Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB

for spreading the gospel among the unenlightened inhabitants of the world. For this purpose societies have been established, Christians of different sects have united, liberal contributions have been made, able missionaries have been sent forth, Bibles have been printed in different languages, and dispersed among those, who never saw such a book before; and these measures have been attended with a success, which has exceeded expectation. The same missionary spirit, which has been so conspicuous in Europe, has been extensively felt in America.

As the object of the missionary societies is pious and benevolent, as their number is great, and as their rise in different parts was without concert, as they have met with liberal encouragement, and happy success; we cannot doubt but the hand of God is with them.

Though we cannot conclude, that the great reformation will immediately appear; yet we feel a confidence, that God is now preparing the way for it. And may his name be glorified; may his kingdom come; may his will be done on earth, as it is done in heaven; and may all flesh see his salvation.

To conclude; we may say, in the words of a late Scotch writer, "Never were times more eventful, or appearances more interesting, than at the present day. We behold, on the one hand, infidelity with dreadful irruption extending its ravages far and wide; and, on the other, an amazing accession of zeal and alacrity to the cause of Christianity. Error in all its forms is assiduously and successfully

propagated; but the progress of
evangelical truth is also great.
The number of the apparently
neutral party daily diminishes;
and they are now becoming the
worshippers of the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
or are receding fast through the
mists of scepticism into the
dreary regions of speculative
and practical atheism. It seems
as if Christianity and infidelity
were mustering each the host of
the battle, and preparing for
some great day of God.
enemy is come, like a flood, but
the Spirit of the Lord hath lift-
ed up a standard against him.
Who then is on the Lord's
side? Let him come forth to
the help of the Lord, to the help
of the Lord against the mighty."

The

THEOPHILUS.

UNIFORM PIETY EXEMPLIFIED
IN THE CONDUCT OF DANIEL.

RELIGION, when exhibited in the lives of men, more readily engages attention, and is more impressive, than when it is bareFor this realy seen in precept. son, among others, the divine Author of the Holy Scriptures hath seen fit to transmit to us a particular account of the conduct of a number of persons, in different ages of the world, and in different situations of life, who acted under its influence. By perusing their lives, we meet with something more than a description of religion; the thing itself is presented to our view.

Among the eminent saints, whose lives are recorded in the sacred volume, the prophet Danicl holds a conspicuous place. He

was of the seed of David, and was carried a captive to Babylon in the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah. He, who is the Ruler of nations and the Head of the church, had an important work for him to perform in his state of captivity. Wonderful was the providence of God in fitting him for this work, and in introducing him to it. Holding the heart of the king of Babylon in his hand, and improving him as an instrument of accomplishing his eternal purposes, he inclined him to select from the captive youths, a number of the most beautiful appearance and promising talents, to be taught the learning and tongue of the Chaldeans. Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, of whom Daniel was the chief. For them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank, was appointed. The reason of their being so delicately trained up probably was, that they, being in the flower of their age, might be allured with the delights of the court, and thereby be brought to forget their father's house and their religion; and, eventually, to be the means of bringing over all God's people to idolatry. But the thoughts of the Most High were not as the thoughts of the king of Babylon. While he was correcting his covenant people for their great wickedness, he took care of the faithful among them, and made them to be pitied of those who carried them captive. He gave Daniel and his friends a double portion of that excellent spirit of religion, which the Holy Ghost begetteth in the hearts of all, who are training up for heaven. This kept

them not only from being defiled with the king's meat, but from being corrupted with the errors of that idolatrous court. To prepare Daniel for what he had to do and suffer in the cause of religion, God brought him into favour with the prince of the eunuchs. This was a direct step to his promotion, while he was found eminently faithful in the service of his God. He was advanced to posts of honour, which he neither sought nor coveted; and, unexpectedly to himself, was enabled to be a kind of nursing father to the people of God in their afflicted state. His precious life was spared, that his prayers might ascend before the throne of the God of Jacob, during the whole of the seventy year's captivity. He maintained his integrity, and at the same time possessed great influence, under the reign of several kings, even in critical revolutionary times.

