Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-01
TN THE LIONS DEN.
Useful Lessons From the Trial and
Deliyerance If Daniel.
SUCCESS CONSIDERED A CRIME.
The Man Who Rises Higher Than His
Fellows Always Enyied.
RELIGION IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH,


WACO, TEX, August 31.-Dr Talmage
to-day delivered the following discourse on
the text: "Then the King commanded, and
they brought Daniel and cast him into the
den Of lions" Daniel 6, xvi.
Darius was King of Babylon, and the
young man Daniel was so much fayorite
with him that he made him 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 demsgogues in Babylon who were SO
appreciative of their own abilities that they
were affronted at the elevation of this young
man. Old Babylon was afraid of young
Babylon. The taller the cedar, the more
apt it is to be riven of the lightning.
These demagogues asked the King to
make decree that anybody that made a
petition to anyone except the King within
30 days should be put to death. King
Darius, not suspecting any foul play, makes
that decree. The demagogues have accom-
plished all they want, because they know
that no one can keep Daniel from sending
petitions before God for 80 days. So far
from being afraid, Daniel goes on with his
supplications three times a day, and is
found on his housetop making PRAYER. He
is condemned to be devoured by the lions.
Rough executioners of the law seize him
and hasten him to the cavern. hear the
growl of the wild beasts. and 7 see them
paving the dust, and as they put their
mouths to the ground
THE SOLID EARTH QUAKEs
with their believing. 1 see their eyes roll,
and 1 almost hear the fiery eyeballs 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 a strange welcome Daniel receives
from these hungry monsters. They fawn
around him, they lick his hand, they bury
his feet in their long name. That night he
has calm sleep with his head pilIowed on
the warm necks of the tanned lions.
But not so well does Darius the King
sleep. He loves Daniel, and hates this
stratagem 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 i'm
patient for the dawning of the morning. AT
the first streak of the daylight Darius has
tens forth TO see the fate of Daniel The
heavy palace doors open and clang shut
long before the people of the city waken.
Darius goes to the den OF lions; he looks in.
All is silent. His heart stops. He feels
that the very worst has happened; but gath
ering all his strength he shouts through the
riffs of the rock, 80 Daniel is the God
whom thou servest continually able to de-
liver thee?" There comes rolling up from
fha door n arEp IL sal &
Kingi live forever. NV God has sent His
angel to shut the lions mouths that they
have not hurt me-"
Then Daniel is brought out from the den.
The demagogues are hurled into it. and no
sooner have they struck the bottom of the
den than their flesh was rent aud their bones
cracked, and their blood spurted through the
riffs of the rock, and as the lions make the
rock tremble with their roar, they announce
to all ages that while God will defend his
people, the way of the ungodly shall perish.
SUCCESS EXCITEs ENVY.
Learn first from this subject that the great
est crime that you can commit in the eyes of
many is the crime of success. What had
DanielS Sone that he should be flung to the
lions? de got to be Prime Minister. They
could not forgive him for that, and behold
in that touch of unsanctifed human ma
long as you are pinched in poverty, so long
as you are running the gauntlet between
landlord and tax-gatherer, 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
MANI
But after a while the tide turns in your
favor. That was a profitable investment
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
chllls some one. Those men who used to
sympathize 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 the rim
OF their hats. You catch word or two as
you passed by them. Stuck up" says one.
Got 1t dishonesty" saws another will
burst soon, says third. Every stone in
your new houso is laid on their hearts.
Your horses hoofs went over their nerves.
Every item of your success has been to
them an item of discontinue and despair.
just as soon as in any respect you rise above
your fellows, If you are more virtuous, if
you are more wise, if you are more in
huential, you cast a shadow on the pros
pect of others. The road to honor and sue
cess is within reach of the enemy's guns.
Jealousy says: "Stay down, or I'il knock
you down." 81 do not like you," said the
snowflake to the snowbird. "Why don't
you like me?" said the snowbird '.OhP'
said the snowflake, ''you are going up and
am coming down."
RUISoUS INDIGESTION,
Young merchants, young lawyers, Young
doctors, young mechanics, young artists,
young farmers, at certain times there were
those to sympathize with you, but now that
you are becoming master of your particular
occupation or profession, how is it now.
young lawyers, young doctors, Young artists.
young farmers-now is it now? The great.
est crime that you can commit is the crime
OF success. Again: My subject impresses
me with the value of decision of character
in any department. Daniel knew that if
he continued his adherence to the religion
of the Lord he would be hurled to the
lions but having set his compass we'll. he
sailed right on.
For the lack of that element of decision
OF character, so eminent in Daniel, MANY
men are ruined for this world, and ruined
for the world to come. A great many at
40 years OF age are not settled in any re-
spect, because they have not been able to
make up their mind. Perhaps they will
go West. Perhaps they will go East. Per-
haps they will-Hot. Perhaps they will 20
North. Perhaps they may 90 South. Per
haps they will not Perhaps thew NAV