July 26

10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and, his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he knew all upon. A knee three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did after me.

11 Then these men are misled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.

12 Then they came near, and awake before the king concerning the king's decree; that thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any soul or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast

into the den of li-sus? The king answered and said, 'The thing is me, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.

13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardedly not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but makeeth his petition three times a day.

14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore dis-eased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.

15 Then these men assembled unto the king, and said to be the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed

16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of hons. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee

17 And a tone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own, signet, and with the signet of his body, that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.

18 Then the king went to his palace, and passed the right fasting; neither were instruments of music brought before him; and his sleep went from him

19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of hons

20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel; and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, se-

vant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the hons?

21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.

22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the hons' mouths, that they have not hurt me; forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.

23 Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.

24 And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of hons, them, their children, and their wives; and the hons had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.

No matter what the circumstances of his life were, Daniel prayed: when an obscure attendant at the court, he prayed; when prime minister of the kingdom, surrounded by idolatry and dissipation, he prayed; when threatened with death by his enemies, still he prayed.

"Variations in fortune like those through which he passed are the most severe tests to which a man's fidelity to God can be subjected. Few men hold themselves in the same attitude toward God during all the changes in their lives. Solomon, for instance, often called upon God when, as the youthful king, he felt the great responsibilities of his office; but afterward, when prosperity attended him, he turned aside to idols; while, on the other hand, Peter, faithful to his Master while enjoying the blessings of His presence, denied Him in the hour of trial. Boldly does Daniel's example stand out in contrast with these. Surely no man ever had a more plausible excuse for relinquishing at least his outward allegiance to God than he. How human would it have been after learning that the king had signed the decree that was aimed at his life to have modified his conduct, to have prayed in secret instead of at the open window, and then to have satisfied his conscience by reasoning, as no doubt many in this easy going, politic age would have done if placed in his position: 'It will be wise for me to refrain from prayer during these mere thirty days; the Lord will understand my heart, and under the circumstances will surely excuse me, and thus by a little harmless policy I shall escape death, and will be spared to labor for Him in future years.' But, no; Daniel did not thus confer with flesh and blood. If such specious excuses were suggested by Satan, they found no encouragement in his breast. He realized that whatever the circumstances of his life, and whatever others might do under such circumstances, the only safe thing for him was to cling to God; and this he did until God in His own good time sent deliverance."—Rev. Charles C. Cook.

Closet Promise.—Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass.—Psalm xxxvii. 5.

Paul Gerhardt, a noble German preacher and poet, was once driven from his pulpit by the electors of Brandenburg, and forced to leave his home. One night, during a weary journey through a forest, going he knew not where, he stopped with his wife and children at a little inn. After supper he went out alone under the stars to tell his troubles to his Father in heaven. Thoughts of comfort came to him, and before he slept he wove them into the following verses:

"At cost of all I have, At cost of life and limb, I cling to God, who yet shall save; I will not turn from Him.

"The world may fail and flee, Thou standest fast forever.

Nor fire, nor sword, nor plague, from Thee, My trusting soul shall sever.

"No hunger and no thirst, No poverty nor pain, Let mighty princes do their worst, Shall frighten me again."

That very night he was roused from deep slumber by a message from a stranger, who insisted on seeing him immediately. The man was a messenger from Duke Christian Meresburg, who had heard of Gerhardt's trouble, and had sent to invite him to his dominions, with the offer of "church, people, house, home, and livelihood," with every comfort that could be added.