Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1893-06-16
REV. DR.. TALMAGE.
TIE BROOKLYS DIyINE,s sun.
DAY SERMON.
SUBJECT: "LEssON LEARNED FROM THE
STORY OF EHUD."


Ehud was ruler in Israel. He was left
handed, and what was peculiar about the
tribe OF Benjamin, to which he belonged.
there were in 1t 700 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 a king OF the name OF
Eglon who was AL oppressor OF Israel. He
imposed upon them most outrageous tax.
Ehud, the man OF whom first spoke. had a
divine commission 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 sprlnging fountains 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 q 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 great host is
pTOuu hObD buDtlltS 10 tnB
conqueror, and Israel is free. So, o Lord,
let all Thy enemies perish 50, o Lord, let
all Thy friends triumph
learn first from this subject the power OF
LETT handed men. There are some men who
by physical organization have as much
strength in their left hand az In their rig
hand, but there is something in the writing
OF this text which implies that Ehud had
some defect in his right hand which COM
lAlh hfrnt 70, hnl laft H.. -
left handed men! Genius Is often self obser-
want. careful OF ITSELF not given to much toll,
burning incense to its own aggrandiZement,
while many a man with no natural endow-
mentS, actually defective in physical and
mental organization. has an earnestneSs for
the right, patient industry, an all consum-
ing 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.
l have seen men OF wealth gathering about
them all their treasures, snufllng at the cause
OF world lying in wickedness, roughly
ordering Lazarus OFF their doorstep, sending
their dogs, not TO lick his sores, but to hound
him Off their promises catching all the pure
rain OF Gods blessing into the stagnant, ropy,
frog-inhabited pool OF their own selflshness
-right-handed men, worse than useless
while many a man with large heart and little
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.
An, me, II is high time that you left handed
men who have been longing tor this gift and
that eloqucnce and the other mans wealth
should take your left hand out OF your DO K.
ct. Who made all these railroads. VINO set
up all these cities? Who started all these
churches and schools and asylums? Who
has done all the tugging and running and
pulling? Men o. no 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 he took sling in his hand could throw
stone IA 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 II in
your first attempts you miss the mark. Ehud
missed it. Take another stone, put it care
fully into the sling. swing 1t around your
head, take better aim, and the next time you
will strike the utter. The first time that u
mason rings h.s trOwel upon the brick he
does not exp3t to put upa perfect wall.
The first time n carpenter sends Il plane over
board or drives bit through beam no
does not expect to make perfect execution
Tho first time boy attempts rhyme he
does not expect to chime "Lalla RooSh"
or a Lady OF the Lake" Do not he sur
prised II 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 nnd said "How easily
you do that. 1t doesn't seem to cause you
any trouble at ALL" "Ah," said the old ocu-
list, "it is very easy now, but spoiled a hat
full OF eyes to learn that" Be not surprised
II 1t takes some practice before We can help
men to moral eyesight and bring them to Il
vision OF the cross. Left handed men to the
work Take the gospel for sling and faith
and repentance for the smooth stone from
the brook, take sure aim, God direct the
weapon, and great Goliaths will tumble be-
fore you.
learn also from this subject the danger
Of worldly elevation. This Eglon was wna
the world called great man. There wer'
hundreds of men who would have considered
It the greatest honor Of their lifo just to hav'
him speak to them. Yet, although he Is 81
high up In worldly position, he Is not beyonC
the reach OF Ehuds dagger. l SEQ grea
many people trying to climb up in socif
position having an idea that there is saf,
place somewhere far above, not knowing thai
the mountain of fame has "a top like Mount
Blanc, covered with perpetual snow.
We laugh at the children OF Shinar for try
ing to build tower that could reach to tn
heavens, but l think II our eyesight wer
only good enough we could see Babel II
many u dooryard. Oh, the struggled Is fierce
J 1t Is store against store, house agains
house, street against street, Nation agains
Nation. The goal for which men are run
ming is chairs and chandeliers and mirror
and houses and lands and presidential equip
ments. II they get what they anticipate
what have they got2 Men are not safe fron
calumny while they live, and, worse thai
that, they are not safe after they are dead
for have seen swine root up graveyards.
One day a man goes up into publicity
and tho world does him honor, an
people climb up into sycamore trees t
watch him as he passes, and as h
goes along on tho shoulders of the peopl,
there is @ waving OF hats and a wild huzza
Tomorrow the same man Is caught between
the jaws OF the printing press and mangle,
and bruised, and the very same persons VIII
applauded him before cry, "Down with tn
traitor Down with him !"
Belshazzar sits at the feast, the mighty me
OF Babylon sitting all around him. Wi
sparkles like the wine and the wine like tn
wit. Music rolls up among the chandeliers
the chandeliers flash down on the decanterE
The breath OF hanging gardens floats In o
the nignt air the voice OF revelry floats out
Amid wreaths and tapestry and folded ban
ners finger writes. The march Of host
heard on the stairs Laughter catches in tn
throat. thousand hearts stop beating
The blow Is struck The blood on the foo
Is richer hued than the wine on the table
The kingdom has departed.
Belshazzar was no worse perhaps than hun
dreds OF people in Babylon, but his positio
slew him. Oh, be content with Just such
position az God has placed you In 1t ma
not be said OF us, He was great general,
or "He was an honored chieftain," or "H
was mighty In worldly attainments," but tn
thing may be said Of you and me, "He was
good citizen, faithful Christian, a friend {
] Jesus" And that In the last day will be th
highest Of all eulogiums