Connecticut western news., 1892-05-12
AT THE TABERNACLE.
DR. TALMAGE MoRALIzES ON THE LESSON OF DANIELS EXPERIENCE.


 Respect Even ot the Worst Men-The
 Lord Can shut the Mouths of Social,
 Political and Commercisa Lions
 BROOKLYN, May S.-Dr. Talmage took for his subject today the character of Ganiel, and drew from it lessons of sound practical value for the young men. of whom so large a number are always to be seen among the most eager and attentive listeners in the Tabernacle congregations. His text was Daniel vi. ?. Daniel was first"
 Where in romance can you find any thing equal to what Daniel was in real ity? Ayoung man, far away from home. introduced into the most magnificent and most dissolute palace of all the earth. The king, wishing to make this young man q prodigy in personal ap- pearance, orders his attendants to see that he has plenty of meat and wine, and Daniel refuses these delicacies and insists on vegetable diet, refusing everything but pulse and water. waving back all the rich viands with a deter mlned No. l thank you" He sur passes all the princes in brilliancy. As this sun rises higher and higher in the Armament it puts out all the stars. and If there is anything the stars hate it is the sun.
 Dauiel becomes so much of favorite with King Darius that our young hero Is promoted to be prime minister or sec retary of state-the Frelinghuysen or the Bismarck of the ancients. But no man ever attained such high position without exciting the envy of others. The meanest and wrathiest passion of the soul is jealousy. You see it among all professions and occupations. am sorry to say you see it as much among clergymen as among other classes of men. It is a passion bitter us he'll and it is i'm mediately recognized, and yet, though it blackens the man who indulges in it, men will kindle this fire which consumes 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 af- fairs better than he can manage them. The idea of putting 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 cedar the more apt to be struck with the lightning.
 THE MALICE OF DEMAGoGUEs.
 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 mistrust- ing any foul play, makes such d decree. The demagogues have accomplished their purpose, for they knew that Dan iel would not stop sending up petitions to his God: and Daniel. instead of being affrighted by the decree. went three times day to his housetop for prayer. He is caught in the act. He is con- demned to be devoured by the lions.
 Such d healthy young man will be for the leonine smonarchs the best banquet they ever had. By the rough execution CTS of the law he is hurried away toward the den. hear the growl of the mon- sters and their paving of the dust. and as their mouth is placed to the ground the solid earth quakes with their bel low. The door is removed and Daniel showed into the den. which was all agleam with fiery eyeballs that seem to roll and snap in the caverns. They ap- proach the defenseless man. Their ap- petite was sharp with hunger. One stroke of their paw, one crunch of their teeth and he would have been ifeless. How strange welcome Daniel receives from the monsters. They fawn about him. They cover his feet with their long names. They are struck with the lockjaw. 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 con- demned. He paces his floor all night. He cannot sleep. At the least sound he starts and his flesh creeps with horror. A bad conscience will make the bravest man d coward. He watches eagerly for the dawn. which seems so long in tarry ing. 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. He looks through the crevices. but sees nothing. He dare not speak. Expecting the worst, his heart stops.
 Gathering strength he puts his mouth to the rifts in the rock and cries, "Oh, Daniel. is thy God whom thou servest continually able to deliver thee from the lious?" An answer comes rolling up ont of the deep darkness: "Oh. king, live forever. My God hath sent his lngel and hath shut the lions mouths, that they have not hurt Il ;" The young man is brought out and the dem agogues who made the plot are thrown m. But they hardly struck the bottom of the den when their flesh rent, and their bones cracked. and the blood spurted thr,s gh the rifts. while the fierce monsters shook the rocks with their terrible roar, announcing to all ages the truth that while God defends his people. the way of the wicked shall perish.
 JEALOUSY IS CRUEL AS THE GRAVE.
 Now you see from this subject that in the eyes of many the greatest offense you can commit is success. Of what crime had this young man been guilty that he should come under the bitter hatred of the demagogues? Why. he had got to be prime minister of Baby lon. That they could not forgive. Be- hold Tn this sketch a touch of human nature. As long as poverty pinches you, and you run the gantlet between the taxgatherer anI the landlord. and you have hard work to educate your chil- dren. there will be multitudes of men to say: "Poor fellow. He ought to succeed. How sorry 1 am for him." But after awhile you begin to emerge from the