Democratic messenger., 1893-06-10
At THE TABERNACLE.
HOW THE LORD RAISED UP EHup AS
A DELIvEReR.
DIR. Taimage shows That the Success of the
Left Handed SON Of Gera illustrates the
Gate Of Tears.

Left Handed Son OF Gera illustrates the
| Gate OF Tears.
| BROOKLYN. June 4.-The sermon selected
BY Rev. DIR. Talmage for this forenoon is
founded on the text Judges iii. Is. But
when the children of Israel cried unto the
Lord the Lord raised them up deiverer,
Ehud. the son of Gcra, n Bcniamite. IA man
left handed
Ehud WAS ruler in Israel. lie was left
handed, and what was peculiar about the
tribe Of Benjamin. to which he belonged,
there were in il 200 left handed men, and
yet so dexierous had they all become in the
Use of the left hand that the Bible says they
could sling stones at n hairs breadth and
not miss.
Well. there WAS a king of the name of
Eglon who was AN oppressor of Israel lie
imposed upon them II most outrageous tax.
Ehud, the man Of whom first spoke, had
divine commission to destroy that op-
pressor. He came. pretending that he was
going to pay the tax, and asked to see King
Eglon. lie was told he was in the summer
house, the place To which the king retired
when il was too hot to sit in the palac"
This summer house was place surrounded
by flowers and trees and springing foun-
tains and warbling birds.
Ehud entered the summer house and said
to King EglOn that he had secret errand
with him. Immediately all the attendants
were waved out of the royal presence. King
Eglon rises up To receive the messenger
Ehud. the left handed man, puts his left
hand to his right side, pulls out "a dagger
and thrusts Eglon through until the haft
went in after the blade. Eglon falls Ehud
comes forth To blow "A trumpet of recruit
amid the mountains Of Ephraim, and a
great host is marshaled, and proud Moab
submits To the conqucror and Israel is free
So. o Lord. let all thy enemies perish! So
. Lord let nil thy friends triumph!
THE POWER Of LEFT HANDED MEN.
learn first from this subject the power
of left handed men. There are some men
who by physical organization have as much
strength in their left hand as in their right
hand, but there is something in the writing
of this text which implies that Ehud hal
some defect in his right hand which COM
pelled him To use the left. Oh. the power
of left handed men, Genius is often self
Observant, careful OF itself not given to
much toll, burning incense to its own ag-
grandizement. while many a man with no
natural endOwments. actually defective in
physical and mental organization. has an
earnestness for the right. a patient indus
try. an all consuming perseverance, which
achieve marvels for the kingdom of Christ
Though left handed as Ehud, they can
strike down sin as great and imperial as
Eglon.
| have seen men of wealth gathering
about them all their treasures, snulling at
the cause of a world lying in wickedncss,
roughly ordering Lazarus off their door
step. sending their dogs, not To lick his
sores, but To hound him off their premises:
catching all the pure rain of Gods blessing
into the stagnant, ropy. frog inhabited pool
OF their own eliishness-right handed men,
worse than useless-while many "A man.
with large heart and little pulse, has ont of
his limited meats made poverty leap for
joy and started an influence that over
spans the grave and will swing round and
round the throne Of God. world without
end, amen.
All. me, it is high time that you left
handed men, who have been longing for
this gift. and that eloquence. and the other
mans wealth. should take your left hand
out Of your pocket. Who made all these
railroads! Who set up all these cities.
p" uO dil tutSt tilITCutS ana SCHOOLS
and asylums. Who has done the tugging
and running and pulling? Men Of no won
derful endowments. thousands of them ac-
knowledging themselves to he left handed,
and yet they were earnest, and vet they
were determined. and yet they were tri-
umphant.
But do not suppose that Ehud the first
time he took sling in his left hand could
thrOVy ~ hair. 4, a,,I
| suppose it WAS practice that gave him the
wonderful dexterity. Go forth To your
spheres of duty and be net discouraged il
in your first attempts you miss the mark.
Ehud missed il. Take another stone, put
it carefully into the sling. swing it around
your head, take better aim, and the next
time You will strike the center The first
time n mason rings his trowel upon the
brick he does not expect to put up per-
feet wall. The first time n carpenter sends
the plane over board or drives bit
beam he does not expect To make
a perfect execution. The first time boy
attempts a rhyme he does not expect To
chime "Lalla Rookh" or n Lady of the
Lake" Do not be surprised if in your first
efforts at doing good you are not very large
ly successful. Understand that usefulness
is an art. u science, u trade.
THE VALUE OF EXPERIENCE
There was an oculist performing very
difficult operation on the human eye A
young doctor stood by and said. How easi-
ly you do that; it don't seem to cause you
any trouble at ALL" ''Ah," said the old
oculist, 1T is very easy now. but spoiled
4 hatful Of eyes to learn that" BE not sur
prised II it takes some practice before we
can help men to moral eyesight and bring |
them to vision of the cross. Left handed |
men to the work. Take the gospel for n |
sling and faith and repentance for the |
smooth stone from the brook, take sure |
aim. God direct the weapon. and great Co |
liaths will tumble before you.
When Garibaldi was going out to battle, |
he told his troops what he wanted them to /
10. and after he had described what he |
wanted them to do they said. We'll, gem
eral, what are you going to give us for all
this," Well" he replied, Il don't know
what else you will get but you will get |
hunger and cold and wounds and death.
How do you like III" His men stood be-
Tore him for little while in silence, and
then they threw up their hands and cried:
we are the nien We are the men, The
Lord Jesus Christ calls you To his service |
do not promise you an easy time in this
"oAAu. AOu may nave pcTscCutiOuS anu
trials and Misrepresentation. but after
ward there comes an eternal weight of
glory, and you can bear the wounds, and
the bruises. and the Misrepresentation il
gou can have the reward afterwa-d Have
gou not enough enthusiasm to cry out: We
are the men! We are the mem"
learn also from this subject the danger
,f worldly el, vation. This Eglon was what
'he world called a great man. There were
OF people who would have consid-
.red it the greatest honor Of their life just
% have him speak to them, yet although
le is so high up in worldly position he is
not beyond the reach of Ehud's dagger.
zee great many people trying to climb up
N social position, having an idea that there
. a safe place somewhere far above, not
NOTICE