DANIEL IN THE LIONS' DEN.

BY REV. M. A. DE WOLF HOW.

WHAT majesty is in the form and demeanor of this undaunted hero! There is not one muscle that shrinks, nor one nerve that quivers on his lordly frame. His entire nature is in concert with his triumphant spirit. He is a picture of true heroism, where the soul is so great in its confidence, that it precludes the timid suggestions of reason, and endows even the flesh with an unflinching hardihood. See how erect he stands! His knees do not tremble, or smite one against another. He does not recede with involuntary horror, as the savage beasts gather to his feet. He does not even watch them, as their fiery eye-balls glare upon him from the black recesses of their den. He does not try the power of the human eye, to keep in awe the fierceness of the most insatiate among those lower creatures over which God once gave man dominion. There is no expression of command, no trace of

defiance, no agony of fear on his heavenward His eye is fixed on the supernal

countenance.

Source of his pious confidence. His face is luminous with the sentiment of another ancient worthy. "I will look unto the hills from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He that keepeth me will not sleep." In a moment the place is all alight with the glory of a messenger from the Almighty. "He maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire." One that stood amid the hierarchy of heaven, beholding unveiled the face of God, in a flash of time is crouching in a den of the earth, charged to pray the lions from the faithful Prophet, and to "shut their mouths." It is night, and Daniel is in a deep cave, from which even the light of stars is excluded by a sealed stone that covers its mouth. But there is no darkness in that abyss. The light of a heavenly presence is there. Caused to fly swiftly, the angel is still radiant with the splendors of his high abode; and at every rustling of his wings there flashes out a glory that, like a thousand gleaming lances, keeps the lions at bay. But, see, the Prophet does not even look on his illustrious attendant! The majesty of his faith speaks out in that high abstraction. The howling of the ravenous

beasts could not divert his eye from God, when danger bade him look upward in entreaty and earnest expectation; no more can the brightness of a present angel attract his gaze, now that security prompts him to render back the tribute of love and gratitude to the Almighty, who both empowered and sent forth this ministering spirit.

Daniel's position in the Medo-Persian kingdom had been one of transcendent honor. He owned no superior but the king. The deference of every noble in the land had been his due. Homage obsequious, and universal as ambition could desire, had been rendered to him. Yet, in all the magnificence of his state he never received an obeisance so honorable to his character, so indicative of his pre-eminence among men, as that which now courts his feet! He never stood upon a level of command so sublime and elevated, as that whereon he now enchains our notice the monarch of the forest, and the principalities and powers in heavenly places, at once bending before him. And the secret of his supremacy here, in the wild beasts' lair, is the same which elevated him to the first presidency of a kingdom, wherein the captivity of his people had brought him as a vassal. "Because he believed in his God;" therefore "an excellent spirit was in him;" there

fore" was he faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him." He had been no more captivated by the blandishments of the court, than frightened from his propriety by the roaring of the lions. His eye was ever fixed on God, insomuch that he could see nothing on earth which he recognized as possessing power either to exalt or injure him. The picture, which shows him erect and heaven-seeking, alike while lions growl to excite his fears, and when a serving angel with ready obeisance comes to inflame his pride, is the symbol of his spirit's attitude, in that earlier post of trial, when the favor of a king tempted his vanity, and the malice of his rivals laid siege against his

courage.

Daniel's heroism in the lion's den is the result of deliberate forecast, and calm anticipation of his danger, and of his only recourse for protection. He knew that in the pursuit of a career from which he could not turn, this frightful doom would be visited upon him. "The law of the Medes and Persians is, that no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed." An ordinance had been extorted from the king by the importunity of his nobles, which, in fidelity to God, the Prophet could not obey. And the penalty of transgression

was made a part of the law, to "be cast into the den of lions." The alternative was fearful. Some religious minds would have solved the problem of duty differently from Daniel. They would have justified desistance from a practice of ordinary obligation, at a juncture when life itself would be the certain forfeit of its continuance.

to remain in force but thirty days. forego

The law was

Is it right to

some would have asked the opportunities to serve God, and to do good in one's generation which might throng the years of future life, merely to seize occasion for one act of holy daring, and perish in its performance? Is it not rather a defiance than a trust of the providence of God? And might not prayer be offered acceptably to God, and yet not offensively to bloodthirsty man ? Would not the unabated yearning for communion with Heaven, the daily uplifting of pious desire, suffice to meet his demands on the devotion of his servant, "who looketh not on the appearance, but on the heart?" These are specious words. If the thoughts which they express ever perplexed the mind of the Prophet, they found him prepared with counter considerations of paramount weight and importance. His daily devotions had become by the act of his enemies, and the weak compliance of the king,