Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-09-04
RELIGION IN POLITICS.
DR.. TALMAoE's PRACTICAL SER
MON FOR PRACTICAL MEN.

when the Ballot Boz Il Surrounded BY
Corruption Is the Time for the Christian
to Work Hardest-DaniePs Experience.
DIR. Talmage delivered the following
discourse at Waco, Tex, on the 31st ult.,
on the text, ''Then the King commanded,
and they brought Daniel and cast him
into the den Of lions. s."-Daniel vi, I6.
Darius was King Of Babylon, and the
young man Daniel was so much favor
lte with him that he made him Prime
Minister, or Secretary of State. But ne
man could gain such high position
without exciting the envy and jealousy
Of the people. There were demagogues
In Babylon who were so appreciative OF
their own abilities that they were af-
fronted 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 any one except the King
within thirty days should be put to
death. King Darius, not suspecting any
foul play, makes that decree. The
demagogues 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 q
day, and is found on his housetop maxi
ing prayer. He is caught in the act.
He is condemned to be devoured by the
lions. Rough executioners Of the law
Loo 10
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. l
see their eyes roll, and 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 strange welcome Daniel re-
ceives from these angry monsters. They
fawn around him, they lick his hand,
they bury his feet in their long names.
That night he has calm sleep, with his
head pillowed Oh 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 con-
demned. All night long the King walks
the floor. He cannot sleep. Atthe least
sound he 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, 30 Daniel!
is the God whom thou servest continually
able to deliver thee?" There comes
rolling up from the deep darkness a
voice which says: 80 King! live forever.
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 damagogues 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 lions? He got to be Prime
Minister. They could not forgive him
for that; and behold in that touch of
unsanctifed 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 gantlet 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 man!''
But after awhile the tide turns in your
| favor. That was profitable investment
| you made. You bought at just the right
| time. Fortune becomes good humored
and smiles upon You. Now you are be-
| ing 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 scowIed at
from under the rim of their hats. You
| catch word or two as you passed by
| them. ''Stuck up" says one. scot 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 discontinue and de-
| spair. Just as soon as in any respect
| you rise above your fellows, if you are
more virtuous, II you are more wise, II
| you are more influential, you cast q
shadow ON the prospect Of others. The
road to honor and success is within reach
| of the enesny's guns. Jealousy says,
''Stay dowI or I'll knock you down. II
do not like you," said the snowflake to
| the snowbird. s'Why don't you like
me2" said the snowbird. 'sOh!" said the
snowflake, ''you are going up and I am
coming down." Young merchants, young
lawyers, young doctors, .young mechan-
les; young artists, young farmers, at GER
tain times there were those tosympathize
with you, but, now that you are beeom-
ing master of your particular occupation
or profession, how is 1t now, young law
i yers, young doctors, young artists, young
farmers, how is it now? The greatest
II i 81 -. ~ . L. u 4 "