Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-11-14
)aniel in the Kings Court
Sermon by
REV. FLOYD w. TOMKISS.
Text Daniel /.

Il
Text Daniel |.
"e now take historical leap Of
~ 2oV years. during which many
hsh happened. The Kingdom Of
aei, commonly called the Northern
Sdom. with which Elijah and
sha were associated, and for whose
fat'on they lnbored so earnestly. |
lower and lower, and at last the |
'yr'ans TOOK the people captive and
man KNOWS what has become oil
IN. ihey arc called "the lost tribes"
en- later the Southern Kingdom was
'ouered BY Ncbuchadnezzar. King Of
oSion, and most of the people OF
ian were carried away as captives
ndnyioh, then great. wonderful
). Ihey remained there seventy
'rh oefore they were allowed to re-
10 Jerusalem. This period in
Wish history Is called the Babylonish
itiFity, and ii was a sad experience
Gods people.
Among those taken captive was Dam
who was SIN n youth, and In the
DIX called by his maine we have some
the most interesting incidents of
our childhood because he would not
~ his God. and SO was thrown into
Den OF lions, whose mouths were
ppcd, that the? could not hurt him.
now, at the beginning Of his ca
r. nc takes stand for loyalty to
aovah which we study to-day.
HrLONIANS FAR IN ADVANCE
OF OTHER NATIONS
NC Babyionians were people far
@dvance OF other nations in itera-
ana science. which did not hold
~. however, from barbarism and
feity. The King chose young men TO
icate them and fit them for his SER
In the kingdom, and when the
IS came 10 Babylon nc commanded
servant TO choose some OF their
ths Tor this purpose. Among those
d 'seH was Daniel. Now came the test.
csc students were "honored." as the
y thought. By having their food and
nh supplied from the royal table,
such food, having probably some
ociation with idol worship repealed
loyal Daniel and he would have
&c OF 1t. He would acknowledge no
3e but Jehovah. He knew what
iatry had done in the ruin Of The
'thern Kingdom Of h!s country and
fthinR approaching IL was an ahomi-
ion to him. So he persuaded the
4 l.
ION and sustenance to feed him and
companion Jews with pulse and 10
Ire them water only 10 drink with
af result that they were the hes,
king and strongcs, Young men IL,
H. Kings school. and the King was
asch with them.
RMAL LIVING MUST
nj FOUNDED ON RELIGION
Loyalty 10 RICH, does not always
ne worldly success, but +, always
4 ngs clear conscience. and that is
rih more than wealth. Daniel "pur-
i ied In his heart'-;hat means he
ked 10 God for guidance and took
stand In loving reliance upon his
avenly Father. All moral living must
founded upon religion r. IL is to
nd Indeed. IL is question whether
i:c can be any morality Issue aside
III religion, for the virtue 81 moral
| Is It's inner spirit II | do right
,:ause Il pays ] am not really moral.
do not drink because | have no
.,pre or opportunity, l am not there
i temperance man. Cod looks At
II, heart and sees why seek - do
ly where that motive is high and
Ire does lie reckon the deed right
HIS III your heart keeps right
II ~ wonderful message those words
tho Sunday campaign hymn bring
II us Daniel "purpoasd in his heart"
IHhen anything has been and is 4
Use OF troubi. and sorrow /, 's wise
be on our guard against IL What
3 Babylonish food was to Daniel
ong drink Is TO US in these modern
rs. il lies AT the root OF nine-tenths
n AL personal. family and national
uble. 1t nils our peniteutiaries and
II dhcuses and jails. IL kills tens OF
|, Usands OFFS people every year. In
s. l36.006,00o gallons OF fcrmerted
|luors were consumed in the United
|ltcs. enough to give fourteen gallons
IL every man. woman, child and baby
the lapd! The figures arc appalling.
His evil has humanity by The throat.
for the Daniel strength and cour-
H. TO lead men 10 have nothing TO
III with 1t.
l'sSON OF SIMPLICITY
II Is MOST IMPRESSIVE.
Pulse and water-that seems rather
lneager diet But II is the lesson of
Implicitly in food as we'll as In all
II ngs that impresscs one. Pulse would
srespnnd TO our oatmeal and other
t.eais. good. healthy foods of which
ling pn-plc particularly ought to eat
!E,ry morning. do not think We eat
i much as a general thing, but we
a crest many things which are not
Id forGus: they please the taste but
not create muscle and blood \
i,ntiful dish of oatmeal (ind who
1T has ever been In Scotland can for
~. the delicious Scotch oatmeal?)
|hry morning would III for days
lrk in fine style and make the coun-
lance glad and the heart true. This
I,plicity applies 10 all our habits
less. manner. thoughts. work. Com
ANity In any particular works havoc.
The simple life" however we may in
s.iduaily interpret 1t. 10. after all, the
al religious life. And he best profits
I his religion who does not cucumber
E,in and heart with abstruse prob
Gas. hlt just loves his Chris. and tries
do iss will.
Fra =, by his early sclf-mastery for
kds AXE. was laying the foundations
/. a yeventful aftcr-life. Step by step
4 riLse In influence until at last there
trG given to him those revelations
i,ccrninE the future which proved
Ids love for him. Courage at the first
Il him later TO pray and not be
hamed of It, Sinlplicity--which is
lilly purity of heart--finally led him
j the Interpretation OF dreams and
lions