THE PLOT AGAINST DANIEL.

These princes thought it was a very wise thing; and some one, perhaps some lawyer amongst their number, drew up the document, and they went in a body to the king. They begin by flattering him. If a man wants another to do a mean thing he always pampers his vanity first. "O king! we have been thinking what we might do to increase your popularity; and we have thought that if you signed a decree that no one should call on any god, or pray to any one but yourself for thirty days, and in case of disobedience should be thrown into the den of lions, it would hand your name down to posterity, and the very mothers would teach their children to worship you."

This tickled the king's vanity; and he could see no objection to it. "Well, we thought you would like it, so we have drawn up a proclamation all ready for you to sign." They read the proclamation, and the king said it would do very well. "Perhaps you will put your signet to it, and make it law." He does so; and as he takes up the pen, one of them says, The law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter?" "Oh yes; the law of the Medes and Persians; that is it."

I can imagine these men going out greatly rejoiced. "We have him now ;" and away they go to report their success, and the proclamation is sent out. I can imagine a man rushing off to Daniel, and saying, Have you heard the news?" "No! what is it?" "Why, there is a plot against you. The hundred and twenty princes have formed a conspiracy, and have got the king to sign a decree that no one shall pray except it be to him, for thirty days."

"These men will

I daresay Daniel got some such advice as this :—' ruin the Government, and it will not do for you to get out of office. Had you not better go away from Babylon for the next thirty days? or, if you are bound to stay, and will not give up praying, then you must close your windows and lock the door, shut the shutters, and put something in the keyhole; or perhaps you had better get into bed. They are sure to be listening."

How many men have been ashamed to pray before their fellowsashamed to be seen upon their knees! I can see that old veteran. He looks at his adviser with scorn: he, in his old age deny God like that! If God should wish him to go to heaven by the way of the lions' den, it is all the same to him. He is not going to turn away from his God now. No! Daniel found time to pray—and that three times a day. He was not like men now, so pressed for time that they cannot pray. Although Daniel was prime minister, and secretary,

and treasurer, and besides that, had to watch those hundred and twenty sub-rulers, he found time to commune with his God.

DANIEL'S STEADFASTNESS.

Well, he prayed on as usual. He knew he was watched; but still, with his windows open, he goes down on his knees. See, just at the corner, they are watching; they see him on his knees; they are taking down his prayer-they had a reporter there. Does Daniel pray to Darius? Not he! "O Thou God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." He prays for Darius, but not to him.

After he has prayed, he goes out and walks the street with a firm step, for God is with him. Away these princes go to Darius; and when they have told him, very likely the king exclaims, "What a fool I have been! I might have known it was a plot against Daniel !" and he tries to save him. He tries everything he can think of; but no, the law must be obeyed. Daniel must be cast into the den.

His enemies are rejoicing to have caught him at last. Look at him, as he is led along the streets of Babylon-the old man with the white locks. He walks like a conqueror; his knees do not smite together. Daniel slept calmer than ever that night. After he had prayed with his face towards Jerusalem, he took one of these lions for a pillow, and slept sweetly.

DANIEL'S TRIUMPH.

But the king is troubled that night; his sleep departs from him. He had put one of the best men in his realm in the lions' den, because he had done a noble act. Early in the morning, Darius rides away to the lions' den, and cries out, "O Daniel, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?"

Hark! a voice comes, " My God hath sent His angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths." Ah, he lives! and Darius has him brought out, whilst his wicked enemies are hurled into the pit. The lions do not spare them; they are torn to pieces ere they reach the bottom.

Daniel was unpopular on earth, but a favourite in heaven; and I would rather have it said of me that I was "beloved" of God than have the costliest monument erected to my memory. Well, he had an angel sent all the way from heaven, to tell him that he was beloved of God. May God help you to be like Daniel, and learn to say "No" at the right time, is the prayer of my heart.

London: MORGAN & SCOTT, 12, Paternoster Buildings.

REPENTANCE

AND

RESTITUTION.

An Address

By D. L. MOODY.

"GOD COMMANDETH ALL MEN-EVERYWHERE-TO REPENT."
(ACTS xvii. 30.)

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(OFFICE OF 'The Christian,")

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GOOD NEWS.

"WHERE ART THOU?"

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CHRIST SEEKING SINNERS.

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THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

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CHRIST ALL AND IN ALL.

THE TWO CLASSES.

REPENTANCE AND RESTITUTION.

"DARE TO BE A DANIEL !"

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REPENTANCE AND RESTITUTION.

"God commandeth all men everywhere to repent."-ACTS xvii. 30.

R

EPENTANCE is one of the fundamental doctrines of the Bible. Yet I believe it is one of those truths that many people little understand at the present day. There are more people to-day in the mist and the darkness about Repentance,

Yet

If I

Regeneration, the Atonement, and such-like fundamental truths, than perhaps on any other doctrines. from our earliest years we have heard about them. were to ask for a definition of Repentance, a great many would give a very strange and false idea of it.

A man is not prepared to believe or to receive the Gospel, unless he is ready to repent of his sins and turn from them. Until John the Baptist met Christ, he had but one text, "Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matt. iii. 2). But if he had continued to say this, and had stopped there without pointing the people to Christ the Lamb of God, he would not have accomplished much.

When Christ came, He took up the same wilderness cry, "Repent; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matt. iv. 17). And when our Lord sent out His disciples, it was with the same message, "that men should repent" (Mark vi. 12). After He had been glorified, and when