Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-09-15

given them hearing. he called them
before him and asked them had they
acted in this manner on purpose, that
If 1t had been accidental he would give
them another opportunity, and II they
obeyed his decree. all should be we'll,
but If not all the punishment which he
had ordered should be melted out to
them.
The pluck which those men displayed
at that time could scarcely be appre-
ciated by one of us who lives in a demo-
cratic country. To cross the mere wish
or within of an eastern tyrant meant
sudden destruction. observation-disclosures was
now the king of the world. practically;
imagine therefore, If you can, the holy
boldness of these men as they replied
to him: cit is no use discussing the mat
ter any further; our minds are already
made up; our God whom we serve, is
able to deliver us; He Is stronger than
you are But If it is not His will to
deliver us. we can die: under no circum-
stances will we worship any other God.
il was said coolly, but with that de-
termination which made Nebuchadnezzar
see that their minds were made up sure
enough This Nonly made him more fu-
rious Whatever favor he might have
shown them before, was turned to dis
favor now; he therefore ordered the fur
and ordered these men bound and cast
into the furnace.
A slow fire would have been greater
torture than an intensely hot one; his
anger made him defeat his very desire to
make them suffer as much as possible.
Anger always makes one defeat his
object A cool head is a great asset.
PERSONAL PRESENCE AND PROMO
MOTION.
The material which constituted their
clothes was very infammable. Being
bound, they could not move about and
therefore had 20 be cast into the lur-
mace from the top. Burning In a merry
furnace was a common mode OF punish
ment in Babylon. One was MADE Oh
brick with a hole in the top and another
one in the side. If they had not been
bound, they could have been pushed In
from the side opening; but being bound
had to be dropped in from the top me
heat was so intense here that the Baby
lonian soldiers were overcome. and loss
their lives in obeying their of1cers COM
mand This fact emphasizes the deliver
ance of Daniels friends; there can be no
mistake about the fire being hot, and hot
enough to kill.
AZ ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS stood to one side
and looked in to the side opening to
exult with fiendlsh glee over the sizzling
flesh of those who dared to oppose him.
his face changed from glee to astonlsn-
ment: he turned pale with fright; he
called his counsellors' attention to what
he saw. Dsd he not cast three men IN
bound? Yes, they said. Then ile called
their attention to what he saw. lnstea
of three men bound, there were four men
walking about. The fourth was like
INTO the Son of God Nebuchadnezzar
did not know Jesus Christ, he knew moth
ing of him whatever. However, he ex-
pressed the truth; 1t was Jesus, VINO
had come to give his personal presence
TO those who had been faithful 10 MIN
in the hour of their persecution.
When ACKNOWLEDGMENT realized this, ne
called, Shadrach Meshach and Abed-
nego TO come out of the furnace, and was
much surprised to find that not one hair
was sineed. nor was even the smell or
fire on their garments. He had learned
his lesson. the God of Israel was strong
ar than he: he had found one before
whom he must bow. The proclamation
was changed and by order of the king,
God was to be glorihed by his subjects.
such men as Shadrach, Meshach and
Abed-nego were too valuable not TO pro-
mote. Men who would be as loyal TO
nrinciple as they had been, who had
Welded their bodies rather than be dis
loyal to God, were men who could be
trusted in any position; so Neoucnad-
nezzar promoted them to have authority
over Babylon. the greatest province IN
his kingdom.
II was faith in God which gave these
men such holy boldness they had learn
ed to trust God, they did not have TO