The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-16
= | THE HM Y FORUM
Sabbath Lessons.
Notable DAYS.

atrous faith and worship. To take a stand
religiously in such a place proves the
nobility of his purpose. How many Young
people would have said: 81 am in a
strange land. 1 do not believe in eating
dehfed meat and in drinking wine but
1 had better do it here, since nv cap
tors demand it of me. I'm in Babylon
now, and I had better do as Babylon
does" The strong temptation would have
been to take this course of action: vet
Daniel did not do 1T. May his example
inspire the emulation or all young people
and help them to stand firm for sobrietv
and virtue amid any surroundings or with
any people
3. The nobility of DaniePs purpose is
Illustrated in the act that it wcs con-
trary to custom. 1t was customary for
those who were being trained for lie
kings service to eat the kings meat and
drink his wine. Custom has caused the
ruin of many young person. But Dan
lei was no slave to custom He placed
conscience above custom. 1t requires
great strength of character ofttimes to
do this, and yet conscience and not Gus
tom should be cur guide. 1t it were, the
drunkard's grave would be robbed of
many of it's victims
Daniel purposed nobly, and nobly exc
cuted IS purpose, ana God was with him
and blessed him. Win you follow Dan
iels example?
HE WOULD NOT DEFILE HIMSELF"
The Epworth league topic for March 16
is found in Daniel L., $50.
The declaration THAT he would
! not defle himself" was a strong
stand for temperance and NOR
ality. Daniel was selected from among
the young men who had been carried
captive from Judea to Babylon with
some others. who showed ability and 40
reared capable Of oct1 educated for gov
ernmental positions This little group Of
young men at foreign court i..,st have
felt keenly the humiliation of th1 co an
Try and religion. With a patriotic ferv.,r
| not intrequently found in the young, amt
a characteristic disregard of the corrupt
| Influences around t5fTl, 5they determined
| to stand true to their ancestral religion.
| There is no probability that they took the
| VOW of Nazarites not to use the products
| OF The vine, or that they were other than
simply devoted young fellows, standing
on principle.
| But if they were resolved to worship
God only, what about the food they would
| have served them as members of the
| kings household? That food and all
eating were inseparablyi connected with
the worship of the gods, as it has ever
| been in the Orient. BY eating the meat
| and drinking the wine provided for the
| kin officers they would be worshipng
| the gods he worshiped and renouncinS
| their own God. This they meant not to
| do. There is but one course then open.
| They must refuse the kings food and
| live on simple vegetables and water If
| they would avoid meat and wine offered
| in idolatrous worship.
| 1t was a risky course to take. Risky
| as it seemed, it was however, the only
| safe course to take Simple living joins
| well with higif thinking and earnest faith.
| The result was what it always has been,
is now, and ever shall be. Whoever does
| the right thing finds it the successful and
| wise thing. Gods way with Daniel was
! not different from Gods way with every
other young man. Expediency may tempt
| one to abate somewhat of ones constancy
| and devotion, but it results In sacrifice
CT principle and loss of integrity. Do the
right thing whatever the risk, and what
! ever the cost, and safety with success:
! shall be the ultimate result.
Daniels purpose and his maintenance
of that purpose raised him to position
| kept him in homer and power, and sem
his name down the ages as a synonym
| of answering devotion to convictions o.
| right and duty.