris
tian. but how strange that the young man
Jesus loved for. his sweetness Of temper
should not nave loved the Releemer.
Handicapped Felix trem bled, proud Nebu-
chadnezzer repented, and cruel Manasseh
TUNED INTO the Lord; but many n nature,
affectionate and gentle, has fought success
sfnllysagainst divine influences. Many q dove
has refused to come to the window of the ark
although finding no rest for the sole OF her
foot.
Again, the history of Orpah impresses up
on the Truth that there are many who make
ii good starting, but after awhile change their
minds and turn back. When these three
mOurners start from their nome in Noah.
there il as much probability that Orpah will
reach Bethlehem as that her sister Ruth and
her mother. in-law Naomi will arrive there.
But1hvhile these continue in the journey they
commenced. Orpah after awhile gets dis
OF many q soul Perhaps it was during a re-
.viyal Of religion they resolved upon q Chris.
TAIN lie. and made preparations to leave
Moab. Before that they were Indifferent to
the sanctury, churches were necessary evils.
The minister almost always preached poor
hear them. They thought the bread was
not good because their appetite was
poor. Religion did very we'll for
HAD no desire for it Suddenly change
came upon their soul. They found that
3something must be done. Every night there
was q thornin their pillow. There was gall in
their wine. They found that their pleasures
were only false lights ofa swamp that rise
0stdpcay and death. Losing their self
control they we're startled by their own
prayer. God be mercknl to me o sinner"
Theyssdid not suspect y, but the Holy Ghost
t MN e eer sae ao ios,; they 1' brushed Ia Tie dus sA oa
the family bible. The ground did not feel as
firm understhem nor did the air seem ns
bright. They tried to lar bnck the food
OF their emotions, but the attempt failed,
md they confessed their anguish Of soul be.
lore they mennt to. The secret was out!
They wanted fo know whatsthey must DO to
wiz Rnth and Naomi ween;nr Orpah