The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1892-05-25

not be burned, neither shall the flame kim
die upon thee"
After Nebuchadnezzar had COM
pleted his conquest over the known
world, conquering kings, despoiling
their capitols, nd overthrowing
their gods, he determined upon a
great religious celebration of his
marvellous success. He made a
great image of gold, and set it up in
the plain of Dura, a few miles to the
southeast of Babylon. 1t was most
probably an image of Bel merodach,
the divinity of Babylon. 1t was
sixty cubits high, or ninety feet, and
six cubits broad, or nine feet. If
the height, ninety feet, includes the
pedestal on which the image stood,
the image would be of right proper
tions. The COLOSSUS of Rhodes was
seventy cubits or one hundred and
five feet high. The colossus of
Nero was one hundred and ten feet.
An idol of bronze in Japan is sixty
five feet. A colossal statue of Ram
eses ii. ninety-three feet high, has
been lately discovered at Tanic in
Egypt. The image which Nebuch-
adnezzar set up was covered with
gold, of which the king had brought
vast quantities from his conquests.
1t would shine in the SUMS rays and
be seen for many miles. Then the
king called great assembly of his
princes and officers from all pro-
vinces to witness the dedication of
the image of gold. He wished to
honor his god for the vast and splen-
did successes given to his armies,
to consolidate the provinces and
their various peoples by uniting
them in the worship of the god of
Babylon; and to make Babylon it.
self the centre of his great world
empire. When the great convoca-
ton was assembled before the i'm
age of gold, the herald proclaimed
that the king commanded them Ito
fall down and worship the golden
image set up" Peoples, nations
and languages" cried the herald.
There was to be a signal by a great
combination Of musical instru-
ments. The Babylonians were a
musical people. Some of the in
struments have Greek names, and
perhaps had been brought from cap
tured provinces, or from Tahpanhes
in Egypt, the city which Nebuchad-
nezzar seems to have taken from
the Greeks. At the burst of music
from the great orchestra, all were to
fall down and worship the image or
"be cast into the midst of a burn
ing fiery furnace" They were alto
gether in the power of the great
king. He demanded immediate
conformity to his religion, upon the
pain of an immediate and awful
destruction. The command of the
king was obeyed by all save three
the Hebrew companions of Daniel
Daniel himself was absent, possibly
upon official duty in some distant
place.
l. The Disobedjence of the Three He
breUS, Us. 13-15-Shadrach, MeshacI
and Abednego, the same three who
In their youth had, with Daniel
refused the kings meat and wine
had come to be rulers in the pro
vince of Babylon, and were promi
nent and we'll known men. Whel
men of all peoples and nations anC
languages, representing all pagan
religions, obeyed, and were seen tC
PROSTATE themselves before the i'm
age of gold, certain Chaldeans, il
envy of the high Offices of these He
brews, and in hatred of such foreign
officials, reported to the king tina
the three Hebrews who held Office
in the province of Babylon had no
obeyed. "These men, O king. have
not regarded thee: they serve no
the gods, nor worship the COLDER
image which thou hast set up" Tn,
anger of the king was great Wher
they we're brought before him b.
demanded, els it Of purpose, O Shad
rach, Meshach and Abednego, tina
We serve not my god, nor WORSHIP
the golden image which l have Sc
up?" 1t seemed incredible to him
The compliance seemed so univer
sal so little, it seemed to him, wa
required; they we're so entirely il
his power He would give them an
other opportunity. Again the music
would sound out over the plain
But moments outward complianc,
would be required. An act of out
ward homage, and he would be sat
isfed. They would be safe, and tn
furnace would belch its fierce flame
in vain. Had he not overcome al
nations, and overthrow all gods
"Who is that God that shall delive
Won ont of my handa2O