The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-11-26
TALMAGE's SERMON.
The Brooklyn Divine Discourses
On Drawn and Muscle.

On Drawn and Muscle.
The Results Of the Preaching Of the Doe.
trine Of Free-Loveism on American So
ciesy-The Responsibility Of Physi-
cal Strength to the world.
The Rev. T. Dewitt Talmage, in recent
sermon in Brooklyn Tabernacle, took
sBrawn and Muscle" for his theme, taking
for his text:
And samson went down to Timnath -
Judges xiv, l.
There are two sides to the character OF
Samson. The one phase Of his life, if fol-
lowed into particulars, would administer
to the grotesque and the mirthful but there
IS phase of his character fraught with
lessons Of solemn and eternal import. To
those graver lessons we devote this dis
course. This giant, no doubt, in early life
gave evidence of what he was to be. 1t is
almost always 50. There were two Ma
poleons-the boy Napoleon and the man
Napoleou-but both alike; two Howards-
the boy Howard and the man Howard
but both alike; two Samsons-the boy Sa1-
son and the man Samson-but both alike.
This giant was, no doubt, the hero Of the
playground, and nothing could stand be-
fore his exhibitions of youthful prowess.
AT eighteen years of age he was betrothed
to the daughter of Philistine. Going down
toward Timnath lion came out upon him
Although this young giant was weapon
less, he seized the monster by the
long name and shook him as a hungry
hound shakes a March hare, and made its
bones crack and left it by the wayside
bleeding under the shifting Of his inst and
the grinding of his heel. Passing along.
after while, the same place, he turned
into the thicket to see the remains of the
monster lie had slain. Under the hot cli-
mate, all the perishable particles of the
dion had disappeared. and under the rain
and the sun the skeleton had been washed
and bleached until it was as pure and as
white as a vase of porcelain. Into this
skeleton the bees had gathered their honey,
the sweetness of grass tops, the juice of
the pomegranate, the aroma of the wild
flowers which had stood in the gloom of
the thickets, pale nuns in natures convent.
On the wedding day Samson had pro-
pounded a riddle-a riddle so foolish that
it has been regarded as a warning for those
who, without talent for Righteousness, at
fmpt it. By the treachery of his wife the
fiddle was easily guessed by the Phiiistines,
and Samson, in his indignation, slew
thirty people. Further to avenge the
wrong done him he sets on fire 900 foxes,
and these terrified creatures in their alarm
s.rySt ! ir-la no oh
until the whole land is ab,aze with desola-
ton. Surrounded one day by 5000 men
this giant picked up a iawbone from the
wayside and Inows down armed men. as
in the harvest field the full-headed grain
tumbles under the swing of the sickle
There be stands looming up above other
men. a mountain of flesh, his arm punched
with muscle that can lift the gate of
city, taking an attitude defiant of every
thing. His hair had never been cut, and
1t rolled down in seven great plaits over
his shoulder, adding to his fierceness and
terror. The Phiiistines want to conquer
him, and, therefore, they must find out
where the secret of his strength laws.
There is Q dissoiute woman living in the
VALLEY of Sores by the name of Delilah
The Philistines are secreted in the same
building, and then Delilah goes to work
and coaxes Samson TO tell what is the Sc
cret of his strength. sWell,' he saws, ''if
Yea should take seven green withes, such
as they fasten wild beasts with, and put
them around me l should be perfectly pow
eriess.H So she binds him with tie seven
green withes. Then she cIaps her hands
and says: They came-.he Philistines ;"
and be walks out as though there were no
impediment- She coaxes him again, and
says Now tell me the secret of this
great strength" And he replieth: IF
You should take some ropes that have
never been used and tie me with then,
should be just like other men," She ties
hin with the ropes, claps her hands and
shouts: "They coma-she Philistines."
He walks out as easily as he did before
noe : single obstruction. She coaxes him
again, ard be saws: Now if you should |
take these seven long piaits of hair and by
this hosse-loon weave them into q web. I
could not get away So the house-loon
is rolled up and the shuttle flies backward
and forward and the long plaits OF hair are
woven into web. Then she ciaps her
hands and says: ''They come-the Phil |
istines-" He walks out as easily as he did |
before, dragging q part of the loom Eith !
him. But after awhile she persuades him |
to tell the truth. He says: IF You should |
take razor or shears and cut of this long |
hair, should be powerless and in the |
hands Of my enemies" Samson sleeps, |
and that she may not wake kim rp during |
the PROCESS OF shearing, helm is called in. |
You know that the BARRIERS OF the East |
have such skillful way Of manipulating |
the head to this very day that instead of
waking up sleeping man, they viii put .
man. wide awake, sound asleep. I hear
the blades of the shears grinding against |
each other, and see the long tecks falling |
of The shears or razor acceNplishes |
what green withes and new ropes
and house-loom could not do. sind.
denly she claps her hands and says "The
Philistines be upon thee, SamssnE' He |
E0uses up with struggle, but his strength
Is all gone. He is in the hands Of his enc
mics 1 hear the groan of the giant as
they take his eyes out, and then gee him
ON in his blindness, feeling his
way rs he goes toward GAIA The prison
door is open, and the giant is thrxst in.
He sits down and puts his hands q the
nill-crank, which, with exhaustins hsri-
xontai motion, goes day after day. ueek
after week. month after month-Eerk.
work, work! The conservation Of the =
world Ia captivity, his locks shorn, his
eyes pnaetsred, grinding corn in Gaza'
First of al behold in this giant Of the
~ o$ 80. - |