302

THE FIERY FURNACE.

CCV.

Jue FIERY PURNACE.

chadnezzar, the idolatrous
king of Babylon, made a
great image of gold. It
was set up in a plain in
Babylon; and the people were com-
manded to fall down, and worship
it. All the princes, and captains,
and judges, and nobles, came at
Nebuchadnezzar’s command; and
then a herald cried aloud to the
people, “To you it is commanded,
that at the time when ye hear
the sound of the horns, and the
harps, and the pipes, and the trum-
pets, and all kinds of music, ye fall
down and worship the image which
Nebuchadnezzar the king has set
up. And whoso will not fall down
and worship, he shall be cast into a
burning fiery furnace.”
Meshach, and Abed-nego, heard the
command given; and they heard,
too, the dreadful punishment which
was threatened to those who diso-
beyed; but these good men felt that
they could not obey, because He
whom they served had commanded
them to worship no strange gods.
He had said, “Thou shalt have
none other gods but me;” and
“Thou shalt not make any graven
images; thou shalt not bow down
to them, nor worship them.” Shad-
rach, Meshach, and Abed-nego,
asked God to give them strength to
obey Him. God heard their prayer,
and gave them faith to trust in
Him, and to be willing even to die
in His service.

 

Shadrach, -

At last the time came. The
music sounded, and then all the
people fell down, and worshipped
the golden image. Let us remem-
ber, that there are many thousands
of heathen in the world now, who
worship images. Pray God to pity
these poor idolaters; and to send
His word to them, to teach them
about the one true God, and Jesus
Christ whom He has sent.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-
nego had enemies in Babylon, who
watched to see if they would wor-
ship the golden image, or not; and
when these enemies found that
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego,
did not attend to the king’s com-
mand, they ran directly, and told
Nebuchadnezzar. They said, “Thou,
O king, hast made a law, that every
man shall fall down and worship
the golden image when the music.
begins to sound; but the Jews
whom thou hast made rulers in
Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abed-nego, they will not obey thy
command, nor worship thy gods.”
Then Nebuchadnezzar was angry,
and commanded the three Jews to
be brought before him. |

When they came, the king spoke
to them, and said, “Is it true that
you do not worship my gods, and
the image I have set up? Now
then, make yourselves ready; and
when you hear the music sound,
fall down and worship my image;
and I will forgive you, and it shall
be well with you; but if not, you