The National tribune., 1892-05-26
THURSDAY

tives excelled in strength the Babylonian deity
| Bel. A God so great was worthy respect, and
| hence the King ordered that no one should evel
treat Jehovah rudely nor interrupt any devotee
of such God in his worship.
2. Suggestions.
/. Rulers should recognize God as the author
of national prosperity. 1t is well to call sub
jects together for religious expression of graft
tude for the happiness and success granted on
public domain by an all-wise Providence. After
his great successes Nebucbadnezzar felt inclined
to express obligations to his gods. to whom. ac-
cording to his own religious creed. he owed his
success. The idea was correct. He also wanted
his subjects, and especially his governmental
advisers to join in such services OF gratitude.
So far well. The unfortunate fact was that the
object of worship was unworthy. Moreover,
NebuchadnezZar should have known that de-
votion is an individual matter, and cannot be
forced on anybody.
2. Religious liberty must be allowed. The
State must not attempt to govern mems con-
sciences in the realm of religion. Everyone
has right to liberation in matters of faith per-
tanning to the ecclesiastic and spiritual. The
conduct Of Nebuchadnezzar was violent,
fragrant, tyrannical. His loyalty to Bel made
him cruel to Gods images. men. The heated
furnace was born in the fires of his wrath. His
zeal got the start of his pety. 1t is true the
case was unusual. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS could not
bear any thwartng of his purposes. Men, as q
rule, always obeyed him. He Is brought to a
halt, and RACES as if lassoed. DIR. Cowles, the
commentator, says:
The King of Babylon had never met such
heroic men before. His will had perhaps never
been SO sqnarely resisted. Hence his wrath is
wrought up intensely. His order to heat the
furnace sevenfold above its usual point only
evinced his own heated and almost m addening
passion; for no man in his cool reason would
think the killing any more sure with sevenfeld
heat than with the usual amount. Such wrath
of man, however, is very sure to work out
Gods praise, as it did here. The miracle of
protection was the more signal; the rebuke to
the King was the more pungent aud the more
widely known, and the reaction from the death
of tho executioners served still TO hghten the
good moral impression"
3. All persecution on religious grounds should
cease. The Church cannot compel, save by
argument. love. and persuasion. No physical
force is allowable. And those forms of perse-
cution noticed ut times among individuals, to
wit. ridicule, ostracism, deprivation of favors,
withdrawal of privileges, ETC., arc all to be dis
countenanced by the Church. Tho history of
the Church is shaded by accounts new aud then
of un uSt treatment Of men and women because
they did not chance to match certain ipse
dirt
H. Make God first. Obey Him, though you
offend all else. st. Peter was correct when he
said to the Sanhedrim, "We ought to obey God
rather than men," tActs, 81 29.) The three
Hebrews knew their first obligation was to
Jehovah. 1T is so now Of everyone of u.s. Let
no human being, though he be King stand
between you and duty, between God and your
soul
5. Put your trust in God. He is able to de-
liver us from every fiery furnace. ". H.
hoe ~. 4. 49, .~1,
God than Bel. Ifyon suffer for the right your
Heavenly Father will sustain you. The form
of the fourth Christ is always present in each
trial, abuse, persecution. Jesus mover abandons
us to our foes. Ho has promised TO be with
his followers to the end of time and to the ends
Of the world.
g. Be firm. Say ave will not" ". 49,
when tempted. We must admire the three
Hebrews. They were young; away from
home; ordered by King having absolute
power over their lives; in danger of losing
caste, influence, Office life; without such inter-
ceSsory assistance as native youths could have
had through noble birth and wealthy parent
age; in the very face of a threatened punish
lnent the most horrid possible TO suffer-and
yet they positively refused to worship Nebu
pet god. 1t was noble of them.
They are grand example to young men when
besct by evil influences and associates. Better
lose everything than neiple-better die true
to conscience than live slsvo to cowardice, a
victim of rcmorse, guilty thing. Nebuchad-
nezzar had powerful will, bat the three He
brews were even moro determined. 1t re-
CURED tremendous principle TO refuse to obey
The King and SO be guilty Of tEeason-to sub
Jet themselves to ridicule by their Eingularity
TO brave tho violence of hsathen gods and to
bring idols into disrepute, by impugning their
divinity and rebelling against their assumed
aut hOrity.
Men are still fearfulIy tried. There is many
! fiery furnace even now through which every
Christian must pass. The day of persecution
has not wholly closed. Ridicule is hard to
bear. The disposition to build furnaces for in
tho righteous is not rooted out
Good men must yet meet opposition. May the
spirit of the three Hebrews stir the soul of
very tempted man. Away with all idols!
Let principle. not expediency, nor ease, nor
popularity. nor earthly promotion. control.
Charles Wesley wrote the following lines:
God Of thine Isrnel's faithful three,
WHO braved the tyrant's Ire,
Who nobly scorned 10 bow tbs knee,
Aud walked unhurt, In fire:
o, breathe their faith into my breast,
In every trying hour;
And stand, Son of man, confessed
In all thy saving power!
While thou. Almighty Lord art nigh,
My soul eisiains to fear;
Both sin and Satan defy,
Still impOtcntly near;
The earth md hell their wars may wage
mark their vain design;
And calmy smile TO sec them rage
Against child Of thine.