The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-09-01
DANIEL THE LIONS
TALMAGE's LESSONS FROM THE
THRILLING STORY.

The Young Prime Minister'S Success
the Only Cause for the Plot Against
his Life Lack OF Decision of Charac-
ter the Ruin of Many Men.
WACO. TEX, Aug. 31.-Dr. Tclmage 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 vi, 16.
Darius was King of Babylon, and the
young man Daniel was so much of favorz
ite with him that he made him prime min
ister, or secretary Of state. But no man
could gain such high position without ex-
citing the envy and jealousy of the people.
There were demagogues In Babylon who
we're 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 light
ming.
These demagogues asked the king 10 make
decree that anybody who made 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 accom-
plished oil they want, because they know
that no one can keep Daniel from sending
petitions before God for thirty days.
80 far from being afraid, Daniel goes on
with his supplications three times a day.
and is found on his housetop making prayer
He is caught in the act He is condemned
to be devoured by the lions. Rough execu-
tioners of the law seize him aud hasten him
to the 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. | see their eyes roll anG als
most hear the fiery eyeballs snap in the
darkness. The monsters approach Daniel.
They have an appetite keen with hunger.
With one stroke 6f their paw or one snatch
OF their teeth, they may leave him dead ab
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 pillowed 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 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 ga herring all HE
strength he shouts through the riffs of the
rock, 70 Daniell is the God whom thou
| servest continually able to deliver theeT'
There comes rolling up from the deep dark
ness voice which says: 20 kingl 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 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
Ged 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 80 the lionsl He got to be prime min
ister. They could not forgive 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 1t hard work to educate
your children, there are people who will
say: Poor man, / am sorry for him. He
ought to succeedi Poor manp
But after awhile 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 arc being in
some department successful, your success
chfilQ Tbaaa bfx sod
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 pass by them. ''Stuck up" says one.
''Got 1t dishonesty" says another. "Wfl
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 discomf1trre and despair.
Just as soon as in any respect you rise
above your fellows, il you are more vfrtu-
Gus, If you are more wise, IL you are more
influential, you cast a shadow on the pros-
pect of others The road TO honor and sue
cess is within reach of the euemy's guns.
Jealousy says: ''Stay down. or I'll knock
you down" II do not like you," said the
snowflake TO the snowbird. "Why don't
lds
"Ohm said the snowflake, ''you are
going up and am coming
down." Young merchants, young law
yers. young doctors. young mechanics,
young artists, young farmers, at certain
times there were those to sympathize with
you, but no ~ that you are becoming master
of your particular occupation or profession,
how is it now, young lawyers young doc
tors, young artists, young farmers--how is
1t MOVIE The greatest crime that you can
commit is the crime of success
Again: My subject impresses me with the
value of decision of character In any de-
partment Daniel knew that If he contin-
ued his adherence to the religion of the
Lord he would be hurled to the lions, but
having set his compass well. he sailed right
on.
For the lack Of that element Of decision
Of character, 80 eminent IN Daniel, many
men are ruined for this world, and ruined
for the word to come. A great many at
40 years Of age are not settled in any res
pect, because they have not been aUle to
make up their mind. Perhaps they will go
west. Perhaps they will go east. Perhaps
they will not. Perhaps they will go north
Perhaps they may go south. Perhaps they
will not. Perhaps they may make