Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1900-03-23
A WORK FOR THEM.
Dr.. Talmage breaches OH the Duties
OF the Strong.
Responsibilities Resting Upon Those
Who Possess Physical Power TO
Do the Lords Work-The
Value of Health.
Copyright, 1900, by Louis Klopschl
acbinutnn


Washington
In this discourse DR.. Talmage sets
forth the responsibility of those who
are strong and well, as in former
discourse he preached to the disabled
and "the shut in" text, Judges, 14:1:
"And Samson went down to Timnath."
There are two sides to the character
of Samson. The one phase of his life,
if followed into particulars, would ad-
ministerto the grotesque and the mirth-
full. But there is phase of his char
acter fraug,lt with lessons of solemn
and eternal import. To these graver
lessons we devote our sermon.
This gihnt no doubt in early life
gave evidences of what he was to be.
1t is almost always so. There were
two Napoleons-the boy Napoleon and
the man Napoleon-but both alike; two
Howards-the boy Howard and the
man Howard-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 eX-
hibtions of youthful prowess. AT IS
years of age he was betrothed to the
daughter of Philistine. Going down
toward Timnath, lion came out upon
him; and although this young giant
was weaponless he seized the monster
by the long name and shook him as a
hungry hound shakes March hare and
made his bones crack, and left him by
the wayside bleeding under the shifting
of his fist and the grinding heft of his
heel.
There he stands looming up above
other men, a mountain of flesh, his
arms punched with muscles that can
lift the gate of city, taking an atti-
tude defiant of everything. His hair
had never been cut, and it rolled down
in several great plaits over his shoul-
ders, adding to his bulk, fierceness and
terror. The Philistines want to conquer
him, and therefore they must find out
where the secret CT his strength lies.
There is an evil woman living in the
valley of Sorek by the name of Delilah.
They appoint her the agent in the case.
The Philistines are secreted in the same
building, and then Delilah goes TO work
and coaXes Samson TO tell W hat is the
secret of his strength. well" he says,
IF you should take SI-s vithes such
rs they fasten wild beasts with, and
put them around me, should be per-
fectly powerless." So she binds him
with the seven green withes. Then she
Flaps her hands and says: "They come
the Philistines!" and he walks out
as though there were no impediment.
She coaXes him again, and says "Now
tell me the secret of this great
strength?" 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
tied him with the ropes, claps her hands
and shouts: They come-the Philis-
tinesi" He walks out as easily as he
did before-not n single obstruction
She coaxes him again, and he says: Now
If you should take these seven long
plaits of hair and by this house loom
weave them into a web, could not get
away" So the house loom is rolled
up, and the shuttle flies backward and
forward, and the long plaits of hair are
woven into web. Then she claps hei
hands and says: "They come-the
Philistines!" He walks out as easily as
he did before, dragging a part of the
loom with him.
But after awhile she persuades hin
to tell the truth. He says: "If yor
should take razor or shears and cu
OF this long hair, ] should be power
less and in the hands Of my enemies.
Samson sleeps, and that she may no
wake him up during the process O.
shearing help is called in. You know
that the BARRIERS of the east have sucl
a skillful way of manipulating the heaC
to this very day that instead of waking
up Sleeping man they will put MAJ
wide awake sound asleep. j hear tn,
blades of the shears grinding agains
each other, and / see the long lock-
falling off. The shears or razor accom-
plishes what green withes and new
ropes and house loom could not do
Suddenly she claps her hands and says
The Phi.istnes be upon thee, Sam
son!" He rouses up with a struggle
but his strength is all gone. He is il
the hands of his enemies.
hear the groan of the giant as the,
take his eyes out, and then I see hin
staggering on in his blindness, feelin;
his way as he goes on toward GAIA
The prison door is open, and the gian
is thrust in. He sits down and puts hi
hands on the mill crank. which, witt
exhausting horizontal motion, goes da.
after day week after week, month aft
er month-worl, work, work! Th
CONSERVATION of the world in captivity
mis- locks shorn, his eyes punctured
grinding corn in GAIA!
First of all, behold in this giant o
the text that physical power is no
always an index of moral power. II
was huge man-the lion found it out
, and the 1900 men whom he slew foun,
. ii out; yet he was the subject of petit
. revenges and outgianted by low pas
, sion. / am far from throwing any dis
credit upon physical stamina Their
are those who seem to have great ad
, mration for delicacy and sickness O
constitution. I never could see an
, glory in weak nerves or sick headache
, Whatever effort in our day is made t
make the men and women more robus
should have the favor of every goo
: citizen as we'll as of every Christian
Gymnastics may be positively religious
Good people sometimes ascribe to
: wicked heart whatthcy ought to ascrib
t 10 slow liver. The body and the sol
$ nre such near neighbors that they ofte
catch each others diseases Those VIII