These people calculated upon Daniel, and they had a right to calculate upon him.  Could the world calculate upon us, that we would rather go to the lions’ den than conform to what God and our consciences told us to be a sin?  If not, we have not yet learned what it means to be a disciple.  The commandment comes to us absolutely, as it came to the servants in the first miracle, ’Whatsoever He saith unto you’—­that, and that only—­’whatsoever He saith unto you, do it.’

FAITH STOPPING THE MOUTHS OF LIONS

’Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions.  Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, He will deliver thee. 17.  And a stone 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 lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel. 18.  Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting:  neither were instruments of musick 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 lions. 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, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? 21.  Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. 22.  My God hath sent His angel, and hath shut the lions’ 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 lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den. 25.  Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. 26.  I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel:  for He is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall be even unto the end. 27.  He delivereth and rescueth, and He worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. 28.  So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.’—­DANIEL vi. 16-28.

Daniel was verging on ninety when this great test of his faithfulness was presented to him.  He had been honoured and trusted through all the changes