The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1895-02-06
Outline of Sermon Preached by Rev
w. G. SchOppe, Sunday Morning,
Feb. 3, 1895.
Fortitude. I"

Feb. 3, 1895.
SUBJECT-" Daniels Fortitude."
TEXT-Daniel 6: 10. "Now when Daniel
knew that the writing was signed he went |
into his house; and his windows being open |
in his chamber, toward Jerusalem, he kneel-
ed upon his knees three times day, and |
gave thanks before his God, AS HE DID |
IAFoRETIME."
1t is question between duty and expedi- |
ency. Who will stand for the right when it |
involves personal loss? When lad, Daniel |
refused to eat of the Kings meat. He was |
loyal to God. Such loyalty in the midst of
corruption often produces the tragedy of
life. The source of his trouble was in his
elevation. Honor to Darius, who rises above
bigotry and prejudice, and selects man
from this hated people, because can excel
| lent spirit was in him."
Faithfuiness in mastering the details of
lower positions, had prepared him for this
elevation. If sytem is judged by the great
men it produces, what vital force has Juda-
ism! The position of Daniel, among for
| eign people, is not more wonderful than that
of the modern Jews, Beaconsield, Gambetta,
and the Rothschllds. A man is here eleva-
ted to public place, not because of his contri-
button to the campaign fund, not because he
is the best man for the position.
| This is an example for modern times. The
present agitation from sea to sea, crystaliz-
ing everywhere in civic federations, indi-
Gates rising demand for the BEST MEN for
public positions. The GREATEST statesmen
have been truly religious, from Gladstone
and Lincoln, back through former ages.
The envy of interiors is the price a man
must pay for superiority. Daniels record
is subjected to the most careful scrutiny, but
no evil can be found. They know he is true
to God, and lay plan for his destruction.
eff any man offers petition to God or man,
for thirty days, except to the King, he shall
be cast into den of lions" What will Dan.
iel do in trouble! He MIGHT have argued
the sacrednesS of life; he might have prayed
for thirty days in secret; he might have said
cit is ONLY THIRTY DAYS; / will cease
praying for that time, then continue, as be-
| fore" But no man can turn aside from du-
ty, even for a season, without the loss of
power. He would not be the same Daniel
that he was before. No man is stronger than
his weakest point.
There is OILY one course for Daniel-to go
on in duty, and leave results to God. Notice
the PLACE of his prayer. 1t is IN HIS HOUSE
HOLD. There is no influence greater than
the family altar. 1t protects from sordid
worldliness; it develops in any community
the spiritual and eternal.
| Whatever you may think of his politics,
the household prayers of late President of
| the United States had salutary effect on
| the spiritual life of the Nation. The perma-
nence of the Nation requires FAMILY AL
| TARS.
Notice the MANNER of Daniels prayers.
His WINDOWS WERE OPEN TOWARD JERU-
SALEM. Qt was according to the terms of
Conservatory There the Kingdom of God
should be established; there the Messiah
should appear. This man with his honor
and abundance, was absorbed in the larger
life of the Kingdom.
Notice the FREQUENCY of his prayer
Three times a day. To do his best work, he
must see the spiritual end of all earthly
things; he must hold to the Divine guidance
of the world. This gives self-possesslon and
efficiency.
Jesus was never hurried. To get into the
Divine plan, and work it out, in the du-
ties of life, will give this selfpossession and
accomplish larger results. God reigns man
is gloriied in His service.
/ There is a clause in the text of great i'm
portanee :-''As HE DID AFoRETIME." 1t
was an old custom, which he continues in
the face of difficulty. 1t is no religious spasm
caused by present danger. The deep cur.
rent of his life simply flows on, as before.
A lady once asked John Wesley, "What
would you do, if the Lord should reveal to
you that you were to die tomorrow night at
twelve o'clock" He replied: az would
preach the Gospel tonight at Leicester; to-
morrow morning / would go to LewSbury;
visit lhe Societies in the afternoon preach
in the evening; go home with Brother Mar
tin; talk for a season about our work have
prayers at ten o'clock; go to bed, and wake
up in glory" This was the plan he had
already formed) But what confusion such
| d revelation would make in some of our
lives! Could any of US go on as we intend
to do, for the next twenty-four hours? If
the life be thoroughly consecrated; if we do
business for God, and walk with Him, there
would need be no change. Christ command
ed, "Be ye also ready" In the face of death
| Daniel continued "as he did aforetime."
| Two lessons are drawn from this subject:
| 1st, Let nothing turn aside from the straight
path of duty. Pilgrim, in Bunyan's story,
comes to a hill, in the straight and narrow
way that leads to the Celestial City. By-path-
meadow turns slightly to the left. He says,
This path leads ROUND the hill into the
straight way on the other side. l will take
| it, and avoid the difficulty" But to his sur
prise, he soon finds it curves the other way,
and leads to Doubling Castle and Giant De-
spair. He must go back and CLIMB THAT
| HILL, to reach the Celestial City.
End. Such fortitude as Daniel shows brings
glory to God and advancement of the King
dom of Righteousness. A revelation of God
| that touches the heart of the world, is ever
| through a cOnsecrated life. Not all good
| men are delivered as was Daniel; but if not,
| their sacrifice is the worlds spiritual gain
"Then King Darius wrote unto all people,
| nations and languages that dwell in all the
| earth: Peace be multiplied unto you.
| make decree that in every dominion of my
Kingdom, men trembie and fear before the
God of Daniel, for He is the living God, and
| steadfast forever and His Kingdom that
| which shall not be destroyed, and His do
minion shall be even unto the end"
The Committee of theRavenna Antl-Saloon
League have furnished, during the pastyear,
an uninterrupted series of first class temper
ance lectures, alike profitable and entertain
ing, and we are assured that the high stand
ard Will be maintained during the coming
year. If possible the services of Miss Anna
Edwards, the gifted temperance speaker of
Cleveland, will be secured, and all WHOSE |
pleasure it has been to listen to Prof. W.I.,
Chamberlain, Of Hudson will be glad to
know that he has been engaged for at least
one lecture during the year. The committee |