The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-06-21
REV. DIR. TALMAGE.
THE BROOKLYN DIvINE'S SUN
DAY SERMON.
Subject: "Lesson Learned From the
Story Of Ehud."

+ TEXT: "But schen the children Of Israel
cried ,lnto the Lord the Lord raised them mp a
Ietipere7., Ehud, the SON of Gerd, q Benjdn,-
lie, a man left handed Judges iii, IS.
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 king OF 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 a
divine commission to destroy that oppresSor.
He came, pretending that he was going to
nav 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 sprnginS fountains and warbhng
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 dagger and
thrusts Eglon through until the halt 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
marshaled, and proud Moab submits to the
eonqueror, and Israel is free. So, o Lord,
let all Thy enemies perish! So, o Lord, let
all Thy friends triumph!
l. 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 rig.t
hand, but there is something in the writing
of this text which implies that Ehud had
Bome defect in mis- right hand which com
pelled him to use the left. Oh, the power of
left handed linen! Genius is often self ooser-
rant, careful of itself. not given to much toll.
burning incense to its own aggrandizemeat.
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 sin as great
Rnc imperial as Eglon.
l. have seen men OF wealth gathering about
them all their treasures, snuff1ng at the cause
of q world lying in wickedness, roughly
ordering Lazarus of their doorstep, sending
their dogs, not to lick his sores, but to hound
him OF their premises, catching all the pure
rain of Gods blessing into the stagnant, ropy,
frog-inhabited pool OF their own selishness
right handed men, worse than useless
while many man with large heart and little
purse 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.
I ,-h h,r~h hot yvnr hQnH6d
men who have been longing for this gift and
that eloquence and the other mans wealth
should take your left hand out OF your pock-
ct. Who made all these railroads? Whoset
M all these cities? VINO started all these
churches and schools and asylums? Who
has done all the tugginS and running and
pulling? Men O: no wonderful endowments,
thousands Of them acknowledging themselves
10 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 hairs breadth and not miss. I
suppose it was practice that gave him the
wonderful dexterity. Go forth to your
spheres OF duty and be not discouraged if in
your first attempts you miss the mark. Ehud
missed it. Take another stone, put It care
fully into the sling, swing It around your
head, take better aim, and the next time you
will strike the center. The first time that
mason rings his trowel upon the brick he
does not expect to put upa perfect wall.
The first time carpenter sends plane over
q board or drives a bit through beam he
does not expect to make perfect execution.
The first time boy attempts rhyme he
does not expect to chime ''Lalla Rookh"
or Lady Of the Lake" Do not be sur
prised il in your first efforts at doing good
you are not very largely successful. Under
stand that usefulness Is an art, science, q
Trade.
y There was an oculist performing very
dificult operation on the human eye. A
young doctor stood by andssid: "How easily
you 90 that. It doesn't seem to cause you
any trouble at ALL" "Ah," said the old ocu-
List, 1t is very easy now, but spoiled q hat
ful o: eyes to learn that" Be not surprised
If It takes some practice before We can help
men to moral eyesight and bring them to a
vision of the cross. Lett 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 tho
weapon, and great Goliaths will tumble be-
fore you.
learn also from this subject the danger
of worldly elevation. This Eglon was what
the world called great man. There were
hundreds Of men who would have considered
it the greatest honor Of their life Just to have
him speak to them Yet, although he is Sc
thigh up in worldly position, he is not beyond
the reach OF Ehud's dagger. 1 sac great
many people trying to climb upNin socisl
Iposition, having an idea that there is safe
place somewhere far above. not knowing that
the mountain Of fame has q top like Mount
Blanc. covered with perpetual snow.
We laugh at the children OF Shinar foS try
ing to build tower that could reacn to the
heavens, but think il our eyesight were
many dooryard. Oh, the struggle is fierce
1T is store against store, house against
mouse, street against street. Nation against
Nation. The goal for which men are run
ming is chairs and chandeliers and mirrors
and houses and lands and presidential equip
ments. If they get what they anticipate
what have they got? Men are not safe from
:calimny while they live, and, worse than
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 the world does him honor, and
people climb up into sycamore trees tC
watch him as he passes, and as he
igoes along on tho shoulders OF the people
there is waving Of hats and wild huzza.
Tomorrow the same man is caught between
the jaws OF the printing press and mangled
and bruised, and the very same persons who
lappisuded him before cry. down with the
traitor. Down with MIN !"
BeishazZar sits at the feast, the migaty Men
OF Babylon sitting all around him. Wit
sparkles like the wine and the wine like the
wit. Music rolls up among the chandeliers
the chandeliers flash down on the decanters
The breath Of hanging gardens floats in Oh
the night air the voice OF revelry floats out.