strength are inadequate to meet the requirements of the Divine law, you fail in the duty contained in the message, and you will be found wanting in the balances of the judgment-day. In addition to this, there is obedience necessary to all the precepts of the Gospel: not merely an outward formal obedience, but a hearty compliance with the commands. arising from love to the Commander, and a pleasure in the performance. Let us always remember that when God opens the mouths of His messengers to speak, and not to be dumb, they are responsible for the contents of the message. If they forbear, they incur the penalty of blood. Be not offended at the messenger when he tells you the truth: he withholds it at his peril. God will call him to judgment, and he must appear there with clean hands, or bear the imputation of others' sins.

II. We have here the result of God's special communications-" and they shall know that I am the Lord." This may be taken either in a way of threatening, or in a way of encouragement.

1. In a way of threatening. If they persisted in their obstinacy after the prophet's mouth was opened to resume the Divine communications, He would manifest His authority in such a manner as to compel them to submit unto Him. He had done so to those whom He had already punished they were obliged to believe the words of the prophet when it was too late; and the same should occur to those who escaped, unless they attended to the sign of the prophet. The name LORD signifies authority and dominion. God's authority is unlimited: every angel in heaven, every devil in hell, every man on the earth, every beast in the forest, every bird in the air, every fish in the sea, every element in nature, every principle in science, every propensity in the heart, are all in His power. How can poor, insignificant man dare to magnify himself against Him! Who has done so and prospered? We have many examples of defiance to His authority, but we have not one of success. The most daring Pharaoh, and proud Nebuchadnezzar, and

presumptuous Herod, and persecuting Nero, have been compelled to succumb to His power. Persons may for a time be suffered by His forbearing patience to strengthen themselves against the Almighty, despising His communications, defying His power, and neglecting His rule; but the day will declare His right, when He will say, "and they shall know that I am the Lord."

2. The expression may be taken in a way of encouragement. If they attended to His word, and obeyed His commands, His power should be displayed in their protection and deliverance. This was verified in respect to those people. It is just to say of them that the captivity in Babylon cured them of their idolatry. Bad as they were, there was no more idol-worship witnessed amongst them from that time. Having cast away their idols, God was with them in the land of their captivity, and after their allotted seventy years' servitude had expired, He showed His power in restoring them to their own land. If He has authority to punish, He has also authority to forgive and deliver. No instrument raised against those who obey Him shall succeed to obstruct the way of their prosperity, or confound the designs formed for their happiness. The apostle Paul felt this when he said "and we know that all things shall work together for good to them that love God." And the apostle Peter felt it when he said, "and who is he that can harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?" Yes; and we have a better authority than either in the words of our Saviour when He said, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." Come weal, or come woe; come prosperity or come adversity; come wealth or come poverty; come health or come sickness; come life or come death; all things shall work together for good. "The young lions may lack and suffer hunger, but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing." Enemies may annoy and persecute, circumstances may try and harass, but "if God be for us, who can be against us ?" "And they shall know that I am the Lord."

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The Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity.

MORNING SERVICE.-First Lesson: Daniel iii.

Verse 28.-" Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God."

THE three persons mentioned here were youths taken by Nebuchadnezzar from Judea in the beginning of the fourth year of the reign of Jehoiakim. This was the first time Jerusalem had been taken by that king, when he carried away only a portion of the inhabitants as hostages, "with a part of the vessels of the house of God." Daniel, Hannaniah, Mishael, and Azariah, being children belonging to the Royal family of Judah, were among the first number of captives. Finding that those four youths possessed superior talent and knowledge, the king ordered that they should be educated in the learning of Chaldea, intending them after a trial of three years' training to hold positions of trust in the kingdom. The four had new names imposed upon them importing relations to the idols of Babylon. Daniel was called Belteshazzar; Hananiah, Shadrach; Mishael, Meshach; and Azariah, Abed-nego. All the four soon excelled others in comeliness and learning. At the expiration of the allotted time they were admitted to attend the king, who found them superior to all the wise men of Babylon. Daniel's goodness and wisdom were the first marked. He was established in the favour of the court by relating and interpreting the king's dream, which all the

magicians and astrologers had failed to accomplish. Upon his rehearsal of the vision, Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged the supreme power and wisdom of the God of heaven, and promoted Daniel to the highest position in the realm; also at his request his companions were placed in situations of high honour in the province of Babylon. But such is the depravity of the human heart, unless governed by Divine grace, it soon forgets its real relationship and subjection to God. About sixteen years after this when Nebuchadnezzar returned from his conquest of one of the surrounding countries, he set up a monstrous idol in the plain of Dura, and ordered all his subjects, as soon as they heard the concert of music on the occasion, to fall down and worship the image. Daniel was then either absent from Babylon, or his elevated position made his enemies afraid to accuse him; but Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego were accused of insubordination to the king's command, which was a crime of high treason; upon being interrogated they declared their resolution not to worship the idol whatever might be the consequences. Enraged by their determined reply, Nebuchadnezzar ordered them to be bound and cast into the furnace of fire heated for the occasion to a seven-fold degree. The flame being so fierce caught hold of those who cast them into the fire and burnt them to ashes. But by the interposition of the "Son of God," who appeared walking with them in the furnace, the fire was only permitted to burn their bonds, and not so much as to singe their garments, or the hair of their heads. Nebuchadnezzar observing this called them to come forth, which they did, and were advanced to more honourable situations than before; the king also made a decree that if any one should speak reproachfully of the God of the Jews, whose power and majesty were so great, he should be put to death, and his house be turned into a dunghill. "Then Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego," &c.

The subject which this circumstance suggests is the importance of decision of character in the service of God, which we find illustrated, first, in its nature; and secondly, in its benefits.

I. We have the nature of decision of character in the service of God brought before us in this circumstance.

By this decision I understand a firm, open resolution to stand for the honour of God, and to make a public profession of His cause in the face of every temptation and every opposition. A decided spirit to adhere to that which is right is commendable in every department of life, whilst a vacillating, easily-drawn-aside disposition is despicable to the utmost degree; but when the glory of God and the interests of immortality are in the balance, no excuse can be offered for swerving from a principle of conscientious conviction. The noble example of those three men stands forth as a monument of principle worthy of the imitation of the greatest as well as the least upon earth. The men of the world may call it pride, or obstinacy, or self-will, or exclusiveness, or self-righteousness, if they please; but God calls it religion-true, sterling religion implanted in the heart.

There were four things in these men's decision which we may especially observe.

1. They were not ashamed to be exclusive in the service of God. Every man, woman, and child on the plain of Dura fell down before the image that was set up. The princes and governors and all who held the highest positions in the realm prostrated themselves at the sound of the music; those Hebrews stood alone, the objects of scorn and the butts of derision; still they boldly encountered every sneer in defence of their religion. It is easy enough to join with the crowds when religion is fashionable, and the multitudes pass through the same forms of Divine worship; but to be virtuous among the vicious, to be pure amongst the corrupt, to be just amongst the unrighteous, to serve God alone amongst the sneers and jeers of all around, requires a resolution which nothing but God's grace can bestow. We can scarcely realize the feeling in this country where to worship God (in form at least) is the rule, and to be an infidel is the exception; if you were placed down in a country of idolaters where none but yourself entertained any reverence for the Divine Being, the case