Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1907-12-04
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.
Prayer Meeting Topic For the Week
Beginning Dec. s, 1902.
By REV. S. u. DOYLE.

Urayer Meeting Topic For the week
Beginning Dec. s, 1907.
BY REV S. Il DOYLE.
Topic-Lessons from an old love story.
The book of Ruth. Read in the meeting.
s-Kuth u. 1920.
Benjamin Franklin being called upon
Do speak at meeting of scientific
society IN Paris whose members were
mostly atheists, recited the Bible story
of Ruth. His bearers were charmed
with the story. One of them was so
enthusiastic that he wanted to know
Il It were published and, If so, declared
that he would like 10 purchase the
book that contained ii. Franklin an
Swered that it was published and
when asked where quietly answered,
TN book called the Bible" This In
cident has other lessons, but it is also
q splendid testimony TO the beauty of
the story Of Ruth as a romance, And
It Is one of the most charming of ro-
mances, and. moreover, it is true-truth
stranger (and even more romantic)
than fictiea.
4ut StOis bC NSAs
called. In time of famine Elimelech
and Naomi. husband and wife, with
their two sons, went down into the
land of Moab Here the sons both
married, the wife of one being Orpah
and tha. OF the other Ruth. 1t so
happened n course of time that all
three men died. Naomi therefore de-
400 -, f, Ind Cha n II.
Nised her daughters-in-law to remain
In Noah. and Orpah consented to do
90, kissing her goodby. But Ruth
elung 10 her mother-in-law' and said:
~Entreat me not to leave thee or to
return frog.t following thee, for width
sr thou goest l will go, and where
thou lodgest l will lodge. Thy people
shall be my people and thy God my
God. Where thou diest VIII die, and
there will 1 be buried" Naomi could
not resist such pleading, and Ruth re-
turned to her home with her. She
was sent to CLEAN in the fields Of Boaz,
q rich and influential man, and a mu-
1cal love arose between them. Boaz
took Ruth as his wife, and through
this marriage she became one of the
two gentiles who belonged to the an
eestry Of our Lord Jesus Christ
This Is indeed an old love story, but
enc that IN various phases is frequent
y repeated. But, more than this, 1t Is
IN Instructive love story. ~ 1t teaches
that faithfulness Is always rewarded.
ahe faithfulness of Ruth to her mother
1n-law has seldom been equaled, much
less excelled. But how great was her re-
ward! She found another husband, a
better home, and was, especially honor
ID in being one Of those from whom
the Saviour Of the world descended.
q In Ruth's life story we have also
. beautiful Illustration of self sacri-
nee. What Remuneration Ruth made
to accompany Naomi-country, home,
friends, her gods and her burial place
20 sacred to orientals! But here, too.
she was highly rewarded. God al
ways rewards sacrifices made for love,
and especially for love of Him. 81
This story reminds us of Gods love for
~. Boaz. the rich and powerful, loved
the humble Ruth. God, the eternal
sovereign God. loves Us, though we
are infinitely inferior to Him. Do we
repay His love? Do we love Him In
return, as Ruth did Boaz, and are we
willing to serve Him?
BIBLE HEADINGS.
Sam. xviii, 1-3; II Sam. l, 1921;
Song Of Solomon II, II; viii, 6, q;
Jer. XXI, 3; Hos. II, 4; John Iii, 16;
Rom " 2-11. viii 10. JOhn Nv TIA
1921.