Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1900-02-12
LESSONS OF IMPORT.
Or. TALMAG6 ADVISES MEN OF GREAT
STRENGTH
Physical Energy Not Indicative
of Spiritual Power The Strong
Should Fight the BATTLES of the
Weak.
Copyright. Louis Klopsch. 1901

-" enk.
Copyright. Louis K1opsch. 1901
WASHINGTON, Feb. lin Gis dis
course DR.. Talmage sets forth the re-
sponsibility of those who are strong
and Well as in former discourse he
preached to the disabled and the shut
in" text. Judges xiv, l, And Samson
went down to Timnath."
There are two sides to the character
of Samson The one phase of his life,
if followed into the particulars, would
administer to the grOtesque and the
mirthful but there is phase of his
character fraught with lessons of sol.
emn and eternal import. To these gray
er lessons we devote our sermon.
This giant no doubt in early life gave
evidences of what he was to be. 1t is
almost always so. There were two Ma
poleons-the boy Napoleon and the
man NapOleon-but both alike; two
Howards-the boy Howard and the
man Howard-but both alike; two
SamsOlA-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 exhibitions of youthful
prOwesS. At Is years of age he was
betrothed TO the daughter of a PhiliS-
tine. Going down toward Timnath, q
lion came out upon him. and, although
this young giant was weaponless, he
seized the monster by the long name
and shook him as Il hungry hound
shakes u March hare and made his
bones crack and left him by the way
side bleeding under the shifting Of his
fist and the grinding heft of his heel.
There he stands. looming up above
other men. Il mountain of flesh, his
arms punched with muscle that can lift
the gate of city. taking an attitude
defiant of everything His hair had
never been cut. and it rolled down in
seven great plaits over his shoulders.
adding to his bulk fierceness and ter
rOr. The pRlistines want to conquer
him. and therefore they must find out
where the secret of his strength lies.
There is an evil woman living il the
valley of SOrek by the name of Delilah.
They appoint her the agent in the case.
The PhiliStinPS are Secreted in the
same building, and then Delilah goes to
work and cOaXeS Samson to tell what
is the secret of his strength Well
he says. IF you should take seven
green witheS such as they fasten wild
beasts with and put them around me
l should be perfectly powerless." So
she binds him with the seven green
withes. Then she claps her hands and
says. They come - the PhiliStineS!'
and be walks out as though there were
no impeachment. 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 he just like other men,"
She ties him with ropes. claps her
hands and shouts. They come-the
PhiliStinest He walks out as easily
as he did lefore>not a single obstruc-
ton. She soaxes 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 a web
Then she claps her hands and says.
sSThey come - the PhiliStineS" He
walks out as easily as he did before,
dragging part OF the lOOIH WIFI HILL
In the Enemies Hands.
But after awhile she persuades him
to tell the truth. He says. IF you
should take i razor or shears and cut
off this long hair. | should be power
less and ID 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
that the BARRIERS of the east have such
a skillful way of manipulating the
head to this very day that. instead of
waking up Il sleeping man, they will
put Il man wide awake sound asleep. |
hear the blades of the shears grinding
against each other. and see the long
locks falling off. The shears or razor
accompliShes what green withes and
new ropes and house loom could not
do Suddenly she claps her hands and
says. The Philistines be upon thee.
Samson He rouses up with strug-
gle, but his strength is all gone. He is
in the hands of his enemies
hear the groan of the giant as they
take his eyes out. and then | see him
staggering on in his blindness. feeling
his way as he goes on toward GAIA
The prison door is open. and the giant
is thrust in. He sits down and puts
his hands on the mill crank. which,
with exhausting horizontal motion.
goes day after day. week after week.
month after month-wOrk. work. work!
The Consideration of the world in cap
tiyity. his locks shorn, his eyes pune
tured. grinding corn in GAIA.
First of Ill. behold in this giant of
the text that physical power is not al
ways an index of moral power He
was Il huge mantle lion found it out