The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1893-06-07
DEATH IN A SUMMER HOUSE.
Rev. DR.. Talmage's Discourse In
the Brooklyn Tabernacle.
Tho Danger to Mankind Of Worldly Etc
vation-The Difficulty of Apprecia-
ting tho Truth of Our Mortality
When the Weather Is Fine
and Our Surroundings
Agreeable. e

the Lord raised them up deliverer,
Ehud, the son Of Gera, a Benjamite, a
man left-handed."
Ehud was ruler in Israel. He was
left-handed and, what was peculiar
about the tribe Of Benjamin, to which
he belonged, that there were In 1t sew
en- hundred lefthanded men and yet,
SO dexterous had they all become in
the use Of the left hand, that the Bible
says they could sling stones at hairs
breadth and not miss.
Well, there was a, king by the name
Of Eglon, who was an oppressor OF
Israel. He imposed upon them most
outrageous tax. Ehud, the man OF
whom first spoke, had divine COM
mission to destroy that oppressor. He
came, pretending that he was going to
pay the tax and asked to see King
Eglon. He was told he was In the
summer-house, the place to which the
king retired when it was too hot to sit
in the palace. This summer-house was
place surrounded by flowers, and
trees, and springing fountains and
warbling birds. Ehud entered the sum-
mer-house and said to King Eglon that
he had secret errand with him. I'M
mediately all the attendants were
waved out of the royal presence. King
Eglon rises up to receive the messen-
ger. Ehud, the left-handed man, puts
his left hand to his right side, pulls out
dagger, and thrusts Eglon through
until the heft went in after the blade.
Eglon falls Ehud comes forth to blow
a trumpet Of recruit amidst the noun
tains of Ephraim; and great host is
marshaled, and proud Moab submits to
the conqueror, and Israel is free. So,
o Lord, let all Thy enemies perishl So,
Lord, let all Thy friends triumph
/ learn first, from this subject, the
power of left-handed men, There are
some men who, by physical organiza-
tion, 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 had
some defect in his right hand, which
compelled him to use the left. o, the
power Of left-handed mem Genius Is
often self-observant, careful of itself,
not given TO much toll, burning incense
otis own ACKNOWLEDGMENT; while many
man, with no natural endowments,
actually defective in physi cal and men
tai organization, has an earnestness for
the right, patient industry, an all
consuming perseverance, which achieve
marvels for the kingdom Of Christ.
Though left-handed as Ehud, they can
strike down a Sin as great and imperial
as Eglon.
have seen men of wealth gathering
about them all their treasures, snuffing
at the cause of world lying in wick.
edness, roughly ordering Lazarus off
their doorstep, 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 stag.
nant, ropy, frog-inhabited pool Of their
own Observation-Disclosures men,
worse than useless-while many man
with large heart and little pulse, has,
out of his limited means, made poverty
leap for Joy, and started an influence
that overspans 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 pockets.
Who made all of these railroads? Who
set up all these cities2 Who started all
these churches, and schools, and asy'
lums? Who has done the tugging and
running, and pulling? Men of no won
derful endowments, thousands of them
acknowledging themselves TO be left
handed, and yet they were earnest, and
and yet they were determined, and yet
they were triumphant.
But do not suppose that Ehud, the
first time that he took sling in his
left hand, could throw stone hair:
breadth and not miss. ] suppose II
was practice that gave him the wonder
full dexterity. Go forth to your spheres
of duty, and be not discouraged II, In
your first attempts, you miss the mark
Ehud missed It. Take another stone
put II carefully into the sling, swing
II around your head, take better
aim, and the next time you will strike
the center. The first time a masor
rings his trowel upon the brick HI
does not expect to put up perfec'
wall. The first time carpenter send
the plane over board, or drives bi
through beam, he does not expect Il
make perfect execution. The first tim,
boy attempts rhyme, he does no
expect TO chime "Lalla Rookh," or {
Lady Of the Lake" Do not be sur
prised II, in your first efforts at doinl
good, you are not very largely success
full. Understand that usefulness is NJ
art, science, trade.
There was an oculist performing
very difficult operation on the humai
eye. A young doctor stood by and said
"How easily you do that; It don't seen
TO cause you any trouble at all" "Ah,'
said the old oculist, "it Is very cas-
now, but spoiled hatful Of eyes b
learn that" Be not surprised II 1
takes some practice before we can hell
men to moral eyesight, and bring then
TO vision Of the cross. Left-hande
men TO the work. Take the gospel 10
sling, and faith and repentance 70
the smooth stone from the brook; taxi
sure aim. God direct the weapon, an,
great Goliaths will tumble before you
When Garibaldi was going out TO bal
tie, he told his troops what he wante
thar, a., do and after he had daaoriha