The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1890-07-02
ORPAH'S STRUGGLE.
a LESSON FROM THE STORY OF
NAOMpS DAUCHTER-IN-LAW
,r. Tailnasc's Strikin. Sermon on Strik
ing Chapter In Bible History.

pr. TailnaEeS Striking sermon On = Strlh
ing Chapter In Bible History.
DR.. Talmage took for his
text on Sunday Ruth j, -
"And they lifted up their voice
and wept, an Orpah kissed her moth,
er-in-law, but Ruth clare unto her.
Following is the sermon:
Moab was heathen land. Naomi
is about to leave it and go into the
land of Bethlehem. She has two
aaughters-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 started out on their journey.
After awhile, Naomi, although she
highly priced the company Of her two
daughters-in-law, attempted again to
persuade them to so back because of
the hardship and self-denial through
which they would be obliged to so.
Ruth responds in the words from
which I once discomsed to you: en-
treat me not to leave thee, or to re-
turn from following after thee, for
where thou goest I will go, and where
thou lodgest I will lodge, thy people
shall be my people and thy God my
God, where thou dest will [ die and
there will I be buried, the Lord DO
so to me and more also if aught but
but death part thee and me: Not
so with her sister Orpah. Her de-
terminatioz had alreadybeen shaken.
The length and peril of the Journey
began to appeal her, and she had
worshipped the gods of Moab SO long
that it was hard to give them up.
From that point Orpah turned back,
the parting describedm the words OF
my text: And they lifted up their
voices and wept again, and Orpah
kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth
clave unto her.
Learn from this story OF Orpah
that some of those who do not leave
the Moab of their iniquities are per-
sons of fine susceptibility. It was
| compassion for Naomi in her widow
hood and sorrow that led Orpah to
start with her toward Bethlehem. 1t
was not because of any lack Of affec-
ton for her that she turned back:
We know this from the grief exhibited
| at parting. I do not know but that
she had as much warmth and ardor
| of nature as 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 little de-
| monstration. Many OF those who
have become the followers Of Jesus
have-b but very little natural irnpressl>
bility. Grace often takes hold of the
hardest heart and the most unlovely
character and Transforms it. 1t IS a
hammer that breaks rocks. In this
Christ often shows His powers. 1t
wants but little generalship to con-
| quer a fat country, but might OF ar
tillery and heroism to take fort
manned and ready for raGng can-
onnade. The great Captain of our
salvation has forced his way into
many an armed castle. 7 doubt not
that Christ could have found many q
fisherman naturally more noble
hearted than Simon, Peter, but there
was no one by whose conversion
He could more gloriously have mag
niged His grace. The conversion Of
a score of Johns would not have IL
lustrated the power Of the Holy
Ghost as much as the conversion Of
one Peter. It would have been easier
to drive twenty 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 unwieldy 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
unwieldly natures, while those natar-
ally impressionable are still In their
unchanged state.
| Oh, how many, like Orpah, have
warm affections and yetnever become
Christians? Like Orpah, they know
how to weep, but they do not know
how to pray. Their fneness of feeling
leads them into the friendships ofthe
world, but not in communion with
God. They can love everybody but
Him, who is altogether lovely. All
| other sorrow rends their heart, but
they are untouched 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, they make
| no return to Him who wrrmg out the
last drop Of blood from His heart to
deliver them from going down to the
| pit. They would weep at the door OF
a prison at the sight OF a wicked cap
tive in CHAINS, but no compassion for
| their own souls, over which satan,
! like a grim jailer, holds the lock and
key. When repulsive, grasplng, IN
sympathetic natures resist the story
of o Sayiour's love, it does not excite
our surprise; but it is among the
greatest Of wonders that so many
who exhibit Orpahs susceptibility
also exhibit Orpah's impenitency. We
are not surprised that there is bar
renness in a desert, but strange
thing is it that sometimes the Rose OF
Sharon will not grow in q garden.
| On q summer morning We are not
surprised to and rock without any
dew on it but if, going among flock
of lilies, we saw IN them 10 glitter.
ing drops, would say, what foul
| 1.-:4o l,os lo,,, ,.o1,l;n,- 4baco rocaS?