Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1899-02-17
WANT MORE DAVIDS.
DR.. Talmage Says Every Commu-
nifty Should Have One.
The People Need Energetic Christian
Leaders IN Their Fisht Against
Sntan-I.esson from the
Old Prophet.
Washington.


Washington, Copyright
From q text probably never before
discoursed upon DR.. Talmage in this
sermon shows how some people multi
ply their resources for usefulness and
In novel way urges the putting forth
OF more energy in right directions;
text, II, Samuel 1879: Thou mr., worth
10000 OF us"
One Of the most wondrous characters
ofhls time was David A red-haired boy.
he could shepherd flock or carry ten
loaves and ten slices OF milk cheese TO
his brothers in the regiment" or with
leathern thong, stone-loaded, bring
down giant whose armor weighed
two hundredweight Of metal, or cause
lion which roared at him in rage to
roar with pain as he flung II, dying.
10 the roadside. or could marshal host
or rule an empire, or thumb harp so
successfully that II cured Saul's demen-
tia--a harp from whose strings dripped
pasiorals, elegies, lyrics, trumphal
marches, benedictions. Now. this man.
q combination OF music and herocs, OF
dithyrambs and battlefelds, of coun.
try quietudes and craftsmanship. is 10
fit out n military expedition. -Four
thousand troops, according 10 Jo-
sephus, were sent into the field. The
captains were put In command Of the
companies and the colonies in COM
mand of the regiments. which were
disposed into right wing left wing
and center. Gen. Joab, Gen. Abishai
and Gen. Ittai are to lead these three
divisions. But who shall take the field
as commander in chief? David offers
his services, and proposes TO go to the
front. lie will lead Them in the awful
charge. for he has not II cowardly nerve
in all his body. lie did not propose 10
have his troops go into perils which he
himself would not brave. and the bat
,le6eld required as much courage then
as now, for the opposing forces must.
10 order 10 do any execution nj ALL
come up 10 within positive reach of
snber and spear. But there came up
from the troops and the civilians n
mighty protest against David's taking
the field. His life was TOO important o
the nation. II he went down. the EN-
pire went down. whereas II the whole
1000 OF the ranks were slain another
army might be marslaled and the de-
feat turned into victory. The army and
the nation practically cried out: NO!
No! You cannot 20 10 the front. We
estimate you us 10000 men. Thou art
worth 10000 of us!"
That army and that nation then and
there reminded David. and now remind
us. of the fact which we forget or never
appreciate at all that some people are
morally or spiritually worth far more
than Others and some worth far less,
The census and statistics of neighbor-
hoods, OF churches, OF nations, serve
their purpose. but they can never ac-
curntely express the real state OF
things. The practical subject that
want TO present to-day is that those
who have especial opportunity, especial
graces, especial wealth. especial talent,
especial eloquence, ought 10 make up
by especial assiduity and conservation
for those who have less opportunities
and less gifts. You ought TO do ten
times more for God and human uplift-
ing than those who have only a tenth
Of your equipment. The rank and the
file of the 1000 Of the text told the
truth when they said: Thou ar,
worth 10000 of u.s."
In no city OF It's size are there sc
many men Of talent as are gathered Ii
this capital of the American nation
Some OF the states are at times repre-
scented by men who have neither tai
enis nor good morals. Their politica
| party compensates them for partisan
services by sending them 10 congress
or by securing for them positions IN
the war or navy or pension or print
ing departments. They were nobodie'
before they left home, and they are no
bodies here. But they are exceptional
All the states Of the Union generally
send their most talented men and mer
Of exemplary lives and noble purposes
Some Of them have the gifts and quail
| ficatons of ten men, of 100 men-yea
of 1000 men-and their constituent.
could trutbfully employ the words O.
my text and say: Thou art worth 10,
coo Of u.s."
With such opportunity are they aug
menting their usefulness in every pos
sible direction? 1t is stupendou,
thing 10 have power political power
social power official power. II has
often been printed and often quoted al
one of the wise sayings of the ancients
knowledge is power" Yet, II may a
certainly be power for evil as for good
The lightning express rail train ha
power for good II II is on the track, bu
horrible power for disaster II II Leaves
the track and piunges down The em
bankment. The ocean steamer has pow
er for good sailing in right direction
and in safe waters and under goot
helmsmep and wide awake watchmel
on the lookout, but indescribable powe
for evil If under full Roadway II strike
the breakers. AS steam power or cleo
tricity or water forces may be stored II
boilers, In dynamos, In reservoirs. I,
be employed all over town or city, 81
1 God sometimes puts 10 one man enough
faith 10 supply thousands of men will
courage. II man happens 10 lie hu
endowed, let him realize his opportu
nifty and improve II. At this time mil
Mons of men are a-,remble lest this ma
ton make mistake, and enter upol
some policy Of government for the isl
ands OF ihe sea hat will founder he re
public. God will give 10 a few men o.
both sides Of this question faith an,
courage for all the rest. There ar
two false positions many are now TAX
ing, false as false can be. The one /
that II we decline 10 take under ful
| charua Cuha and Porto Rico and IN