The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1895-10-11
MORAL EQUILIBRIUM.

MORAL EQUILIBRIUM.
A SERMON ny REV AUSTIN GARDNER,
PASTOR OF THE CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH, WARREN, CT.
Text, Dan. o 10. "As he did .afore time"
Take with me the wings of the morn
ing and let us fly back In thought "a
centuries, when one of the great en-
pires of antiquity was in, it's glory
Darius being the king and Daniel prime
minister, greatly beloved and confided
In, 80 much so, that the king had con-
ceived in his mind the purpose of plac-
ing his prime minister over the entire
realm. In other word, delegating to
him the power to select the 100 princes
and such as should please him to be his
personal advisers. Now there was
triumvirate or three persons over the
100 princes of which triumvirate Daniel
was first. IL would seem perhaps to be
a natural conclusion that inasmuch as
Daniel was Jew and formerly cap
tive from Jerusalem, that the natives of
Babylon should conceive feeling or
spirit OF jealousy against him. They
were heather and believed, 1t may
be, in many gods. He was mono
theist; that is, he believed and Worship
ped one God. AS a statesman he held
the very highest rank. He was so per-
feet in the administration of the affairs
of the government, that neither the
princes, nor his associates in the impor-
can't trio to which he belonged, could de-
tect the least flaw. But in the matter of
religion they concocted scheme by
means Of which they fondly hoped to
compass his ruin and death. That was
to draw up decree that no man in the
entire realm should ask petition of any
god or man, save of the king himself,
with the penalty for the violation Of
being
CAST INTO THE DEN OF LIONS.
IL they could persuade the king to sign
such decree and make it a law they
felt that their plan would carry. Ac-
cording to the law Of the Modes and
Persians, It would be unalterable. The
king, not suspecting the trap which they
had constructed, innocently signed the
decree. Now they watch for an oppor-
tunity to catch their victim and they are
/ successful. The plot had come to the
ears of Daniel. snow when Daniel
knew that the writing was signed, he
went into his house, and his windows
being open in his chamber toward Jeru-
salem, he kneeled upon his knees three
times day, and prayed, and gave
| thanks before God, as he did afore
time" He did not retire from the prime
ministership. He did not abscond. He
stood his ground. He had an opportu-
nifty of honoring God before men-to
show to men and to those in high au-
thority among men, that he desired the
favor of the Hebrews God, before life
itself. He might have gone to the king
and told him that the statements were
not correct when they said all the presi.
dents of the kingdom and governors and
the princes-and counsellors, and the
captains have consulted together to es-
tablish the royal statute, etc. He might
have said: 20 king live forever. 1 am
prime minister the first of the presi-
dents, and they have not consulted me
in this matter. did not have the OPP
portunity of giving my assent, or dis
sent. He did not do this. He paid no
attention to 1t whatever. He just kept
on doing ''as he did afore time"
AS matter of course they bring the
subject before the king and to his cha
grin his prime minister Is implicated and
there is no possible way out of it. DAN
lei is commanded to be brought, and to
be cast into the den of lions. The king
is persuaded In his own mind that In
some way Daniels God will take care of
him. A stone ia brought and laid upon
the mouth of the den, and the king seals
1T with his own signet, and with the sig
nets Of his lords, that the purpose might
not be changed concerning Daniel. The
law of the Modes and Persians is exc
cuted upon Daniel. The king has done
It very reluctantly, and what night he
now spends! Three things most unusual
are associated with that night in his ex-
perience, viz: No food does he take-he
fasts. He has no music as he was wont
to have, and no sleep. By early morn
ing light he is up, and hastens to the den
OF lions, and cries out in agony of soul.
What does he say9 20 Daniel, servant
Of the living God, Is thy God whom thou
servest continually, able to deliver thee
from the lionsan He listens! Does
every moment seem month"; The al
lence is at length broken. Daniel
speaks. He has voice still. 30 king
live forever.
MY GOD HATH SENT HIS ANGEL,
and hath shut the lions mouths that they
have not hurt me; forasmuch as before |
him, innocency was found In me and |
also before thee o king, have / done no
hurt What an immense load Is lifted |
off from the heart of King Darius! Well
may the writer say, "Then was the king |!
exceedingly glad for him, and COM
handed that they should take Daniel up
out of the den, and no manner Of hurt |
was found upon him, because he be-
lieve6 In his God" No scratch, no
bruise, no harm whatever, and this was,
because he served his God ssas afore
time" Here Is moral equilibrium exem-
plifsed. Such character as this 10 Sig
nal worth. It is study for the young
and the old. In It we see character
solidifed, compacted. The lions den,
an abode with these ravenous beasts, to
he karn in niacas ahred NV ahrad hu