The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-08-19
Christ's anguish beat against the gates Of

Christ's anguish beat against the gates Of
eternity, to be echoed back by all the thrones
Of heaven and all the dungeons Of hell.
But the day of reward comes from Christ;
all the pomp and dominion Of this world are
to be hung on His throne, uncrowned heads
are to bow before Him on whose head there
are many crowns, and all the celestial wor-
ship is to come up at His feet like the hum
ming of the forest, like the rushing of tbs
waters like the laundering Of the seas,
while all heaven, rising on their thrones,
beat time with their scepters: "halleluJah,
for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth"
Again, learn from my subject that events
which seem to be most Insignificant may be
more unimportant than the coming Of poor
woman from Moab to Judea? Can you
imagine anything more trivial than the
fact that this Ruth just happened to
alight - as they say - just happened
to alight OH that field of Boaz? Yet
all ages, all generations, have an interest IN
the fact that she was to become an ancestress
of the Lord Jesus Christ anda nations ana
kingdoms must look at that one little Incl,
dent with a thrill Of unspeakable and eternal
satisfaction. SO it Is III your history and IN
m ne. events that you thought Of no impor-
tancs at all have been Of very great mo-
ment That casual conversation, that ac-
cideutal meeting-you did not think OF IL
acain for a long while; but how 1t cnangeo
ali the current Of your life!
It seemed to be Of no importance tna1
Jubal invented rude instruments OF music,
calling them harp and organ. oug tney
were the introduction OF all the worias MN,
strelsy. And as you hear the vibration OF
q strinqed instrument, even after the fingers
have been taken away from it, so all music
now OF lutte and drum and cornet is
only the long continued strains of
Jubal's harp and Jubars organ. 1t seemed
to be a matter of very little importance that
Tubal Cain learned the uses of copper and
iron. but that rude foundry Of ancient days
has its echo in the rattle of Birmingham ma
chinery and the roar and bang of factories
on the Merrimac.
of the beauty Of female industry. Behold
Ruth toiling in the harvest field under the
hot sun, or at noon taking plain bread with
the reapers, or eating the parched corn
which Boaz handed to her. The customs of
society of course have changed, and without
the hardships and exposure to which Ruth
was subjected, every intelligent woman
will find something to do. I know
there is sickly sentimentality on this
subject. In some families there are
persons of no practical service to the house
81 many woes au around about them In the
world they spend their time lanquishiug
over new pattern or bursting into tears at
midnight over the story Of some lover who
shot himself! They would not deign to look
at Ruth carrying back the barley on her
way home to her mother-in-law, Naomi.
Madame de Stael did world OF work in
her time: and one day, while she was
seated amid instruments Of music, all Of
which she had mastered. and amid manu-
script books which she had written some
one said to her, How do you find time to
attend to all Of these things" "Oh," she
replied, these are not the things T am
proud Of. My chief boast is in the fact that
I have seventeen trades, by any one of
which | could make livelihood il neces-
sary." And if in secular spheres there is SO
much to be DONE in spiritual work how vast
the field! how many dying all around
about US without one word Of comfort!
We want more Abigails, more Hannahs,
more Rebeccas, more MaryS, more Doborahs
consecrated-body, mind, soul-to the Lord
who bought them.
Once more learn from my subject the
value OF cleaning. Ruth going into that
harvest field might have said: "There Is a
straw and there is a straw, but what is a
straw I can't get any barley for myself
or my mother-in-law out Of these separate
straws." Not so said beautiful Ruth. She
gathered two straws and she put them to-
gether, and more straws until she got
enough to make sheaf. Putting that down
she went and gathered more straws until
she had another sheaf, and another and an
other and another, and then she brought
them altogether and she threshed them out.
and she had an ephah Of barley, nigh a
oushel. Oh, that we all might be cleaners!
Elihu Burritt learned many things while
toiling in blacksmith'S shop. Abercrombie,
the world renowned philosopher, was ply
sician in Scotland, and he got his philosophy,
or the chief part Of it. while as d physician
he was waiting for the door Of the sick
room to open. Yet how many there are
in this day who say they are so busy they
have no time for mental or spiritual i'm
provement; the great duties Of life cross
the field like strong reapers and carry off
all the hours, and there Is only
here and there fragment left that Is not
worth cleaning. All. my friends you could
go into the busiest day and busiest week OF
your life and find golden opportunities,
which gathered might at last make whole
sheaf for the Lords garner. 1t is the stray
opportunities and the stray privileges which
taken up and bound together and beaten out
will at last fill you with much joy.
cleaning. Now, Ruth, to the field! May
each one have measure full and running
over! Oh, you cleaners, to the field! And
if there he in your household an aged or a
sick relative that is not strong enough to
come forth and toll in the field, then let Ruth
take home to feeble Naomi this sheaf OF
cleaning. ''He that goeth forth and
weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubt
less come again with rejoicing, bringing his
sheaves with him" May the Lord God Of
Ruth ami Naomi be our portion forever!