In his affliction, however, he humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, who therefore mercifully restored him to his liberty and to his throne. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God. He afterwards enjoyed a long and prosperous reign, and shewed his penitence and gratitude in a holy and religious life.

Before Amon, upon succeeding to the throne, took. Christ the former part of his father's reign for his 643. example, and did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord. The repentance and piety of Manasseh were forgotten, and the kingdom was soon overrun with idolatry and sin. After two years he was killed by his servants, and the crown descended to his son, the pious Josiah: who brought about a total reformation. He demolished all the idols, and particularly the altar at Bethel, as had been foretold. He repaired the temple, restored the regular worship of God, and caused the book of the law to be read and explained by the priests publicly and distinctly to the people. He died of a wound which he received in a battle with the Egyptians: and his youngest son, Jehoahaz, was made king by the people; but he was soon dethroned by the king of Egypt, who gave the crown to Eliakim, his eldest brother, and changed his name to Jehoiakim.

606.

Before Jehoiakim, who was deaf to the reproof Christ and denunciations of the prophet Jeremiah, was soon obliged to become tributary to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, who carried Daniel and a great number of the Jews into captivity. Afterwards, upon a refusal of payment, he took Jerusalem, slew the king, and gave the crown to his son Jehoiachin. But that powerful monarch, who was the instrument of Divine vengeance against the Jews, soon returned, stripped the temple and the city of their treasures, and carried the king and many thousand captives to Babylon.

Zedekiah, uncle to Jehoiachin, was then ap

pointed king by him, and continued faithful to him for some years; but, at length, being deceived by false prophets, and disregarding the advice of Jeremiah, who recommended patience and submissive trust in God, he rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar, and brought destruction upon himself and his country.

CHAPTER XXXI.

THE CAPTIVITY OF THE TWO TRIBES.

THE history of the Jews is the history of Divine Providence, containing many wonderful proofs of God's superintending all public events, and directing them uniformly according to the rules of justice and righteousness. While they cherished piety and virtue, they flourished and dwelt safely: they were successful in war, and rich and happy in peace; and when, on the contrary, they departed from the commandments of the Lord, and did that which was evil in his sight, the Almighty either sent a famine, or drought, or pestilence, or stirred up the neighbouring nations against them, for the punishment of their guilt, and the reformation of their lives. But hardness of heart was the prevailing character of the Jews; they were remarkable for a strong inclination to worship idols, and to work wickedness; neither the different chastisements inflicted upon them, nor the instructions and examples of the prophets, nor the dreadful judgments clearly and repeatedly denounced against them, nor even the recent destruction of the kingdom of Israel, were able to root it out; and at length they became so wicked, so corrupt, and so idolatrous, that the Lord said, I will remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city of Jerusalem, which I have chosen, and the house of which I said my name shall be there. Accordingly, in the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah, that kingdom was

also overrun by the Assyrians, who plundered the sacred temple of the great God, set fire to that and the city, and carried away the king and the people to Babylon.

May we learn in all events, both public and private, to consider God as present and directing all things! May we fix our view upon him in all our designs, and all our works, in every circumstance of life and every action of the day! And as the declining state of practical godliness amongst us, and the prevailing corruption and dissoluteness of manners, clearly show that the measure of our iniquity, as a nation, is filling up very fast, and that we have reason to expect some grievous punishment; may we turn unto the Lord, now while he holds back his hand from judgment, and gives us space to repent! May we apply ourselves heartily to reform our own temper and conduct, and study to promote the practice of piety and virtue amongst others, that we may draw down from Heaven the blessings of prosperity and peace upon our neighbours, as well as upon ourselves; for (as we have seen in the history of the Jews) righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is the reproach and ruin of a people.

CHAPTER XXXII.

SHADRACH, MESHACH, AND ABEDNEGO.

THE prophet Daniel had been carried away with some friends, among whom were Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, into captivity to Babylon; where, after some time, having discovered to the king, by the assistance of God, his dream and the interpretation of it, which the wise men of the kingdom were incapable of doing, he was made governor of the whole province, and his friends were advanced to places of chief dignity and trust. The great men, however, whose hearts were set upon these high offices, observed them with a jealous eye, and industriously sought an occasion of bringing about their

The Persecution and Deliverance of Daniel.

79

ruin. Therefore when these friends, out of zeal for the honour of God, refused to pay adoration to a golden image, which the king had commanded all men to worship, threatening that they who did not comply should be cast into a burning furnace; they were accused of the violation of the royal law, and condemned to undergo that severe punishment. But the angel of the Lord came down, and made the furnace as it had been a moist whistling wind, so that the fire touched them not at all. Upon which the king cried out with amazement and joy, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him.

:

The Lord watcheth over the righteous: no power can deprive them of his protection: in the most distressing circumstances he is able to deliver them and though he suffer the malice of their enemies to prevail even unto death, yet still they are safe; his favour reacheth beyond the grave; his loving-kindness is better than life itself. While I live, therefore, I will not remove mine integrity from me; but will commit myself unto the Lord in welldoing, after the example of those pious heroes: O Nebuchadnezzar, our God whom we serve, is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and, we trust, will deliver us out of thy hand. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

THE PERSECUTION AND DELIVERANCE OF DANIEL.

AFTER several years, the city of Babylon Before was taken, and the government totally de- Christ stroyed by the Medes and Persians, according 538. to the express denunciations of Daniel and other prophets. Upon which Darius, (called also Cyaxares,) uncle of Cyrus the Great, and confederate with him in the war, united the kingdom of Babylon to that

80

The Persecution and Deliverance of Daniel. of Media and having divided all his dominions into one hundred and twenty provinces, appointed Daniel the first president of the whole empire; to which high office his experience and wisdom justly entitled him. This exaltation of Daniel gave great offence to the princes and nobles; they were envious of his superior merit, as well as of his superior dignity, and resolved to embrace the first opportunity of impeaching his conduct, and depriving him of his honours. In vain, however, did they keep a strict eye upon his administration of public affairs; for he directed all things with such prudence and integrity, as precluded all accusation or reproach; there was no error or fault found in him. At length, by a wicked contrivance, they turned even his piety and devotion into an instrument of their malice; for they procured an edict from the king, forbidding all persons to offer any prayers to God or man except to the king, for thirty days, under the penalty of being cast into the den of lions. Daniel was not terrified by the danger that threatened him, into any mean dissimulation, but preferred his duty to every consideration in the world: and, supported by conscious innocence and a steady trust in the Divine power and goodness, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he had done aforetime. Fear not them who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do; but fear Him, who, after he hath killed, hath power to cast into hell.

The enemies of Daniel immediately accused him of having transgressed the royal decree, and urged the execution of the sentence with so much earnestness, that the king, though with great reluctance, gave way to their importunity, and commanded him to be cast into the den of lions. But God sent an angel, and stopped the lions' mouths that they should not hurt him, because innocence was found in him, and because he believed in his God. And when the king, who returned to the den the next morning with the