The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1893-06-21
DEATH IN A SUMNER HOUSE.
Rev. DR.. Talmages Discourse in
the Brooklyn Tabernacle.
The Danger to Mankind OF Worldly Ele-
vation-The Difficulty of Apprecia-
ting the Truth of Our Mortality
When the Weather is Fine
and Our Surroundings
Agreeable.

the Lord raised them up q dellVerer,
Ehud, the son of Gera, u Benjamite,
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 it sew
en- hundred left-handed 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 king by the name
of Eglon, who was an oppressor of
Israel. lie imposed upon them a most
outrageous tax. Ehud, the man of
whom first spoke, had a divine com
mission to destroy that oppressor. 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 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 a 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 perish! SO,
o 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-
ton, 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 menl Genius is
often self-obServant, careful of itself
not given to much toll, burning incense
to its own aggrandizement; while many
a man. with no natural endowments
actually defective in physi cal and men
tai organization, has an earnestness fol
the right, 4 patient industry, an all
consuming perseverance, which achieve
marvels for the kingdom of Christ
Though left-handcd as Ehud, they car
strike down sin as great and imperia
as Eglon.
| have seen men of wealth gathering
about them all their treasures, shutting
at the cause of world lying in wick
edness, roughly ordering Lazarus of
their doorstep, sending their dogs 40
to lick his sores, but to hound him of
their premises; catching all the pure
rain of Gods blessing into the stag
nant, ropy, frog-inhabited pool of thei
own Observation-Disclosures men
worse than mseless-while many a mar
with large heart and little pulse, has
out of his limited means, made povert,
leap for Joy, and started an influenc,
that overspans the grave, and vii
swing round and round the throne o
God, world without end: Amen.
All me, it is high time that you left
handed men, who have been longin;
for this gift, and that cloquence. an,
the other mans wealth, should talk
your left hand out of yonr pockets
Who made all of these railroads? VIII,
set up all these cities? Who started al
these churches, and schools, and asy
lums? Who has done the Juggling an,
) running, and pulling? Men of no won
derful endowments, thousands of then
acknowledging themselves to be left
handed, and yet they were earnest. an,
and yet they were determined, and We
they were triumphant.
But do not suppose that Ehud, tn
: first time til 1t he took ling in hi
, left hand, could throw stone hair
breadth and not miss. | suppose i
was practice that gave him the wonder
full dexterity. Go forth to your sphere
of duty, and be not discouraged if, il
your first attempts, you miss the mark
) Ehud missed it. Take another stone
put it carefully into the sling, swin
it around your head, take bette
aim, and the next time you will strill
, the center. The first time maso
rings his trowel upon the brick h
does not expect to put up "a perfcc
wall. The first time carpenter send
the plane over board or drives hi
through beam, he does not expect t
> make perfect execution. The first tim
: boy attempts rhyme, he does nc
4 expect to chime "Lalla Rookh,' or
:, Lady of the Lake" DO not be SUI
$ prised if. in your first efforts at dom
l good, you are not very largely success
e full. Understand that usefulness is a
art, a science, trade.
There was an oculist performing
y very difficult operation on the huma
: eye. A young doctor stood by and sal,
: "iow easily you do that; it don't see
to cause you any trouble at all" "Ah,
said the old oculist, 1T is very cas-
e now, but spoiled hatful of eyes
. learn that" BE not surprised if
l. takes some practice before we can he
t men to moral eyesight, and bring the
e to vision of the cross. Left-handC
S men to the work! Take the gospel f,
o sling, and faith and repentance f,
Il the smooth stone from the brook: tai
10 sure aim. God direct the weapon, al
1, great Goliaths will tumble before yo
When Gariha ldi was rOincr ont to In