The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1890-09-06
DANIELS ESCAPE.
D.. Talmage Debates Upon.
the Adventure in the
u Lions Den.
Review of a High
" Popular Biblical
Character.

%GHv#
Darius was king of Babylon, and the
young man Daniel was 80 much a fayorite
with him that be made him prime minister.
or secretary of state. But. no man could
gnin such a high position without exciting
the n and jealousy of.the people. There
were demagogues 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
ii il to be riven OF the lightning.
These demagogues asked the king to make
q decree that anybody that made a petition
to any one except the king within 80 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 hat no one can
keep Daniel from sending petitions before
God for 30.days. >~"
So far from being afraid, Daniel goes on
with his supplications three times a day and
10 found on his housetop making prayer.
He is caught in the act. Heis condemned to
be devoured by thelions. Rough excutioners
OF the law seize him and hasten him to the
cavern. ! hear tho 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, and | almost hear the fercy
eyeballs snap in the darkness. These mon
STEERS approach Daniel. They have an appe-
tite keen with hunger. With one stroke of
may leave him dead at the bottom Of the
cavern. But what a strange welcome
Daniel receives from these hungry
monsters. They fawn around hint they lick
his hand, they bury his feet in their long
name. That night he has calm sleep with
MS 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
fiesh 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 rits of the rock, 10
Daniel, is the God whom thou servest con-
tinuaily able to deliver thee2" There comes
rolling up rom the deep darkness a voice
says: 20 king! live forever. My God has
sen his angel to shut the hons mouths that
they have not hurt me-" d.
&N&1 q VII 1t pAouShN III AoAht NV oCAs
Il The demagoeues are hurled into it, and no
sooner nave 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 ungodiy shall perish.
Lea;p first from this subject thatthe great
est crime that you can commit in the eyes of
many is the crime of success. What had
Daniel done that he hould be flung to the
lions? He got to be prime minister. They
could not forgive him for that. and behold
in that a touch of unsanctified human ma
tnre 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 viii say, Poor man, l
am sorry for him; he ought to succeed, poor
mani"
But after awhile the tide turns in your IA
vor. That was q 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 de-
partment 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 therim 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
3 word or two as YOU passed by them;
Gays another. evil burst soon,." says a
third. Every stone in your new house is laid
on their hearts. Your horses hoos 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, II you are more virtnons, II you
are more wise. if you are more influential,
ron cast q shadow on the prospertof Others.
The road to honor and success is in reach OF
the enemy's guns. jealousy says: Stay
down. or I'll knock you down" "id do not
like you.' said the snowflake to the wbird
ssWhy don't you like me?' said the snow
bird. "Ohl" said the snowflake, you ara
going up and am coming down Young
merchants, young lawyers, young doctors,
woung mechanics, young artists, young
farmers, MT certain times there we're those,to
sympathixe with you, but now that you are
becoming master of your particular occupa-
yers, young doctors, young artists, young
iarmers-how IL il now? Thu greatest crime
that YOU can commit is the crime of success.
Again: My subject impresses me with the
valre Of decision OF character IN any depart
ment. Daniel knew that # he continued ms
adherence tc the religion ofthe Lord be would
80 hurled to the lions, but having set his
compass well. he sailed right on.
!. For the lack of that element OF decision OF
character, so eminent in Daniel, many4men
are ruined for this world . ruined for the
Woridto come. a great many at 40 years OF
they have not been able to make up their
mind. Perhaps they will go West. Per.
haps they win 90 East. Perhaps they will
North. Perhaps they may 80 South.
Perhaps they will not, Perhaps they may
make that Investment in real estate or IN
railroads. Perhaps they VII not Insy N ere
York harbor, starting for Glasgow, and he
mort days should change for Havre de Grace,
and The next for Charleston, and the next for
Boaton. and the nsxt for Liverpool. These
men on the sea o. fife everlaatingay tacking
ship and mnking,no headway ur sney ere ere
Corinthian style and changes IL to Doric.t
then completes it in the Ionic, and - cursed
Il All styles OF architecture.
man, start right and keep on.
decIsion of character. Character ~ like the
Koidfnch Of T0nquin:i " ls magnficents Whiie
Sfandinr arm, but loses all its beauty in
=1iohf Have much decision 81 character
m order that. these young men may be
rkriatiansl Their old associates make sar-
castic ffnRsa t them. They GO on excursions
Sndthey do notinvite them. They prophecy
that he will give 0ut. They wonder Il ne 70
mot getting: wings. ~ re passes sa Sney s. gfa M
IAce,g and Wink,a and ehuekir, ana say; mere
9roes q saint.
O.young man! have decision at character,
HY0m can afford in this matter ofsreligl0n 70
"a laughed at. What do YOU care for the
aeoaa ofthese men, who are afronted because
& viii not go to ruin with tiemI when
the grave cracks open under tnslr ,ses' a ana
nitv comes down hard upon their spirit, and
conscience stings, d dhopeless ,'sia Its them
m Is hurl them down, will they laugh then!