protection in the most diftreffing circum. ftances, he is able to deliver them and though he fuffer the malice of their enemies to prevail even unto death, yet ftill they are fafe; his favour reacheth beyond the grave; his loving-kindness is better than life itself. While I live therefore, I will not remove mine integrity from me; but will commit myfelf unto the Lord in well-doing, after the example of those pious heroes: 0 Nebuchadnezzar, our God whom we ferve, is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and, we truft, will deliver us out of thy hand. But, if not, be it known unto thee,. O king, we will not ferve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou haft fet up.

CHAP. XXXIII.

THE PERSECUTION AND DELIVERANCE

OF DANIEL.

Before AFTER feveral years, the city BaChrift bylon was taken, and the go538. vernment totally deftroyed by the Medes and Perfians, according to the exprefs denunciations of Daniel and other prophets. Upon which Darius (called

alfo Cyarares) uncle of Cyrus the great, and confederate with him in the war, united the kingdom of Babylon to that of Media; and having divided all his domiBions into one hundred and twenty provinces, appointed Daniel the first prefident of the whole empire; to which high office his experience and wifdom juftly entitled him. This exaltation of Daniel gave great offence to the princes and nobles; they were envious of his fuperior merit as well as his fuperior dignity, and refolved to embrace the first opportunity of impeaching his conduct, and depriving him of his ho nours. In vain, however, did they keep, a ftrict eye upon his administration of public affairs; for he directed all things with fuch prudence and integrity, as precluded all accufation or reproach; there was no error or fault found in him. At length, by a wicked contrivance, they turned even his piety and devotion into an inftrument of their malice; for they procured an edict from the king, forbidding all perfons to offer any prayers to God or man, except to the king, for thirty days, under the penalty of being caft into the den of lions. Daniel was not terrified by the danger that threatened him, into any mean diffi mulation, but preferred his duty to every

confideration in the world; and fupported by confcious innocence and a steady truft in the divine power and goodness, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he had done afore-time. Fear not them who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do: but fear him, who, after he hath killed, hath power to caji into hell.

But

The enemies of Daniel immediately ac cufed him of having tranfgreffed the royal decree, and urged the execution of the fentence with fo much earneftness, that the king, though with great reluctance, gave way to their importunity, and commanded him to be caft into the den of lions. God fent an angel, and flopped the lions mouths, that they should not hurt him, because innocence was found in him, and because he believed in his God. And when the king, who returned to the den the next morning with the utmost anxiety, found, that the Almighty had preferved his faithful fervant, he caufed him to be taken out, and his wicked accufers to be thrown among the beafts; which though they had no power over Daniel, immediately killed and dévoured them. The Lord is known by the judgment which he execut,

eth; the wicked are fnared in the work of their own hands, and funk down in the pit which they made.

The king, aftonished at the goodness and juftice of Divine Providence, thus wonderfully manifefted, publifhed a decree through all his dominions, commanding men to ac knowledge and reverence the God of Daniel, who is the living God, and jiedfaft for ever. He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh figns and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.

CHAP. XXXIV.

THE RETURN OF THE CAPTIVES, AND RESTORATION OF THE TEMPLE.

CYRUS, the king of Perfia and Babylon, (who fucceeded his uncle) had been pointed out by his name, in the prophecy of Ifaiah, two hundred years before his birth; and was raised by the Almighty to deliver his people, and restore them to the land of their fathers. When therefore the Jews had continued feventy years in captivity, which was the time foreld by the prophet Jeremiah, Cyrus published a decree, allowing them to return to Jerufa

lem, and rebuild the city and temple. Many thoufand captives affembled for this purpofe; and being arrived at Judea, under the conduct of Zerubbabel, applied themselves earnestly to the defired work, and laid the foundation of the temple with great joy. But the Samaritans (the people who had been planted in the cities of the Ifraelites upon their captivity) by various arts obftructed the undertaking, fo that the building went on very flowly, till the decree of Cyrus was revived and confirmed. by Darius, and the prophets Haggai and Zechariah tirred up the people with promifes and threats from God, upon which they renewed the work with uncommon zeal and vigour, and finifhed it with great expedition.

Before After feveral years Ahasuerus Chritt (who is alfo called Artaxerxes) gave 458. ample power to Ezra, a man of a pious and good temper, and deeply skilled in the knowledge of fcripture, to fettle the Jewish government, and reftore the worfhip of God. He executed the commiffion with fervent piety and diligence, and in a great measure reformed and regulated the affairs both of church and ftate. He also collected the books of the Old Teftament, examined and corrected them, and placed