T TIME.-605 B. C. Time when the first company of Jews were carried captive to Babylon, or soon after. In Greece, the 43d Olympiad. Year of Rome, 148. PLACE.-Babylon. (See Descriptive Index.) CONNECTING LINK.-An incident in the life of four captive Jews, showing God's care for his people. and the manner in which he prepared, before the final captivity, a friend in high position at the court of the great king. DOCTRINAL SUGGESTION-God's watchful care. QUESTIONS FOR SENIOR STUDENTS. 1. True to God, v. 8-16. Who was Daniel? What was his character as shown in our lesson ? What temptations would naturally surround one at such a court? What rule does our Golden Text give for such temptations as assail the young? 2. Honored of Men, v. 17-21. How were these young Jews honored? Why were they thus honored? How long a time had they been students in the lore of the Chaldeans? What elements of character in these young men were the foundations of the honor they received? Can you find another instance of a young man who was true to his God, and honored of men in a strange land? Practical Teachings. Where in this lesson is fidelity to conscience taught? Where is the benefit of obedience to God's law taught? Where is the duty of doing with our might what our hands find to do shown? Daniel added to his faith, virtue; to virtue, knowledge; to knowledge, temperance. Do you? superstition with their learning. But in these young men were found a clearness of vision which made their counsel much more valuable than that of the magicians. Daniel continued. In a position of honor and influence. King Cyrus. Cyrus was the conqueror of the Chaldeans and the emancipator of the Jews. He began to reign over Babylon about B. C. 538, though at first having Darius as the nominal head of the kingdom. Daniel must have been between eighty and ninety years of age at his accession. (11) Temperance leads to long life as well as honor. QUESTIONS FOR INTERMEDIATE SCHOLARS. 1. True to God, v. 8-16. What purpose had Daniel formed? Of whom did he ask permission? How was Daniel regarded by his master? What caused this regard? Prov. 16. 7. Why did the prince hesitate to grant Daniel's pet tion? To whom did Daniel then apply? For how long a time? What was the result of the trial? What diet was granted to Daniel and his friends? 2. Honored of Men, v. 17-21. How did the four Hebrew captives prosper ? What special gift had Daniel? How long was the training of the young men continued? Dan. 1. 5. What occurred at the end of that time? Who examined the young men ? Who excelled among them? How were they honored? What was the king's judgment as to their knowl edge? How long did Daniel remain in favor? Teachings of the Lesson. Where are we taught in this lesson 1. That the path of duty is the road to honor ? 2. That the right way is the best way? 3. That obedience to God brings divine favor? QUESTIONS FOR YOUNGER SCHOLARS. Who were among the captives carried to Babylon Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. What did the king command them to do? To live in his palace, and eat and drink of the meat and wine from his table. Why did he give this command? He wanted them trained for high places in his court. What did Daniel resolve in his heart? To keep the laws of God. (Repeat the GOLDEN TEXT.) What was one of these laws? All Israelites were forbidden to eat of meat killed by heathens. What was Daniel's request? That he and his companions be given pulse and water to eat and drink. What did he mean by "pulse?" A diet of fruit and vegetables. Of what was the ruler afraid? That they would not thrive on such food. What did Daniel ask them to do? To try it ten days. What was the result? Daniel and his friends were healthier and fairer than those who ate of the king's meat. What did Melzar do? He gave them pulse. With what did God bless his faithful children? With learning and wisdom. Of all the captive children, who were chosen by the king to stand before him? Daniel and his friends. How did he find them? Ten times wiser than all the wise men in his country. What always brings us blessings? Obedience to God's law. Words with Little People. Daniel was tempted, but he was firm in his purpose to do right, and God blessed and prospered him. "I CAN'T: it would make Jesus sorry," said a little girl when tempted to do wrong. What do you say? "If we from temptation flee, THOUGHTS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. How God Rewards Faithfulness. 1. Notice that our lesson shows us young men who were tried by exile, by temptation, by danger, yet young men who were true to their consciences. Let every youth "dare to be a Daniel." 