The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1893-06-16
TALMAGE'S SERMON.
Lseft-Handed Men and Their Mis-
sion Upon Earth
Those who Struggle Against DInicuIties
Accomplish the Most, Especially
I'm the Practical Work of
Christianity.

The following sermon by Rev. T. De-
witt Talmage, delivered in the Brook
lyn tabernacle, is based on the text:
But when the children OF Israel cried unto
the Lord, the Lord raised them up deliverer.
Ehud. the son OF Gera, Benjamite. man
left handed--Judges. fiji. Is.
Ehud was a ruler in Israel He was
left-handed, and, what was peculiar
about the tribe of Benjamin, to which
he belonged. there were in il seven
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 a hairs
breadth and not miss
Well, there was king by the name
of Eglon, who was an oppressor of
Israel. He imposed upon them a 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 sum-
mer house, the place to which the king
retired when it was too hot to sit in
the palace. This summer house was a
place surrounded by flowers and trees
and springing fountains and warbling
birds. Ehud entered the summer
house and said to King Eglon that he
had a secret errand with him. Imme-
diately 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 thrust Eglon through un-
til the haft went in after the blade.
Eglon falls. Ehud comes forth to blow
trumpet of recruit amidst the noun
tains of Ephraim; and a great host is
marshaled, and proud Moab submits to
the conqueror, and Israel is free. So,
o Lord, let all Thy enemies perishl So,
o Lord, let all Thy friends triumph
learn first, from this subject, the
power of Ieft-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. Oh, the
power of left-handed men! Genius is
often self-observant, careful of itself,
not given to much toll, burning in
cense to its own ACKNOWLEDGMENT {:
while many q man, with no natural en-
dowments, actually defective in phys
ical and mental organization, has an
earnestncss for the right, patient in
dustry, an all-consuming perseverance,
which achieve marvels for the Kingdom
of Christ. Though left-handed rs
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 a world lying in wick
edness, roughly ordering Lazarus of
their doorstep, sending their dogs, not
TO lick his sores, but to hound him of
their premises; catching all of Gods
blessing into the stagnant, ropy, frog
inhabited pool of their own selfishness
-right-handed men, worse then use
less-while many n man, with large
heart and little purse, has, out of his
limited means, 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
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 these railroads? Who
set up all these cities? Who started
all these churches, and schools, and
asylums? Who has done the Juggling,
and running and pulling? Men of nc
wonderful endowments, thousands OF
them acknowledging themselves to be
left-handed, and yet they were earnest,
and yet they were determined, and yet
they were triumphant.
But do not suppose that Ehud, the
first time that he took a sling in his
left hand, could throw stone hairs
breadth and not miss. / suppose it was
practice that gave him the wonderful
dexterity. Go forth to your spheres OF
duty, and be not discouraged il, in
your first attempts, you miss the mark.
Ehud missed it. 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 CEN
ter. The first time a mason rings his
trowl upon the brick, he does not ex-
pect to put up a perfect wall. The
first time carpenter sends his plane
over a board, or drives bit through a
beam, he does not expect to make per
feet execution. The first time boy
attempts arhyme he does not expect to
chime "Lalla Rool1h," or Lady OF
the Lake" Do not be surprised if,
in your first efforts at doing good, you
are not very largely successful Under
stand that usefulness is an art, a science
a trade.
There was an oculist performing a
very difficult operation on the human
eye. A young doctor stood by and
said: How easily you do that; it don't
seem to cause you any trouble at all. =
"Ah," said the oculist, SIT is very easy
now, but / spoiled hatful of eyes to
learn that" Be not surprised if ii
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 fo1
sling, and faith and repentance fol
the smooth stone from the brook; take
sure aim, God direct the weapon and
great Goliaths will tumble before you
When Garibaldi was going out to bat
tie, he told his troops what he wanted
them to do, and after he had described
what he wanted them TO do, they said
"Well, general, what are you going tc
rive ne for all thiSo@ ssIVell he ra