for I cannot think they deserved a better name. As an absolute prince he felt himself above all controul, and possessing the lives and fortunes of his subjects at his own disposal: He therefore demanded of them to explain a dream which he could not relate; for which, if they did it, he would grant them great rewards, but if they did not, he threatened them with immediate death. And who cannot, from such an instance as this, see the great, the infinite advantage of a government founded on law, and not on the will and pleasure of an individual? No man, however excellent his character, should be trusted with absolute power in a state; and though a dictator, on some rare occasions, may have been necessary, yet this can never hold good as a general rule; for the wisest and the best prince may err, and determine according to passion and not reason, and therefore ought not to be trusted with unlimited power. But though Nebuchadnezzar possessed such power, yet this did not prevent the Chaldeans from requesting him, in Syriac, to tell them the dream, for otherwise it was utterly unreasonable to expect its interpretation.

The Syriac language was very similar both to the Hebrew and the Chaldean; and it is probable that it was the learned language of the times. In addressing the king, therefore, in this language, they assumed an air of secrecy and importance, and endeavoured to give consequence to their proceedings; a thing which conjurers in general do.

hNecessariumvero est, linguæ Hebraicæ præcepta callere, antequam ad Chaldaicæ vel Syriacæ cognitionem se quis accingat, post jacta vero Hebraica fundamenta, brevi in Chaldea et Syriaca magnos progressus faciet, adeo ut miretur se tam esse doctum antequam didicit, et nota fertur regione viarum. "

Walton's Introduction to the reading of the Oriental languages.

Nothing could be more difficult than the situation in which the Magicians and Sorcerers were placed, for both their art and life were now at stake; and therefore, they confess, that none could shew the king his dream, "except the Gods, whose dwelling is: not with flesh," It was of great importance that this declaration, should be extorted from them; for after the thing had been shewn by Daniel, who attributed his knowledge to the true God, they would then have an opportunity of seeing that the God of the Hebrews was the only God. The Jews were under a foreign yoke, and their enemies, had triumphed over them; but still God remembered his covenant which he had made with their forefathers, and therefore, he was determined to honour his people among the heathen, by enabling Daniel to interpret and unfold what all the wise men of Babylon confessed themselves unable to disclose or explain.

But as Nebuchadnezzar could not obtain from his wise men any answer, he soon became exasperated, and charged them with preparing lying and corrupt words "till the time be changed," and, that they might "gain the time." This gaining of the time is generally interpreted of their making as much delay as possible, till the king became indifferent to the matter, and not anxious, about its explanation. But I should rather suppose that it refers to some acknowledged principle in the interpretation of dreams; so, that unless an answer was obtained in a certain time after the dream, no answer could be demanded. But however this may be, they were not able to divert the king from his purpose; and as they could not give him any answer that was satisfactory, he became "very furious and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. "

The matter is now brought to its greatest crisis, and we shall have to contemplate Daniel's consummate prudence, sincere piety, and above all, his firm faith.

Daniel was not sent for among the wise men, for at this time his education could be but just completed'; for the time allotted to it was to be full three years, and as he entered upon his studies in 606 B. c. and Nébuchadnezzar had his dream in 603 B. c. it follow's that Daniel would not be considered, at this time, as a person properly qualified for so great a matter.

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But as he and his companions were taught all the learning of the Chaldees, and were of the class of wise men, they also were involved in the decree, and made liable to its punishment. It was, therefore, necessary to make a great exertion both for their own safety, and the lives of those with whom they had been connected in studies and discipline. Daniel, therefore, addressed himself to Arioch, the officer, to whom the execution of the decree was entrusted, and asked him, Why is the decree so hasty from the king?" Neither Daniel nor his companions had been called upon by the king; it was, therefore, unjust that they should be involved in the decree: and also by not calling them the king had not ascertained whether his dream might not be explained to him. Daniel, therefore, having discovered from Arioch the cause of the decree, and knowing that the king's great desire was to have his dream explained, went with confidence to him, and promised to interpret it to him, if he would grant him time.

This promise he made in that Spirit of faith, with which David went against Goliath with a sling and a stone, and of which faith holy writ speaks in such

praise. He knew that the God he served not only could, but would interpose for his own name's sake, and for the good of his people; and therefore he hesitated not to engage to tell, and explain to the king his dream.

That he felt confident, not in his own wisdom, but in the divine interposition, is evident from his conduct; for he, and his companions Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, betook themselves to earnest prayer, that the God of heaven would shew them mercy in revealing to them the secret, and thereby preserve their lives.

Whoever considers how much the duty of prayer is enjoined, and how much it has been practised by all good men in all ages, must be convinced, that it is not less our duty than our interest to be instant in prayer. The very exercise of the duty prepares our minds for the reception of what we need, and hence God revealed the secret unto Daniel in a night vision.

The same vision, or dream, which the king had seen, was represented to the mind of Daniel by a divine operation, for the father of Spirits can operate upon our spirits when and as he pleases. And though Nebuchadnezzar had forgotten his dream in the first instance, yet its impression was so great, that when Daniel told the dream to him, he would immediately recognize it to be the same which he himself had dreamed.

It is too common, when men have discovered any thing new or interesting, to feel elated, and to ascribe the glory of their discoveries solely to themselves; but, it was not so with Daniel; for as he had sought and obtained the divine assistance to unfold the dream, so he forgot not to express his gratitude to his God,

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In the hour of adversity most men will cry for help from God; their fears are powerful to drive them to their knees; but when they are delivered, they rarely feel gratitude sufficient to make any particular acknowledgement of the blessings they have received. But Daniel was as eminent for piety as for wisdom; for after he obtained the knowledge of the secret, he blessed the God of heaven, and said; "I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast made known unto us the king's matter.