Year: 1876

less than MS usual congregation, taking his text from
Daniel vi, 22-"My God hath sent his angels and hath
shut the lions mouths, that thoy have hurt me-"
You are, perhaps, familiar with the story from which
this text has been taken. 1t is moro like romance Of
the imagination than piece OF vertable and prosac
history. 1t Is not only interesting but also nstruc-
tive II Is another illustration Of the power OF
nest and determined religious conviction II is also
illustration OF the way in which God has used His
revelations Of the oden time for the edi1caon of the
people and the maintenance OF His cause. Daniel
was in the midst of his peoples captivity, and
yet account OF the proby of his character and his
gifts he elevated by degrees till at last Da-
rus determined to make him the FIRST OF the three pres
idens who had control Of the 12O provinces his I'M
mcnse kingdom. We VIII watch the progress of Daniel
and what followed from fealty to God. In the first
place his compecrs were envious of him and deter
mined to get him out Of the way. They organized a
plot for his destruction; they dug pitfall that he
might fall in and thus end his and give them his
vacant place Their ambition was al unhalowed one;
they were utterly selfish; they sacrificed honor con-
science, friendship and religion to attain their
ends and tho result brethren was what might
be expected. The careful student who sees a cause
can easlly predict the effect If the is honora
Bile, though for time, like streams in Eastern
lands, II disappears, there will time when 1t
will reappear further on. They know also that if a



pie and seated on throne OF IVORY though it may
WELD sceptre that makes the world show an unwll-
ing obedience the time shall when that throne
shall totter and that sceptre shall be DESTROYED and
the king shall drop out of sight forever That is the
law OF history, illustrated in every page of the worlds
annas To be right is to be successful; 10 be wrong
IS 10 be defeated. The common sense OF
aaou Ana makes anS holds Ou''Tes' to this prOpo
Daniel and defeated, they threw Daniel into
the lions den and he escaped and after that King
they reached the bottom OF the den. Theae is then
wrath oil God, and though we call II the wrath OF the
Lamb yet the wrath Of that eternal love- which must
be obeyed, is severe TO


ruE LAST ATOM OF JUSTICE


We are made almost TO forget the great retributive
revelation of Gods character 1t is my delight always
TO preach the love Of God. like to speak of Gods
affection Tor us as resembling the power of gravi.aton
and see men going down the way OF dissipa-
tion, knowing that every step they take they
are doing wrong that they are maiciousy and
consciously breaking the well defined laws which
God has established / am reminded that beside
the reward for virtue there is punishment for the
wicked and my heart goes out in Pity and | would
that had the power 10 draw them back from the
ror OF their ways, for know this, that the who
Christ always the victory. You may feel you
can conquer yourself any time but the only victory
Of the cross. There only is man safe.
We are taught in this story that Daniel
hand My point is this-tha not only the wicked
have their tna, but also the good and great mauy
Christians seem 10 msundcrstand this They think
that TIE minute they enter into intimate relationship
with God that minute they ought 10 be freed from all
doubts and troubles OF every Kind and they dsap-
pointed In this respect They have idea that when
man becomes n Christian he ought TO become rich;
that he ought to have wish his heart gratled.
That may be your theory but is not the theory of
revelation II Is your notion OF how God ought to ACT
but God does not zee lit to act in that way, and our
posture ought 10 be not our feet debating to HIM,
but on our knees asking him how to Our business
is to put away all prcconceved notions and take the
Bible for the indispuable word of heaven. What does
Christ say about thisf Take yoke upon you, for
IS easy; take my burden, for II light Does he say
there no burdenY No, but OF all the burdens you
must carry, choose mine; for II the best and my
yoke rs the easiest Of Them all The misery and trouble
and sorrow are part Of Gods economy You wonder
why AL these sad Affections come upon you; but suppose
II were not 50; suppose the family circle were never
broken and We were always healthy would we not be
more than satisfied with this wordf Would We not
regard the other world as Unnecessary would our
souls growS Now, unless You exercise your affections
you will find you grow selfish. 1t is exercise must
have, aud


EXERCISE Is PAIN


and you must ponder the knotty question again
anG again. and after you worked to the utter most
light viii break you and you Will what
Is Ii is not happiness that besses most; 1t Is
misery, out OF which get the sweets OF God. Make
a man happy all the time and you destroy that man,
but make HIM miserable and then he will enjoy his
happiness man must laugh aud he must
y SGysy And Sod ross ss Ee0 E0'Piny Changes and all al
inc various experiences Of our human lves, and
u is His finger that plays he symphony have often
thought that ovcry experience like stone in
mosaic Here little bt OF white stone that means
happiness God tells what do with IT, Right
to il little piece Of back stone That is
misery God tells where to put that Absolute
submission the will OF God is the end Of life and IL
simply follow His bidding and put this stone INTO
place and that stone into place, according TO the pat
tern He has gwen us, at last the white
and black aud green and blue. all shaded into each
other very beautifully aud not stone Of place the
whole pattern OF seventy years complete That is
when God taxes of hvcs But when put
the stoucs where thnk they ought to 90 there
no picture, symmetry and when get TO the last
day will get into an immense picture gallery
and some OF the pictures VIII be like beauti-
ful landscapes. framed in Gods love In its
completeness But there will be OF
lives that will flook very obscure; hull and valley
will be inextricably mixed together When God is in
mans life we can make the picture, but vixen man
makes 1t he makes II without any symmetry. That is
The lion in paths, but there rs fear when
puts his trust in the Lord Jesus Christ on the bless
edncss that are IN Gods hands whatever happens
In the tenth verse II Is sau that David went into his
house, ana his windows being open ir his chamber
ward Jerusalem, he kneeed upon his three
day AID prayed aud gave thanks before his God as
he did aloretmc. Think Of the symbolism OF the story
TO have ones window open toward Jerusalem 10 nh
your lungs with atmosphere coming from God and in
the time OF the greatest trial to al your and
give thanks rs aiorctme WHAT thanks when my
baby desf Yes is not the child safer than In the
midst Of your Ovey To feel that God is with you s TO
siraigh,cn UP and bear the burden though IL be tons
lie bear tho weight OF the world who bears with
LII. NaWWW