The Washington times., 1901-08-19
His Marvellous Career as n Prophet
and His LATER Days az n Mature
Statesman - Confidence in the
Promises of Future Reward.

and his yet high exaltation into the con-
| iidence of the king; his successful MAIN
tenance of his important and confidential
| POSITION under four successive rulers, fur
nishes material enough for both the his
, torian and the romanticiSt- 1t oneS a
, fertile field for the exploitation of those
| qualities of imaginative art that are too
often wasted upon less worthy objects
than the Hebrew prince sold into captiv-
ity. By the sheer force of his ability and
single hearted fidelity to duty he sur
mounted every difficulty and in spite of
hosts OF envious foes achieved honor and
affection from those whom he served so
well
1T is not strange that this marked per-
sonality and this highly varied career
should have long claimed the hero wcr-
ship of his nation and that men should
around him have built up many beautiful
myths and stories of hair-breadth escapes.
and granted him a large place in their
national annals. While he served well the
interests of the King of Babylon, he used
his influence and power to help tighten
the cause of his captive nation, enabling
it to build anew the foundations of an
other State, in the ruins of old Jerusalem.
Neither is it strange that the stories
which are preserved to us in the Scrip
lures of this captive prince should have
always chained the Interested study Of
young people, for there is adventure
enough and all the giamor of romance
to which the young heart so readily re
spends. Practical lessons as to the best
use of his life and its opportunities have
been founded upon the examples ard
character OF Daniel. of Babylon. and his
life may well be taken as a model by
any young man DESTROYS of framing his
conduct upon noble and heroic pattern,
or of being controlled by high and worthy
principles.
LAS a rule all studies in the life of
Daniel are based upon his life as a young
man and his first entrance upon his ca
reer as the friend and adviser of Ne
buchadrezzar, to the almost total exclu-
sion of his later life as a mature and
even aged statesman. And yet that latter
period of his life may be found to con-
tain material for profitable study and to
furnish food for helpful reflection. l have,
therefore, chosen the last scene of which
we possess any knowledge or that final
picture in which the prophet, prince. and
statesman is presented to view in the
panorama, viz. that in which Gods fare
well address is contained touching the
far into the future to disccra the distant
tomorrow when the City of God shall rest
upon the grateful sod Of earth
He his reached a crisis in his SPLEEN
did su :cessful career: and. humanity
speaking. everything indicates that there
is but little more for him to accomplish
in that high position for which he was so
well equipped and trained by the long
discipline of years.
His countrymen had been released
from their long captivity and started upon
their new epoch in their native land.
Daniel had watched and aided them in
their departure from Babylon and his
high official position had been used to fur
Their their journey and guard them from
their enemies He had gone to the city's
gate with the last company OF exultant
eNiles, who started across the desert sing
ing some of their wonderful psalms, those
songs of Zion that had long been I'M
heard among the children of Zion. He
had heard their leaders tell CT their high
hopes for the future. the plans they had |
formed. and the ideals they had cherished |
and which they intended to apply to the |
new state they were to found. His heart |
had gone out IN the deepest sympathy to i
all they had said: for had he not prayed |
and lon4ed and worked for just this very |
day to arrive?
The hopes which had sustained him |
amidst the hostile surroundings of hea- |
then court were now at last realized and |,
the long night of weeping had passed into |
the bright promising dawn of new and |
better day. Never again need the states |
enter his closet and falling |
upon his knees pour out his heart in pc |
Il
Der the covenant made with Abraham and |
restore the penitent Hebrews to their ma /
tive land; for all the prison doors were |
open and the royal authority sanctioned |
their return. Never again need he leave |
his palace for some secret assemblage |
of broken-hearted men and discouraged |
women to cheer them in their desponden- |
cy, for his mission of comfort and con- |
ISOLATION was now ended. Never more had |
he need to speak to Jerusalem and tell |
her that he warfare was accomplished |
and that she was to receive from the |
Lords hand double for all that she had
suffered.
He had read the story of the great |
lationa. hero. Hoses. and would now re-
member how that when Israel stood upon
he boroiers OF the promised land 1t was
ienied Moses to cross over the river and
cad ms people 10 the inheritance Tor
which they had longed, for whose con-
quest he himself had been under such
severe training. Like Moses. Daniel had |
.ome within sight of his LIES ideal and
Utmost within reach OF the goal upon
which his gaze had ever been fastened |
And like Moses. Daniel also was to
DC thwarted in his lifes plan; denied the
Enjoyment Of the fruits Of his iife's work
he had sowed but another was now to |
cap. he had dreamed and planned, but |
mother was now to realize and enter into
1is work. Was 1t for this that he had
oiled through the weary years? Was this
o be the end of all that careful prepara-
ion and arduous training?
with what bitterness might a man re- |
GIVE this sentence of virtual exile from
he desire of his heart. Instead of the !
glorious strenuous life in Judea, the com
nonplece routine of court life. Better
fifty years of Europe than a cycle of
'athay.' Better n short. busy life of sac
1fice in Gods land and for Gods cause
han long monotonous years in Babylon
where life was an unbroken event Better |
ating atmosphere Of a royal palace; bet
er to die a glorious death at the front
With his face toward the enemy, his arm
the blows of the conflict, than
o exc out an inglorious existence back
I the rear, among the camp equippage.
Even so might Cromwell have stood
pon the seashore looking wistfully to-
ward the West. his heart on fire with
agerness to join his fellow Puritans in
ew and better. truer kingdom of God on
.merica soil And Cromwell might
ave turned away from the headsands of |
is great vision to resume the common
lace life of farmer in quiet Finland, re-
ouncing the dream of heroic achievement