The Forrest City times., 1890-09-06
sCRTl(E OF SUCCESS.S
DR. TALNAGEs sRRMOk IN WACO,
 TEXAS.
Hc biscosirscs EloquSatiy UA saa- cess and tho Power of Decssios of Character.

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 Hc biscosirs6s EioquSttiy USl sus-
 cess and tho Power of Decssiou
 of Character.
 Rev. Dr. Talmage was at Waco. Texas. shown in Daniel (. 10. The rreacber said
 Darius was Ring of Babylon. and the young man Daniel was sv suuch < satorits with hiin that bc hihdt hln prime minister, or secretary of state. But no man could gain such high position without exciting the envy and jealousy of the people. There were demagogucs In Babylon who were so appreciativc of their own abilities that they were affronted at the elevation of this young man. Old Babylon was afraid of ycunS Babyioi fhh talIes the cedar .hs more apt it Is to bc rivcn of tho lightning.
 These demagogues asked the. king to make decree that anybody that made petition to anyone except tho king within thirty days should be put to death, King Darius. not suspecting any foul play. makes that decree, The demagogucs havc accomplished 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 supplications three times a day, aud Is found on his housctop making prayer. He is caught in tho act. He is condemned to be dcvoured by tho Hons. Rough exccutioners of the law seise him and hasten him 10 the cavern. 1 hear the growi of the Wild beasts, and I see them paving the dust, and as they put their mouths to tte sronrH the Solid earth quaScs with their believing. 1 sec their eyes roll, and 1 almost hear the fiery eye balls snap in the darkness. 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 n strange welcome Dam lel receives from these hungry monsters. They fawn around him, they lick his hand, they bury his feet ip their long msne. That night he has calm sleep with his head pill lowed on the warm fiecks of the tanned lions.
 But not so we'll does Darius the king sleep. Hc loves Daniel. and hates this strategcm by which he has been condemned. All night long the king walks the floor He cannot sleep. At the least sound he starts and his flesh creeps with horror. He is iinpa- tlent for the dawning of the morning. At the first streak pf daylight Darius hsstens forth to see the fate of Daniel The heavy palace doors open and clang shut long be- fore the people of the city waken. Darius goes to the den of lions; hc looks in. All Is silent. His heart stops. He feels that the very worst has happened; but gathering all his strength he shouts through the rifts of the rock, 70 Daniell is the God whom thou scrvcst continually able to deliver theef" There comes rolling up from tho deep darkness voice which says: 70 kingt live forever My God has sent His angel to shut tho lions mouths that they have not hurt me-
 Then Daniel is brought out from the den. The denagogues arc hurled into 1t. and no sooner have they struck tho bottom cf the den. than their flesh was rent, and their bones cracked, and the blood spurtcd through tho rifts of the rock, and as the lions make tho rocks trcmhlc with their roar. they announce to all agcs that whilcs God will defend His people, the way cf the ungodiy shall perish.
 Learn first from this subject that the greatest crimc that you can com mt In the eyes of many ia the crime of success. What had Daniel done that he should bc flung to the llons2 He got to ba prime minister. They could not forgive him for that, and behold in that touch of un- sanctified human nature as seen In all agcs uf tho world. So long As you are pinehcd in poverty, so long as you arc running the gauntlet between landlord and tax-eathcr- CT, so long as you fndit hard work to educate ycrr children, there arc people who will say, Poor man. am sorry for him: hc ought to succeed, poor man,'
 Hut after while tho tide turns ih yoas favor. That was a profitable investment that you made. You bought at just the right time. Fortune becomes good humurvd and smiles upon you. Now you are being in some department successful, your sncrc~s chllls some ono. Those men who used tsi sy,npathlxe with you stand along the street and they seowl it you from under the rims of their hats. You have more money and more influence than they havc. and you ought to bc srowied at from under the rIma q their hats. You catch word or two as yon passed by them. Stuck up, says one, Got it dishoncstly," 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 10 them an Item of diseomhture and despair. Just soon as in any respect you rise ! ahovc your fellows. if you arc more xirtu- ons. If you arc moro wise. fl you are more influential. you cast shadow on the pros- pcct nf others The road to honor and sue ,ess is within reach of tho enemy's guns. Jealousy says: stay down, or lli knock you down" 'l do not like you" said the snowflake to the snowbird, Why don't you like mel" said the snowhlrd. s.oh,'' said the snowflake. 'syou are going up and | an coming down" Young merchants, young lawyers. young doctors, young me- cbanics, young artists, young farmers, at certain times therc were those to sym patlixe with you, but now that you arc be- coming master of your particular occupa- ton or profession, how is n now, young itwycrs, young doctors. young artists, young farnacrs-how ts It nowy The great est crime that you can commit Is the crime of success.
 Again: My subject Imprcsses me with the value of decision of character In any department. Daniel knew that If he con tinued his adherence to the religion of the Lord he would be hurled to tho lsons but hay Ina. t,.. ~is.1.s un-
 For the lack of that element of decision of character, sn eminent in Daniel, many men arc ruined for this world. and ruined for the world to come. A great many at forty years of age arc not settled in any respect, because they have not been able to make up their mind. Perhaps they will so west Perhaps they will so east Perhaps they win not. Perhaps they will go north. Perhaps they may 30 south, Perhaps they VIII not. Perhaps they may make that in- yeStment in real estate or In railroads. Perhaps they will not. They ar. like a steamer that should go out of New York harbor. starting for Glasgow. and the next day should change for tinvrc de Grace. and tho next for Charleston. and tho next for Boston, and the next for Liverpool. These men on the sea of life cyerlastingjy taeking ship and making no headway. Or they are like man who starts to build house in the toflhthihh style and changes IL t0 noric. and then completes lt in the Ionic, and k cursed by all styles of architecture.
 Young man start right and keep on. Have decision Of character. Character k like the golddnch of Tonqun. 1t Is magniil cent while standing firm, but iuses all it's hcasty fn flight, How much decision of character in order that these youn. men may be christians Their old associates make sarcastic filings at them. They 70 on excursions and they do not Invite thetn They prophecy that he will give out. They wonder if he is not getting wings. As he passes, they grimace. and wink. and ehucklc, and say, There goes saint
 0 young man! have decision of character. You can afford in this matter of religion to he laughed at What do you care for the scons Of these men, who are affronted because you will not go to ruin with themf When the grave cracks open under their feet, and grim messengers push them Into it.and etcr- nity comes down hard upon their spirit, and conscience stings. and hopeless ruin lifts them up to hnrl them down, will they laugh thcnp
 l learn also from my subject that men may also akerciigion Into their worldly bus