The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-21

BROOKLYN, n. Y, Jan. 20.-The Rev.
L. Dewitt Talmage, DID,, having ex.
pounded appropriate passages Of Scripture,
gave out the hymn:
"Who arc these In bright array
- This innumerable throng.
Round the altar night and day
Tuning their triumphant song7"
The subject OF the sermon was "The
March Homeward," and the text /.
Samuel, xxx, " s: pursue: for thou
shalt surely overtake them, and without
fail recover ALL" DR.. Talmage said:
There is intense excitement in the vii.
lage OF Iiklag. David and his men are
bidding goodbye to their families, and are
off for the wars. In that little village OF
Ziklag the deienseless ones will he safe
until the warriors, flushed with victory,
come home. But will the deienseless
ones be safe2 The soft arms OF children
are around the necks OF the bronzcd war
riors until they shake themselves free and
start, and handkerchiefs and flags are
waved and kisses thrown until the armed
men vanish beyond the hills David and
his men soon get through with their cam.
paign and start homeward. Every night
ON their way home, no sooner does the
soldier put his head on the knapsack than
in his dream lac hears the welcome OF the
wife and the shout Of the child. Oh, what
long stories they will have TO tell their
families, OF how they lodged the battle
axe and then will roll up their sleeve and
show the hali-healed wound. With glad.
quick step, they march on, David and his
men, for they are marching home. Now
they come up TO the last hill
which overlOOks Liklag, aud they expect
~ a moment TO see the dwelling places OF
their loved ones. They look, and rs they
look their cheeks turn pale and their lin
quiycn. and their hand inyoluntarily
comes down on the hilt of the sword.
"Wherc is Ziklag? Where are our
homesg' they cry. Alas! the curling
smoke above the ruin tells the tragedy.
The Amalokites have come down and con.
sumcd the village, and carried the moth
en- and the wives aud the children Of
David and his men into captivity. The
swarthy warriors stand lor a lew moments
tmnsiixed with horror Then their eyes
glance 20 each other, and they burs; into
uncomfortable weeping for when a strong
warrior wecps the grief is appalling. Il
seems ns II the emotion might tear him 90
pieces. They "wept until thoy had no
moro power TO weep" but soon their
sorrow turns into rage. and David, swing.
ing his sword high in the air, cries. "Pur.
sue; ior thou shalt ovcrtako them, and
without fail recover ALL Now the march
becomes "doublo-quick." Two hundred
Of Dayid's men stop by the brook Bcsor,
faint with fatigue and grief. They cannot
go step farther. They are LEFT there.
But the other 100 men under David, with
n sort OF panther step, march on Ia sorrow
and In rage. They find by the side oi the
road half-dead Egyptian, and they re.
suscilate him, and compel him 10 tell the
whole story. llesays "Yondcr they went.
the captors and the capuyes." pointing in
the direction. Forward, ye 400 brave men
OF fire. Very soon David and his onragcd
company como upon the Amalekitish host.
Wonder they sec their own wives and
children aud mothers, and under
Amalckiiish guard. Here are the officers
OF the Amalekilish army holding ban.
quet. The cups are iull, the music Is
reused, the dance begins The Amalekit-
ish host cheer and cheer and cheer over
their victory. hut. without note OF bugle
or warning Of trumpet, David and his 100
men burst upon the scene suddenly as
Robert Bruce hurled his Scoichmen upon
the jewellers at Bannockburn. David and
his men looked up. and one glance ai their
loved ones IN captivity and under Amalek-
iiish guard throws them into a very fury
Of determination for YOU know how men
will fight when they fight Tor their wives
and children. All, there are lightnings In
their eye, and every finger Is a spear, and
their voice is Ike the shout Of the whirl.
wind. Amidst the upset tankards and the
costly yiands crushed under foot, the
wounded Amalckiics lie their blood
mingling with their wincl shricking Tor
mercy. No sooner do David aud his men
win the victory than they throw their
swords down into the dust-what do they
want with swords now7-and the broken
families como together amidsla great shout
II 10y that makes the parting scene In
Ziklag seem very insipid in the com.
pahson. The rough old warrior has 10
use some persuasion before he can get his
child 90 come 10 him now after NJ long an
absence; but soon the little finger traces
the familiar wrinkle across the scafrcd
face. And then the empty tankarls are
set up, and they are filled with the beet
wine from the hills, and David aud his
men, the husbands, the wives, the
brothers, the sisters drink 10 the over.
throw Of the Amackiics aud 10 the r..
building Of Ziklag. So, o Lord, lot Thine
enemies pcrishl
Now iiioy are coming home, David and
bis men aud their iamilics-a long pro.
ccs-ion. Men, women and children,
loaded with jewels aud robes and with al
kinds Of trophies that the Amalckitcs had
gathered up la years OF conqucst-ovcty.
thing now In the hands Of David aud hii
men. When they como by the brook
Bcsor, the place where siaid III,
men tick and incompetent 10 travel
the Jewels and tho robes ant
I'll kinds Of treasures are divided
among the sick o. well as among the we'll
Surely, the lame aud exhausted ought I,
have some Of the treasures Here Il
robe for this paleiaced warrior, Here IL
pillow for this dying man. Here II a hand
fu Of gold ior the wasted irumpetor
really think that these men who iainto,
by the brook Besor may have endured n
much % those men who went into battle
komc mean fellows objected 10 the sicl
ones having any Of the spoils The oh
ieciora said. tfIhoao non dtl NOD uvhi