The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-04-09
vIaGNIANs WEEKLY SERMON.
The Difference Between Two Women
BY REV. b CABELL HENING, D. D.

To come, enjoying It's mess OF pottage
to the loss Of heavens spiritual birth
right YourTife moves on and changes
and transitions in your character
move, too, II may be silently and in
VtsiJiy, but some crisis brings sud-
denly the crystaiization.
1t is at the point where things
collide and clash. and one must die
that the other live, that We find the
difference deep and wide between our
feIlow-men.
Enduring Principle.
Thc test came where there was
nothing to support right conduct but
principle. Up to this time the Jour
ney had been under the shadows of
the blue hills of Moab. Their foot
steps had been urgea by social sem
ttment and mingled: sorrow. The
black cloud OF possible lonely pros
pect in Palestine haG not risen above
the dark folds of sad separation. But
here they must take their bearings.
Here Moab Is tn be taken away If the
journey is pursued Beyond there Is
nothing Naomi can offer to fasctnate
and charm. Right conduct stripped
OF glow and glamour that Is to be-
witch an entrance. There is nothing
TOW TO hold them on but principle.
WITH Kiss. The light OF sentiment
flashed and faded when their feet
pressed the uncarpeted path OF duty.
Memory chained TO the fields of Moab
when the wings OF hope dropped over
perishing prospects in Canaan, and
there was now no other motive APP
pcaied to except that this right To
present view the flowers grew behind
them. The wftchery ami mesmerismtC
rapture was over here. and over there
only the cold gray stone Of duty rose
ungarnished and defiant 1t is times
like this that We find the deep diff
ference between surface sameness
There tests divide friends. classmates,
comrades.
We notice also that this difference
furnishes the roots of future history.
History SO much alike before now
turns back to back and heel TO heel
Orpah turned back to Moab its as
sociations, Its shrines and its gods.
and is lost in oblivion. She is classed
with Jehu and Judas, Bemas and
Hymaneaus. Alexander and Philetus.
She went to the border like Felix,
who trembled. and BALKAN, who pro-
phesied, and Herod. who heard gladly.
Huth's fflustrious Line.
Ruth is enrolled with the line OF
list with Miriam and Deborah, with
Rebekah and Hannah, with Lydia
and Dorcas. She is enrolled In the
line OF the pedigree OF kings. God
has enshrined her deathIess memory
In His Book. and she Is always the
pure and pious prophecy of the en-
trance of the heather into HIS King
dom
The history of Orpah shows the
limitations OF purely natural endow-
ments and mere worldly improve
ments. However great. they can go
only to the border of Moab
Natures highest endowments and
most lavish bestowments are but
naught whom compared with grace.
She has no fountain 10 wash out sin.
no power to transform the soul, no
faith TO bring distant things near.
There Is u line beyond which our
beauty cannot use Its witchery, where
grace of manner and goodness of
Speech Will have no eloquenee, where
culture Of brain viii be forbidden,
for culture OF heart will he the only
Invited and welcome guest. Have
them, but add IT, them the purity and
piety of the religion or Ruth,
Ruth's history makes clearer the
grandeur OF life linked on to
sASAt taHSS' Nor HutAity 10 II Is eN-
pressed in the finest phrases. Some
Italian artist might paint her picture,
but no GreCian orator could ever
write the eloquence with which she
made attestatton OF devotion. En-
treat me not to leave thee" begins n
song OF love which. linked her on to
the destinies OF Gods Kingdom Her
deathless VOW has fixed it's impress
sion upon the mind of mankind. Her
words express thar genuine loyalty
which betters the world. From that
time forth she lived above the best
whom she had left behind her. e
II is better far to be a little part
Of great thing than the sum total