The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1890-09-06
THE DEN OF LIONS.
DR.. Talmage Discourses to the
People Of Texas.
Lessons Learned From the story of Daniel
Lions In the Path of Every Young Man
The Benefits of ReIigIon in Our
Daily business.

Rev. T. Dewitt Talmage recent,.
preached to the people at Waco, Tex,
from the text: ''Then the King COM
manded, and they brought Daniel and
cast him into the den of lions" Daniel,
vi. 10. DIR. Talmage said:
Darius was King OF Babylon, and the
young man Daniel was so much a
favorite with him hat ne made him a
Prime Minister. or Secretary of State.
But no man could gain such a high posi-
ton without exciting the envy and jeal-
ousy of the people. There were dema-
gogues in Babylon who were so appre-
ciative of their W 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
lightning.
These demagogues asked the King to
make a decree hat anybody that made
q petition to any one except the King
within thirty days should be put to
death. King Darius, not suspecting
foul play, makes that decree. The DEM
agogues 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 max
ing prayer. He is caught in the act.
He Is condemned to DO devoured by the
lions. Rough executioners OF the law
seize him and hasten him to the cavern.
/ hear the growl of the wild beasts and
I see them paving the dust, and as they
put their mouths to the ground the
solid earth quakes with their below
ing. ] sec their eyes roll and almost
hear the fiery eyeballs snap in the dark
ness 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 a strange welcome Daniel re.
ceives from these hungrymonsters- 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 we'll 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 can not sleep. At the
least sound he starts and his flesh creeps
with horror. He is impatient for tho
dawning Of tho morning. At the first
streak of the daylight Darius hastens
forth to SEQ the fate of Daniel. The
heavy palace doors open and clang shut
long before tho people of the city waken.
Darius goes to the den of lions; he looks
in. ALI 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: 80. Dan
ieli is the God whom thou servest CON
tinually able to deliver thee?" There
comes rolling up from the deepdarkness
a voice which says: 30, King! live for
ever. 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 arc hurled into
It, and no ooner have they struck tho
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
to all nges hat 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 hat he should
be flung to the llons2 He got to be
Prime Minister. They could not for
give him for that, and behold in that
. touch of unsancttfied human nature as
in all ages of the world. So long
rs you are pinched in poverty, so long
rs you are running the gauntlet between
landlord and tax gatherer, 80 long as
you find it hard work to educate your
,hildren, there are people who will say:
'sPoor a / am sorry for him; he
ought to succeed, poor man!'
But after a while the tide turns in
Lour favor. That was a profitable in