The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1900-02-16
A WORK FOR THEM.
DR.. Talmage breaches on the Duties
Of the Strong.
Responsibilities Resting Upon Those
Who Possess Physical Power 10
DO the Lords Work-The
value of Health.
Copyright, 1900, by Louis Kiopsch.l

forth the responsibility of those who
are strong and well. as in a former
discourse he preached to the disabled
and 1.-The shut in" text. Judges, 14:1;
And Samson went down to Timnath."
tt ere are two sides TO the character
of Samson. The one phase Of his life.
IL followed into particulars, would ad-
ministerto the grotesque and the mirth-
full. But there is a phase of his char
acter fradght with lessons OF solemn
and eternal import. To these grayer
lessons we devote our sermon.
This giant no doubt in early life
gave evidences Of what he was 20 be.
Ii is almost always so. There were
two Napoleons-the boy Napoleon and
the mar 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 eN-
hibitions of youthful prowess. At IS
years OF age he was betrothed 20 the
daughter of a Philistine. Going down
toward Timnath, a lion came out upon
him, and although this young giant
was weaponless he seized the monster
by the long name and shook him as
hungry hound shakes March hare and
made his bones crack. aud 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 a city, taking an atti-
tude defiant of everything. His hair
had never been cut. and il rolled down
in several great plass ever his shout
ders. adding 10 his Blk, fereeness and
terror The Philistines want 20 conquer
him, and therefore they must find out
where the secret Of his strength lies.
There is an evil woman living in the
Islley 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 10 tell what Is the
secret Of his strength. well" he saws.
III YOU should take seven withes such
Is they fasten wild beasts with, aud
put them around me. ! should be per-
iectly powerless." So she binds him
with the seven green withes. Then sho
laps her hands and says; They come
the Philisiines." and he walks out
as though there were nc impediment.
She coaNes him again, and SAYS; Now
:ell me the secret of this great
Strength" and he replies: ''If YOU
should take some ropes tlNt have never
,een used and tie me with them.
Sould be just like other 4neD." She
tied him with the ropes. claDS her hands
and shouts: They eome-the PILLS
;ines." lie walks out as easily as he
sid before-not a single obstruction.
She coaXes him again. and he says; "Now.
4 you should take these seven long
plaits OF hair and by this house loom
weave them into a web. could not get
way" So the house loom is rolled
up. and the shuttle flies backward and
forward. and he long plaits Of hair are
hands and SAYS; "Thcy come-the
Philistines." He walks out as easily as
1e did before. dragging part of the
DOM with him.
But after awhile she persuades him
10 tell the truth. lie says: "lf you
should take a razor or shears and cut
IN this long hair. ! should be power
cas- and in the hands Of my enemies"
samson sleeps, and that She may not
wake him up during the process Of
shearing help is called in. You know
hat the BARRIERS Of the east have such
skillful way OF manipulating the head
20 this very day that instead of waking
up Sleeping man they viii put a man
vide awake sound asleep. hear the
blades OF the shears grinding against
zach other, and / see the long locks
falling Oft. The shears or razor accom-
plishes what green withes and new
'opes and house loom could not do.
suddenly she claps her hands and says:
The Pbiiistines be upon thee. Sam
son." He rouses up with a struggle.
'ut his strength is all gone. He is IN
The hands of his enemies.
/ hear the groan Of the giant as they
AXE his eyes out. and then see him
staggering on in his blindness. feeling
bis way as he goes on toward GAIA.
The prison door is open. and the giant
s thrust in. He sits down and puts his
lands on the mill crank. which. with
exhausting horizontal motion. goes day
ifter day, week after week. month aft
sr month-work, work. work. The
sonsternation Of the world in captivity.
bis locks shorn. his eyes punctured.
grinding corn in GAIA.
First of all. behold in this giant Of
the text that physical power Is not
always an index of moral power. He
was a huge rDan-the lion found IL out.
and the 5000 men whom he slew found
{ out; yet lie was the subject of petty
reyenges and outgianted by low pas
sion. / am lar from throwing any dis
credit upon physical stamina. There
are those who seem 10 have great ad-
miration for delicacy and sickness OF
constitution. I never could see any
glory in weak nerves or sick headache.
Whatever effort in our day is made 70
make the men and women more robust
should have the favor Of every good
citizen As well as OF every Christian.
Gymnastics may be positively religious.
Good people sometimes ascribe 10 a
wicked heart whatthey ought TO ascribe
to a slow liver. The body and the soul
are such near neighbors that they often