The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-09-12
DANIELS ESCAPE.
DR.. Talmage Debates Upon
the Adventure in the
Lions Den.
Interesting Review ola High.
ly Popular Biblical
Character.

brought Daniel and cast him into the den of
lions" Daniel vi, 1G.
Darius was king of Babylon, and the
young man Daniel was NO much IL favorte
with him that he mnde him prime minister.
or secretary OF state. But no man could
gain suci, 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 atfronted at the elevation of this young
man. Old. Babylon was afraid of young
Babylon. The taller the cedar the more apt
it is to he rivcn OF the lightning.
These demagogues asked the king to make
derrec that anybody that made IL petition
to any one except the king within 30 days
should he put to DEATH King Darius, not
suspccting any foul play, makes that decree.
lie denagogues have ACCOMPLISHED all they
want, because they know that no one c,l,,
Keep Daniel from sending petitions before
God for 80 days.
So 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 lie is condemned to
he drvourpd by thelions. Rough cxcutioners
of the law seize him and hasten him to he
cavern. henr the growl oi the wild beasts,
and see them paving III" DUST and as they
put their mouths to the ground the solid
earth qunkes with their believing SEQ
their rycs roll and almost hrnr the fiercy
eyehnlls snap in the darkness. These mon.
sters appronch Daniel. They have an appe-
their paw or one snatch Of their teeth, they
may leave him dead at the bottom OF the
tavern. But what II strangc welcome
Daniel receives from these hungry
monsters. They fawn around him. they lick
his hand. they bury his icct in their long
mnne. Tint night he has calm sleep with
his head pllowcd on tho warm nccks of the
tanned lions.
But not 80 well does Dnrus the King sleep.
He loves Daniel, and hates this strntayrm
by which hc has l,een condemned. All night
long the king walks the floor. lie cannot
sleep. At the least sound he starts nnd hia
flesh creeps with horror. ile liz impatient Tor
u he dawnine OF the morning. At the first
streak Of the daylight Darius hnstcns forth
10 sce the tate OF Daniel. The heavy palnce
doors open and clang shut long l'e'orr the
people oi the city waken. Darius goes to tr
den OF lions; lie looks in All is silent. Ills
heart stops. lte feels that the very worst
has happened: hut, gathering all his strength
he shouts through the riits OF the rock. "O
tinually able to deliver thce?" There comes
rolling up rom the deep darkness II voirc
says 20 king! live forever. My tod has
sent his angel to shut the lions mouths that
hey have not hurt me.
Then Daniel is brought out from the den.
The dcmneogucs are hurled into it, ami no
sooner hnv" they struck the bottom OF thu
cracked and their blood spurtei through the
riits of the rock, aud ns the lions make the
rocks tremhlo with their roar, they announce
to nil ages tlnt while God will defend his
people. tho way of the ungody shall perish.
Learn first from thissubjcct that the grcnt,
est crime that you can commit in the eyes oi
many is the crime Of success What had
Daniel done TINT he should l'e flung to tho
lions" He rot to he prime minister. Il,ry
could not forgive him for that. nn'l behold
in that II touch of unsanrtilic,l human ma
tnre ns seen in all ages UI the world. So
long rs you are pin"hel in poverty, so long
ns You are running the gauntlet between
landlord and tax gathcrer. so long ns you
find it hnrd work to educate your children.
there are people who will say "Poor man,
aln sorry for him; he ough, to succeed, poor
maui"
But nftcr awhile the tide turns in your f,l-
vor. Tint was u profitable investment you
mnde. You bought al Just the right time.
Fortune becomes good-hulnurrd and smiles
upon you. Now you are hring in some de-
pnrtnent successful. your sil,c,ss rliills some
with yon atand along the street, and they
sc"wI nj you from under thcrim oi their hats.
You havemOre money ormorr influence Than
they have, and you ought To he srowlctl al.
from under the rim OF their hats. You catch
word or two az you pnssc,i by them;
stuck up. snys one: "Golit 'ishon"stly,
says another. "Will burst soon" snys IL
third Every stone in your new house is laid
on their lrnrts. Your horses hoo went
over their nerves,
Every item ol your success has been 10
them an item of discontinue and despair.
