Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-06-11
The Sure Life.


There is a very celebrated picture-an
etching, by a German artist, Retzch--oalIed
"The Game of Life" On one side of the
picture Satan sits. A broad mantle covers
him, from which nothing projects but his
bony, claw-like fingers. His brow is noble,
for he is still the fallen angel, but the fact
of his apostacy is evident upon the face.
His looks mark him-from the beginning a
treacherous player, faithless ally, an arch
deceiver. On the other side of the picture
sits young man engaged in a game of
chess with Satan, deeply medtating move.
Between them lies the chess board-the
pieces of which represent opposite princi-
Piles and impulses of life. Voluptuousness
and Religion, Idleness and Hope, Pride and
Humility Falsity and Truth, Envy and JOY
Unbelief and Love. Such and such as these
are the pieces with which the game is
played. The pieces representing Sin are
Satan's. The pieces representing Right are
the young mans.
The game looks badly for the young
man. Already has the fiend captured
many of his strong pieces. Prayer is taken.
Love and Innocence are gone. Joy, too,
has just been taken. Religion is sadly
menaced by the devils pawns of Lust and
Doubt. The next move may ruin him.
There is kind of malignant joy breaking
forth upon the face of Satan. The young
man is in deadly peril.
Meanwhile, between the players and nearer
to the young man stands an angel with white
wings-a child of light-the young mans
guardian angel-his better nature, his moral
sense, his misunderstanding as If warn
ing, but with wings half raised for flight
and with sad, averted face, as if the mo-
mentous game were almost done, the young
man almost nquered-henceforth to be
the DEVILS and not Gods.
Does not the picture represent the truth
In the way of line and form, does it not
preach truly Is not every life game
against tremendous odds Can there be
more important question than how to make
it sure against the wles of the devil, TO make
it conquering for right and God?
Let us look upon another picture. Daniel
was in high repute with the Babylonish
king. Daniel was preferred above presidents
and princes, because an excellent spirit was
in him, and the king thought to set him over
the whole realm. But the dogs of envy will
track man even into the highest place.
Somehow Daniel must be put down. No
eyes are keener than envious ones. All his
official acts are scrutinzed. But the acid
could not touch the gold. Yet somehow
Daniel must be depressed, and base envy,
(which withers at another's joy, and hates
that excellence it cannot reach struck
now in desperation at his religion. So
working upon the foolish vanity of the king,
they got a degree promulgated, according to
the law of the Medes and Persians, which
altereth not, that if any man, for the space
of thirty days, should ask petition from
God or man, save from the king himself, he
should be cast into den of lions. The
king put his seal upon it, 1t became law
of the land, which not the king himself
could change.
There is wonderful strength and calm
ness in the quiet Scripture narrative of
Daniels action. "Now when Daniel knew
that the writing was signed, he went into
his house, and his windows being open in
his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled
upon his knees three times a day, and prayed
and gave thanks before his God, as he did
aforetime," There was no ostentation. lie
did not pray more openly than he had be-
fore he only went ON in his usual habit of
devotion. While there was no cowardce,
there was no vain and egotistic Haunting
lie was simply faithful toward God, AS in
all his official action he had been faithful
toward the king.
So Daniel is cast into the lions den, and
the mouth of it is sealed with the kings
signet. The king, distressed and fasting,
and too troubled to be soothed by music,
tosses sleeplessly and bewailingly through
the long night. "Then the king arose very
early in the morning, and went in haste unto
the den of lions," and this is the answer
coming to his cry, from the imprisoned man
"My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut
the lions mouths, that they have not hurt
me. Forasmuch as before him innocency
was found in Inc, and also before thee, oh
king, have done no hurt"
"Seek ye first the kingdom of God and
his righteousness, and all these things shall
be added unto you."-1he Standard.