The Progress., 1898-04-02
SERVICE OF THE MASTER.
Rev. DR.. Talna9e breaches on
Christian PHYSICAL Power.
Timely Lessons Drawn From the Story Of
Samson-The Proper and Improper
Uses OF nyth-SAnctt-
fed Muscles.

Rev. +. Dewitt Talmage, in the fol-
in body and mind or soul ought to con-
secrate their powers to good and great
purposes. The text is:
| And Samson went down 10 Timnath.-Judges,
xiv, !.
There are two sides to the character
of Samson. The one phase of his life,
If followed into the particulars, would
administer to the grotesque and mirth-
full; but there is phase of his char
acter fraught with lessons of solemn
and eternal import. TO these Rraver
lessons we devote our sermon. This
giant no doubt in early life gave evil
dence of what he was to be. 1t is al
most always 30. There were two Ma
poleons-tho boy Napoleon and the
man NapoleOn-but both alike;
two Towards, the boy How
ard and the man Howar d-but both
alike; two Samsons-the boy Samson
and the man Samson-but both alike.
This giant WAS no doubt the hero of
the playground, and nothing could
stand before his exhibitions of youth
1ul proves. At Is years of age he was
tine. Going down toward Timnath,
AAOsA O0sAAO NROA AAAAS 0nAs 0AGAAOuH
this young giant was weaponless, he
seized the monster by the long name
and shook him - q hungry hound
shakes March hare, and made his
bones crack, and left him by the way
side bleeding under the srniting Of his
INST and the grinding of his heel.
There he stands, looming up above
other men, . mount tain Of flesh, his
erms punched with muscles that can
lift the gate Of . city. taking an atti-
tude defiant Of everything. His hair
had never been cut. and 1t rolled down
In seven great plaits over his shoulders,
adding TO his bulk, ferceness and ter
ror. The Philistines want to cong uer
him. and therefore they must find out
whore the secret of his strength lies
There il . dissolute woman living in
the Valley of Sorel< by the name of
,Delilah. They appoint her the agent
In the case. The Philistines are Sc
GREETED In the same building, and then
lpelilah goes to work and coaxes Sam
pm 10 tell what 10 tho secret Of his
rength. ''Well," he says, ''if you
MOULD take seven green withes, such
- they fastsn wild beasts with, and
put them around me, should be per-
fectly powerless." So she binds him
Win the seven green wines. Iheu
she clsps her hands and says: ''They
Philistines" and he walks
- though they were no impediment.
She coaxes him again, and says: Now |
tell me the secret of this great |
and he replies: If !
you should take some ropes
that have never been used
And tie me with them should be just |
like other men," She ties him with |
The ropes, claps her hands, and shouts:
they como-the Philstincs." He walks |
put ~ easily as he did before-not
Jingle obstruction. She coaxes him |
again, and he says: Nov, If you
should take these seven long plaits of |
hair, and by this house-loom weave
them into . web. could not get away"
80 the houso-loom is rolled up, and
.he shuttle flies backward and for
ward, and the long plaits of hair are
woven into the web. Then she claps
her hands and says: They come-the
ohilistinesw He walks out as easily as
ae did before, dragging q part of the
DOM with him.