was foon over-run with idolatry and fin. After two years he was killed by his fervants, and the crown defcended to his fon, the pious Jofiah; who brought about a total reformation. He demolished all the idols, and particularly the altar at Bethel, as it had been foretold. He repaired the,.. temple, restored the regular worship of God, and caufed the book of the law to be read and explained by the priefts publickly and diftinctly to the people. He died of a wound which he received in a battle with the Egyptians; and his youngeft fon Jehoahaz was made king by the people: but he was foon dethroned by the king of Egypt, who gave the crown to Eliakim his eldest brother, and changed his name to Jehoiakim.

Before Jehoiakim, who was deaf to the Chrift reproof and denunciations of the pro606. phet Jeremiah, was foon obliged to become tributary to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon; who carried Daniel and a great number of the Jews into captivity. Afterwards, upon a refufal of payment, he took Jerufalem, flew the king, and gave the crown to his fon Jehoiachin. But that powerful monarch, who was the inftrument of divine vengeance against the Jews, foon returned, ftripped the temple and

the city of their treasures, and carried the king and many thousand captives tọ ̈ Babylon.

Zedekiah, uncle to Jehoiachin, was then appointed king by him, and continued faithful to him for fome years: but at length being deceived by falfe prophets, and difregarding the advice of Jeremiah, who recommended patience and fubmiffive truft In God, he rebelled against Nebuchad nezzar, and brought deftruction upon him felf and his country.

CHAP. XXXI.

THE CAPTIVITY OF THE TWO TRIBES.

THE hiftory of the Jews is the hiftory of Divine Providence, containing many wonderful proofs of God's fuperintending all public events, and directing them uni formly according to the rules of justice and righteoufnefs. While they cherished piety and virtue, they flourished and dwelt fafely; they were fuccefsful in war, and rich and happy in peace: and when, on the contrary, they departed from the commandments of the Lord, and did that which was evil in his fight, the Almighty either fent a famine, or drought, or peftilence, or stirred

up the neighbouring nations against them, for the punishment of their guilt, and the reformation of their lives. But hardness of heart was the prevailing character of the Jews; they were remarkable for a ftrong inclination to worship idols and to work wickednefs; neither the different chaftifements inflicted upon them, nor the inftructions and examples of the prophets, nor the dreadful judgments clearly and repeatedly denounced against them, nor even the recent deftruction of the kingdom of Ifrael, were able to root it out: and at length they became fo wicked, fo corrupt, and fo, idolatrous, that the Lord faid, I will remove Judah alfo out of my fight, as I have removed Ifrael, and will caft off this city of Jerufalem, which I have chofen, and the house of which I faid, my name fhall be there. Accordingly, in the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah, that kingdom alfo was over-run by the Affyrians, who plundered the facred temple of the great God, fet fire to that and the city, and carried away the king and people to Babylon.

May we learn in all events, both public and private, to confider God as prefent and directing all things! May we fix our view upon him in all our designs and

all our works, in every circumstance of life, and every action of the day! And as the declining ftate of practical godlines amongst us, and the prevailing corruption and diffolutenefs of manners clearly fhew, that the measure of our iniquity, as a nation, is filling up very fait; and that we have reason to expect fome grievous punishment, may we turn unto the Lord, now while he holds back his hand from judgment, and gives us fpace to repent! May we apply ourfelves heartily to reform our own temper and conduct, and study to promote the practice of piety and virtue amongst others, that we may draw down from Heaven the bleffings of profperity and peace upon our neighbours as well as ourselves; for (as we have seen in the history of the Jews) Righteoufness exalteth a nation, but fin is the reproach and ruin of a people.

CHAP. XXXII.

SHADRACH, MESHACH, AND ABEDNEGO.

THE prophet Daniel had been carried away with fome friends, among whom were Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, into captivity to Babylon; where after

fome time, having difcovered to the king, by the affiftance of God, his dream and the interpretation of it, which the wife men of the kingdom were incapable of doing, he was made governor of the whole province, and his friends were advanced to places of chief dignity and trust. The great men, however, whofe hearts were let upon thofe high offices, obferved them with a jealous eye, and induftrioufly fought an occafion of bringing about their ruin. Therefore when thefe friends, out of zeal for the honour of God, refused to pay adoration to a golden image, which the king had commanded all men to worship, threatening that they, who did not comply, fhould be cait into a burning furnace; they were accufed of the violation of the royal law, and condemned to undergo that fevere punishment. But the angel of the Lord came down, and made the furnace as it had been a moift whistling wind, fo that the fire touched them not at all. Upon which the king cried out with amazement and joy, Bleed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath fent his angels, and delivered his fervants, who tried in him.

The Lord watcheth over the righ 'teous: no power can deprive them of his

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