could not consent to disobey God in order to please an earthly ruler, or to avoid his anger. Remember this rule, then; but remember, also, that obedience to earthly rulers in every other case, is a duty expressly commanded by God himself. "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God; the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever, therefore, resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God." (Rom. xiii. 1, 2.)

HYMN.

Jesus, my strength, my hope!
On thee I cast my care;
With humble confidence look up,
And know thou hearest prayer.

Grant me a godly fear,

A quick discerning eye,

That looks to thee when sin is near,

To bid the tempter fly.

A spirit still prepared,

And armed with zealous care;

For ever standing on its guard,
And watching unto prayer.

I rest upon thy word;
The promise is for me;
My succour and salvation, Lord,
Shall surely come from thee."

QUESTIONS.

Who reigned in Babylon after it was taken by Cyrus?

How was Daniel treated by him, and why?

What decree did Darius sign?

Who persuaded him to sign it, and with what intention?

How did Daniel act when he knew of this decree?

Tell me what followed when he was discovered praying to God.

What does the Bible say about obedience to rulers?

Is there any exception?

What is the rule in such a case?

Give me some examples?

Repeat a text which tells us to obey

those set over us.

OTHER SCENES IN JUDAH.

I MUST now remind you of Cyrus, who, as I told you, took Babylon with his army of Medes and Persians, and possessed it as part of his own dominion, when his uncle Darius died.

Now Cyrus had been raised up by God for a particular purposenot only for the destruction of Babylon, but also for the deliverance of the Jews. You remember that the Jews were at this time captives in Babylon, where they

had been taken by Nebuchadnezzar. But their captivity, God had said, should last only for a certain time-seventy years; and, at the end of that time, God promised to bring them back to their own land. And as those seventy years drew nearer and nearer to their close, God prepared all things for the fulfilment of his purpose.

Darius died, and Cyrus became king, not only of Persia, but also of Media and Babylon. He had very large possessions, and was a powerful king, and a wise and clever man, and a great conqueror. But of all the things he did, the best and greatest was this: he made a proclamation, giving leave to all the Jews in his dominions to return to Jerusalem, and to