The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-11-21
DIR. TALMAGES SERMON
SUNDAYS DISCOURSE Blythe NOTED
DIVINE.

OF Daniel, Who Was Never Too Busy
to Worship God-Adrice to Christians.
tCopyrlght lsuul
WASHINGTON, D. C.-This discourse of
DR.. Talmage is appropriate for all seasons,
but especially in these times Of great asl-
tation. The text is Daniel vi, l6, "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 30 much favorlte
with him that he made him prime minis
ter or secretary of state. But no man
could gain such a high position without
exciting the envy and jealousy Of the peo-
ple There were demagogues in Babylon
who were so appreciative of their own
abilities that they We're affronted at the
elevation of this young man.. Old Baby
lon was afraid of young Babylon. The tall
er the cedar the more apt it,is to be rlyen
of the lightning. These demagogues asked
the king to make a decree that anybody
that made q petition to any one except
should be put to death. King Darius, not
suspecting any foul play, makes that de.
cree. The demagogues have accomplished
all they want. because they know that no
one can keen Daniel from sending petitions
before God for thirty days. -
So far from being, afraid, Daniel goes
on with supplications three times q
day and is found on his house top making
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 cavern. 1 hear the
growl of tie wild beasts, and l see them
paving the dust, and as they. put their
mouths to the. ground the solid earth
quskes with their ;hellowing. see their
eyes roll and i almost hear the fiery eye
>ballst snap in the darkness. m These: mons
{; tite keen with hunger. With ene stroke
of their paw or one snatch of their teeth.
they may leave him dead at the bottom of
the cavern But what a strange welcome
Daniel receives from these hungry mons
.ters They fawn% around him, they lick
his hand. they bury his feet in their long
names. That night he has calm sleep with
his head pilloWed on the warm necks of
the tanned lions. W.
But not 80. well does Darius, the king,
sleep. He. has an attack 3of terrific insom-
nia.2 He loves iDaniel, and hates this
strategem by which he has been con
,demned. Alllnight long the. king walks
the foo. He cannot sleep. AT the least
sound he starts: and his flesh creeps with
1S 10 lLilpdki-ht 1Ol UlC oo
of the morning. AT the first streak of the.
daylight Darius hastens forth to see the
fate of Daniel. The heavy palace doors
open and clang shut long before the people
OF the city 5waken. Darius goes to the den
Of the lions; be looks in. All is silent.
His heart stops He feels that the very
worst has happened, but gathering all his
strength, he shouts through the riffs of
the rock, "'Oh, Daniel, Isl t& God whom
thou servest continually SaSh to deliver
thee "i There comes roilingAp from the
deep darkness q voice which says: "Oh,
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 dema-
gogues 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
Learn first from this subject that the
greatest cri,-e 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 had become prime mic-
ister. They could not forgive him for
that, and behold ir3that a touch Of 'un;;
sanctifed human nature as seen in all
ages of the world. SO long as YOU are
pinched in poverty, SO long as you are
running the gantlet between landlord and
taxgatherer, so long as you find it hard
work to educate your children, there are
people who will say, Poor man.. I am
sorry for him; he ought to succeed, poor,
man." But after awhile the tide. turns
in your favor. That was a profitable in.
vestment you made. You bought just at
The right time. Fortune becomes good hui
lnored and smiles upon you. Now you
are in some department successful and
your success chjlls some one. Those men
who used to sympathize with you stand !
along the: street, and they sc9wl at you
from under: the rim of their hats. You
have more money orr more influence than
they have, and you ought to be scowled
at from undefsthe rim Of their hats You
catch word or two as you pass by. them.
"Stuck rp," says one. 'Got it dishonest
ly," says another. "Will burst soon,"
says third. Every stone in 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 discontinue and despair. just as soon
as In any respeet,you rise above your felt \
lows, if; you areimore :yirtuous,5 If you are1
more wise, if yon ARE more influential
you cast a shadow on the prospect S0f oths;3 y 3
ers. $2;,5 x y,S =. = = 8 $ss;:
The road TO honor and success lis With
in reach Of the enemy g guns. Jealousy
says, "Stay down or Ell knock YOU down,
"1 do not like yeu, - says the spowflakesfo
the snoW-bird why. don't you > like
me-" said the tsnowbird. 31"0hR said sthe
snowflake, 'syou are going up. and y am
Young merchants, young lawyers, young
doctors, Eyoung mechanhs, young artists,
young farmers, at certain times there are
those to sympathize, with you,' but now
that you are becoming q, master Of your
particular occupation or profession, how Is
it now, young lawyers, yong doctors,
young artists, young faErnerss-how is it
now? The greatest, crime that you can
commit is The crime of success. -
Again, my subject impresses pe with
the value os decision Of character IN: any
department. Daniel knew that il he con:
tinued his adherence to the religion OF the
Lord he would be hurled to- the, lions:
but, having set his compass well, he sailed
right on. For the lack of that element
Of decision of character, so eminent IN
Daniel, many men are 1uIEcd for TINS
world, and ruined for the world to come.
A great many at forty years of age
are not settled in any respect, because
they have not been able to make up their
minds. Perhaps they will go west; per,
haps they will go east; perhaps they will
not; perhaps they will so north;, PERHAPS
they may go south; perhaps my Wi WIN
not; perhaps they may make that invest
rnent in real estate or In railroads; per-
laps they will not. They are like a steam
er that should 60 out OF, New York har-
bor, starting for Glasgow. and the next