F A I T H | AdventAI

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 29, 1859

F A I T H .

So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God. Dan. vi, 23.

Why was Daniel rescued by the angel? Because he believed in his God. Dear brother or sister, are you walking in darkness? Does it seem vain to pray? Does Satan fill you with gloomy terror and alarms? Does he try to distract your mind with care, while you would fain cast your burden upon God? Are your prayers hurried, anxious, almost distracted lest they should not be heard? Does your unworthiness rise up like a mountain between Christ and your soul? Do past sins which you had hoped were forgiven still present themselves as if for re-consideration? Is your mind tossed about in agony at the thought of being so far from God? Are you at a loss what to do to free yourself from this load of sorrow? Please stop where you are;

be calm and composed; get your Bible and read carefully the sixth chapter of Daniel. Think of one man's standing alone in a heathen land, among deadly enemies who were hunting for his life: finally cast among the furious lions! How dreadful! Think of it! Realize, if you can, what would be your feelings in a den of lions, those dreadful creatures of the desert!

Why do they retire, as if abashed? Why do they perhaps start back, as if with fear? Why is the man of God so calm? Simply this: he believed in God. As Paul says in his letter to the Hebrews, Through faith they stopped the mouths of lions. O it is faith, still, calm faith! no distraction, no noise, no terror nor fear, not a word of complaint, no sorrow, no pain, no aching heart, but firm faith, unmovable, beautiful faith, looking to God with steady eye and trusting heart, while sweet mercy pours salvation into the soul, healing its wounds, driving away its doubts, dissipating its fears, dispelling its clouds, illuminating its darkness, and lighting up that manly heart of his, until that den of lions seemed like a heaven.

Fear! Do you think that Daniel feared for a moment those cruel, ferocious monsters? Does a child fear while in the arms of its fond mother? Oh thou tried and tempted one, fix your mind here, hold it here, in this lions' den. Stay with this Daniel until you feel the same excellent spirit he had, of child-like, yet manly, faith. The godly man is no coward, fleeing before his shadow, while such faith animates his bosom. You never hear of Daniel's fleeing into the desert to get away from an Ahab or a Jezebel, because this excellent spirit was there, it was steady, even, firm. Oh who does not love the excellent Daniel!

Hold on, thou tempted saint, as Daniel did; for the just shall live by faith. You may pray a thousand years, yet without faith, and it would be as useless and idle as the passing wind. Yet you may exercise faith as you think of this example of Daniel, the beloved Daniel, still, noiseless faith, and you will realize the blessing of God, distilling like heavenly dew upon your soul, and as you realize this, take care to keep in this frame of mind. Do not trust to duties (true, they must be performed), but trust in the God of Daniel. Read, too, the eleventh of Hebrews, and notice how highly Paul exalts faith, the first stone in the structure. It lies close upon the foundation, Christ. Lay it broad and evenly, and keep it there. Cement it down with love, for he that doubts God cannot hope in his mercy. J. C.