God were filled; divine institutions were attended; family religion and parental authority were maintained; cards, and balls, and theatres were unknown, and all open vice and infidelity were treated with general and just contempt. Whether this was pure superstition, or pure religion, it was certainly owing, in a great measure, to the example of civil rulers, who meant to form the people to virtue and piety. It is to be expected, that rulers should form the character of the people, and not that the people should form the character of rulers. It was never known, that the house of Israel reformed one of their loose, irreligious kings; but it was often known, that one pious, exemplary king reformed the whole nation. If Daniel had fallen into the corruptions of Babylon, there is not the least probability that his people could have prevented his ruin. But when they had forsaken the paths of virtue and piety, he was able, by his personal example and influence, to bring them back to the worship and service of the God of their fathers. Civil rulers would find no occasion .of promoting religion by their laws, if they would only heartily and unitedly promote it by their lives. Let them only live religion, and they will do enough to discharge their duty; and I will venture to add, they will do enough to form this people to a virtuous and religious character. For if this effect should not flow from the example of their virtue and piety, it would be a singular instance, and such an one as cannot be found in the history of any nation, from the beginning of the world to this day. If civil rulers carry the power of reformation in their own hands, then their obligation to reform the people must be equal to that power. Let me, therefore, entreat the man of office, the man of honor, the man of, influence, seriously to consider, that "to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin."

It farther appears from the character and conduct of Daniel, that those who sit in the highest seats of government, have no excuse to neglect the profession and practice of vital piety. Real religion is necessary on their own account, as well as on account of those who live under the influence of their powerful example. It is hard to say, whether the most dignified characters deserve our veneration, more than our tender compassion. They are certainly surrounded with peculiar temptations to forget their Creator, and to neglect the one thing needful. But Daniel has told them by his example, that they are under a great delusion, if they once imagine their high stations and public employments will afford them the least excuse for neglecting the duties of piety and devotion. They cannot seriously believe, that they have greater temptations to resist

than Daniel resisted; nor greater difficulties and embarrassments to surmount than Daniel surmounted. He was born a prince, and spent his whole life in the presence of princes. But whilst he lived with the princes of Judah; whilst he marched with the army of the Chaldeans; and whilst he resided with the gay and dissolute youth in Babylon; he remembered and obeyed his Creator. When his office seated him in the king's gate, surrounded by profligate and infidel courtiers, he supported and adorned his religious profession. When a hundred and twenty princes sat at his feet, and the affairs of a hundred and twenty provinces lay upon his hands, he found time and opportunity for the performance of every religious duty. And when propriety required him to submit to the most public and pompous parade; to be clothed in the silks of Persia, and adorned with the gold of Ophir, and to receive the incense of public honors; he could silently retire in the close of the day, and humbly prostrate himself, as a poor guilty worm, before the supreme Majesty of heaven and earth, and devoutly implore his mercy. He very well knew, that though ornaments and honors might dazzle the eyes of unthinking multitudes, and conceal his imperfections from the view of men; yet they could by no means hide his heart, or conceal his criminal defects from the omniscient eye of God, to whom he stood accountable for all his internal feelings and external conduct. If young politicians, if aged statesmen, if the most dignified characters on earth, would seriously survey the pious and devout life of Daniel, they would be fully convinced, that neither the cares, nor honors, nor temptations of public life, can dissolve their obligations to call upon God; to read his word; to reverence his sanctuary; and to attend all his holy and sacred institutions. Dignity and devotion have been and may be united. Rulers over men have been and may be the most humble and faithful servants of God. "Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling." Moreover,

The faith and piety of Daniel reprove the ignorance and presumption of those politicians who profess and propagate the principles of infidelity. The infidels in our Saviour's day were men of superior rank and figure. And it is well known, that infidelity has commonly been first imbibed and propagated by professed philosophers and politicians. Men of this exalted character have lately spread atheism and infidelity through a great nation; and attempted to diffuse the poison of their irreligious and disorganizing sentiments among the people of America. Such champions of infidelity endeavor to shake our faith in natural and revealed religion, by carrying us

back into the dark regions of antiquity. Hume, Voltaire, and Condorcet, represent mankind as being originally involved in ignorance and barbarism. And they pretend to trace the progress of the human mind, in emerging from that primitive savage state, and gradually rising to a nobler state of civilization, learning, and infidelity. But were they better acquainted with the dark regions of antiquity, and with the rise and progress of human improvements, than the pious and learned Daniel? Did they ever live with him on the plains of Shinar? Did they ever search the same records and traditions of antiquity, which he searched? Did they ever converse with the Chaldeans, with whom he conversed? Were they ever personally acquainted, as he was, with the learned. Amonians, who, as an incomparable writer* has clearly proved, spread every species of civil, political, and religious knowledge, through Egypt, through Greece, and through every part of the inhabited world? The most learned infidels of the present age, who have ransacked the bowels of the earth and the dark corners of the globe, to pick up arguments against revealed religion, are but minute philosophers in comparison with Daniel. Whilst he stood on the plains of Babylon, with the Bible in one hand, and all antiquity in the other, he saw, as clearly as the sun at noon-day, the truth and divinity of that holy religion, which came down from heaven through the medium of divine inspiration. All his knowledge of the natural, moral, and political world, instead of weakening, confirmed his faith in the scriptures of truth. His strong and cordial belief of divine revelation, therefore, completely demonstrates what has often been justly asserted, that infidelity is not seated in the head, but in the heart; and flows not from profound knowledge, but from a meaner and more criminal cause. Is it not sufficient to strike any modern infidel entirely dumb, to ask him this plain, pertinent, pointed question, thou wiser than Daniel?"

