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

homage made great temptation TO
obey. On the other hand there was
one supreme reason to disobey, and
that was their duty to the one true
and living God, the Jehovah of Is
rael. Though unsupported by the
presence of Daniel, they were as
faithful as if he had been with them.
There was no time for parleying
with the angry king. The decision
must be prompt and final. So they
said, 80, Nebuchadnezzar, we are
not careful to answer thee in this
matter" 1t would be useless to ar
que and explain, in his present
temper. Their minds were made up
and nothing could change them.
They could but do right, and trust
themselves to the care and love of
their God. God would either de-
liver them out of the fiery furnace
or if not, then they would yet trust
him to be wise and good. He could
save them from their awful death {;
or save them through that death.
They were willing to commit them
selves wholly to Him, and if need
be to die for their faith, and in their
loyalty to his service.
III. Their Punishment, as. 1928
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS was full of fury.
His countenance changed in the
greatness of his rage. He had never
been so defed. The very calmness
and courage of these young He
brews enraged him. He command
ed that the furnace should be seven
times heated. Expressing the flu
rious passion of the king, it showed
the greatness of the miracle which
followed. The fury of the king de-
feated itself. The hotter the fire
the less painful the death. The
most mighty men of the army bound
the three Hebrews. "In their coats,
their hosen, and their hats. and
their other garments, in full official
attire, they were bound, and so cast
helpless and immovable into the
midst of the burning, fiery furnace.
So intense was the heat that 1.-The
flame of the fire slew those men"
that cast them in. Another evil
dence of the greatness of the mira
Gle.
". Their Deliuerance, as. 24-25.-
Over against the furnace the king
sat and himself witnessed the exc
cution of his sentence. Looking in
upon the fiery blast, he saw that
which astounded him. He sprang
to his feet. Those three men, were
they not bound and cast into the
fire? "Lo, I see four men loose.
walking in the midst the fire.
The three men were not consumed
They were lo ose and walking. There
was a fourth with them. "They
have no hurt" The form of the
fourth was like the Son of God" or
"a Son of Coda son of the gods. -
as in the Revis d version, V. %
One radiant and glori as a god
was with the H brew men. To him
and his officers it was the form
an angel. And to us who know the
Scriptures, it was that ''angel of the
Lore" who was none other than "the
Son of God" come for the deliver
ance of the faithful servants of til
Most High.
They came forth out of the midst
of the fire. "The fire had no pow e.
upon their bodies, nor was tn. hail
of their head singed, neither wa:
their hosen chan, ed, nor had the
smell of fire passed on them" Sus
tanned and comforted by a divine
visitor who walked nd talked with
them in tn furnace, they we're al
together unframed, were brough
out and restored to their Officer, a {
great homage was paid to their Goo
| by Nebuchadnezzar and in the sigh
Of all the people of all toe provinc' s
1. There are still false gods in Il
world demap ding that we fall dowI
and worship them wealth, success
pleasure, popularity, power, anC
multitudes are yielding soul anC
body in their v orship.
2. There are still furnaces 70
those who fear God and keep hi
commandments; sickness, poverty
persecution, bereavements, disap
poii tments.
3. Unto the faithful there is still
coming one glke unto the Son o
God" to walk with hem through
the furnace the divin, friend cha
sticketh closer than a brother
4 Gods protectiI & care is sur,
and wise an, faithful. He will saw
us from trouble, or save us in on
touble ano by the means of it.
5 There is but one path of safet,
and ultimate success, and that i
the narrow path of trust in God
love, and implicit obedience to hi