The Washington weekly post., 1900-09-04

In the story OF Eglon and Ehud Dir.
Talmage in his sermon for Sunday
took double lesson from the rescue Of
Israel By 8 left-handed man and the
death Of the rich oppressor in his beauu-
fui summer house. The value OF talents
developed. however small originally. and
the uncertainty Of human life were the
subjects Of the discourse. DR.. Tslmage
Took for his text: Judges. li15: THE
Lord raised them gp deliverer. Ehud, the
son Of Gera. BenjaminiIe. u man left
handed" and said:
'EEud was 4 ruler in Israel He was
ieft-handed. and, what was peculiar about
the tribe Of Benjamin. to which he be-
longed. there were in it seven hundred
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 hair's-bre3dth and not
miss. Well, there was a king by the
name OF Eglon. who was an Oppressor Of
Israel. He imposed upon them "A most
outrageous tax. Ehud, the man Of whom
first spoke. had divine commission TO
destroy that oppressOr. He came, pre-
tending that he was going 10 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 il
was too hot TO sit in the palace. This
summer house was place surrounded by
flowers, and trees, and springing foun-
tains, and warbling birds. Ehud entered
the summer house, and said to King Egg
Ion that he had a secret errand with him
Immediately all the attendants were
wa Of he
EglOn rises up 10 receive the messenger,
Ehud, the left-handed man. puts his left
hand to his right side, pulls out a dagger.
and thrusts Eglon through until the haft
went in after the blade. Eglon falls.
Ehud comes forth 10 blow a trumpet of
liberty amid the mountains of Ephram:
and great host is marshaled, and proud
Moab submits 10 the conqueror, and Is
rael is free.
Il learn first. from this subject, the
power or left-handed men. There are
some men who, by physical orga lization.
nave as much strength in their left hand
as In their right hand; but there is some
thing in the writing of this text which
Implies that Ehud had some defect in his
right hand which compelled him 10 use his
lett On, the power of left-handed meni
Genius is often self-obseryant, careful of
itself, not given 10 much toll, burning in
cense 10 its own aggrandiZement; while
many man, with no natural endOWments
actually defective i'm physical and mental
has an earnestness for the
right, patient industry, an alI-consum-
ing perseverance. which achieve maryels
Tor the kingdom of Christ. Though left
handed. as Ehud they can strike down a
sin as great and imperial as Eglon.
nave seen men of wealth gathering
about them all their treasures, snuffing at
the cause OF a world lying in wickedncss.
roughly ordering Lazarus off their door
step, sending their dogs. not to lick his
sores, but TO hound him off their premises:
catching ali the pure rain of Gods bless
ing INTO the stagnant, ropy, frog-inhabited
pool OF their own Observation-Disclosures
men, worse than useless-while MANY a
man with large heart and little purse
has, out Of his limited means, made nav
erty leap for joy, ard started an influence
that overspans the grave, and will swing
round and round the throne of God
world without end; Amen.
Importance Of Perseverance.
"Ah, me! 1t is high time that you lef.-
handed men. who have been longing for
this gift, and that eloquence, and the 9TH
er mans wealth, should take your left
hand out of your pockets. Who made all
these railroads? Who set up all these
cities? Who started all these churches
and schools. and asylums? Who has done
the Juggling and running, and pulling?
Men OF no wonderful endowments. thous-
ands of them acknowledging themselves
TO De ieft-handed, and yet they were ear
nest and yet they were determined, and
yet they were triumphant.
but L do not suppose that Ehud the
hrst time he took sling In his left hand
couid throw stone az a hairs breadth
ana not miss. | suppose IL WAS DracIir /.
that gave him the wonderful dexteri,y. Go
lofth 10 your spheres OF duty and be not
II, in your first attempts. YOU
miss the mark. Ehud missed IL. Take
ahother stone, put it carefully into she
sLns, SWING IL around your head, take
better aim, and the next time you Will
strike the center. The first time a mason
rings his troWel upon the brick he does
not expect TO put up a perfect wall The
Hfst ume a carpenter sends the plane
over board, or drives a bit through "A
beam' he does not expect 10 make per
tect execution. The first time a boy al
tempts a rhyme he does not expect 10
chime 'Lalla RoOkh or a Lady OF
the Lake. Do not be surprised If, IN
your frst efforts at doing good, you are
not very largely successful. Understand
that usefulness is an art, q science. a
trade. There was an oculisI performing
a very difficult operation ON the human
eye. young doctor stood by and said:
how easily you do that; II doesn't seem
to cause you any trouble AT an An
said the old oculist, 1t is very easy nov,
but l spoiled hatful OF eyes TO learn
that Be not surprised II ii takes some
Practice before We can help men 10 moral
eyesight, and bring them 10 a vision cf
the Cross. Left-ksnded men, 10 The work
Take the Gospel for a sling and faith and
repentance for the smooth stones from
the brook; take sure aim, God direct the
weapon, and great GOliaths will tumble
before you.
When Garibaldi was going out to bat
tie ne told his troops wnat he wanted
them 10 do, and after he had described
what he wanted them 20 do, they said.
Wei. general; what are you going 20
Il don't know what else you will get, but
you Will get hunger. and cold. and wounds.
and death. How do you Ike IT, His
men stood before him 4 little while IN
silence, and then they drew up taeir
hands and cried. We are the men. we
are the men, The Lord Jesus Christ
calls you 20 his service. ] DO not promise
you an easy tine Ia this world. You may
have prosecutions. and trials. and misrep-
but afterward there comes
an eternal weight " glory and you can
bear tho wounds. ana me bruises, aFlI
the MISREPRESENTATION II you can have
the reward afteFward. Have you not
enough enthusiasm 10 cry out, We are
the men, We are the men
No safety la High Position.
Il learn also from this subject the dan
e1r Of worldly elevation. This Egl0n ~as
4 hat the world called a great man. Thefe
v-re hundreds Of people who would have
considered II TIE greatest honor 81 their
life lust 10 haze him speak % them; yet,
althsuzh ne Il 50 high up tn worldly D9-
sition. he Is rot beyond the reach %
Fhud's dagger I see a great many peo-
pie tying 70 climb up ~ social position.
having an idea that there Il a safe piacs.
sornep here ia above not knowing thar
the mountain Of fame has top Ike Mont
Blanc, covered with perpetual SNOW
we laugh - the children of Shinar for
trying 20 build a tower that could reacA
10 the heavens; but l think n our eye
sight were Only good enough. We could see
a Babel H. msay a dO0Fyard. On me
struggle j. fierce II h store against store
house agalnst house. street against street
nation against nation. The goal FOR whieh
m=n are running Is chairs. and chanae-
Hers, and uIiTf )Ts. anC houses, ard lands
and presidential equipments II they zef
what they Anticipate. what have they Nsn
are not safe from caiumny While they
I've. and, w0rse than that they are moi
safe after they are dead; for / have seen