The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1906-07-05
Isszys sssxsSrs srsswssssT,
. SUNDAY SERMON F.:
= - - -
; A Scholarly Discourse BY
} Rev. Robert II Carson. :
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ing from the book o. Ruth. Among
other things be said:
We miss a great deal OF the beauty
and power OF the Bible because OF
the manner in which we are accus.
toned TO read IT, There are very few
who take time 20 read q whole book
through at a single sitting. We dip
into Scripture as IL IL were a book of
fate, reading verse here and another
there so il is not surprising that we
rise from the exercise having received
but little help and spiritual refresh.
ment. There Is no royal road 10
knowledge. There Is no way TO gar.
ner the lessons which Holy Scripture
teaches save through that steady and
persistent searching OF which our say.
iOus spoke when lie said. search the
Scriptures, for they are they which
testify Of Ne"
IL is our hope this evening TO point
out some OF the beautiful lessons con.
tained in one little book OF the Bible.
in one Of the most delightful stories
ever presented for contemplation by
the mind OF man. | refer 90 the book
OF Ruth. Its very place in the sacred
canon makes it memorable piece Of
literature. II Is. as you know. pre-
ceded by the book Of Judges. and fol-
lowed by the book Of samuel These
books are concerned almost exclusively
with the national history Of Israel
with the wars defeats. humilati0nS
murmurings. complaininCs. replnings
and repentances Of the people. They
are not, in the maln pleasant reading
Their pages are red with blood and
violence, and rapine. and lawleSs deeds,
the unchaugeable consequences OF a
nation forgetting God and ncglectlng to
do His will.
II is n great pleasure. therefore. 10
turn from these books that tell of the
ups and downs Of national life. and
fix the attention upon the charming
story of Ruth. That little book pic.
lures domestic life; il gives Us
glimpse into the quiet. everyday habits
and customs of the men and women
Of that time and we see them iu their
homes. IN the harvest fields. at the
festivals. and at religious services.
Biography is, ! think, the favorlte
reading matter We urp dpluged with
a food Of fictitious biography I'm the
shape of novels which come by thou.
sands from the printing press every
year. 1t is an easy. but not very
profitable kind of reading. for I'm the
majority of cases there is great deal
OF unreality. too great an absence OF
the lifelike and too little of what we
know TO be a common experience.
II is not so. however. in the book Of
Ruth There we have life truly de-
picted; there we meet with men and
women as we lind them to-day-not an.
gels and not demons. but errng. endur.
ing, faithful and not unblest.
II is not my intention 10 enter upon
the story. | trust that you all know
it. or that if you do not. that you will
take a quiet half hour this very even.
ing. and peruse that little book. which.
in its superiority, is as far removed
from our modern stories rs the east
is from the west
In coming into touch. then, with this
piece Of sacred literature. and consld-
ering 70: our edhcation some Of the
lessons which il teaches. we see first OF
all the superiority of character. The
two chief figures in the story are Boaz
and Ruth, and il is their characters
that make them such. There is not
in the whole range OF literature q bet.
ter type of manly, healthy religion
than is eXemplified In the case of Boaz.
You remember that scene in the har.
vest field. He went down 10 his reap
ers, and his salutaton without any
cant or inSincerity, was. THE Lord be
with you" My friends when such a
greeting as that can take place be.
tween master and men. IT testihes 10
The presence Of a religion that leaves its
mark upon very act, and upon all the
conduct Of life. II is the men like
Boaz who are the ornament and glory
Of religion; the men whose beliefs in
fuencP them all in the manifold con-
Germs Of life IN the forum. n the mar
ket place. abroad as well as az home.
Our Lord tells MS who Hre 20 be ac-
counted blessed. II is not the mere
hearers OF His word nor they who can
cry. Lord. Lord, ana affirm that they
have prayed I'm public places. II is
BLESSED are the doers Of the Word"
and blessed they alone. Such I'm his
day was BoaZ-H man Of kindly feel
ngs, pure heart. strong conviction. true
purpose. and the henpdictiou Of the
Most High was upon him.
Such too. was Ruth with her loving
tender, ronsiderate heart-oue Of the
fairest characters IN the whole range
Of Hebrew Scripture.
And the most noteworthy fact in this
is that these characters
were produced amid surroundings and
m environment that would have dis
rOuraged the average person. II was
q lawless time; restrains We're weak
aned or entirely removed. and men be-
came a law unto themselves. Such a
condition of society Is not favorable 10
The cultivation and development OF the
nobler virtues ana yet. amid suCh n
state Of things we have the stirring
OF these two who brayely
the testimony and did the
right. II Is not at all unusual 10 hear
men blame their surroundings for their
errors and mistakes: IL is. indeed, the
common way by which we seek 20 con.
done our failngs but the excuse Is not
valid. Some men II Is true are more
strongly tempted than others: some are
IN places that require a strong heart.
hrm faith, an mistaken confidence in
God and in the power of Christ in
order that they may be kept from the
evil that prevails around them; but no
man, il his purpose be true. can ever
be wholly overcome. There Is no
that hath befallen any man
but what Is common. and always with
The temptation there Is a way Of es.
ape II, trusting in the grace divine and
IN the strength omnipOtent. our heart
and Wills be set on delivery.
Amid surroundings most unfayorable
these two saints went on from strength
To- strength UrONV inc In ssruca and fn