The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-05-25
DANIEL.
Nothing in Romance That Equals
the Reality.
Only Young Man and Far From Home,
Bot He Refused TO BE Pampered BY
wicked king-Sermon by Rev.
T. Dewitt Talmage, Do.

DR.. Talmage preached his sermon
Sunday from the text: Daniel 6: 2,
Daniel Was First"
Where in romance can you find any
thing equal to what Daniel was in
reality? A young man, far away from
home, introduced into the most magnifi-
cent and most dissolute palace of all
the earth. The king, wishing to make
this young man prodig. in personal
appearance, orders his attendants to
see that he has plenty of meat and
| wine, and Daniel refuses these delica-
cies and insists on vegetable diet, re-
fusing every thing but pulse and water,
waving back all the rich viands with
determined, mo, thank you"
He surpasses all the princes in bril-
liancy As this sun rises higher and
higher in the armament, it puts out all
the stars, and if there is any thing the
stars hate it is the sun. Daniel becomes
so much a favorite with King Darius
that our young hero is promoted to be
prime minister or secretary of state
the Frelinghuysen or the Bismarck OF
the ancients. Butno man ever attained
such high position without exciting the
envy of others. The meanest and wrath
,est passion of the soul is jealousy. You
zee it among all professions and occu-
pations. am sorry to say you see it
as much among clcrgymen as
among other classes of men. 1t is a
passion bitter as hell, and it is imme-
liately recognized, and yet, though it
blackens the man who INDUCES in it,
men will kindle this fire which con-
sumes only themselves. There were
demagogues in Babylon, who, highly
appreciative of their own capacity,
doubted the policy of elevating such a
young man as Daniel. They said: why,
we know more than he does. We could
manage the public affairs better than
he can manage them. The idea of put
ting Dan in such place as that" Old
Babylon was afraid of young Babylon.
They began to plot his ruin. He was
an illustrious target. The taller the
sedar the more apt to be struck with
lightning.
These demagogues asked Darius to
make an unalterable decree that any
man who within thirty days shall ask a
petition of any one except the king
shall be put to death. Darius, not mis-
trusting any foul play, makes such de-
cree. The demagogues have accom-
plished their purpose, for they know
that Daniel would not stop sending up
petitions to his God, and Daniel, instead
of being affrighted by the decree, went
three times day to his house top for
prayer. He is caught in the act. He is
condemned to be devourcd by the lions.
Such healthy young man will be
for the leon:ne monarchs the best
banquet they ever had. BY the rough
executioners of the law he is hurried
away toward the den. | hear the growl
of the monsters, and their paving of
the dust, and as their mouths are placed
to the ground the solid earth quakes
with their below. The door is removed
and Daniel showed into the den, which
is all agleam with fiery eyeballs that
seem to roll and snap in the caverns.
They approach the defenseless man.
Their appetite is sharp with hunger.
One stroke of their paw, one crunch of
their teeth, and he woulG have been
lifeless. How strange welcome Daniel
receives from the monsters They fawn
about him. They cover his feet with
their long names.
| 90, bn Lie
That night Daniels sleep is calm 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 his floor all
night. He can not sleep. At the least
sound he starts and his flesh creeps with
horror. A bad conscience will make
the bravest man coward. He watches
eagerly for the dawn, which seems sc
long in tarrying. 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.
lie locks through the crevices but
sees nothing. He dare not speak. Ex
pecting the worst, his heart stops
Gathering strength he puts his mouth
to the riffs in the rock and cries: ooh
Daniel, is thy God whom thou servcst
continually able to deliver thee from
the lions?" An answer comes rolling
up out of the deep darkness: "Oh
King, live forever. My God hath sent
his angel and hath shut the lion.
mouth, that they have not hurt me.
The young man is brought out and the
demagogues who made the plot are
thrown in. But they hardly struck the
bottom of the den when their flesl
rent, and their bones cracked, and tn,
blood spurted through the riffs, while
the fierce monsters shook the rock
with their terrible roar, announcing t.
all ages the truth that while God de
tends his people, the way of the wickeC
shall perish.
Now, you see from this subject tina
In the eyes of many the greatest offens
you can commit is success. OF wha
crime had this young man been guilt,
that he should come under the bite
hatred of the demagogues? Why, h,
had got to be prime minister of Baby
Ion. That they could not forgive. Be
hold in this sketch of human nature
AS long as poverty pinches you ant
you run the gauntlet between tax
gatherer and landlord, and you hav
hard work to educate your children
there will be multitudes of men to say
Poor fellow, he ought to succeed