2. God rewarded these young men by giving them favor and regard from their fellow-men. v. 9. This is not always the result of faithfulness, for sometimes God's servants suffer persecution, but generally they win the favor of men. 3. God rewarded these youths by giving them health and physical vigor. This is one of the results of a pure life. Contrast the appearance of young men who live for pleasure with those who live for God. 4. God rewarded these youths by giving them knowl edge and wisdom, which come to such as seek the truth and live according to its laws. 5. God rewarded these youths by giving them success in life, lifting them up to honor and usefulness. 6. We shall see in the next lesson how God rewarded their fidelity by protecting them in trial. English Teacher's Notes. THE first thing one looks for in coming to a muddy place, where footing is insecure, is a steppingstone. By means of such stones a miry path may be passed over, not only in safety, but comparatively without soiling the feet, and carrying away disagreeable marks of the passage. But coming to such a place in the dark, or even the twilight, it is not easy to discern the stepping-stones, and a wayfarer might flounder about, and even fall and damage himself in the slippery mire. This seems to be the idea presented to us in the Golden Text. The psalmist speaks of a difficult and slippery path to be traversed by every young man. With some it may be casier, with others harder, but each one has a way before him when he needs stepping-stones, and not stepping-stones only, but a light that shall reveal them clearly, so that the wayfarer may place his feet surely and safely. He tells us also where such a light is to be found. "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word." The passage for to-day presents us with an illustration of this from real life. It shows us a difficult and miry path, a light falling upon it, and young men passing over in safety upon the stepping-stones revealed by this light. 1. The miry path. It is difficult for us to appreciate this fully. Take the case of a young man reared in a pious family, going forth from his quiet home into the turmoil and temptation of a great city, and this hardly gives an idea of the slippery and difficult way that lay before the four royal captives delivered by Nebuchadnezar into the keeping of Ashpenaz. These boys, for such in fact they were, came as captives into a land with different customs, traditions, and standards of right and wrong, a land given up, not merely to ungodliness, but to something still more formidable-a false religion, which permeated the whole of public and private life. They were to be brought up as natives of the country, instructed in all the learning of the Chaldeans, in order, by and by, to "stand before the king; " that is, to do high and important service to this heathen monarch. The new names given to them show that they were expected to forget their country and their country's God, for by these names, Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego (derived from Bel, the chief god, Rak, the sun, Shak, the earth, Nego, the fire), they were dedicated to the principal idols worshiped by the Chaldeans. How could Daniel and his companions hope in such a position to keep clean from taint of idolatry? The thing seemed impossible. But they had, 2. A light and stepping-stones. Solomon had written long before, "The commandment is a lamp, and the law is light." And so these four youths found it. The law of Jehovah divided the animals into clean and unclean, the former only being allowed as food to the Israelites. Deut. 14. 4, etc. It also forbade the eating of things sacrificed to idols. Exod. 34. 14, 15. For an Israelite to partake of such food would have been to identify himself with the heathen and with their worship. The "king's meat," that is, the royal dainties supplied to the captives from the monarch's own table, as well as the wine he drank, were, according to custom, first dedicated by the offering of a small portion of them to an idol, so that Daniel and these three friends ran imminent risk of being mixed up with idolatry. But Daniel saw in the light of God's commandment what he ought to do, or rather, from what he ought to refrain, and he showed his friends a stepping-stone on which he determined to place his own foot, and thus" cleanse his way." "Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank." He set his foot deliberately upon the stepping-stone of obedience. But this was not all. Might not Daniel tremble on that stepping-stone as he saw the danger around him? Would he be allowed to remain in this steadfast purpose? Should the king notice a difference between the appearance of the Jewish youths and their companions of another race, his displeasure would fall on the officer who had charge of them. For his own safety this man might force them to comply. But Daniel had light on this portion of the way also. Was it not written in the blessing wherewith Moses blessed Israel, "The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms?" Deut. 33. 