people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses be made a dunghill, because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort."

This subject suggests a few words,

1. To young persons.-The case of these Hebrew Youths conveys instruction to you with peculiar energy, and demonstrates the great necessity of steady religious principle. It is true you live not in the court of Babylon; but you live in a sinful world, surrounded with the enemies of God, and of your souls. An image of gold is not set up which you are commanded to worship; but there are other snares, a variety of other trials, which will put your sincerity to the test, and determine whom you serve. You are exposed to numerous temptations from which nothing can effectually secure you but the fear of God, and the stedfast belief of his truth. We urge you, therefore, to seek earnestly the possession of this fear, and the lively exercise of this faith. The world is the dangerous foe of youth: its allurements are many, and its votaries are ever assiduous to multiply the companions of their folly but come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord." "Watch, and pray, that ye enter not into temptation *."

And you, parents; we wonder not that young persons, in the present day, are so yielding to vanity and vice so content to swim with the stream, and to follow the corrupt fashions of the age; for what should hinder? What should induce them to resist?

* 2 Cor. vi. 17. Matt. xxvi. 41.

Their minds are not principled; they are not furnished with religious knowledge: and for want of this, their consciences have little sense of evil, their hearts are not inclined to good, they are left without any effectual restraint. What an affecting view does this give us of the rising generation! What a motive it presents for more diligent exertion! Parents, bring up your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."-The subject speaks,

2. To undecided professors. There are many such; and many do not suspect themselves till they are tried. It is an easy thing to follow religion while the world smiles: but when it frowns, when it threatens, when it reviles and persecutes, then is the secret iniquity of multitudes discovered: their principles are abandoned, and their props give way. Remember, if religion demands any thing, it demands the heart. You must be decided, or you are nothing. Is it so, that you are led away by the fascinations of the world? You know nothing of the Gospel as you ought to know. Do you yield to trifling inducements? What would you do if a "burning fiery furnace" were before you? The idea of such a furnace is terrible; but it is nothing to that "devouring fire which shall never be quenched"-" that lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." And whose dismal portion will that be? "Hypocrites and unbelievers" are expressly mentioned; and "the fearful*.” Who are they? Why such as you who hesitate, who have no heart to be decided, who deny the Saviour, and renounce the Gospel, from the dread of reproach and suffering; who, like cowardly soldiers, fear the enemy, and

* Rev. xxi. &.

shrink in the day of battle. And are you more afraid of present trial than of future destruction? More studious to avoid the displeasure of men than to escape the fierce wrath of an offended God? Take the wise advice of a compassionate Saviour; "Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do: but fear him, who, after he hath killed, hath power to cast into hell. Yea, I say unto you, fear him *." And remember that pointed declaration, "Whosoever shall be ashamed of me, and of my words, of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father, with the holy angels †."

3. Afflicted, persecuted believers are addressed.— To you this subject speaks peculiar encouragement. Never was there a more striking illustration, or a more exact fulfilment of the promise, "When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burnt; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." And to you Jehovah speaks, as well as to believers in all ages; "I will be with thee"-" I will deliver thee." Submit the time, the manner, and the means of deliverance to his sovereign and gracious pleasure; and learn, from this part of sacred history, that God can render the furnace of affliction, and even the bed of death, easy and happy: he can make the rack or the flames the scene of sweet communion between himself and his people. The sufferings which they are called to endure do but loosen their ties to this earth: they tend to release them from a world of sin, and hasten their enjoyment of "the glorious liberty of the sons of God." In the mean time, † Mark viii. 39.

* Luke xii. 4, 5.
‡ Isai. xliii. 2.

the presence of the Saviour can make us joyful in any situation. It is light in darkness; it is life in death. But,

4. Are there any persecutors here? This subject speaks closely to you. And let me remind you of the dreadful end of such characters. See it in the death of Herod, who was eaten up with worms: see it in the doom of Pharaoh, who, with his host, sunk like lead in the mighty waters and see it in the degraded condition of this haughty Chaldean monarch; driven from the society of men, herding with the beasts of the field, and sunk far beneath their level in wretchedness and guilt.-My hearers, whether you openly insult, or secretly harass and oppress the saints, God is Judge! You can go no farther than Jehovah permits; and in a moment he can convince you of your folly, of the impotence of all your rage, and sink you lower than the

grave.

Many a man is an oppressor, a persecutor, in his own house. His influence, possibly, does not reach much farther; or he may have that regard to his reputation, and to his worldly interest, which binds him to restrain his passion in his general intercourse with men. But see him in his own domestic circle; observe his temper in his own family; how often rage and fury boil in his breast, anger distorts his countenance, and even Nebuchadnezzar could scarcely be more unreasonable in some of his requirements! Do not think, because you are not so bad as this prince of Babylon, that therefore you are not blameable. And be admonished, instead of being a tyrant at home, to act the part of a friend. Be not a peevish oppressor; but be gentle and affectionate,

shewing all meekness towards all men." Imitate

Jesus; and "humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.' What said this persecutor, when brought to his right mind?" Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, and extol, and honour the King of Heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment; and those who walk in pride he is able to abase *."