The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1890-09-12
THE DEN OF LIONS.
DR.. Talmage Discourses to tho
People Of Texas.
Lessons Learned From the story of Daniel
Lions In the Path Of Every Young Man
The Benefits of Religion in Our
Daily Business.

Rev. T. Dewitt Talmage recently
preached to the people at Waco, Tex,
from the text: "Then the King com
manded, and they brought Daniel and
cast him into the den of lions" Daniel,
vi. 10. DIR. Talmage said:
Darius was King of Babylon. and the
young man Daniel was so much 9
favorite with him that he made him q
Prime Minister, or Secretary OF State.
But no man could gain such high posi-
tion without exciting the envy and jeal'
ousy of the people. There were dema-
gogues in Babylon who were SO appre-
ciative 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
petition to any one except the King
within thirty days should be put tc
death. King Darius, not suspecting
foul play, makes that decree. The DEM
agogues have 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, and is found on his housetop max
ing prayer. He is caught in the act.
He is condemned to be devoured by the
lions. Rough executioners of the law
seize him and hasten him to the cavern.
1 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 below.
ing. see their eyes roll and almost
hear the fiery eyeballs snap in the dark.
ness 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 strange welcome Daniel re-
ceives from these hungry monsters They
fawn around him. they lick his hand,
they bury his feot in their long name.
That night he has calm sleep with his
head pillowed on the warm necks of the
tanned lions.
But not so we'll does Darius, the King,
sleep. He loves Daniel, and hates this
stratagem by which he has been con-
demned. All night long the King walks
the floor. He can not sleep At the
least sound lie starts and his flesh creeps
with horror. He is impatient for the
dawning of the morning. At the first
streak of the daylight Darius hastens
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 gathering all his strength he shouts
through the riffs of the rock: 20, DAN
ieli is the God whom thou servest con-
tinually able to deliver thee?" There
comes rolling up from the deepdarkness
voice which says: 20, King! live for
ever. My 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 and their bones cracked, and their
blood spurted through the riffs 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 the way of the ungodly shall
perish.
Learn first from this subject that the
greatest crime that you can commit in
the eyes of many is the crime of success
What had Daniel done that he should
be flung to the lions2 He got to be
Prime Minister. They could not for
give him for that and behold in that
touch Of unsanctified human nature as
seen in all ages of the world. So 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, 1 am sorry for him; he
ought to succeed, poor man"
But after while the tide turns in
your favor. That was a 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 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 a word or two as
you pass by them. "Stuck up" says
one. "Got it dishonesty" says an
other. '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 discontinue and de-
| spair. just as soon as in any respect
you rise above your fellows, if you are
more virtuous, il you are more wise, if
you are more influential, you cast a
shadow on the prospect Of others The
road to honor and success is within
reach of the enemy's guns Jealousy
says: 'Stay down or I'll knock you
down" 81 do not like you," said the
snowflake - the snowbird ''Why don't
you like me?" said the snowbird ''O,''
said the snowflake, you are going up
; and 1 am coming down" Young mer-
! chants. 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 ). now young lawyers, young doctors,
young artists, young farmers-how is it
now? The greatest crime that you can