27. And had not David said: "Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass?" Psa. 37. 5. This was enough for Daniel and his friends, and they made a bold venture: "Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days. . . Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, . . . and as thou seest, deal with thy servants." They feared not the issue. They set their feet quietly upon the steppingstone of trust. And these stepping-stones brought them safely over. Their "way" was kept clean, and both in physical and mental gifts they surpassed all their companions. "Do you think," says a young girl, "it is possible for me to lead a Christian life as I am placed?" "It is of no use my becoming a Christian, for I am obliged to do what is wrong," says a youth. "No one can possibly live like a Christian there," says another lad. What does the story of Daniel say to such? It says plainly that they are mistaken-that a young man may cleanse his way, and a young woman, too," by taking heed thereto according to Not that the cleansed way will of thy word." course be smooth. Daniel and his three friends had to follow it at the cost of no small degree of self-denial, day after day, and month after month. We shall read next Sunday how the three followed it at the risk of their lives. But it can be done, for the light is true, and the stepping-stones are sure. Berean Methods. Hints for the Teachers' Meeting and the Class. Give some account of these young men, and how and when they came to Babylon, showing how their trouble became a blessing....Illustrate the principle of the benefits of trial, from the lives of Joseph, of Jacob, of Moses, of David, etc....The circumstances under which these young men served God-far from home, in exile, in a dissolute court, among idolaters, etc....The spirit which they showed, principle, will, purity, temperance, gentleness, faith, etc.... Present each trait in their character as exhibited by their conduct....Show the results of their conduct: 1.) On their bodies, in contrast with effects of intemperance; 2.) On their minds: 3.) On their spiritual nature; 4.) On their social relations; 5.) On their prospects in life....Do not fail to make emphatic the lesson of total abstinence from strong drink....Take as a lesson-thought for the class, "Daniel purposed in his heart," the first sentence of the lesson. Show the benefits of having a purpose in life. References. FREEMAN. Ver. 20: Magicians, 76. Primary and Intermediate. LESSON THOUGHT. The Reward of Obedience. The story of Daniel is one of such vivid interest that the attention and sympathy of a class can be easily secured by its recital. But we shall do a better work, if we can weave in the lessons to be learned from it in such a way that the children will feel that they belong to the story and touch it with a light from heaven. God in Daniel, is the charm of this story; can we show him to the children? is the question to be considered alone with God. The King's Command. Tell how Daniel and his three friends came to be in Babylon. Was it their choice? No, God put them there, and he was there to teach them what to do. Tell that the people in Babylon worshiped idols, and Daniel had been taught to worship God. Tell what the king's command was about, the food for these boys, why he wanted them well nourished, and what temptation there was to like this life of luxury. God's Command, Explain that the meat and wine from the king's table had been first offered in sacrifice to idols, and Daniel thought God would not be pleased if he ate it. Then, some of the kinds of meat were such as God had forbidden the Jews to eat. Daniel did not want to disobey the king, but he felt that he must obey God, and so he asked the chief officer to give him and his friends pulse (vegetables) to eat. Show that Daniel did not do this to please himself, but to please God. Do we refuse rich and unwholesome food lest we may displease God? The Wisdom of a Right Choice. Show how much better it was for these boys, even in worldly ways, to obey God. Wine and rich foods destroy the stomach; they make the mind dull and heavy. Tell how fast these boys who minded God learned, and how pleased the king was when they were brought before him. Practical Truth for us. God wants his boys and girls to be strong in body and in soul. Teach that weak children will not be likely to make strong men and Women. Tell what some of the things are which weaken-eating rich food, candy, nuts, etc.; reading bad books; playing too much; any thing in which we choose our pleasure before God's. Daniel chose to mind God, and God rewarded him richly. Shall we not all make this choice? Lesson Word-Pictures. . the throne. From one to the other, move the searching