St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-10-14

acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins
by righteousness and thine iniquities by
showing mercy to the poor, if it may be
frightening of thy tranquility" The i'm
pious Belshazzar he rebuked in language fit
ted to his sin. This faithfulness in admon-
ishing and rebuking kings made Daniel a
good counsellor. He was wise. His name
is synonym for wisdom. GA second
Daniel come to judgment" His wisdom
got him position in successive reigns.
Daniels integrity ministered to his success.
His goodness was not the price by which he
bought success, being willing to procure sue
cess by wickedness if necessary. That only
is integrity which is maintained come defeat
or victory. This Daniel had, and it made
the way for his advancement. Nebuchad-
nezZar, man of many noble qualities,
esteemed Daniel for his virtues. Darius
loved him, and when he found that he had
unwittingly endangered his friends life
spent the night in fasting and sleeplessness,
having tried in vain to save him.
In every department there is success for
those who desrve it. Men are afraid
that they shall have all the COM
ditions of success and that then
the opportunity will not come. The man
who deserves success will gain it. When
man was wanted to lead the Israelites out
of Egypt the Divine providences called him
from the backside OF the desert of Midion.
They called him because he was the only
competent man.
We may profitably notice the protest of
Daniels life against the impurity of the age.
The Babylonians were idolators. Character
was debased. There was revelry and pomp
and parade. In Balshazzar's reign there
was marked debasement, idolatory, worldli-
ness, contempt for religion and TEN perance
prevailed. There was little appreciation of
the integrity of character, which the three
men displayed in refusing to worship an idol.
Men could wonder at the miracle of saliva
ton from fire but they could not appreciate
heroism of character. There was the moral
debasement which characterizes a luxurious
age. In Belshazzar's reign even martial
valor was gone The king was absent in the
battle field. His son in this time of danger
with one thousand of the mobiles. who should
have been defending the city, were feasting
and drinking with the women.
In such times of worldliness and effemin-
ency Daniels life was grand protest. His
piety, his fidelity, his courage, rebuked the
degenerate age. His humility rebuked the
proud Nebuchadnezzar; his courage the
etfeminate mobiles: his piety the the impious
Belshazzar. Encountering the temptations
which come to exalted rank, as well as those
common to us all, he kept himself pure and
unspotted from the world.
Daniel in Babylon is type of the Christ
ian in the world. Every Christian is sur
rounded by his temptations. 1t is not fanci-
full to draw an analogy between Babylon and
the world, Daniel and the Christian. The
world neglects God and its temptations still
o.,li o.f h. -.
temptation remains in changed form. There
is no law against prayer, but there is the
temptation to neglect it, Our own desires
lead US astray, as Daniel was tempted by the
luxury of Babylon. We may have moral
cowardice just as really as Daniel would
have shown it if he had obeyed the kings
command. We may be untrue to religious
convictions, as Daniel would have been I'M
true if he had joined the idolators.
Daniels protest against the idolatry and
worldliness of Babylon should be your pro-
test against irreligion and worldliness to-day.
Men live for low aims. Living in luxury
they sneer at temperance as fanaticism; they
despise life of humble faith in Christ and
obedience. Entering political life they pros
titute official position to promote gain and
go unwhipped of Justice. Entering business
they pile up money and estates to lavish upon
themselves There is much that is superb
cial in even our religious life. 1t tends to
shallowness to a refined epicureanism.
AS Daniel lived a simple, true, heroic
life in Babylon, and so in some slight way
modified the men his times, so accomplished
his little part in Gods plan of bringing
the world to himself, to you if you will be
true to yourself and to your religious convic.
tons, if in the place where God puts you,
you shall in the fear of God do your duty as
he makes it known to you, then you will do
what you can to make the world better. Our
influence over the world comes from our rul-
ing of ourselves.
''Over the time thou hast no power to re-
deem world sunken in dishonesty has not
been given thee. Over one man thou hast
quite absolute and uncomfortable power.
Him redeem, him make honest"