The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-09-11

course on the topic: When 10 Say No"
taking his text from Daniel 3-le, Include
ing the words: 1--WE are not careful to
answer thee in this matter. Dr.. Hark-
ness spoke US follows:
When Nebuchndnezzar had completed
his wonderful conquest of nearly oil the
known world, and had begun the period
Of peace, he erected lofty statue Of
gold near the city. This colossal statue
was seventy feet high. and well covered
with gold. The inauguration ceremo-
MES were on scale magnificent even
for Babylon. Runners hasteued to dis
tant regions, commanding the attend-
ance of all the prominent men, who
should PROSTATE themselves when the
outburst OF triumphal music announced
the proper moment. refusal to do so be-
ing threatened with the terrible pun
lshment OF being burned to death in
fiery furnace. shadrach, Meshach
and Abednego remained standing when
all the rest, at the sound OF the music,
had bowed down in worship, The news
Of this refusal was carried to the king.
He summons them, gives his orders,
but they refuse. When threatened
with the fiery furnace calmly. quietly,
with no blanchIng on the cheek and no
culver in the voice. they answered:
I'VE are not careful to answer thee in
this matter. There is no need that we
further answer thee. We have nothing
more to say There is no more room
for further argument" Decision Of
character is ono OF the greatest gifts
God has given to humanity. Every
man has the germ of this quality,
which can be cultivated. by favorable
circumstances, and by method and or
der in the prosecution Of his duties or
tasks he may by habit greatly aug
ment his will power, and beget frame
of mind so nearly resembling resolution
that it would be difficult to distinguish
between the tive. Well 1t has been
said: 1.-THE Intellect is but the half of a
man; the will is the driving wheel
the spring of the motive power"
Sydney Smith says that lin order to
do anything in this world that is worth
doing we must not stand shivering on
the bank. and thinking of the cold and
the danger, but jump in and scramble
through as well as we can" The first
great step In life Is to know when you
are right, and then stick to 1t, regard
less Of results. Every day we must
face questions that need decision OF
character, ana noble is the man who
can say no when he knows when It is
wkrung. The scene on the plain Of
Dara is one continually being re-ennc:-
"a. Forever more the old demand is
made. Forever more the stern old choice
presents ltself-wrong or right, purity
or impurlty; integrity or the opposite;
self or duty, are meeting US every day
In our home, business and social life.
There is the golden image-selhsh
ambition, money wrongfully gotten,
sensual indulgence. worldly positions
and defiance of the Divine law. Shall
we say. yes, come. let me enjoy, or
shall we have to say no. What is the
true way. our story tells us-never
to argue with sin.
When you begin arguing with sin you
have actually yielded to It's destinations.
Sin is the violation of the law. Wrong
is wrong. There can be no compro-
mise with evil He that looks upon
an evil thing forms the first desire for
II. II the desire can get us to stop
and long 1t will NOT be long before we
partnke. Adam saw that the fruit
twas good to ent;" the ground was well
watered everywhere. was the first
glance to Lot. After 81 saw" how easy
was It for Achan to take the next step.
81 covet." Only one penny-one Idle
monochrome little sIn-one glance
and the rest easily follows.
Learn to say no. Don't tamper with
evu.. He that plays with the fire will
always carry away the smoke. Touch
not Handle not, and then you will be
saved many dark hour,
Learn to say no even though asked to
indulge but once They were asked to
worship but once-a favor to the king.
only once you can show little kind
ness-G little gratitude-lt will not hurt
you. Satan does not come to destroy all
at once. He presents some plausible
pIcturs, fascInates with the desire.
"onIy once" How many catch the
bait and are destroyed. Just one drink,
little lemonade with stick In 1t.
one game of cards, little speculation,
just a few dollars, no one will know
you can pay 1t back tomorrow. Habits
are a necklace of pearls-untie the knot
and the whole unthreads, yet 1t all
started from the first thread.
The habits at aFst may seem TO have
no more strength than n SPIDERS web,
but once formed II binds us with a
chain of iron. The small events OF life,
taken sIngly. may seem exceedingly
unlmportant,-lIke snow that falls ST.
lently-aake by Gake. yet accumulated
these snow flakes form the avalanche.
The reading of an improper book. the
hearing Of n vulgar story speaking
slang words and going to questionable
places, may be only once. yet they have
opened the doorway To future evil
Found In bad company means wicked
Influence; going to the saloon ends in
the staggering path to hell.