The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1890-09-11
IRELIGION FOR BUSY MEN.
DRAWN FROM DANIEL IN
THE LIONS DEN.

Ballot Box.
WACO, Ten, Aug. 3l.--Dr. Talmagc
to-day delivered the following discourse
on the text: ''l'hcn the king command-
cd, and they brought Daniel and cast
him into the den of lions.' Daniel vi.
IL.
Darius was king of Babylon. and the
young man Daniel was so much 4 favor
itc with him that he made him prime
minister, or secretary of state. But no
man could gam such 4 high position
without exciting tho envy and jealousy
of the people. There were dcmagogucs
in Babylon who were so apprCciativc Of
their own abilities that they were afron-
ted at the elevation of this young man.
Old Babylon was afraid of young Baby
lon. The taller the cedar, the more apt
1t is to be rircn by the lightning.
These dcma%oIucS asked the king to
make decree that anybody that made a
petition to any one except the king with
IN thirty days should be put TO death.
King Darius, not suspcctiu@ any foul
play, makes that decree. The drnlayo-
gucs 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 suppiicatinnS three times a
day. and is found on his houSctop making
Il prayer. He is caught in the act. nc
is condemned 10 hc dCvourcd by the
lions. Rough CXccutionCrS of the law
slczc him and hasten him to the cavern.
hear the %rowl of the wild beast, aud !
sec them PAVING the dust, and rs they
put their mouths to the ground the solid
earth quakcs with their believing. sec
Their eyes roll, and almost hear the
merry cycballS snap in the darkness.
ihcsc monsters approach Daniel. Thrv
nave 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 u strange welcome Daniel receives
from these hungry monsters. They lHwn
around him. they lick his hand. they
hury his feet in their Ion" manc. That
night he has calm sleep with his head pil-
lowed on the warm nctks of the tanned
lions.
but not so well docs Darius the hinr
sleep. lie loves Daniel, and hates this
%uataGcm by which he has been con-
drmnrd. All night long the kim walks
the floor. lie cannot sleep. Atthc least
sound he starts and his flesh rlccps with
horror. lie is inpatient for the dawninr
OF the morning. AT the first streak of
daylight Darius haStcns forth lo see the
tate OF Daniel. The heavy palace doors
open and clang shut long before the pco-
PIE OF the city Makcn. 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 cath
crlnG all his strength he shouts thrnumh
tho riffs OF the rock. 20, Damcu is tLn
God whom thou scrycst continually able
TO deliver thee" There comes rolinr
up from the deep darkness voice which
says: 80. king! live forever. NV God
has sent His angel to shut the lions
mouth, that they have no.. hurt mc.n
Then Danel is brought out from the
den. The dcmagoyurs are hurled inf,
1T, and no sooner have they struck tn,
bottom OF the den than their flesh WA.
rent, and their bones cracked. and thci
blood Spwtcd through the riffs of In,
rock. and rs the lions make the rock,
rcmblc with Their roar. they ann0,nr,
TO all ages that while God will dclcn,
Ills people, the way Of the un"odly Sllal
perish.
Learn first from tins subject that tho
greatest CRIME that yOd can commit IN
the eyes OF many is the crime of success,
what had Daniel done that lie should he
hung TO the lions: lie GOT to he prime
minister. They could not forgive him
Tor that, and behold in that touch OF
ulS'tlcllHru human nature rs seen in all
ages OF the world. SO long us you arc
phcncd IN poverty. so long rs YOU are
running the gauntlet between landlord
ai'u taN-%alhcrcr. SO long rs YOU find il
iiaru work TO educate YOUR children,
lhefc arc people who will say, "poor
man, am sorry ior him: he OUGHT to
succeed, poor mani"
But after while the tide turns IN volr
laVor. That was Il profitable Investment
you made. You bought at lust the rlnht
linc. Fortune becomes good humorru
ana smiles upon YOU. Now You are
hcih% III some department successful.
your success cilllS some ono. Those
men VINO used TO SNmpathiHc with N,u
Slalld aiCH% the street. and thcN Srowl
aC YOU from under the rim of their hats.
on nave more money or more influence
u'ah lhcy have. and You ought to he
ScoWicd at from under the rim ofthrir
mats. on catch Il word or two as YOU
pass them by. ''Stuck up" says one.
Got it dishonestly," says another.
VIII burst soon," says third. Every
stone IN your new house is laid ON their
ncarls. Your horses ho0tS went over
their nerves.
Every item of your success has been to
them an item of discontinue and dcsrair.
Just rs soon us in any respect vou rise
above your fellows, il YOU are more viz
luouS, II you arc more wise. il YOU arc
more influential, you cast shadow ON
inc prospect Of others. The road to
noh"r and success is within the reach of
the cncmy's guns. jealousy saws. "Stoy
down or pll knock yon down." II do
not Ike you," said the snowflake to the
showDrd. "Why don't you like me-"
said tho snowbird. "O," said thc snow
nakc, you are going up and | am COM