Another important reflection naturally suggested by the conduct of this able statesman is, that civil rulers have no occasion for the use of art or intrigue in any of their public measures. Those who conduct the intricate affairs of government ought to be wise and prudent; but yet they should never be artful or designing. There are, however, professed politicians, who recommend this mode of conduct by precept as well as example. They insinuate that no man can succeed in political affairs without taking advantage of the weakness, folly, and caprice of human nature, and making use of meas

*Bryant on Ancient Mythology.

ures which are diametrically opposite to every idea of integrity. Some grave writers on moral and political philosophy, plainly inculcate the first principles of injustice and duplicity. They lay it down as a maxim, that politicians may and ought to make utility, or what they conceive to be the general good, the supreme rule of their conduct. But a great and good ruler will adopt and act upon a far more honest and noble principle: "Let justice be done, though the universe should sink." Daniel found wisdom and integrity abundantly sufficient to answer all his political purposes, without ever stooping to the low arts of intrigue. These he was able to describe, and these he was able to defeat. In drawing the characters of the king of the north, and of the king of the south, he gave a lively and striking picture of two profoundly artful and intriguing politicians." And both these kings' hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper." Whilst he presided over a hundred and twenty princes, he clearly and sensibly perceived the nature and tendency of that diabolical policy which they employed to take away his life. But he opposed honesty to dishonesty; justice to injustice; wisdom to cunning; and open integrity to all their dark and deep designs. Nor did he fail of confounding their counsels, and of turning their own artful and malicious devices to their own destruction. Truly wise and upright politicians will never find occasion to employ any other weapon than perfect integrity, in order to defeat the pernicious purposes of their most subtile and malignant enemies, whether at home or abroad. Be it so, that our present connection with distant nations may expose us to the arts and intrigues of foreign courts; yet those who have the direction of our national concerns may rely upon it, that a fair, open, upright conduct will be the best method to frustrate the art, the duplicity, and unjust policy of five, or of five hundred unprincipled politicians.

This naturally leads me to observe, in the last place, that civil rulers have sufficient encouragement to be faithful in the discharge of all their public duties. These I shall not go out of my province to prescribe, nor even to suggest. If public men are only faithful, there is no ground of anxiety about the wisdom or propriety of their public measures. Faithfulness, however, cannot be too often or too forcibly inculcated upon those who have many opportunities, and of course many temptations to betray their trusts. But it is happy to reflect, that their encouragement to fidelity is abundantly sufficient to balance all their unfavorable circumstances. The favor of God, and the esteem of men, are the most animating motives to duty. These had a commanding influence over the views and

conduct of one of the most able and upright rulers. Daniel found by happy experience, that honesty was the best policy. For his faithfulness to the Deity secured his favor and assistance; and his fidelity to men secured their sincere and warm attachment to his person and interest. As he constantly persevered and increased in integrity, so he constantly increased in wealth, in honor, and outward prosperity. Let who would fall, Daniel stood. Let who would sink, Daniel rose. Let who would be in power, Daniel was their favorite. Let who would combine against him, Daniel always succeeded and prospered.

Is not this example worthy of the notice and imitation of all who sit in the seats of government? And may I not, with great propriety, take occasion from it, to press the duty of fidelity upon the honorable legislature of this Commonwealth, which holds the first rank in the United States for piety and virtue, as well as political importance? This large and religious community are devoutly wishing and praying for a faithful administration of government. They would shudder at the thought, that their rulers should lift their hands to Heaven, and solemnly engage to administer a government which they meant to undermine, and to protect a people whom they meant to destroy. Their minds are alarmed at threatening dangers; and nothing can give them ease but an unshaken confidence in the fidelity of their rulers. They do not distrust their abilities; but they may entertain some apprehensions respecting their integrity, since their enemies boast of corrupting it. But if those who direct our public affairs would only display the piety, the integrity, and firmness of Daniel, they would undoubtedly possess the entire affection and confidence of this great and intelligent people. Indeed, some of the first characters in this legislature have already merited and secured the esteem and attachment of an enlightened part, and were it not invidious, I would add, of the most enlightened part of this Commonwealth. Notwithstanding the weakness and prejudice of some, we esteem it a favorable circumstance that his Excellency has heretofore filled a dignified station, in which he had a peculiar opportunity of discovering his uprightness, and at the same time of forgetting the subtilties and of imbibing the genuine spirit of the laws. This, and all the States in the Union, are much indebted to many eminent civilians, for the knowledge, the wisdom, and the integrity, which they displayed in framing the federal constitution; which is not, and perhaps never will be, inferior to any one of mere human invention. This excellent constitution is the basis of all our national safety and happiness. And it is extremely difficult to conceive, that