The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1879-11-13

.@fscE llanenlts.
TAESI DEN, A
Cis isTIANs AfolS6 THE PoLITI-
CLANS,
"a. 'isied BY famllar Story Of Daniel
11test Bufafl Religion and Political
,B.lsm- -sermoh Delivered In Brook
bernacle on Sunday, Nov I'd,
ReVgT. Dewitt TSlmage
Y Bf60E 11 Nov. 2.--The announce
nienttha T. Dewitt Talmage would
to-day I'D. BON the Christian Politi-
clan dra. immense audience at the
Sle. The opening hymn was:
~ IS on thy guard ten thousand foes
Aud of sins are pressing hard to draw thee
lNihe skies"
reverend gentleman spoke as fol-
lows
fuaJEol "The. Christian Politician"
gsx sniel vi, l6: "Then the King
Comhanaed, and they brought Daniel
and t8a9 him into the den Of lions"
Dar,is is King of Babylon, and Daniel
IL sO buch of favorite with him that
= ie is elevated to be Prime Minister or
Secretary of State. But no man ever at.
lained such high position without excit'
lng the envy and Jealousy of others.
There were demagogues in that country
40, highly appreCiative of their own
pacity, doubted the policy of elevating
Hch young man to such an office. Old
Babylon was afraid of young Babylon.
They began to plot his ruin. He was
noble mark. The taller cedar the more
aptto.be riven with the lightning. These
lemagogues asked Darius to make an
unaltegable decree that any man who
within thirty days should ask petition
az any one except the King he shall be
but to death. Darius, not mistrusting
any foul play, makes such decree. The
demagogues have accomplished their
purpose, for they knew that Daniel
would not stop sending up petitions to
his God. Daniel, instead of being af-
frighted by the decree, went three times
day to his house.top for prayer. He is
caught in the act. He Is condemned to
be devoured of the lions. BY the rough
executioners of the law he is hurried
away toward the den. l hear the growl
of the monsters and their paving of the
dust, and as their mouth is placed to the
gf6lud, the solid earth quakes with
thsn believing. The door is removed
Daniel showed into the den, which
Ng all lagleam with fiery eyeballs that
seem to roll and snap in the cavern
They approach the defenseless man.
Their appetite is sharp with hunger
One stroke of their paw, one crunch of
their teeth, and he would have been
hfeless But how strange the welcome
Daniel received from the monsters !
They fawn around him. They lick his
hands. They cover his feet with their
long name. That night his sleep calm
and undisturbed, with his head pillowed
on the warm neck of the tame lions
King Darius was not 80 happy. He loved
Daniel, and he hated the stratagem. He
PAGES his floor all night, he cannot sleep,
and his flesh creeps with horror. A bad
conscience will make the bravest man a
coward. he watches eagerly for the
dawn which seems 80 long in tarrying
At the first streak of light he starts out
n to find the fate of Daniel. The palace
gate opens and jars heavily behind him,
4 while yet the city is asleep. He goes to
Y the den. He looks through the creviCes,
and sees nothing. He dare not speak,
expecting the worst. His heart stops.
Gathering strength, he puts his mouth
TO the riffs in the rock and cries, 20
Daniel, is thy God whom thou servest
continually able to deliver thee from the
lions" The answer came rolling up out
of the deep darkness, 10 King, live for
ever My God hath sent his angel and
hath shut the lions mouths that they
have not hurt me-" The young man is
brought out and the demagogues who
made the plot thrown in; but they hard.
ly strike the bottom of the den when
their flesh is rent and their bones crack.
ed and the blood spurted through the
riffs, while the fierce monsters that
shook the rocks with their terrible roar
announced to all ages the truth that
while God defends his people, the way
of the ungodly shall perish. ..
This subject impresses me first with
the truth that political aCumen and EN-.
inenCe are not inconsistent with relig.
ious character. There was no man in
Babylon more conversant with public
affairs than the hero Of the text. To sus.
tain with such dignity such post of
honor be must have been a thorough
politician, and yet no danger of disgrace
and no threat Of officials could make him
yield one jot Of his high-toned religious
character. He exhibited to all ages to
come the truth that political acumen
and eminenCe are not inconsistent with
religious principle. The word politician
may mean either one of two things: A
man interested in all questions that af.
feet his country, willing to make any sac
rifce for the public good, anxious to
have competent rulers, and impatient of
everything that compromises national