eyes of the great monarch. Do the exiles tremble? Will they stand the test? The prince of the eunuchs too is waiting anxiously the result. Ah, whom God has searched and approved need not fear Babylon's king. Go forward to waiting honors, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Nebuchadnezzar approves of you. A young man in a great city! O how great! What walls, towers, palaces, gardens! A young man too in the king's household! What brilliant courtiers, luxurious living, fascinating temptations! A young man, too, far away from his home, far from the associations of a true, godly worship and thrown among idolaters! Will he save himself from defilement? What will Daniel do? His young Hebrew companions, what course will they take? A snare lies waiting to trip them at the very outset, a snare spread out three times a day, its lines stretched in the very table on which lies their food. Daniel shakes his head at the splendid dishes, at the costly wines. He turns his back upon them. They may have been defiled by some act of consecration to a heathen deity. They cannot build up his body into the greatest strength. He says, "I will speak about this to the prince of the eunuchs." Bold, loyal, royal Daniel! The two are talking. What does Daniel propose? "Pulse to eat and water to drink!" The eunuch's countenance falls. Such meager diet! What will the king say when he looks at four skeletons? "Prove thy servants ten days," is Daniel's plea. How the eunuch must have watched those four faces from day to day! Ah, what tints of health the pulse and water painted in those countenances! The days go by. How knowledge and skil come down into the hearts from which reverence and love ascend to God, while to Daniel is given the golden key unlocking the mysterious gates of Dream-world. At last comes the day of presentation to the great king. There they are, the four Hebrews ranged before LESSONS FOR FEBRUARY, 1886. FEB. 7. The Fiery Furnace. Dan. 3. 16-28. FEB. 14. The Handwriting on the Wall. Dan. 5. 1-12, and 25-28. FEB. 21. The Second Temple. Ezra 1. 1-4, and 3. 8-13. FEB. 28. Nehemiah's Prayer. Neh. 1. 1-11. Notes on Normal Work. -THE examination questions for the first year's course of study [in the Assembly Normal Union were sent out during October to over twelve hundred enrolled students, who have taken the course either as individuals or in normal classes during the past year. This is additional to the six hundred who have taken the course and the examination at the various Assemblies during the summer. -We receive reports of normal classes pursuing the studies of the A. N. U. in many sections of the country. One class of fifty students in Columbus, Ohio, has been under the charge of Rev. A. N. Craft; another, of thirty-five enrolled members in Worcester, Mass., has been conducted by Mr. H. D. Barber; and we have the report of a class in Vashon, Washington Territory, organized by Rev. R. B. Dilworth, whose face and voice are well known at Chautauqua. These are but a few out of many that might be named. mem -A normal class of nearly two hundred men bers has been organized in Plainfield, N. J. Every Sunday-school in the city is represented in its membership. It has undertaken the Institute Course of the A. N. U., and proposes to complete the twelve lessons, six on the Bible and six on Sunday-school work, in seven evenings. Its teachers are Rev. J. L. Hurlbut and Prof. R. S. Holmes. -The second year's class of the A. N. U. is composed only of such as have already taken the first year's course, or have graduated in the Normal Department of some Sunday-school Assembly. Its members are therefore limited; but at our time of writing (October 28, 1885) it already includes about two hundred names. Any normal graduate of Chautauqua or any other Assembly who desires to join can send his name and fifty cents fee to Dr. J. L. Hurlbut, at the office of the JOURNAL, and the lesson-leaflets will be sent to him. -We would like to have five thousand students in the new class of the first year in the A. N. U. now being organized. Write to Dr. J. L. Hurlbut, at the office of the JOURNAL, for the circular of information. Preparation for Work. BY MRS. C. F. WILDER. I received, not long ago, a letter from a young man who had gone from our Sunday-school to his country home, and in speaking of the Sunday-school with which he is now connected he says, "None of the teachers seem to be prepared for their work." If those who have been called of God to work as teachers in the Sunday-school would constantly remind themselves that they should "Study to show themselves approved unto God, a workınan that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth," no matter what their environment in regard to helps, this complaint of "not prepared " need never be made. Not all teachers are where they can