The Penn's Grove record., 1900-11-09
DIR. TALMAGES SERMON
SUNDAYS DISCOURSE BY THE NOTED
DIVINE.

SUNDAYS DISCOURSE BY THE NOTED
DIVINE.
Subject: Everyday R~eligion-Itis Good In
of Daniel, who Was Never Too Busy
tcopyright isoo.i
WASHINGTON, D. C.-This discourse of
DR.. Talmage il. 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 snuch a favorite
with him that he made him prime minis
ter, OF secretary Of state. But no man
could gain such a high position without
exciting the envy and jealousy of the pee-
pie. There were demagogues in Babylon
who were so appreciative of their "
abilities that they were afronted 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 riven
of the lightning. These demagogues asked
the king to make a 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
suspecting n foul play, makes that de.
cree. The ~demagogues lave 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 a
day and is found on his house top making
prayer. He is caught in the act. He is
oopJo,n-oJ - lo Jor,o,,ra1 hp fha l;nnc
Rough executioners of the law seize him
and hasten him to the cavern. / hear the
growl of tie wild beasts, and | see them
paving the dust, and as they put their
mouths to the ground the solid earth
quakes with their believing. l see their
eyes roll and I almost hear the fiery eye
balls snap in the darkness. These mons
tiers 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. 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.
But not so well does Darius, the king,
sleep. He has an attack of terrific insom-
MIA. He loves Daniel, and hates this
strategem by which he has been con-
demned. All night long the king walks
the foo. He cannot sleep. At the least
sound he starts and his flesh creeps with
horror. lie is impati mt for the dawning
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 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 happened, but gathering ali his
strength, he shouts through the riffs of
the rock, "Oh, Daniel, is thy God whom
thou seryest continually able to deliver
deep darkness a voice which says: ooh,
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 al ages that while God
will defend His people, the way of the
ungodly shall perish.
ASoAAA - " 1llo oubJCCt tIdJ Xix
greatest erie 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 min
lister. They could not forgive him for
that, and behold in that a touch of I'M
sanctlfied 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
people who will say, aPoor man, 1 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
mored and smiles upon you. Now you
are In some department successful and
your success chills 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
at from under the rim of their hats. You
catch a word or two as you pass by them.
Stuck up" says one. "Got it dishonest
ly," says another. "WiIl burst soon,"
says a third. Every stone in your new
house is laid IN 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 respect you rise above your fell
lows, if you are more virtuous, if you are
more wise, if you are more influential,
you cast a shadow on the Prospect Of 9TH
ers.
The road to honor and success is with
in reach of the enemy's guns. Jealousy
says, "Stay down or I'll knock you down"
Il do not like you" says the snowflake to
the snow-bird. 'eWhy don't You like
me? said the snowbird. "Oh," said the
snowflake, you are going up and l 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,
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 if 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 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 they will
not; perhaps they may make that invest
ment in real estate or in railroads; per.
haps they will not. They are like a steam
CT that should 60 out Of New York har.
Dor, starting for Glasgow. and the next
dav should change for Havre de Grace,
and the next for Charleston and the next
for Boston and the next for Liverpool
| These men on the sea of life everlasting
~ lacking ship and making no Roadway
| Or they are like a mar who starts t.
build a house in the Corinthian style anc
changes it to Doric, and then completes
it in the Ionic, the curse of all styles O
architecture. Young man, start right ans
keep on. Have decision of character
Character . like the goldfnch Of Tonquin
it is magnificent while standing firm, bu
loses all it's beauty in flight. How mucl
decision of character in order that thes,
voung men NAV he Christiansl Their oil