Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1890-07-10
TIE THREE WIDOWS.
Talmags Talk, About the Oas Whose
Courage Cav, Out

Talmags Talk, About the Oas Whose
Courage Cav, Out
While R.:h and Naomi K,pt On Their Way
to Bethlshem, 0rpah turned Back, IN.
needing the Appeals to 90 On With Them.
Rev. T. De Witt Tslnage took q new
lesson last Sund ", as h. preached in the
Brooklyn Academy of Music, from that
beautiful story OF the journey of Ruth and
Naomi He took for his subject 81 he
Cowardly Daughter-in-Lsw-O Ills
text: Ruth IA: "And they lifted up their
voices and wept and Orpah kissed her
mother-iu-law, but Ruth clave unto her."
Following is the sermon:
Moab was a heather land. Naomi Is
about to leave it and 90 into the land of
Bethlehem. Ste has two daughters-in.
law. Ruth and Orpah, who conclude to 20
with her Naomi tells them they had oct.
ter not leave their native land and under.
take the hardship OF the journey, but they
will not be persuaded. They ali three
start out on their journey. After awhile,
Naomi, although she highly priced the
company OF her two d III ;hters-in-lAw, at
tempted again to persuade them to 90 back
because OF the hardship AMI self-Jenial
through which they would be obliged to
go. Ruth responds in the words from
which once discoursei to you: "Entreat
me not to leave thee, nor to return from
follow .ag after thee. for where thou goest
will go, and wher. thou lougest l will
lodge, thy people shall be- my people an
thy God my God, whera thou dies: will |
die nd there will be buried, tn. Lord do
so to ms "nl more also ii aug1t but death
part thee and me-" Not so 9TH her sister
Orpah. Her determin ,tion had already
been shaken. The length ana peril OF the
journey be gan to appall her, and she had
worshipped the gods of MOAB SO lon that
1t was hard to give them up. From that
point Orpah turne br k, the parting being
describe in the words OF my text: AMI
they lifted up their voice and wept again,
and Orpah kissed her mother in-law. but
Ruth Cave unto her.
Learn from this story OF Orpha that some
OF those who do not le I'VE the Moab of their
iniquities are persons OF fine susceptibility.
1t was compassion for Naomi In her widow.
hood and sorrow that led Orpha to start
with her toward Bethlehem. 1t was not
because Of any lack Of affection for her that
she turned back We know this from the
grief exhibited ut parting. do not know
but that she hal as m ,ch warmth and
ardor Of nature as Ruth. but she lacked the
courage and persistence Of her sister, That
there are many with as fine susc .ptibility
as Orpha who will not take up their cross
ana follow Christ, is n trutA Whi b nee Is
but little demonstration. Many of those
who have become the followers Of Jesus
have but very tile natural impressiblity.
Grace oft9n takes hold OF the hardest heart
and the m ost unlovely character and trans.
1t. Its hammer that breaks 70 ks
In this Christ often shows His power 1t
wants but little generalship to conquer
Hat country, but might OF artillery and
heroism 10 take fort manned and ready
for raking cannonade. The great CAPITA II
OF our salvation has forced his way into
many an armed castle. l doubt not that
Christ coul have found many ii .herm IN
naturally more nOble-hear ed than Simon
Peter. but there was no one by whose con.
version He could more g.oriously have
magnified His grace. The conversion OF u
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 twenty lambs like John
into the fold than to tame one lion lik.
Peter. God has often made some OF His
most en1cient servants olt OF men naturally
unimpressionable. AS men t,ke st II nnd
| unwieldy timbers, and under huge handed
ships. thus Goi has often shaped and bent
into His service the most un wiedy natures,
while those naturally impressionable are
| still Ia their unchanged state.
90, bow many. like Orpah, have warm
affections 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 in to the friend
ships of the word, but not into communion
with God. They can love everybody but
Him, who is altogether lovely. All other
sorrow rends their heart, but they are un.
touched by the woes of dying Chr list.
Good news fills them with excitement but
the great tidings Of Joy and salvation STIR
not their soul. Anxious to do what is
right, vet they rob God. Grateful for tho
slightest favors, they make NO return to
Him who wrung out the last drop OF blood
from his heart to deliver thsm from going
down to the pit They would weep at tho
door OF prison at the sight Of wicked
captive in chains, but have no compassion
Tor their own souls over which Satan. like
grim TALLER, holds the lock and Key When
repulsive, grdsping, unsympathe,ic natures
resist the story Of a Savior's love, il do,s
not excite our surprise; but it 10 among the
greatest OF wonders that so many who ex-
hibit Orpah's susceptibility also exhi bit
Orpah's impenitency. We are not surpris.
ed that there is barrsnness in desert, bat
STANCE thing is that sometimes tn, Rose
Of Sharon will not grow in a garden. On
summer morning we are not surprised to
find rock without any dew on it, but IT,
going among flock Of lilies, We saw in
them no glitterin9 drops, we would say,
"What foul sprite has been robDing these
vasess' We ars not surpris ID that Herod
did not become Christian but how strange
that the young man Jesus loved for his
sweetness OF temper should not have loved
the Redeemer Hard hearted Felix trcm
bled, proud Nebuchadnezz ~ repented, and
cruel Manasseh turned unto the Lord; bat
many nature, affectionate and gentle. has
fought successfully against divine infiu.
ences. Many dove has refused to come
In the window Of the ark although finding
NO rest for tn. sole Of her foot
Again the history OF Orpah impresscs
upon me the truth that there arc MANY who
make good starting. but after awhile
I'M fhAfn Svxla "A