The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1890-07-03

can hardly imagine them separated. Yet .
fatal limo 10 drawn dividing them from each
other, perhaps forever. Naomi can not
1--we in q heather country. She must go into
bethlehem that there among the piOus she
may Worship the true God. Ruth makes
they lifted up their voice and wepr again,
and Orpah kissed her motherin-iaw, but
Ruth clave unto her" The history Of this
family Of Elimelech is the history OF many
families Of this day. How often it il that in
circle Of relatives, while they look alike,
ana walk alike. and talk alike there 10 q
OutwardIy united in the affectional rela.
tions Of this life, they are separated in the
most important respects. Some now are the
children Of light, and others the children Of
do rkness. These are alive in Christ, and
those are dead in sim Ruth In the land Of
family are David and Solomon worshipsrs Of
the Most High God, and Adonijah and Absa-
lon, who live and die the enemies Of All
righteousness. Belonging to the same family
was the holy and devout Eli, ana the reckless
Phinsas, and Hophai Johnathans Edwards,
the good, and Pierrepoint Edwards. the bad,
belong to the Same family, Aaron Burr, the
dissolute, had q most excellent tather. Dy-
ing yet immortal hearer, by tho eolemnity
OF the parental, and flial and coniugal rela.
ton. by the sacredness OF the family hearth.
by the honor Of Family name, by the men,
DRY OF departed kindred, point out this
parting of Ruth and Orpah.
Again: This subject suggests to me two Of
the prominent reasons why people refuse
the kingdom of Christ. There may have
been many other reasons who Orpah left her
sister and mother-in-law, and went back
home, but there were two reasons which I
think IN were more prominent than the rest.
She had been brought up in idolatries She
loved the heather gods which her ancestors
had worshiped, and, though those blocks of
wood and stone could not hear, and, though
they could not see she thought they could
see. and, though they could not feel, she
thought they could feel. A new religion has
been brought to her attention She had
heard her mother-in-law talk of the God of
Israel. She was SO much shaken in her origi-
nal belief that she concluded to leave her.
idolatries but coming to the margin of the
land OF Bethlehem her determination failed
h ne, and speedily she returned to her gods.
mutitudes Of persons never become
Christians They cannot bear to give up
their gods. Business is the American ugger-
naut that brushes more men than the great
car of the Hindoos. To it they say their
morning and evening prayer. little Of
Christ s religion may creep into the Sabbath,
but Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thurs.
devoted to this American idol. Every hour
there is sacrifice on the altar. Home du.
lies, health Of body, manly strength and i'm
mortal affections must all burn in this holo-
caust. Men act as though they could take
their bonds, and mortgages, and saws, and
trowels, and axes, and day-books with them
into the kingdom OF heaven
There are many whohave no unholy thirst
for gold yet who are devoting themselves
to their worldly occupation with a ruinous
Intensity. Men of the stock exchange, men
OF the yard-stick men of the saw, men of
the trowe!, men of the ay-book, what will
become of you, if unforgiven, in the great
day when there are no houses to build and
no goods to SELL and no bargains to make?
1t is possible to devote oneself even to q
lawful calling until it becomes sinful There
is no excuse on the earth or under the earth
for the neglect of our deathless spirit.
Lydia was a seller of purple, yet she did
otalow her extensive occupation to keep
her from becoming christian. Daniel was
secretary OF state and encouragement in
the empire of Babylon, and yet, three times
day he found time to pray with his face to-
wards Jerusalem. The man who has no
time to attend to religion will have no time
to enter heaven.