go to cut down a tree, you don't take
the axe and commence to hew down the branches. No, you begin right
down at the root. So here, you must take Christ, and then you will get
power to resist the world, the flesh, and the devil.

RUTH AND ORPAH.

Now, another case--Ruth and Orpah. Many are like these two young
widows. A crisis had come in their lives; they had lost their
husbands, and had been living up there in the mountains of Moab. Often
had they visited the graves of their dear ones, and perhaps planted a
few flowers there, and watered them with their tears. Now, Naomi is
about to return to her native land, and they think they will go a bit
of the road with her. It is a sad parting; but now the crisis comes.
Down in the valley they embrace each other, and give the parting kiss.
Then they both say they will go with Naomi, but she warns them of the
difficulties and the trials which might await them. So Orpah says, "I
will go back to my people"; but Ruth cannot leave her mother, and says
she will go with her.

Orpah turns back alone, and I can see her on the top of the hill; she
stops, and turns round for a last look. And Naomi says to Ruth,
"Behold, thy sister-in-law is gone back to her people, and unto her
gods; return thou after thy sister-in-law." What does Ruth say?
"Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee;
for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will
lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God." Her choice
was made. Poverty here or suffering and want yonder, she would share
Naomi's lot.

A BLESSED DECISION.

Orpah loved Naomi, but not enough to leave all for her; while Ruth
loved her mother so much, that the leaving of her people seemed
nothing to her. Oh, may God draw out all your hearts, so that you may
leave _all_ and follow Him! We never hear any more of Orpah; the
curtain falls upon her life. Perhaps she died away up in the mountains
of Moab, without God and without hope. But how different with Ruth!
She becomes famous in history; she is one of the few women whose names
have come along down the roll of ages; and she is brought into the
royal line of heaven. I have an idea that God blessed her for that
decision. And He will bless you if you decide in a like manner. Who
will say to-night, as Ruth did, "I will follow thee; and thy God shall
be my God"? Will any one take up the language of Ruth? Is there not a
Ruth here? If there is, the Maste