The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-07-15
lin IrIerallalaI Sunday Ssloll Ltglll
July 10, 1890. Daniel III I4-2s-The
m,,.-. e., ~, E9t.1v Furnace,

NebuchadnezEar had completed MS
conquest OF the world. and wished to
celebrate the event with triumphal
feEiytles which should be Observed
ana participated in BY Representatives
OF every conquered nation Natur-
nlIy the religious element predomi-
mated and praise was offered to Bel
Ctbs tutelary god OF BaDylOn). whose
towering golden image had been st
IN. There were reasons OF state
also. Nebuchadnszzar would further
strengthen his heterogeneous empire
with the band OF a common faith and
uniform worship. He would make
Babylon the seat Of, state religion
"a sort OF papal Rome on the Ep-
nbrntes, But the whole sEs
pensive and toIlsome AFFAIR was
brought to naught by three stubborn
and non-confOrming 50 %hs. The
king, so unused to defeat was unex-
pectedly thwarted In the supreme mo-
ment and In presence Of the popuiltaSes
BY the very parties whom ne mignt
have expected to be his obseQuious At
PENDANTS, IN view OF his marked pre-
ferment Of them. Tne yoGlB
men had passed through the real or
denl before they ever entered the tur-
nace-a fiery conflict in their minds.
CHOW dear life was. How indiBpense"
Bile they were to their fellow.counry-
men! Under what personal obllga-
lions they were to the king! Then
too. they were in the clutch OF an Ire
reSistlble power. They would be DO
inE no worse than their ancestors had
done at the foot Of Sinal-and II was
for once only. Out on casuistry. They
had not studied the DecAlogue In vain
in the PARKWAY home OF their childho9d..
Thou shalt not bow down thyselt.
The invinclble might OF Babylon was
not sufficIent to bend their knees.
Their martyrdom WIS real. They
had no positive assurance OF denver
ance. Their sacrifice was as complete
- Abrahnrn's OF Isaac, Exc
cutiors in the East are hasty to this
day. Then penalty. Is usually paid by
shutdown OF the day. OF condemnation.
In this case there was uncommon haste
in view Of the kings excessive rage,
and to retrieve, II possible, the ground
lost by the unexpected revolt OF the
Hebrews. The consuming OF these re-
calcitrants In full view OF the concOurse
by that sacred element, fire, might
even more than recover the lost ground.
The bearing OF the Hebrew
youths in the presence OF the enraged
monarch was incompnrably noble.
They scorned second chance to obey
the decree. Their ease being pre-
judged, they declined to argue 1t. Even
il no supernatural deliverance came.
they were ready to die, but not TO wor-
shin the lmaSe.' The consuming
OF the executioners revealed at once
the wicked injustice Of the kings de-
cree and the genuine deadliness OF the
flames. That the linen clothes OF the
victims were not consumed, hut the
iron chains melted. was further attest
alton OF the miraculous character OF
this stirring and tragic scene is
typical OF the experience the Hebrew
people were then undergoing. The ma
ton Itself In the providence Of God was
in the fiery furnace OF exile to be re-
fined from the dross Of idolatry. Had
these young men, hign IN office, and
consequently widely influential, failed
in the ordeal, the Divine purpose OF
the captivity would have, at least, for
the time, been thwarted. But they
endured. They gave n conspicuous and
admirable example of steadfastness.
Cnjolery and coercion were alike In
effectual. Their horror Of Idolatry
and their heroic Resistance to Il infect
ed their fellow countrymen. and has
tened their deliverance from the fur
mace Of BabylonIan captivity
The influence OF their example. and
their subsequent public and miraculous
dellverance powerfully affected the
king. court and populace. The God
OF the Hebrews was thenceforth re-
vered, and the Hebrews themselves
treated with greater leniency.' II
these young men had followed the dc
tntes OF policy, and saved their lives,
they would have lost them. Life
would not have been worth living, such
would have been their remorse and
loss OF prestige. Benedict Arnold's
existence would have been more toler-
able. They lost their lives In this
abandon Of martyrdom, but they gained
life and everything.
The Teachers Lantern.
/. Providence using heather fes-
tiyal for promotion Of the true faith.
Modern parallel: Melas (heathen
camp meetInEsJ Of India utilized by
missionaries for Gospel preaching.
2. Martyrs and martyrdom in gen
craI.
3. The present instance In partIcu-
lar.
Sound Judgment not perturbed by
specious arguments.
Integrity unswerved by self-interest.
Incompatible moral courage.
The cause OF Christ is In constant
need of the same QualItleA
I. Authenticity Of Scriptures con-
lrmed by explorations. Vide, Profess
sor Sayce: Fresh Light" Walsh:
Echoes Of Bible History" Schrader.
"Cuneiform Inscriptions and the Old
Testament" Smith. "Assyrian Discov-
cries" etc.
8. Hasty execution In accord with
Eastern custom.
Futile effort to retrieve forlorn hope
OF heathenism.
Significance OF consuming OF execu-
TONER and chains, but not OF garments
OF Victims.
g. Effect upon Hebrews, the heathens
themselves.
Z. Some present day furnaces.
Sickness, loss OF friends and fortune,
temptation, persecution. etc.
Moral effect OF steadfastness.
Presence Of the Son OF God; encour-
agement.