[Illustration: DANIEL’S YOUTH. T · NELSON · AND · SONS _LONDON · EDINBURGH · AND · NEW · YORK_] [Illustration: “A PURPOSE IN THE HEART.” Page 5] [Illustration: BIBLE LESSONS DANIEL’S YOUTH. SUNDAY. God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.—PS. lxxv. 7. MONDAY. The king’s favour is toward a wise servant.—PROV. xiv. 35. TUESDAY. O satisfy us early with thy mercy.—PS. xc. 14. WEDNESDAY. But I keep under my body: lest that by any means, I myself should be a castaway.—1 COR. ix. 27. THURSDAY. Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.—2 TIM. ii. 22. FRIDAY. How much better is it to get wisdom than gold.—PROV. xvi. 16. SATURDAY. The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated.—JAMES iii. 17.] * * * * * 1. _Tell who Daniel was, and how he came to Babylon._—DAN. i. 1-3, 6. 2. _For what purpose was Daniel chosen by Nebuchadnezzar?_—DAN. i. 4, 5. 3. _What did Daniel ask the prince of the eunuchs?_—DAN. i. 8-10. 4. _What did he then propose to Melzar?_—DAN. i 11-14. 5. _What was the result of the trial?_—DAN. i. 15, 16. 6. _How did Nebuchadnezzar receive them at the end of the three years?_—DAN. i. 17-20. 7. _In what was Daniel an example to the young?_ In his early piety. It grew in a situation where it had no advantages, and many difficulties to overcome. He showed his obedience to God’s law—temperance—amiability—diligence in his studies. ILLUSTRATIVE STORY. “Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself.” This, my dear boys, explains all that Daniel did, and all that Daniel became;—this is the root of the matter, it was this “purpose in his heart,” carried out, that made him good and great: he purposed in his heart that he should not sin. Most boys are fond of laying plans—they have many purposes for the future. I remember often at school we used to talk of what we would be, what we would do, when we were men. One would be a sailor, another a goldsmith, another a pastry cook, and another a soldier. I do think the boy who purposed to be a pastry cook loved sugar, and the intended goldsmith was fond of the glitter of gold. Yet, if I recollect aright, not one of these boys became what he purposed—they never _did_ what they purposed. I will mark down three kinds of purposes, and tell a little story for each. 1. _A purpose of the head._ 2. _A purpose of the tongue._ 3. _A purpose of the heart._