The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1899-02-16
WANT MORE DAVIDS.
Dr.. Talmage Says Every Commu-
nifty Should Have One.
The People Need Energetic Christian n
Leaders in Their Fight Against
Satan-LeasOn from the
Old Prophet.
washington. Copyright.

washington. Copyright,
From 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 1873: "Thou art worth
10000 of u.s."
One of the most wondrous characters
cfhis 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 it, dying,
10 the roadside, or could marshal a host
or rule an empire, or thumb harp SO
successfully that it cured Sauls demen-
tia-a harp from whose strings dripped
rastorals, elegies, lyrics, triumphal
marches, benedictions. Now, this man,
a combination of music and heroics, of
dithyrambs and battlefields, of coun-
try quietudes and craftsmanship, is to
fit out military expedition. Four
thousand troops, according to Jo-
sephus. were sent into the field. The
captains were put in command of the
companies and the colonels in COM
mand of the regiments, which were
disposed into right wing, left wing
and center. Gen. Joab, Gen. Abishai
and Gen. lttai 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. He will lead them in the awful
charge, Tor he has not cowardly nerve
in all his body. He did not propose to
have his troops go into perils which he
himself would not brave, and the bat
tlefeld required as much courage then
as now. for the opposing forces must,
IN order to do any execution at all,
come up to within positive reach of
saber and spear. But there came up
from ,he troops and the civilians a
mighty protest against David's taking
the field. His life was too important to
the nation. If he went down, the en-
rire went down, whereas If the whole
4,00o Of the ranks were slain another
army might be marshaled and the de-
feat turned into victory. The army and
the nation practically cried out: mo!
NO! You cannot go to the front. We
estimate you as 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-
curately 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 to make up
81 especial assiduity and conservation
Tor 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 tenth
OF your equipment. The rank and the
ME of the 1000 of the text told the
truth when they said: 'Thou art
worth 10000 of u.s.
In no city of its size are there so
many men of talent as are gathered in
this capital of the American nation.
Some of the states are at times repre-
sented by men who have neither tall
ents nor good morals. Their political
party compensates them for partisan
services by sending them to congress,
or BY securing for them positions in
.ne war or navy or pension or print
ing departments. They were nobodies
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 men
oi exemplary lives and noble purposes.
some OF them have the gifts and quail
ncations of ten men, of 100 men-yea,
OF 1000 men-and their constituents
could truthfully employ the words of
my text and say: "Thou art worth TO-
900 of u.s.
With such opportunity are they aug
menfing their usefulness in every pos
saDle direction? 1t is a stupendous
shlng to have power-political power.
ss;soessf power, official power. II has
! soiten been printed and often quoted as
ssne OF the wise sayings of the ancients:
knowledge is power" Yet, it may as
ssItalniy be power for evil as for good
ine lightning express rail train has
power for good if it is on the track, but
nofriole power for disaster if it leaves
s.ne track and plunges down the en-
pankment. The ocean steamer has pow-
s. LOT good sailing in right direction
sno IN safe waters and under good
nNesimsmen and wide awake watchmen
on Inc lookout, but indescribable power
lcr evil II under full headway it strikes
me breakers. As steam power or elec-
'eiIy or water forces may be stored in
A1efs IN dynamos, in reservoirs, 70