The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-05-20
THE LIONS DEN.
DR.. Talmage Cleans New Ideas
From the Story.
Practical Lessons For Young Men-God
Defends His Own People In All Ages
While the Wicked Suffer-Beau-
ties of Pure Life.

In late sermon at Brooklyn Rev. T.
Dewitt Talmage took for his subject
the character of Daniel and drew from
it lessons of sound, practical value for
the young men. His text was Daniel
vi .: Daniel was first" DR.. Talmage
said:
Where in romance can you find any
thing equal to what Daniel was in real
ity? A young man, far away from home,
introduced into the most magnificent
and most dissolute palace of all the
earth. The king, wishing to make this
young man prodigy in personal APP
pearance, orders his attendants to see
that he has plenty of meat and wine,
and Daniel refuses these delicacies and
insists on a vegetable diet, refusing
everything but pulse and water, waving
back all the rich viands with deter
mined mo; thank you" He surpasses
all the princes in brilliancy. As the
sun rises higher and higher it puts out
ali the stars, and if there is anything
the stars hate it is the sun. Daniel be-
comes so much of favorite with King
Darius that our young hero is promoted
TO be prime minister, or secretary of
statc-the Frelinghuysen or the Bis
mA-S of the ancients. But no man
ever attained such high position with
out exciting the envy of others.
The meanest and wrathiest passion of
the soul is jealousy. You see it among
all professions and occupations. | am
sorry to say you see it as much among
clergymen as among other classes of
men. 1t IS passion bitter as he'll, and
it is Immediately recognized, and yet,
though it blaclens the man who in
dulges in ii, men Will kindle this fire
which consumes only themselves.
There were demagogues in Babylon
who, highly appreciative of their own
capacity, doubted the policy of elevat-
ing such young man as Daniel. They
said: ''Why, we know more than he
does. We could manage the public af
fairs better than he can manage them.
The idea of putting Dan in such place
as that" Old Babylon was afraid of
young Babylon. They began to plot
his ruin. He was an iliustrious target.
The taller the cedar the more apt to be
struck with the lightning.
These demagogEes asked Darius to
make an unalterable decree that any
man who within thirty days shall ask
petition of anyone except the king shall
be put to death. Darius, not mistrust-
ing any foul play, makes such decree.
The demagogues have accomplished
their purpose, for they knew that Daniel
would not stop sending up petitions to
his God, and Daniel, instead of being
affrighted by the decree, went three
times dav to his house top for prayer,
He is caught in the act. He is condemned
to be devoured by the lions By the
rough executioners of the law he is hur
ried away toward the den. The door is
removed and Daniel showed into the
den, which was all agleaCl with fiery
eve-balls that seem TO roll and snap at
the caverns. They approach the de-
fenseiess man. Their appetite was
sharp with hunger. Oae stroke of their
paw, one crunch of their teeth and he
would have been hfeless How strange
a welcome Daniel receives from the
monsters. They fawn about him. They
cover his feet with their long names.
They are struck with the lock-
jaw. That night Daniels sleep is
cain and undisturbed, with
his head pillowed on the
warm neck of the tanned lions But
King Darius was not SO happy. He
loved Daniel and he hated the strata
gem by which his favorite had been
condemned. He PAGES the floor all
night He cannot sleep. At the least
sound he starts and his flesh creeps
with horror. A bad conscience will
make the bravest man a coward. At
the first streak of light he starts out to
find the fate of Daniel. The palace
gate opens and jars heavily behind him
while yet the city is asleep. He comes
To the den. He looks through the
crevices but sees nothing. He dare not
speak. Expecting the worst, his heart
stops. Gathering strength he puts his
mouth to the riffs il the rocks and cries:
30, Daniel. is thy God whom thou
servest continually able to deliver thee
from the lions?r An answer comes
rolling up ont of the darkness: 20, king,
live forever. Ny God hath sent His
angel and hath shut the lions mouths,
that they have not hurt me-" The
Young man is brought out and the dem
acogues who made the plot are thrown
in. Bat they hardly struck the bot
tom OF the den when their flesh rent,
and their bones cracked. and the blood
spurted through the riffs, while the
Esrce monsters shook the rocks with
their terrible roar announcing to all
ages the truth that while God defends
His people, the way OF the wicked shall
perish.
Now, you see from this subject that
IL the eyes of many the greatest otfense
Won can commit is success Of what
crime had this young man been guilty
taat he should come under the bitter
hatred of the demagogues? Why, he
had got TO be prime minister of Baby
Ion. That they could not forgive. Be
hold in this sketch touch of human
nature. As long as poverty pinches
YOU and you run the gauntlet between
tax gatherer and landlord, and You
have hard work to educate your chill
drea. there Will be multitudes of men
to say: Poor fellow. lie ought to
succeed. How sorry l am for him"
But after awhile you begin 70 emerge
from the darkness. That was q capital
investment You purchased at just the
right tina. Fortune became good ma
tured and smiled. You builded your
own house. You got to be one of the
first men on the street. Now, as YOU
pass, a number of those late sympa-
thizers stand on the corner of the street.
They scowl at you from under the rim
OF their hats. You have more money