The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1891-02-14
THE MODEL YOUNG MAN.
a Sermon by the Rev. Chas. Hill at the ELK
ton NJ. L. Church February &, 1891.

ton NJ. Il. Church February <, 1891.
Now when Daniel knew that the writing wa
signc !, he went into his house, and his Windows
being open in his chamber, toward Jerusalem
he kneeled upon his knees three times
day and prayed, and gave thanks before his
God, as he did observation-disclosures VI, 10.
Nothing definite is known of the fam.
lily or parentage of Daniel. He was car
RED a captive 10 Babylo when very
young, and trained for the Kings service.
He had been educated in the religion OF
the Jews, and regulated his conduct ac-
cording to its teachings, even IN the
court of heather King. When held in
captivity as slave, and ordered to be
fed from the Kings table, he purposed
in his heart that he would not dehle
him self with the portion of the King
meat nor tue wiue watch he drank,
because such an indulgence would have
| beeu IA viol itiou of the Mosaic law. At
his earnest request, the officer, under
whose care he had been placed, permit
cd him TO use only vegetable diet; aud
| finding that he grew healthy and strong
by the use of this food, he did not oblige
him to use the portion seLt him from the
king table. At the close of his three
| years discipline, he had an opportunity
| of exercising his peculiar gift i'll the i'll
terpre' alton OF dreams and visions. Iu
conse queuce Of his success, he was made
ruler of the whole province of Baby Ion,
III at ba Ill
wise men OF Baby Ion. We have then be-
fore us, young man in humble state,
surrounded by embarrassing circum
stances, a captive in strange land, ris
ing to high position aud influence in the
empire 1t may be well to iLauire as to
the secret of his success. 1t is true that
be possessed fine mental abilities, and
was taught in the wisdom of the Chal-
deans, but the secret of bis success was
his uubending loyalty to God. His
CHEF aim was to fear God and work
righteousness. His pisty was not of
sickly character, bat of the stalwart
kind. His devotion to God did not droOp
ond die when takeD from Jerus .lem and
carried to Baby lon. He remained stead
fast, indeed, his trials led HIM to trust
in God more fully for help; and as a
result, he arose above adverse circum-
Then let no young man be discouraged
because he is surrounded by embarrasS-
ing circumstances; rather let him trust
in God and the very trials through
which he is called to pass, will develope
in him a strength of character, which he
could not have had without such disci-
pline. No one expects to find strong
trees in a hot house, but out on the plain
where they have been swept by the
storms OF Heaven, and the very winds
which seem TO threaten thsir destruction
cause them to take deeper root and de-
velope into greater hardness II Dan
lels' piety was the cause of his success,
what were its characteristics? | answer
he began young in life. The record tells
us that he was distinguished for mis- piety
even in the days of his youth; he was but
a child, mere stripping when brought
captive to Babylon, yet he bad been
taught in the fear of the Lord; he re-
cognized the fact that God had claims
upon his love and service, and he met
those claims by an atlectionate remem-
brance of his Creator in the days of his
youth. So | say to the young, God has
the same claims upon you. The Saviour
his righteousness, aud all these things
shall be added unto you" FIRST in point
of time, first in Importance, and first Ia
point of excellence. Young people seem
to think that life of piety would alb
ridge their eujOyments. They want
what they are pleased to call "a good |
time" This is a mistaken notion, be- |
cause religion does not require us to |
give up any practice but what is wrong,
nor any indulgence that is not Il positive |
Injury to us, nor any pleasure but what |
conscience and harden the heart. The |
old rarely seek the Lord, Youth is the |
most proptions season. How important |
then for you to initiate the example of |
Daniel and remember your Creator in
the days Of Your youth. Again, his |
piety Cas practical. 1t was not mere |
sentiment. 1t entered into his heart, be. |
came SO incorporated into his nature,
that it exerted a controlling influence |
upon his life. This fact was illustrated |
in very forcible manner, soon after his |
arrival in Babylon. When the King
him daily portion of meat |
and wine from his own table. Daniel |
refused TO partake of it because the |
Chaldeans ate food forbidden by the |
Jewish law which had first been offered
in sacrifice to their gods. He might |
have said, 81 am now in a strange land,
away from the God OF my fathers. 1t is
but small thing, mere question OF
meat aud drink, and besides, it is great |
thing to be fed and Toasted from the
Kings table. | may indulge in a matter
like this without any harm to my self"
But il thoughts of this kind came into
his mind, LIE dismissed them at once,
not detile him self He made no COM
promise with the wrong. He said, Il
will not do it," When person begins
to reason or parley in reference to re-
igious duty, or to look upon things of |
doubtful propriety in the spirit Of COM
promise, he is in danger. When he says,
Il will indulge little, but will not go TO
will take social glass and |
stop; will go to the dance but will not |
iudulge in the pleasure; | will play cards
but not for money" when this spirit OF
comes in, danger is near and
the indi gidull stands Oh tue very verge |
of spiritual ruin. But Daniel offered no
with the wrong; he was not
ashamed of his religious principles; he
them and stood by them. His
principles and practice were in beautiful
harmony. When Darius came to the
throne, he appointed one hundred and
twenty princes over the whole kingdom,
and over these, three presidents. of whom
"because an excellent spirit was in him."
Then the presidents and princes sought
to find an occasion against Daniel. but
could not, ''for as much as he was faith
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