Just haso"n as in nny respect you risr above
your 'ellows, il you ure more virtuo,is, il yon
are morc wipc. il you AZ" more influential,
yon east II sliniow on the prospect oi others.
The road to honor and success is in reach OF
I Ii" enemy's guns. Jenlousy snys: "Stny
down. or In knock you down. 81 do not
like yom. said the snowflake to thesnowbrtl
"Why don't you like me-" snd the SNOW
bird. "Dh!' said the snow'inkc, you are
going up and nm coming down ~ Young
merchants, young lawyers, young doctors,
young mechanics. young artists, young
farmers, at ccrtnn times there were those to
symputhze with YOU bu' now TINT you are
Incoming muster OF your particular nc,'upa-
ton or prOeHsiOll, how in il now young law
yers. young doctors, young artists. young
fiirmerS-how is it now? The greatest crime
Tint you cnn commit is the crime ofsllrrcss.
nShu. HuDyeSb IiIIiItsS', INV Win VIZ
value o decision ot character III amy depart
ment Dnniel knew that il he continn'sl his
adherence tG he religion oithc Lord he would
be hurled to the lions, hut 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
nre ruined for this world and ruined for the
world to- come great many ut 10 years OF
nge are not settled in any respect. l,ecn,Sc
they have not b,cl able to make up heir
mind. Perhaps they will 20 West Per.
hnps they will so East. Perhaps tl"v will
go North. Perhaps they may go South.
Perhaps they will not, Perhaps they may
make that investment in real estate or in
Inilroads Perhaps they will not. They nre
like steamer thnt should 20 on, o New
York harbor, starting tor Glasgow, and he
next day should change for Hnvrc dc Grace.
and the next for Charleston, and the next FOR
Boston, and the next ior Liverpool. Tlrs.
men on the sea of life everlnstingly tacsing
ship and making no headway. Or they are
Corinthinn style and cllnnges it to Dorc.
then completes it in tho Ionic and is cursed
by nil styles OF architecture.
Young man, start rig and keep on. Have
decision of character Character is like the
godtinch Of Tonquin: it liz magnificent whilc
standing firm, hut loses all its beauty in
flight Have much decision of character
III thHI tHcFb Souue uc
Christians! Their old associates make snr.
castle tiings at them. They go ON excursions
nnd they donotinvite them. They prophesy
that he will give out. They wonder ii hr is
not getting wings. As he passes, they grim.
ace, and wink, and chucklr, and say: "Thoro
goes n saint.'
.. young man! have decision of character,
iou can afford in this matter Of religion q
be laughed at. What do YOU care :or the
srofis ofthese men. who are alfrontcd because
you will not go to ruin with them? When
the grave cracks open unior their feet, and
grim messengers push them into it. and eter.
nifty comes down hard upon I heir spirit, and
conscience stings, and hopeless ruin Ii ts them
up to liurl them down, will they laugh then?
learn also from my subject that mcn may
tnkc religion into their worldly business.
Daniel had enough work to do to occupy six
men. All the nffnirs Of the state were in his
hands-qucstiona OF finance, questions of war.
oi peace. all international questions were tor
his settlement or adjustment. He must have
had n correspondence vast beyond all com
putation. There was not man in all the
earth who had more to do than Daniel, the
secretary of the state, and yet We tind him
three times day bowing before God in
prayer. There are men in our day who have
not tahundrcdth part o Daniel q en- ngagements,
who say they are too busy TO BE- religious
They have an idea somehow that religion
will spoil their worldly occupation, that it
will trip the accountants pen. or dull the
carpenters y saw. or confuse the lawyers brief.
or disarrange the merchants store-sh"H.
They think religion is impairment They
would like to have it very well seated beside
them in church on the Sabbath. to find the
place in the psalm book, or to nudge them
awake when they got sleepy under the
didnctic discourse; or they would like to
leave it in the rev on Sabbath evening, as
they 60 out closing the door, saying Good.