Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1900-11-09
A TIMELY DISCOURSE
DR.. Talmage breaches a Sermon on
Religion and Politics.
~rhe Man Faithful to God Is the Most
Faithful to His Country-An
Example from the Life
of Daniel.
copyright, 1900. by Louis Klopsch.1
Washington, Nov. 4.


This discourse of DR.. Talmage is ap-
propriate for all seasons, but especial
" in these times of great political
agitation The text is, Daniel vi, 10: |
s'Then the king commanded, and they !
brought Daniel ana 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 high
position without exciting the envy
and jealousy of the people. There
were demagogues in Babylon who
were SO appreclative 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 riven of the lightning. These
demagogues asked the king to make
a decree that anybody that made
petition to anyone except the king
during period of 80 days should be
put to death. King Darius, not sus-
pecting any foul play, makes that de-
Gree. The demagogues have accom-
plished all they want, because they
know that no one can keep Daniel
from sending petitions before God for
30 days.
So far from being afraid, Daniel
goes on with his supplicatlons three
times day and is found on his house
top making prayer He is caught in
the act. He is condemned to be de-
voured by the lions. Rough execution
ers of the law seize him and hasten
him to the cavern. I, hear the growl
of the wild beasts and 1 see them paw
ing the dirt, and as they put their
mouths to the ground the solid earth
quakes with their bellowings. 1 see
their eyes roll, and I almost hear the
fiery eyeballs snap in Inc darkness.
These monsters approach Daniel.
They have an appetite keen with hun
ger. 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 in their long names. That night
he has calm sleep with his head pill
lowed on the warm necks of the 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 stratagem by which he has
been condemned. All night long the
king walks the floor. He cannot sleep.
At the least sound he starts, and the
flesh creeps with horror. He is inn
patient for the dawning of the morn
ing. At the first streak of the day
light Darius hastens forth to see the
fate of Daniel. The heavy palace
doors open and clang shut long be-
fore 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 all his
strength, he shouts through the riffs
of the rock: 80 Daniel, is thy God
whom thou servest continually able
to deliver thee?" There comes roll
ing up from the deep darkness voice
which says: SO 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
Tat while God will defend his people
the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Learn first from this subject that
tAe 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
mad become prime minister. They
could not forgive him for that, and
behold in that touch of unsanctified
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 gauntlet between landlord and tax.
gatherer, so long as you find it hard
work to educate your children, there
are people who will say: "Poor man
am sorry for him. He ought to sue
coed. poor man. But after awhile
the tide turns in his favor. That was
a profitable investment you made
You thought just at the right time
Fortune becomes good humored and
smiles upon you. Now you are in some
department successful. and your sue.
cess chills some one. Those men who
used to sympathize with you stand
along the street, and they scowl al
you from under the rim of their hats
You have more money or more inf1u
ence 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 them by. ssStuck up
says one. "Got it dishonesty" say:
another. evil burst soon," says Z
third. Every stone in your new house