Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1900-11-14
SERMON
Rev. Dr. Calnlagf

Busiue.s and Politics-The Example
Of Daniel. Who Was Never Too Busy
to worship God advice to Christians.
fcoryrtsht lsoai
WASHINGTON, D. C.-This discourse OF
DR.. Talmage is appropriate for all seasons
but especially in these times of great agi-
tation. The text is Daniel vi, 16. Then
the king commanded, and they brought
Daniel and cast him into the den OF hons
Darius was king of Babylon, and the
young man Daniel was so much favorIte
with him that he made him prime minis
ter. or secretary of state. But no man
exciting the envy and jealousy OF the neo-
pie. There were demagogues in babylon
who were SO appreciative of their own
abilities that they were 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 riven
of the lightning. These demaeogues 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 any foul plav. 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 a
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. l hear the
growl of t. e wild beasts, and I see them
paving the dust, and as they put their
mouths to the ground the solid earth
quakes with their believing. l see their
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
ters They fawn around him, they lick
his hand. they bury his feet in their lonN
names. That night he has calm sleep with
his head pillowed on the warm necks oi
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 bv 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 Greens with
horror. ! is impatient for the dawnine
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 der
of the lions; he looks in. All is silent
worst has happened, but gathering all his
strength. he shouts through the riffs o
the rock. "Oh, Daniel is thy God whom
thou servest continually able to deliver
thee?" There comes rolling up from the
deep darkness a voice which says: "Oh
king. live forever. Ny God has sent Hi,
angel to shut the lions mouths that the,
brought out from the den. The dema
gogues are hurled into it, and no sooner
have they struck the bottom of the der
than their flesh was rent. and their bone
cracked and their blood spurted through
the riffs of the rock. and. as the lion
make the rocks tremble with their roar
they announce to all ages that while Go'
will defend His people, the way of th'
ungodly shall perish.
Learn first from this subject that tn
greatest cri that YOU commit in tn
| eyes of many is the crime of success. Wha
had Daniel done that he should be fun
/, to the lions? He had become prime min
lister. They could not forgive him TO
that, and behold in that a touch of un
sanctifed human nature as seen in al
ages of the world So long as you ar
pinched in poverty, so long as you ar
running the gantlet between landlord ant
| taxgatherer. so long as you find it har,
work to educate your children. there ar
people who will say. Poor man. / an
sorry for him: he ought to succeed, poo
man." But after awhile the tide turn
in your favor. That was a profitable in
vestment you made. You bought just a
the right time. Fortune becomes good hu
mored and smiles upon you. Now yo
are in some department successful ant
your success chills some one. Those mel
who used to sympathize with you stan'
/ along the street, and they scowl at yo
! from under the rim of their hats. Yo
| have more money or more influence thai
they have, and you ought to be scowle
at from under the rim of their hats. Yo
catch word or two as YOU pass by them
Stuck up" says one. Got it dishonest
ly," says another. "Will burst soon
says a third. Every stone in your ne,
house is laid on their hearts. Your horse
| hoofs went over their nerves. Every tier
of your success has been to them an tier
of discontinue and despair. just 500
as in any respect you rise above your fe
lows, if you are more virtuous, if you ar
more wise, if you are more Influential
you cast a shadow on the prospect of otf
ers.
The road to honor and success is with
in reach of the enemy's guns. Jealous
says, "Stay down or ri knock you down.
II do not like you," says the snowflake t
the snow-bird. why don't you Ill,
me-" said the snowbird. "Oh," said tn
snowflake, you are going up and 1 al
coming down."
Young merchants. young lawyers, youn
doctors, young mechanics. young artists
young farmers, at certain times there al
| those 70 hIza tyith hnf
that you are becoming a master of you
particular occupation or profession, how
it now, young lawyers, young doctor
young artists, Young farmers,-hOw Is
nows The greatest crime that you ca
commit is the crime of success.
Again, my subject impresses me wit
the value of decision of char acter in an
department. Daniel knew that if he col
tinued his adherence to the religion of til
Lord he would be hurled to the lion
but, having set his compass well, he sale
right on. For the lack of that elemer
of decision of character, eminent
Daniel, many men are ruined for tn
world, and ruined for the world to com
great many at forty years of az
are not settled in any respect, becau,
they have not been able to make up the
minds. Perhaps they will go west; pc
haps they will go east; perhaps they vi
not; perhaps they will so north; perhaJ
they may go south; perhaps fh,v wi
not; perhaps they may make that inves
ment in real estate or in railroads; ne
haps they will not. They are like a stear
er that should go out of New York ha
Dor, starting for Glasgow, and the ~,
day should change for Havre de Grac
and the next for Charleston and the ne,
for Boston and the next for Liverpco
These men on the sea of life everlastin
y lacking ship, and making no headwa
| nr hav ttn xx-h4 90, ate
build house in the Corinthan style an
changes it to Doric. and then complete
it in the Ionic the curse of all styles
architecture. Young man, start right ar
keep on. Have decision of characte
Character :. like the goldinch of Tonquir
it is magnificent while standing firm, b,
loses all its beauty in flight. How muo
| DECISION of character in order that the