Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1900-11-09

CHE EMINENT DIvINE's sUNDA'
Discourse
Subject Everyday Reiigion-It IL Good IN
Business and Politics-The Example
of Daniel, Who Was Never Too Busy
10 Worship God-Advice to Christians

10 Worship God-Advice to Christians
copyright 1901
WASHINGTON. D. C.-This discourse oil
DR.. Talmage is appropriate for all seasons,
but especially in these times OF great agl'
tation. The text is Daniel Vi, 10. 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 tavorlte
with him that he made him prime minis
ter. or secretary of state But no man
could gain such high position without
excitino The envy and jealousy OF the peo'
pie. There were demaQogues in Babylon
who were So anpreciative OF their own
abilities that they were affronted at the
elevation of this young man. Old Baby
Ion was afraid of young Babylon. The tall
er the cedar the more apt it is to be riveni
of the lightning These demagogues asked
the king to make decree that anybody
that made a petition to any one except
the king during a period OF thirty days
should be put to death. King Darius, not
suspectine 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 applications three times
day and is found on his mouse 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. hear the
growl of e. C wild beasts, and ! see them
paving the dust. and MS they put their
months tn the ground the solid earth
quakes with their believing. i see their
eyes roll and 7 almost hear the fiery eye
balls snap in the darkness. These mons
ters 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 a strange welcome
Daniel receives from these hungry mons
tiers Thew fawn around him. they llck
his hand. they bury his feet IN their long
names. That night lie has calm sleep. with
his head pilowed on the warm necks OF
the tanned lions
Bu. rot 50 well does Darius. the king,
sleep. He has an attack of terrific insOm-
MIA He loves Daniel. and hates this
hrategom bv which he has been con
demred. All night long The king walks
the foo. He cannot sleep. At the least
sound he starts and his flesh Greens with
horror lie is impati mt for the dawning
of the morning. At the first streak OF the
dwight Darius hastens forth to see the
fate of Daniel. The heavy palace doors
omen 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 hapnened hut gathering all his
strength. he shouts through the riffs OF
the rock ooh. Daniel. is thy God whom
thou servest continually able to deliver
thee" There comes rolling up from the
deep darkness a vo;ce which says: "Oh,
king I've forever Nv God has sent Ills
angel 10 shut Che lions mouths that they
have. not hurt me Then Daniel is
brought cut froM the den. The dema-
pogues 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 snurted through
the riffs of the rock. and. as the hons
make the rocks tremble with their roar
they announce TO all ages that while God
will defend His neople, the way OF the
unoodly shall perish.
Learn first from this subject that the
greatest cri 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? lie had become prime min
ister. They could not forgive him for
that and behold i'll that touch of un.
sanctified 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 1t hard
work to educate your children. there are
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 profitable III.
vestment YOU made. You bought. just at
the right time Fortune becomes good hui
mored and smiles upon you. Now you
are in some department successful and
your success chlls some one. Those men
who used to sympathize with you stand
along the street. and they scowl at 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 a word or two as YOU pass by them.
Stuck up" saws one. Got it dishonest
w." SAYS another. will burst soon"
says third Every stone in your new
house is laid OH their hearts. Your horses
hoofs went over their nerves. Every item
of your success has been tc them an itern
of discontinue and despair. just as soon
as III any respect you rise above your iel-
lows if YOU are more virtuous, if YOU are
more wise, if YOU are more influential,
YOU cast shadow on the prospect of 9th
crs.
The road to honor and success is with
in reach of the enemy's guns. Jealousy
says, "Stay down or III knock you down"
Il do not like you" says the snowflake to
the snow.brd why don't you like
me-" said the snowbirI. "Oh," said the
snowflake, you are going up and | am
coming down
Young merchants, young lawyers, young
doctors. young mechanics. young artists,
Young farmers, at certain times there are
those to sympathize with you, but now
that you are becoming a master of your
particular occupation or profession. how is
it now, Young lawyers, young doctors,
young artists, young farmers,-how is it
now? The greatest crime that you can
commit is the crime of success.
Again, my subject impresses me with
the value Of 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 ruined for this
world, and ruined for the world to come
A great many at forty years of age
are not scttled in any respect. because
they have not been able to make up their
minds Perhaps they will go west; per-
haps they will 90 east; perhaps they will
not; perhaps they will so north perhaps
they may 60 south; perhaps ihny will
MOI; perhaps they may make that invest
ment in real estate OF in railroads; per-
haps they will not. They are like steam
er that should go out OF New York har-
Dor, starting for Glasgow, and the next
day should change for Havre de Grace,
and the next for Charleston and the next