The National tribune., 1892-05-12

q Treat kindly the religious scruples of peo-
pie. Never make fun of them Do not shrug
the shoulder and intimate such are too nice"
Ashpenaz treated Daniels request very gener-
ously, and MeiZar consented heartily. 1t Is
never well to make light of apother's conscien-
tiousness. Smiles of ridcale now st the
righteous will yet cost you tears of remorse.
3. If you would know. seek help of God. He
gave to Daniel and his three associates knowl-
edge, skill, learning, understanding. wisdom,
spiritual insight and foresight. VS.. IL, 20.
CT. Y. 4. XII, 3: 12; Jas, 1:5. I'D A student
cannot do better than ask from Heaven help in
all his studies.
4. Parents should train children so thor
oughly in religion and morals that their off
spring may be able to resist temptation when
called on to 20 from home. Well-settled prin-
cples of morality are stronger pillars of char
acter than would be pilasters of gold or columns
of silver. In the battle OF life, truth, sincerity,
piety, honesty, fxedness of purpose, courtesy,
are the "sinews of war" Children are not
being trained simply for home or the neighbor-
hood. After a time they are to be in business
and trade, tested severely, tempted daily,
brought into contact with evil, rained on by
trials, blown about by winds of adversely. Lay
tho foundations firm.
5. We see the utility Of mutual association.
1t was we'll Daniel was not alone. The cord
was four fold. There WAS the inspiration to
each of three cooperative forces. All were
thus stronger. 1t is always we'll for tho good
to organize Combination is the secret of sue
cess. If men would stand strong in a good
cause it is well to gather about themselves
companions of like mind.
g. Make no compromise with sin. Avoid the
least appearance of evil Had Daniel supped
the wine or dined off the viands sent him from
the Court dining-roorn, he would have recog-
nized the idoatry of the Babylonians Let
i'll D.
fuse to be moved. Your employer orders you
to work ON Sunday. Say, No, sir. Be firm.
You are tempted to some wrong act, to go to
some improper place. Say, No. "Dare to be a
Daniel"
7. Be religious when away from home. Be
loyal to the trne God. Be not lax in morals
because out of sight of your pastor, family and
neighbors. God sees you everywhere. We
often hear Of men using liberties in speech and
manners when with strangers, liberties which
would shock and perpex their friends. Many
men do not want to be too minutely examined
after returning from an absence Of a few days.
g. Be courteous, kind, gracious in manner.
". 81 Thus you will be loved and gain in
fiuence. Recall the case of Joseph and the
jail-keeper. (Gen., 80: Fl. Compare Ps., 106 IS;
Pro-, 1919
8. The evil often help the true religion.
They do not purpose such aid, but the train of
events brings it about. But the Babylonians
had no idea when educating Daniel that they
were thus the better fitting him TO promote the
true faith. So Moses was thoroughly educated
at Egyptian expense and made the better ready
for his grand mission. As things go we often
see that the foes of God unwilingly work into
His hands and carry out His purposes
10. We must cultivate temperance as to
food and drink. We must each fray as David
did, Let me not eat of their daintes." (Ps,
141:4) BE temperate in food and drink. The
temptation to luxury at the table and sidebosrd
is severe test. Satan attacked our Savior's
appetite. Many things might operate on Daniels
mind to cause him to yield. He might, if he
refused, offend the King Declension was
censure of idolatry. The seeming pathway to
popularity was aeQuiescence to all of Nebu-
chadneZZar's requests.
IL. Decision Of character is very necessary.
Daniel "purposed in his heart" fully deter
mined THAT he would not" ". 81 He
could say, No. Such positiveness is one of the
essentials of success. Mr. Moody, the revival
ist, once in an address said Young man, is
there not lesson in this story for you? Does
your employer ask you to work Sunday?
Take your stand. If Gods law conflicts with
mans, adhere to the living God. he will help
you. Learn to say, No Yield to no compro-
mise. 1t is this miserable, compromising spirit
that ruins many. Now. here's the advice of
the Christianity of the 10Th century: You re
Babylon do We know the wine has been
offered to idols, but God will wink at it if you
drink while you are down here But, thank
God, that man took his stand and kept his
faith"
Be brave. Dare to do right. Lot not the
great intimidate you. Say No, when tempted
to evil. Away from home. captive. invested
with a heather name ". y, tempted all
sides to forsake the Mosaic for the Babylonian.
vet Daniel was resolved to be true to his God
and country. Though the chief servant, Ash
penaz, feared Nebucfadnezzar SO greatly as to
be afraid to grant Daniels request, yet Daniel
=" purposed in his heart" resolved positively,
he would not adopt the Kings bill of fare. Nor
did he fear ridcue. Many Chaldean youths
of noble birth would laugh at the young capt
ives simplicity, smile over his freshness, and
taunt him fox being rather too captious than
too conscientious. What Daniel would have
done had his request been denied can be in
ferred from 6 10.