have the assistance of the Normal Class or Teachers' Meetings -a fact greatly to be regretted. But every teacher has his Bible, his concordance and Bible dictionary, and the great subject of study is the precious Book itself. The teaching power comes from being mighty in the Scriptures, and the power is in proportion to the study. In God's Book alone is found the appointed means of conviction, regeneration, and sanctification, and with the aid of the Holy Spirit this can be made so plain to the teacher that he can impress these important truths upon the hearts of his pupils as he stands before them Sabbath after Sabbath. The young people of to-day are quick, intelligent, and inquisitive. They want to know not only the history of the Bible, its geography, the manners and customs of its peoples, but they want the spiritual meaning also found in the lesson. Books should be owned and studied with reference to this knowledge of ancient history; and the aid of the Holy Spirit should be implored that suitable impressions may be made of the spiritual truth to be taught. If a teacher has a stupid or indifferent class of pupils he may feel assured that the fault is in himself. If he cannot see wherein he is to blame let him ask wisdom of God, Not only should the teacher pray for himself as a Sunday-school teacher, but daily should he pray, with class-book open before him, for the pupils under his care, and for whose souls he is, in a certain degree, responsible. In the preparation of the lesson, seek not only for the general design of that single lesson but for the design of the whole chapter and book. Get the words of the lesson into the head and the meaning into the heart, and never be confined to the printed questions of the lesson-book. Make your own plan of the lesson and study and teach with system and directness. Know the needs-mental, spiritual, and socialof each scholar and adapt the question to the scholar, and so have the lesson learned that if the circumstances of the next Sabbath should not prove to be like those of the last, the lesson can be adapted for the occasion. If we have taken up this important work of teach ing God's Holy Word in the Sunday-school, we teachers. Cultivation. BY JOSEPHINE POLLARD. THERE is hardly any thing in the world, where growth of any kind is possible, that is not capable of being improved by cultivation. The weed that grows neglected on the hill-side, if properly cared for and nourished, may develop new beauty and become the chief ornament of the garden. The wild berries have not the same size or flavor as those that have undergone cultivation; nor do the hedges or by-ways exhibit such a variety of roses, and so exquisitely perfumed, as those we find at the florist's, or for sale in the city streets. Wild orchards present guarly and sour fruit, not to be compared with the perfect productions of trees that have been brought under proper cultivation, and if this is possible with trees and shrubs and garden growths, what may not be expected from a human being created with a desire for knowledge, and ready to absorb and appropriate every thing that will contribute to its advancement? The atmosphere we breathe, the books we read, the people with whom we associate, the conversation we indulge in, even the "thoughts that voluntary move," are either helps or hinderances; and our upward or downward tendencies depend far more upon ourselves than upon our circumstances. We are what we choose to be. How often it happens that the children of wealth and luxury, with every thing at hand to feed and nourish a refined taste, will forsake their attractive homes and the restraints of civilization, to lead a selfish and savage life, or to associate with the low and the vicious. The highest culture is the culture of the soul. This alone prevents one being contaminated, or dragged down from a lofty ideal. Intellectual ability and physical perfection are of less value than the moral character. As cultivation depends on the nature of the soil, this should have our first attention; the rocks and stones of Doubt and Infidelity must be removed, the plowshare must dig deep, the Gospel be freely worked in, and every thing done to improve its quality and its receptiveness. Then we may look for cultivation in the right direction, a love of things spiritual, sincere refinement, strict integrity, and a loathing for all that is dishonest or degrading. True culture is not only intellectual improvement, but means thorough cultivation-the development of the very best of which human nature is capable-and those who waste their time and neglect their opportunities have no one to blame but themselves for remaining Helps are at hand; in a state of ignorance. what we need is the energy to make use of them. Laziness is the greatest obstacle in the way of self-culture. |