The Faith of Daniel by Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 3, 1901

The Faith of Daniel.

By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

MRS. L. D. AVERY-STUTTLE.

The swift days have passed by, the winged years passed by, The centuries passed by like birds in their flight, Since dwelt in a city, a vast, mighty city, That godly man, Daniel, who dared to do right.

The great King Darius, the mighty Darius, The Median monarch, sat high on the throne, While over the princes, the great men and princes, The king has placed Daniel, the Hebrew, alone.

Then quick in their bosoms, the great princes' bosoms, The fires of envy and jealousy burned, Indeed they could rest not and eat not and drink not Till 'gainst the good Daniel the monarch was turned.

At last they have conquered, the princes have conquered, The writing is written and signed by the king, And soon to his presence exultingly hasten These treacherous princes, the tidings to bring.

“Pray, hast thou not spoken that none ask petition, Save but to thee only, whatever their lot? Remember the law of the Medes and the Persians— The Medes and the Persians—that altereth not. And now, King Darius, that captive of Judah Doth make his petition three times every day; He needs not thy mandate, he scorneth thy mandate, With face toward Jerusalem kneeleth to pray.”

Then quick to the lions, the fierce, hungry lions, They hurried the prophet,—these envious men,— And into the dark, gloomy cavern they threw him, And placed a great stone at the mouth of the den.

But good King Darius, the Median monarch, Arose in the morning as soon as 'twas day, And ran to the cavern and cried in his anguish: “Hath thy God delivered thee, Daniel, I pray?”

“O king, live forever; my God in His mercy Hath sent a bright angel to stand by my side; The mouths of the lions are closed by His power; Lo, they have not hurt me;” the captive replied.

Then quick from the cavern, the dark, gloomy cavern, From den of the lions, the prophet they drew, And brought they those princes, those lords and high princes, And quick to the lions those victims they threw.

Then loud roared the lions, the fierce, hungry lions, And brake all the bones of those envious men, The mastery had o'er them, they quick fell before them, Or ever they came to the floor of the den. E'en thus the Lord saveth His people; He saveth The souls who delight in His counsel, to-day; The workers of evil not always shall triumph, For soon shall He come and no longer delay.