The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1900-11-09
A TIMELY DISCOURSE
Dr.. Talmage breaches Sermon on
Religion and Politics.
The Man Faithful to God Is the Most
FaithfuI to His COuntry-An
Example from the Life
of Daniel.
copyright, 1900, by Louis Klopsch.l
Washington, Nov. 4.

ly in these times of great political
agitation. The text is, Daniel vi, 10:
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 apprecIative of their own
abilities that they were affronted at
the elevation of this young man. Old
Babylon was afraid of young Babylon.
qhe 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 a
petition to anyone except the king
during a 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-
plished all they want, because they
know that no one can keep Daniel
from sending petitions before God for
80 days.
So far from being afraid, Daniel
goes on with his applications 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. l hear the growl
of the wild beasts and I see them paw
ing the dirt, and as they put their
mouths to the ground the solid earth
quakes with their bellowings. I see
their eyes roll, and I almost hear the
fiery eyeballs snap in lne 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 a 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
rife 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. |
4 L
flesh creeps with horror. He is i'm
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 goe5 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: so 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
the den The demagogues are hurled
into it, and no sooner have they
struck the bottom of the den than
their flesh was rent, ana 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
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 of
success. What had Daniel done that
he should be flung to the lions? He
had 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,
I am sorry for him. He ought to sue
coed, poor man" But after awhile
the tide turns in his favor. That was
q profitable investment you made.
You thought just at the right time.
Fortune becomes good humored and
smiles upon you. Now you are in some
successful, and your sue
cess 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 infiu-
ence than they have, and you ought
10 be scowled at from under the rim
of their hats. You catch a word or
two as you pass them by. "Stuck up"
says one. Got it dishonesty" saws
another. "Will burst soon," SAYS
third. Every stone in your new house
is laid on their hearts. Your horses
hoofs went over their nerves. Every
item of your success has been to them
an item of discontinue AMI despair.
just as soon as in any respect you
rise above your fellows, if you are
more virtuous, if you are more wise,