The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1900-12-13
A TIMELY DISCOURSE
Dr.. Talmage breaches Sermon On
Religion and Politics.
The Man Faithful to God IL the Mos I
Faithful to His COuntry-kn
Example from the Life
of Daniel.


Example from the Life
of Daniel.
Copyright. 1900. by Louis Klopsch.l
Washington.
This discourse of DR.. Talmage is ap-
propriate for all seasons, but especial
ly in these times of great political
agitation. The text is, Daniel vi, 16:
''Then the king commanded, and they
brought Daniel ana cast hl:.l into the
den of lions"
Darius was king of Babylon, and
the young man Daniel was SO much
a fasorite with him that he made him
prime minister, or secretary of state.
But 40 man could gain s<sh a 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 cfraid of yor ug Babylon.
The taller the cedar the more apt it
is to be riven of the lightning. These
demagogues asked the king to make
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-
cree. The demagogues have accom-
piished 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. / hear the growl
of the wild beasts and see them paw
| ing the dirt, and as they put their
mouths to the ground the solid earth
! quakes with their bellowings. | see
their eyes roll, and I almost hear the
fiery eyeballs snap in Inc darkness.
These monsters approach Daniel.
They have an appetite Eeen 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! T.-ey fawn around him;
they lick his hand; they bury his
feet in their long m aes. That night
/ he has calm sleep with his head pill
| lowed on the warm necks of the tanned
lions.
But not so well does Darius, the
king, sleep. He has an attack of ter
| rife insomnia. He loves Daniel and
hates this str-tagem by which he has
been condemned. All night long the
king walks the floor. He cannot sleep.
At the least sound he ,.arts, and the
flesh creeps with horror. He is inn
patient for the dawning of the MORN
ing. At tie 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 goe- 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: 20 Daniel, is thy God
whom thou servest continually able
to deliver thee?" There comes roll.
ing up from the deep darkness voice
which says: 30 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, AMI their bones
cracked, and their blood spurted
through the riffs Of the rock, and al
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 ungodly shall perish.
Learn first from this subject that
the greatest crime that you commit
in the eyes of many is the crime o
I.success. What had Daniel done thai
he should be flung to the lions? n,
had become prime minister. They
COuiu uOt AOISINC Allu IOI ludt, ant
behold in that touch of unsanctifiet
human nature as seen in all ages O
the world. So long as you are pinches
in poverty, SO long as you are running
the gantlet between landlord and tax
gatherer, co long as You find it har,
work to educate your children, ther,
: are people who will say: "Poor man
! / am sorry for him. He ought to sue
ceed, poor man." But after awhil
the tide turns in his favor. That wa
: a profitable investment you made
5 You thought just at the right time
J Fortune becomes good humored an
! smiles upon you. Now you are in som
| department successful, and your sue
|, cess chills some one. Those men VIII
J used to sympathize With you stan
} along the street, and they scowl a
you from under the rim Of Their hat
You have more money or more inflr
ence than they have, and you ough
J | "a he scoyIed af frOm r1nder the RI,