Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-05-19


4, s-Commentsry by the Rev. ID. NJ.
Stcarus
QUARTERLY TEMPERANCE LGseoN.]
8. But Daniel purposed in his heart that
be would not defle himself with the por.
ton of the kings meat nor with the wine
which he drank" This portion Of the first
verse of our lesson Is the Golden Text for
the day; we therefore give a little extra
space to it. We see Daniel, one of com
pany of young Jews carried captive in the
third year of Jehoiakim, in the palace Of
the king of Babylon, in trimming to stand
in due time before the king as one Of his
wise men, While being taught the Wis.
dom of the ChaidcanS they are to he nour-
ished with food and wine from the kings
table. Daniel determines that he aud his
companions will not dclilc themselves with
food which has been offered to idols, for
they are true WOrshipcrS Of the only living
and true tiod, and understand that what.
ever is not offered to Him is offered to
devils Q.rv. xvii, Z Deut. XXHii. II; / Cor.
X, POI All true believers arc commanded
to do all things even their eating and
drinking. to the glory of God q Cor y, 3D.
and this one command covers the whole
Temperance question for tAIe Christian
o. Now God had brought Daniel into
favor and tender love with the prince Of
the eunuchs." When any enc determines
to glorify God and serve Him only, the
way will be prepared. When a mans
ways please the Lord he maketh even his
enemies to be at peace with him prov
xvi. y. See the story of Joseph, Gen
xxx, 81; Acts vii, o. ~ and remember
that the eyes Of the w run to and fro
Al. l.
self strong on behalf of all who trust in
Him Gil Chron. xvi. o.
TO- And the prince Of the eunuchs said
unto Daniel, fear my lord the king"
Daniel feared no man, neither did he fear
death, but he did fear 10 offend his God
The fear of man bringeth Il snare, but
whose puttpth his trust il the ord shall
he safe prov. xxx, 25). How often the
fear of man or the desire to please man
leads people into sin. the only remedy il TO
know the living God and live only to please
Him.
II, r. prove thy servants, | beseech
thee ten days, and let them give us pulse
10 eat and water to drink" \ simple
vegetable fare which they could be sure
had not come from the kings table, nor
been dedicated to devils On such food
Daniel felt he could ask the blessing Of
his God and expect it. Let Christians test
all their eating and drinking all their
home entertainment and church enter
tainments, by the honest question irom the
heart, Can consCientiously ask the bless
ing of God upon this? And it will tend to
make all these more simple and for the
glory OF God Daniels conduct made him
seem very peculiar in the eyes OF some
others, but he remembered that Israel wa,
to be II peculiar treasure unto God above
all people (EX. xix, y. And he sought
above all things to please God.
-. Then let cur countcrances be looked
upon before thee; and us thou seest, deal
with thy servants" The child of God may
oe sure that the blessing of God shal! be
made manifest, 80 that others shall be com.
PEELED to behold it. As surely as The worl; OF
| the devil is manifest i'll those whoare given
| TO strong drink, so surely shall the work Of
| God be manifest in those who honor Him
even in their eating and drinking The
testimony of Jesus is, IF any man serve
! me, him will my Father honor" John xii,
| 26).
II. 80 he consented to them in this
matter and proved them ten days" The
| church at Smyrna was to be tried ten days
! Rev. ii, 10Y, signifyin3 Il perfect trial The
ten plaques Upon Egypt, the parallels Of
| the ten pounds and the ten virgins seem to
indicate responsibility, and Judgment IN
proportion TO responsibility As the mum
Der seven indicates perfection in reference
TO God, it may be that the numbers four
ten, twelve refer to perfect dealing with
man in various ways.
Is, lG. And at the end of ten dGyS then
countenances appeared fairer and tAtter il
flesh than all the children" The blessing
of Sod will be manifest even in our bodies
1t is marvelOusly manifest in the appear
| anCe of those those bodies were once givcr
TO strong drink and sin in the service o
the devil, cut who have been rescued by
the grace of God and made servants q
Christ. Being made free from sin anC
become servants TO God. they now bea,
fruit unto holiness and are ashamed o
the former things, the end of which wat
death (Rom. vi, 81, &2). AS to the mani
festation at Christ in such as are possessct
by Him, see how they gloriiied God /!
Paul (Gal. i, Is, 2D aud how they tool
knowledge of the apostles that they ha(
been with jesus (Acts iv, l3).
II AS for these four children, God CAV
them knowledge and skill in all lcarnin.
and wisdom, and Daniel had understand
ing in all visions and dreams" No doub
they studied, but He that is perfect il
knowledge was with them dob XXXvi, 4
and helped them and taught them man.
things not to be found in any books of tn
ChaGeanS. God is no YeSpcCter of persons
He still giveth wisdom to all who sincerel
ask Him GAS. i, 81 There is no capita
that can compare with n heart and heat
right with God; pure heart and clea
head sanctifed and enlightened by tn
Holy Spirit through the merits of the Lor,
Jesus Christ is the greatest of blessings
But this no one can have who is given t
much wine (Eph. V, IS; Cor. vi, l0).
is, 10. Now at the end of the days, IL
prince of the eunuchs brought them i
before Nebuchadne2Iar, and among then
all was found none like Daniel, HaI
Rniah Mishael and AHariah therefor
stood they before the king" The food an
wine from the kings table, and all the wis
dom of Babylon, could not do for the other
what the God of Daniel could and did d
for those who relied upon Him and yielde