earthly trifles, nor sensual pleasures. By devout and holy desires, by aspiring and pure affections, let them claim the skies. Here we are pilgrims and strangers; here we have no abiding city. Let us seek one which is above, to which Enoch and Elijah, to which our gracious and glorious Redeemer have ascended,-one whose builder and maker is God,-one eternal in the heavens. Again,

2. We should admire the goodness and mercy of God, who, in the darkest seasons, raises up men to be lights in the world, a blessing to their country, and a prop to declining religion. Such was Elijah. There were a few thousands, indeed, in Israel, who had not yet bowed the knee to Baal. But they were obliged to conceal themselves. In this gloomy state of things, the Lord sent Elijah, and religion prevailed, famine ceased, and the nation triumphed over invading and insulting enemies. And hence,

3. Let us as a nation, or smaller community, or as individuals, learn whither to look for light and relief, when a dark and gloomy season is passing over us. History is recorded for our admonition. There is the same God, and as full of mercy to all who will put their trust in him. To him let us look to preside over and bless the nation; to awaken us as a religious society from error, from stupidity, from bitterness, wrath, and clamour; and to bring us back from our wanderings to purity and peace. And as individuals, if we are conscious of coldness and dullness in a christian profession, or a total neglect of his service, let us remember, that he

will visit for these things, except we repent, when he will receive us graciously, and love us freely.

4. It is delightful to draw from our subject the ground of conviction, that God is mindful of his faithful servants, and will finally receive them in the most triumphant manner to glory. The eyes of mortals are not often greeted with the sight of heavenly glory on earth. But death is triumph to the Christian. Whenever we see a faithful servant of God and Christ closing his eyes in death, then let us exult to see, by the eye of faith, his happy spirit encircled by angels, who are a flame of fire, and rising to glory. And Oh! let us be anxious that an exit safe, peaceful and glorious too, may be our's, when we shall be called for. That time is not far off-it will soon be here—we have not a moment to lose. Let us propose to ourselves the bright example, we have been contemplating, of firm attachment to God and true religion, if we stand alone. Let us abide by the covenant of our God, and cling to his altar and ordinances, if it be amidst general neglect.Then God will reward our fidelity, by granting us his presence when we most need it, in the valley of the shadow of death. And when he, who is the believer's life, shall appear with ten thousands of his saints, to judge the world, we shall appear with him in glory. Amen.

SERMON XIII.

DANIEL.

DANIEL X. 19.

O man, greatly beloved, fear not; peace be unto thee; be strong, yea, be strong.

These words were applied to the prophet Daniel by a divine messenger, whom he saw in a vision, " clothed in linen, his loins girded with fine gold, his body like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude." "0 Daniel, a man greatly beloved," was his salutation. And when the prophet was ready to faint with astonishment at the glory of his appearance, he reassured him with the same gentle and comforting language. "0 man, greatly beloved, fear not; peace be unto thee; be strong, yea, he strong."

It is not particularly denoted whether he was beloved by God or men; the text may, however, intend both. Certain it is, that the character of Daniel is one of the most perfect in the holy scriptures. His fame for wisdom and rectitude was such, that for these exalted qualities his name became a proverb, even in his lifetime. Ezekiel, speaking of a land visited with divine judgments for its sins, affirms that if Noah, Daniel and Job were there, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness. And the same prophet, speaking to a proud and vain prince, and reproaching him for thinking too highly of himself, says, "Thou art wiser than Daniel; there is no secret they can hide from thee. Thus, even in his lifetime, for Daniel was cotemporary with Ezekiel, he was regarded the highest example of righteousness and wisdom. This eminence for wisdom and righteousness is the more extraordinary, as no man was ever placed in situations of severer trial. While very young, he was carried a captive to Babylon. For his beauty and talents he was selected as an object of royal favour, and educated in a luxurious and licentious court. He was not only permitted, but required to partake of the provision of the king's table, and of the wine which he drank; but through religious scruple he refrained, resisting the promptings of youthful appetite, and hazarding the displeasure of an absolute monarch. He was a foreigner, and even a captive, yet was exalted to the highest trust and dignity short of the throne.

This station, which he seems to have held under five successive sovereigns, and for nearly half a century, exposed him to the envy and plotting malice of disappointed courtiers, who would have destroyed him, if they could, without any compunctions of conscience respecting the means. Nothing but the power of God could have saved him, or did save him. For he was negligent of his life, steadily pursuing the path of duty, without calculating its tendency with regard to himself. He never flattered the king, nor soothed his enemies. He acted on a simple principle, and had but one inquiry-What is duty?—and the answer decided his conduct. To Nebuchadnezzar he denounced the approaching judgment of God, and boldly counselled him to "break off his sins by repentance, and his iniquities by showing mercy to the poor, that it might be a lengthening of his tranquillity." Still more direct and awful, yet full of tender pathos, was his rebuke to the impious Belshazzar. It is to be remarked, however, that while he was faithful, he was also gentle and courteous in his manners, manifesting that he acted a part which was painful to him, and, as a friend, admonished them of dangers, that by repentance they might escape them. It is not often that monarchs, placed above human control, will consent to hear of their faults, from men beneath them. Daniel was a wonderful exception to this remark. He was greatly beloved by his sovereigns; and the more painfully faithful he was, the more he was caressed and honored by them. They perceived in him integrity, which could