proaching, fuperiour and everlasting felic

ity.

To you I now appeal which of these objects is most inviting. Survey them at your leisure ; contrast, compare them; and if upon due examination it appear that every advantage is on the fide of virtue, make Eugenio your pattern-Go and do likewife!

Semon XII.

CHARACTER OF DANIEL RECOMMENDED TO THE IMITATION OF YOUTH.

DANIEL x. II.

DANIEL, A MAN GREATLY BELOVED.

IT is the advice of an infpired apostle, that we "take the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of fuffering affliction, and of patience." This counfel deferves our ferious attention; we may we may find great entertainment in contemplating those excellent characters, which adorn the page of revelation; and we may derive the moft useful inftruction from a furvey of thofe trials and virtues which have rendered them the admiration of the world.

Among the eminently great and good men, whom we are exhorted to take for

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an example, the prophet Daniel deferves a confpicuous place. He was a defcendant from the kings of Judah; and for this reafon might be diftinguished from other captives by the royal favour. In the prophecy of Haiah, we read, "Behold the days come, that all that is in thinehoufe, and that which thy fathers have laid up in ftore until this day, fhall be carried to Babylon: nothing fhall be left, faith the Lord. And of thy fons, which fhall iffue from thee, which thou shalt beget, fhall they take away; and they fhall be officers in the palace of the king of Babylon." This prediction was addreffed to Hezekiah; and was accomplished, when Daniel and three others were deftined to receive a princely education, to be fed from the monarch's table, and to attend on his perfon.

Daniel is mentioned with great refpect by the Jewish hiftorian; he styles him "one of the greatest of the prophets :" and he further obferves, that he " not only predicted events, like other prophets, but alfo affigned the precife time of their accomplishment." Our Saviour, likewife, mentions him with great refpect; and if we attend to the fubject of his prophecies, namely, the coming and fuf.

ferings,

ferings of Chrift, and the great events which would precede the gofpel age, we muft confider Daniel as one of the most eminent of an order, deftined to look into futurity; and, by prophetic communications, to comfort and inftruct mankind.

Under Nebuchadnezzar, and his fucceffors, he lived in great favour; and his uncommon merits conciliated the friendfhip of Darius and Cyrus. It is computed, that he was twenty years of age, when carried into captivity; that, in the course of ten years afterwards, he had an established reputation for wisdom and piety; and that he had nearly attained to an hundred years, when he died. This fhort account of Daniel, I thought neceffary, as an introduction to the following difcourfe.

In the text, he is addreffed as a man greatly beloved. That he merited this diftinguishing honour; in other words, that he deferved to be greatly beloved, will clearly appear, if we attend to his hiftory, as far as the particulars of it may be collected from the facred volume. I fhall, therefore, proceed to investigate the fuperiour excellencies which adorned his character, in order that we may be

delighted,

delighted, inftructed, and perfuaded by it.

First. It is impoffible not to admire his confcientious fcruples, when selected with three others to receive an honourable education, and to experience the royal bounty. That they might be qualified to ferve their prince, orders were given, that they fhould be inftructed in the language and fcience of the Chaldeans; and that, during three years, they fhould be fed from the king's table; and fhould drink of his wine. This flattering distinction, however, was very unacceptable to Daniel; that, which he esteemed his duty, he wifely preferred to any fenfual gratifications; he, therefore, intreated that he and his friends might be permitted to eat pulse, and to drink water, their religion forbidding them to partake of the dainties provided for a monarch. After fome difficulty the request was granted; and Daniel had the fatisfaction, without offending his royal benefactor, to preserve his confcience undefiled.

Such a ftrict regard to duty, in a perfon fo young, and under circumstances fo trying, must be confidèred as an earnest of thofe accomplishments, which rendered the prophet greatly beloved. To perfons

just