Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying,
Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from
Gilead.' Well, twenty-two thousand went back and at last Gideon had
only the three hundred who lapped the water. By those three hundred
Israel was saved from the Midianites. Our thousands have left us;
but we shall triumph. It may be the Lord's will that more should
depart. It may be that there are yet too many. I say, then, in the
words of Gideon, 'Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return.'
Is there anybody?" (Loud shouts answered "None.") "The Lord is with
us," continued the speaker--"the sword of the Lord and of Gideon!"
Every one shouted again.
Respectable Manchester was frightened when the Blanketeers met, and
laughed them to scorn when they were dispersed. No wonder at the
laughter. What could be more absurd? And yet, when we call to mind
the THING then on the throne; the THING that gave 180 pounds for an
evening coat, and incurred enormous debts, while his people were
perishing; the THING that drank and lied and whored; the THING that
never did nor said nor thought anything that was not utterly brutish
and contemptible--when we think that the THING was a monarch, Heaven-
ordained, so it was said, on which side does the absurdity really
lie? Of a truth, not only is the wisdom of this world foolishness,
as it ever was, but that which to this world is foolishness is
adjudged wisdom by the Eternal Arbiter.
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