Jealousy woe the first cause of the attack on Daniel, his religious fidelity afforded the lmmcdil\te occasion for it. In the long run right will triumph, but here and now wrong often triumphs. I. It is desirable to "cownt elld cost," and not to expect all things to go smoothly, when we set out on the Christian warfare (Luke xiv. 25-33). 2. Strength and courage and independence of character are indispensable to a faithful Christian life (Josh. xxiii. 9; Eph. vi. 10). IV. GoD CAN SAVE THOSE WIJO TBUBT IN HIM WHEN ALL HUJIAN Hl!:LP 18 USELESS. The weak king laboured till sunset to save Daniel, but in vain. When the worst was done by men, God interfered. 1. The most savage creatures are under the control of God. When they rage and destroy they are only obeying instincts planted in them by their Creator. When he turns these instincts aside they obey. Wild beasts do not disobey the will of God. Man alone rebels. 2. To the faithful, man the worst dangers are more alarming than harmful. Daniel's lions looked terrific, but their mouths were shut. Bunyan's lions were chained. Spiritual evils often vanish when they are boldly faced (Jas. iv. 7). V. THEY WHO MAKE UNJUST ATTACKS ON THE INNOCENT OFTEN BRmG ABOUT THEm OWN RUIN. 'l'he enemies of Daniel are themselves devoured by the lions. Compare this with the cases of Haman,(Esth. vii. 10) and Judas (Acts i. 18). 'fhus wicked men sometimes fall into the vengeance they have prepared for their victim (Ps. !vii. 6). It is dangerous to show enmity to the weakest man who stands on the side of right. All the power of God is behind him. Ver. 10.-Habitual prayer. This glimpse into the daily habits of Daniel is enough to reveal to us the secret of his fidelity and iotegrity among the fearful temptations of the world in which he was called to serve. Here we see the oil which saved the fire from beiog quenched. Daniel was a man of prayer. I. DANIEL WAS NOT FORGETFUL 01!' HIS GOD IN SPITE 01!' THE DISTRACTIO!'l"S OF counT LIFE. It was a heathen court, yet he remained faithful to the true God. It was a dissolute court, yet he lived in devotion to the God of holiness. It is more easy to withstand the outbreak of violent persecution than to remain pure and true amongst the daily and insidious allurements of a world of sinful pleasures. II. DANIEL FOUND TIME FOR PRAYER AHONG THE MANY OLA.IllS OF A BUSY LIFE, He had the responsibilities attendant on the highest office in the kingdom, and he ful- filled them so well that his most jealous enemies could find no fault with him. Yet he did not regard these public duties as an excuse for the neglect of prayer. 1. As our duty to God is of primary obligation, no human duties can afford an excuse/or neglecting it. 2. Prayer is a help to the performance of duty. Time spent in prayer is not lost time, even as regards the work of the world. Hours of prayer can no more be neglected with profit, than the time for meals and sleep. Christ spent much time in prayer in the most active part of his life, and the more he worked the more he prayed (Matt. xiv. 23). III. DANIEL PRACTISED REClULAR HABITS 01!' PRAYER. The observmice of regular hours of pr!l.yer as a thing meritorious in itself is simply superstitious. Moreover, a spiritually minded man will live in an atmosphere of prayer, and not confine his devotions to set seasons ( L Thess. v. 17). 1. But on the other hand, there is great reason for observing regular habits of prayer. It is well that the mind should be at times entirely withdrawn from the world for spiritual exercises. The deeper and more far-reaching acts of prayer are only possible when we have leisure to collect our thoughts and meditate upon Divine thiogs. 2. It is desirable, too, that these habits should be regular, because otherwise they may be neglected and crowded out by other concerns, and because the laws of habit will then help us to enter into them the more 1·eadily. IV. DANIEL CONFESSED HIS PATRIOTISM IN HIS PRAYER. Praying towards Jeru- salem was a touching proof of his true patriotism. Prayer brings out our deepest affections. \Ve should remember our country in our prayers. It is well when high prnmotion does not lead a man to forget the associations of humbler days (Ps. cxnvii. 6). V, DANIEL SHOWED HIS BIMPLIOITY AND HIS COURAGE BY THE PUBLICITY OF HlS PRAYER. He pmyed with his windows open. Of course, prayer should never be ostentatious (Matt. vi, 6, 6). But if there are times when we should pray in the closet, 198 THE BOOK OF DANIEL. Ccu. VI, 1-28,
e.nd with the door shut, there are also times when it m1Ly be our duty to let devotionnl habits be known. I£ the hiding of them suggests the abandonment of them in face of danger, it is our duty to let them be open aud visible. ,ve should thus e.void tho appearance of evil. It is ah'"ays wrong to be ashamed of our religion (Luke ix. 26), It is our duty to make a simple unpretentious confession of religion in face of persecution or of ridicule.