Joseph and Daniel Shine in Prison
Illustration★★★His glory is from within. It is a radiation. Put him where you will, he shines, and cannot but shine.
God made him toshine. For instance: imprison Joseph, and he will shine out on all Egypt, cloudless as the sky where the rain never falls. Imprison Daniel, and the dazzled lions will retire to their lairs, and the king comes forth to worship at his rising, and all Babylon bless the beauty of the brighter and better day. Imprison Peter, and, with an an- el for a harbinger star, he will swell his aurora from the fountains of Jordan to the walls of Beersheba, and break like the morning over mountain and sea.
Imprison Paul, and there will be high noon over all the Roman Empire. Imprison Johan, and the Isles of the Aigean and all the coasts around will kindle with sunset visions too gorgeous to be described, but never to be forgotten—a boundless panorama of prophecy, gliding from sky to sky and enchanting the nutions with openings of heaven, transits of saints and angels, and the ultimate CHRIS’TIAN., glory of the city and kingdom of God.
Not only so; for modern times have similar exam ples—except examples in the church, and examples in the state. For instance, bury Luther in the depths of the Black Forest, and the “angel that dwelt in the bush” will honor hin there; the trees around him will burn like shafts of ruby, and his glowing orbs will lume up again, round and clear as the light of all Murope. Thrust Bunyan into the gloom of Bedford jail—and as he leans his head on his hand, the murky horizon of Britain will flaine with fiery symbols—‘ delectable mountains’ and celestial mansions, with holy pilgrims grouped on the golden hills, and the bands of bliss, from the gates of pearl, hastening to welcome him home.
Stockton. (214. CHRISTIAN, God-bearing, Saint Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, one of the apostolic fathers, because of his sanctity received the name of Theophorus, the God-bearer. Trajan is said to have asked him why he had the sur name, Theophorus? He replied, because ‘1 bore Christinmy heart.”
“Dost thou mean him that was crucified ?” asked the emperor, scornfully. Ignatius answered, “The very same, who, by his death, overcame sin, and enabled those who bear him in their hearts to trample under foot all the powers of the devils.” ‘Then he was ordered to = taken to Rome and given to wild beasts.
A fabulous writer says that after his death the name of God was found written upon his heari in letters of gold. He suffered martyrdom A. D. 107, being devoured by wild beasts in the Amphitheatre at Rome.
— Stockton
The point
Argues that a Christian's inner glory shines through regardless of circumstance, illustrated by Joseph, Daniel, Peter, Paul, Luther, and Bunyan all radiating faith even from prison, plus the martyrdom of Bishop Ignatius, the "God-bearer."