The Russellville Democrat., 1890-09-11
THE STORY oF DANIEL
Sermon bv Rev. T. Dewitt Tal-
 mage Delivered at Waco. Tex
xhe T5IbIs sfsry of DzaieI and tIae Hons Has Its Prototypes Tp1pay AmacpE Tltoss Who Dare to De Tr1s
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 Thea fbc King commanded, and they br0ught Daniel and e&st hlna into tAs den Of lions-Daaiel vL. I6.
 Darius was King of Babylon, and tho young man Daniel was SO much favor ite with him that he made him Prime Minister, or Secretary of State Bat no man could gain such high position without exciting the envy and 5eaIoasy Of the people There were demagogues in Babylon who were so appreciatiyc Of their ogn abilities that they were afYrontea at the elevation Of this young nan Old Babylon was afraid of young Babylon. The taller the cedar the more apt 1t is to be rigen by the light ming.
 These demagogHes asked the King to make decree that any body that made petition to any one except the King within thirty days should be put b death. King Darius, not saspecting any foul play, makes that decree. The demagogues have accom piished all they want because they know that no one can keep Daniel from sending petitions before God for thirty days
 So far from being afraid, Daniel goes on with his supylication three times a day, and is found on his bOuse-top mak- ing prayer. He is caught in the act He Is condemed to be devoured by the lions Rough cxecrtloners of the law seize him and nasten him to tho cavern. hear the growl Of the wild beasts, and ] see them paving the dust, and as they put their mouths to the ground the solid earth quakes with their believing. 1 sec tilelr eyes roll, and almost hear tho fiery eyeballs snap in the dafkuess. These monsters approach Daniel. They have an appetite keen with hunger. With one stroke of their paw or one snatch of their teeth they may leave him dead at the bottom of the cavern But what q strange welcome Daniel r6- ccives from these hungry monsters They lawn around him, they lick his hand, they bury his foet in their long mane. That night he has calm sleep, with his head pillowed on the warm neeks of the tanned lions.
 Bat not so well does Darius, the King, sleep. He loves Daniel and hates this stratagem by which ho iiss been con deIned. All night long the King walks the floor. He can not sleep. At the least sound he starts, and his flesh creeps with horror. He is impatient for the dawing of the morning At the first streak of tho daylight Darius hast ans forth to sec the fate of Daniel. The heavy palace doors open and clang shut long before the people of the city waixen. Darius goes to the den of lions; he looks in. All is silent His heart stops. He feels that tho very worst has happened; but gathering all his strength. he shouts through the rifts Of the rock: 70, Daniel is the God whom thou sorvest continually able to deliver thrce?" There comes rolling up from the deep darkness voice which says: 70, Kingl live forever. My God has sent His angel to shut the lions moHths that they hayesnot hnrt mo"
 Then Daniel is brought out utfrorn tho den, The dernagogpes are hurried into 1t, and no sooner have they struck the bottom of the den than their flesh was rent, and their bones cracked, and their blood spuEted through the rifts of the rock, and as the lions make the rocks tremble with their roar they announce to all ages that while God will defend His people, tho way of tho ungodIy shall perish.
 Learn first from this subject that tho greatest crime you can commit in tho eyes of many is the crime of success. What had Daniel done that he should Do flung to the lions2 He got to be Prime Minister. They could not for give him for that, and behold in that a touch of unsanctified human nature as seen in all ages of tho world. So long as you are pinched in poverty, so long as you are running the gauntlet be- tweeu landlord and taxgatberor, so long as you find it hard work to educate your children, there are people who will say: Poor man, ] am sorry for him; he ought to succeed, poor manv
 But after awhile the tido turns in your favor. That was profitable in vestment you made. You bought at just the right time. Fortune becomes good-humored and smiles upon you. Now you are being in some department successful, your success chills some ono. Those men who used to sympathizo with you stand along the street, and they scowl at you from under the rim Of their hats. You have more money or more influence than they have, and you ought to be scowled at from under tho rim of their hats. You catch word or two as you passed by them. ''Stuck up," says one. "Got it dishonesty" |" says another "Will burst soon," says third Every stone in your new house Is laid on their hearts. Your horses hoofs went over their nerves.
 Every item of your success has been to them an item of discomfture and despair Just as soon as in any respect you rise above your follows, if you arc moro influential, you cast shadow on tho prospect of others. The road to honor and success is within reach of the enemy's gums. Jealopsy says: Stay down, or I'll knock you down" e'I don't like you," said the snowflake to the snowbird. Why don't you like mo?" said the snOwbird. "ohv" said tho snowflake, you are going pp
 
 merchants, young lawyers, young doctors, young mechanics, young artists, young farmers, at certain times thero were those to sympathize with you, but now that you are becom- ing master of your particular occupa- tion or profession. how is 1t now, young lawyers young doctor young artists, yOuur farruers-how is it now? The greatest crime that you can commit is tho crime of success
 Again: My subject impresses me with the value of decision of character in any department Daniel know that if he continued his adherence to tho re- ligion of tho Lord he would be hurled to tho lions, but having set his compass well, he sailed right on.
 For the lack Of that element of char aeter, so eminent in Daniel, many men are ruined for this world, and ruined for the world to come. A great many at