99

culties. Every day's experience verifies the fact that "the fear of man bringeth a snare,' and that much devotion to sustain a lively faith is the only effectual means of escaping its entanglements.

It is further obvious that the most pointed and powerful appeals to the consciences of men will not invariably succeed; but the failure of our endeavors ought not to prevent reiterated effort and perseverance. The sovereignty of divine grace has not unfrequently been manifested in frustrating an instrumentality which, in human estimation, has seemed the most adapted to the end, and in prospering that which has been regarded as, in itself, the least distinguished, valuable, and effective. It is thus we are led to discriminate between the work of man and the operations of God.

The judgment pronounced upon Nebuchadnezzar, it seems to be intimated by Daniel, was conditional. His reformation might avert the threatened evil" if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity." Similar instances occur in Scripture. Compare Is. xxxviii. 1—5; Jerem. xviii. 7—10; Jonah iii. 4—10.

Verse 28.-All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar. 29.-At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.

30. The king spake and said, Is not this great Babylon that I have built for the house of the kingdom, by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?

The

Herodotus assures us that the wealth and resources of the state of Babylon, were equal to those of a third part of all Asia; and he represents the city as square, each side of which was 120 stadia, or 480 in circumference. The least calculation is 360 stadia, or 45 miles. Pliny affirms it to have been 60 miles. walls were 50 cubits in height, and their breadth sufficient to admit, according to Diodorus, six chariots to drive along abreast. A branch of the river Euphrates ran through the centre, across which a bridge extended of a furlong in length, with a palace at each end. The proud monarch claims the honor of erecting this city; but though this was not strictly the fact, it only became one of the wonders of the world by his addition of the walls of a hundred gates, the temple of Belus, his palace, the hanging gardens, and other magnificent decorations.

But what is all this grandeur to that "city of God" of which real Christians are the destined inhabitants, and of which the prophets have given so splendid a description! What was the glory of Babylon, with the accumulated treasures of ages, to the "glory of God!" Every spot will be "holy ground;" for John "saw no temple therein; for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon to shine in it for the glory of

God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof."

The king of Babylon looked round upon the edifices and public works of his far-famed metropolis, saying, "Is not this great Babylon that I have built?" The day is not distant, when each disciple of the blessed Jesus, while traversing the golden streets, and the sacred walls and enclosures of his celestial abode, will exclaim, with emotions of exquisite delight, commingled with self-abasing gratitude -Is not this the "new Jerusalem," which my Redeemer has built by the might of his power, and for the glory of his majesty? Instead of the pride, the selfishness, and the mean passions of earth, "there shall in no wise enter any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie; but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life!"

Nebuchadnezzar "walked in the palace," that is, probably, in the palace gardens-with what an air of self-importance is better imagined than expressed-and spake, in the recorded language of boasting and disregard of providence and God, to his surrounding parasites. Poor, pitiable worm of the earth!"While the word,”—Yes,

Verse 31.-While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee:

32.-And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. 33.-The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.

We suggest the following as materials for reflection on this subject:

1. Sin is of a hardening nature, retaining its hold in defiance of warnings, and even of repeated punishments.

2. The most exalted of human beings is but an insignificant atom in the hand of infinite power.

3. God is never unmindful either of his threatenings or of his promises; which leaves the impenitent nothing to hope, and the believing nothing to fear.

4. The punishments which God inflicts upon the wicked, here or hereafter, have relation to their character and demerits.

5. As the possession of reason is the highest distinction of man, so the continuance of our mental sanity, which might in one moment be deranged, either in sovereignty or in judgment, ought to inspire our most devout and daily gratitude. What a visitation was seven times, that is, seven years, of such madness!

6. It is, in general, a proof of divine goodness that our curiosity is so much baffled respecting the events of time to come, and that an impenetrable veil is thrown over our own future history.

Verse 34. And at the end of the days, I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me; and I blessed the Most High; and I praised and honored him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:

35.-And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? 36. At the same time my reason returned unto me; and, for the glory of my kingdom, mine honor and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom; and excellent majesty was added unto me.

37.-Now, I Nebuchadnezzar praise, and extol, and honor the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able

to abase.

How far this last return to the sentiments and expressions of religion was genuine, and whether we are to regard Nebuchadnezzar as finally converted to God, may be regarded as one of those questions which, while we are benevolently desirous of giving it the most favorable construction, must be referred to the great mass of unfathomable mysteries. The evidence we have a right to demand in