The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-11-16
RELIGION IN POLITICS
AN ESPECIALLY TIMELY DISCOURSE
BY REV. Or. TALMAGE
The Man Faithful to God IS the Most
Faithful to His Country and to His
Fellow Men-An Example From the
Life of Daniel.

IN InSSt ~ u SANoN pOAAAAOo ooAN@
ton. The ext is. Daniel vi, 16. Then
the king commanded. and they brought
Daniel and cast him into the den of
lions"
Darius was king of Babylon, and the
young man Daniel was so much a IA
vorite with him that he made him
prime minister, or secretary of state.
But no man could gain such a high po-
sition without exciting the envy and
jealousy OF the people. There were.
demagogues in Babylon who were 50
a~ppreciative OF their own abilities that
they were affronted at the elevation of
this young man.. Old Babylon was
afraid of young Babylon. The taller.
the cedar the more apt it is to be rivenI
of the lightning. These -demagoguesl
asked the king 10 make a decree tn
anybody that made a petition TO any
one except the king during q period OF
thirty days should be put to DEATH
King Darius, not expecting any foul
play, makes that decree. The dema-I
gogues have accomplished all they wantl
because they know that no one canl
keep Daniel from sending petitions be-
fore God for thirty days.
So far from being afraid, Daniel goesl
on with his supplications three times al
day and is found on his houstop maxi
ing prayer. He is caught in the act. Hel
is condemned to be devoured by thel
lions. Rough executioners of the lawI
seize him and hasten him to n cav-i
ern. / hear the growl of the Wild
beasts, and / see them paving the DUST
and as they put their mouths to theI
ground the solid earth quakes with
their believing. I see their eyes roll,
and / almost e "a the fiery eyeballsI
snap in the darkness. These MONSTERS
approach Daniel. They have an appel
stroke of their paw or one snatch of
their teeth they may leave him dead att
the bottom of the avern. But what al
strange welcome Daniel receives FRONT
these hungry monStersi They fawnl
around him; they lick his hand; theyl
bury his feet in their lone names. That
night he has calm sleep with his head
pillowed on the warm necks of theI
tanned lions.
But not so we'll doeS Darius, the
king, sleep. He has an attack of ter
rifle insomnia. He loves Daniel and
hates this strategem by which he has
been condemned. All night long the
king walks the floor. He cannot Sleep
AT the least sound ne starts, and his
flesh creeps with horror. He is impa-I
tient for the dawning of the morning.
At the first streak of the daylight Da-l
rius hastens forth to see the fate of
Daniel. The heavy palace doors openI
and clang shut long before the people
of the city waken. Darius goes to the
den of the lions. He looks in. Ell is
silent. His heart stops. He feels that
the very worst has happened; but
gathering all of his strength, he shouts
through the riffs of the rocks, 80 Dam
ieI, is thy God whom thou servest con-
tinually able to deliver the?' There
comes rolling up from the deep dark
ness a voice which says: 80 king, live
forever. My God has sent his angel to
shut the lions mouths that they have
not hurt me-" Then Daniel is brought
out from the den. The demagogues are
hurled into it, and no sooner have they
struck the bottom of the den than
their flesh was rent. and their bones
cracked. and their blood Spurted
through the riffs of the rock, and as
the lions make the rocks tremble with
their roar they announce to all ages
that while God will defend his people
the way OF the ungodly shall perish.
Learn first from this subject that the
greatest crime that YOU commit in the
eyes of many is the crime of success.
What had Daniel done that he should
be flung to the lions? He a become
Ill IN NOS-A ~ ~
give him for that, and behold in that
4 touch of unsanctified human nature
as seen in all ages of the world. so
long as you are running the gantletI
between landlord and taxgatherer, SO
long as you find it hard work to edu-
cate your children. there are people
who will say: Poor man, l am sorry
for him He ought to succeed, poor
man" But after awhile h tide turns
in his favor. That was a profitable in
vestment you made. You bought just
at the right time. Fortune becomes
good humore and smiles upon you.
Now you are in some department. c
ceSsful, and your success chills some
n Those men who used to Sympa-
-thiZe with you stand along the street,
and they Scowl at you from unde the
rim of their hats. o have more
money or more influence than they
have, and you ought to be scowled at
from under the rim Of their hats. You
catch a word OF two as you pass by
them. Stuck up" says one. Got 1t
dishonesty" says another. VIII
burst soon" says a third. Every stone
In your new ouS is laid on their
hearts. Your horses hoofs went over
their nerves. Every item of your sue
cess has despair. Just as soon as in
any respect you rise above your fell
bows, If you are more v~irtuous, If o
are more wise, if you are more inf1u-
entail, you asst a shadow on the pros
poets of others. The road to honor and
success is within reach of the enemy 3
guns. Jealousy says, Stay down or
I'll knock you DOWN" Il do not like
YOU" SAYS the snowflake to h snow
bird why don't you like me-? said
the snowbird. oh" said the snow
fake. you are going up and I am COM
ing down" Young merchants, young
wye young doctors young me-
chanics, young artists, young farmers,
at certain times there are those to SYM
pathize with you, but now that you
are becoming a master of your particu-
lar occupation or profession how Is II
now, young lawyers, young DOCTORS
young artists, young armerS-h is
it now? The greatest crime hat you
cam commit is the crime OF success.
DECISION OF CHARACTER.
Again. my subject impresses me with
the value OF decision of In
zny department. Daniel knew that II
he continued his adherence to re-
Iioiop of the Lord he would be hurled
tC the lions but. having set his COM
nass we'll. he sailed right on For the
1.o[ Of that element o. decision OF