Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1900-11-09
EVERYDAY RELIGION
Or. TALMAGS SAYS 1T rs GOOD m
BUSINESS AND POLITICS.

Was Never TOO RuSy TO SVorship
Sod-WhOiesome Advice 20 asun-
day" Christians-Be Honest In All
Things.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 4.-This discourse
OF DR.. Talmage is appropriate for all
seasons, bat especially in these times
OF great political agitation. The text Is
Daniel vi, 10. "Then the king COM
manded, 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
favorite with him that he made him
prime minister, or secretary of state.
But no man could gain such a high
position without exciting the envy and
Jealousy of the people. There were
demagogues in Babylon who were so
appreciative OF their own abilities that
they were affronted ut the elevation Of
this young man. Old Babylon was
the cedar the more apt il is to be riven
of the lightning. These iemagogues
asked the king TO make n decree that
anybody that made petition TO any
one except the king during a period of
30 days should be put to death King
Darius, not suspccting any foul play,
makes that decree. The demagogues
have accomplished all they want. be-
cause they know that no one can keep
Daniel from sending petitions before
God for 80 days.
So far from being afraid. Daniel goes
on with his applications three times a
DAY and is found on his house top maxi
ing prayer. He is caught in the act. He
is condemned to be devoured by the
lions. Rough executioners OF the law
seize him and hasten him to the cav
ern. 1 hear the growl of the wild
beasts, and l see them paving the
dust. and as they put their mouths TO
the ground the solid earth quakes with
their believing. l sec their eyes roll
and 1 almost hear the fiery eyeballs
snap in the darkness. These monsters
approach Daniel. They have an appe-
tite keen with hunger. with one
stroke OF their paw or one snatch OF
their teeth, they may leave him dead
at the bottom of the cavern But what
strange welcome Daniel receives
from these hungry monsters. They
fawn around him, they lick his hand.
they bury his feet I'm their long names.
That night he has calm sleep with his
head pillowed on the warm necks OF
the tanned lions.
The Crime OF Success.
But not 60 well does Darius. the
king. sleep. He has an attack of ter
rife insomnia. He loves Daniel. and
hates this stratagem by which he has
been condemned. Ali night long the
king walks the floor. He cannot sleep.
At the least sound be starts and his
flesh creeps with horror. He is i'm
patient for the drawing OF the morn
ing. At the first streak Of the daylight
Darius hasteDs forth TO see the fate
or Daniel. The heavy palace doors
open and clang shut long before the
people of the city waken. Darius goes
TO the den OF the lions: he looks In.
All is silent. His heart stops. He
feels that the very worst has hap
pened, but gathering all his strength
he shouts through the riffs of the
rock, "Oh, Daniel, is thy God whom
thou servcst continually able TO de-
liver theer There comes rolling up
from the deep darkness 4 voice which
says: 'NOh, 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
IL, 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, rs the lions make the rocks
trcmble with their roar, they announce
TO all ages shat while God will defend
his people. the way OF the ungodly
shall perish.
Learn first from this subject that tho
greatest crime that YOU commit i'm the
eyes OF many is. the crime of Success.
What had Daniel done that he should
be lung 10 the lions? He had become
prime minister. They could not for
give him for that. and behold In that
n touch of unsanctitied human nature
ms seen In all ages OF the world. So
long as you are pinchcd In poverty. so
long as YOU are running the cantlet
between landlord and taxgatherer, so
long as you find IL hard work to edu-
~~AtC gVui tiCIN NTc people WHO
Will say. Poor man, l am sorry for
him; he ought to succeed, poor man"
But after awhile the tide turns In your
favor. That was n profitable invest
ment you made. You bought just at
the right time. Fortune becomes good
humored and smiles upon you. Now
you are In some department success
full and your success chills some one
Those men who used to sympathize
with you stand along the street, aud
they scowl ut you from under the rim
OF their hats. You 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 q
word or two as you pass by them.
stuck up" says one. "Got Il dis
honestly" says another, "Wln burst
soon." says third. Every stone I'm your
new house is laid on their hearts.
Your horses hoofs went over their
nerves. Every item OF your success
has been to them an item OF dlscomfit-
urc and despair. Just as soon as I'm
any respect you rise above your fellows,
II you are more virtuous, IL you are
more wise. II you are more influential.
. you cast shadow on the prospect Of
others. The road to honor and success
Is within reach OF the enemy's guns.
Jealousy says. Stay down or I'll
knock you down." 81 do rot like
YOU" yays the snowflake to the snow
bird. why don't You like meY' said
the snowbird. oh" said the snow
hake. you are going up and am COM
ing down." Young merchants, young
lawyers, young doctors, young me-
chanics, young artists. young farmers.
at certain times there are those To
sympathize with you, but now that
you are becoming master of your
particular occupation or profession.
how Is 1t now, young lawyers, young
doctors. young artists young farmers
how is 1t now? The greatest crime
that you can commit Is tho crime of |