When Darius, the Median, took the kingdom, he appointed an hundred and twenty princes, who were set over the whole kingdom. Over these were appointed three presidents, of whom Daniel was first, that the princes might give accounts unto them, and that the king should have no damage. These presidents and princes hated Daniel, because he was above them. Their eye was evil, because he was good. To support a charge against him, on account of his administration, they found to be impossible; for there was an excellent spirit in him, and in all his undertakings he was upright and faithful. were determined that he should be deposed; to effect which,

But they

[ocr errors]

they wickedly and maliciously attacked him on the ground of his religion. They contrived to have a decree signed by the King, which would necessarily lead Daniel to part with his religion or his life. A more wicked and heaven-daring plot was never conceived by man. It verined the words of the inspired penman; Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but, who can stand before envy ?

Concealing their object from Darius, these men went to him with the flattering language of courtiers, and addressing themselves to the proud feelings of his heart, as a great monarch, drew him into a snare. "King Darius," said they, "live forev

er.

All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors and the captains have consulted to gether to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, be shall be cast into the den of lions." Such flattering language was calculated to make a proud monarch blind to all consequences. They wished to confer, as they pretended, great honour on their king; yea, to set him up above all gods. But the real object was, to destroy an eminently holy man, and the best man in the kingdom. Pleased with their flattery, and ignorant of their wicked plot, Darius signed the decree. Now they were prepared to remind him, if it should be necessary, as they well knew Daniel stood high in his esteem, that it was for his honour and interest, as well as his duty, to see this law

executed; because it was an established custom with the Medes and Persians, not to repeal, but to execute their laws. This was the snare which was laid for Daniel; and on obtaining the king's signature to the decree, they supposed that they had this holy man completely in their hands.

Here we see to what lengths the human heart will go in wickedness. A company of vile men, in power, agreed to dethrone God, at least for thirty days, and to make it treason against their king to put up one petition to God, in that time. What contempt. of the Most High!

Having obtained the decree, their next business was to watch the motions of Daniel, whom they had devoted to a cruel death. Now we have a view of his situation. He must either give up communing with his God, yea, he must deny his God, or part with his life. There was no other alternative. Did he hesitate what course to take? Did he go to them and lay open his embarrassing situation? Did he study to conceal from their view the manner in which he was disposed to treat his God? No. He was resolved. He knew that the honour of the true God was publicly attacked, and that matters were now in such a train that the interest of religion, and the cause of his afflicted people, depended greatly on his firmness.

Although every thing pertaining to this world was at stake, be did not alter the course of his devotion. When he knew the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his cham

ber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. The piety and sincerity of Daniel, in this case, were strikingly manifested. He did not fly to his chamber, like a mad man, and throw open his windows, that by praying in the view of his enemies, he might glory in his courage, and bid defiance to their decree. True religion never courts persecution. The windows of his chamber, where he was accustomed to bow the knee before God, were already open; and, under existing circumstances, it would have been, in a sense, yielding the point, for him to shut them. It is expressly mentioned that these windows were towards Je rusalem, the city of his God. Looking to the prayer made by Solomon, when the temple was dedicated, we see why particular mention is made, that the windows of Daniel's chamber were open towards Jerusalem. Doubtless all the devout Jews in their captivity, prayed towards the land of their fathers, and the city and house of their God. There God had promised to appear, and to accept his people. There he had placed his holy name. Daniel believed that God, in his own time, would deliver his people out of their cap tivity, and bring them back again. In the midst of all his honours, riches and employments, he did not forget these things. Daily, and three times a day, he carried the cause of his people before God. This was not ostentation; because it was no more than what had been Vol. II. No. 3.

R

[ocr errors]

David did

his usual practice. the same, as appears from his own words; "Evening and morning, and at noon, will I pray and cry aloud; and he shall hear my voice."

The pious among the Jews had three seasons of praying to God, in a day. The first was at nine in the morning, which was their third hour; the second was at twelve, which was called their sixth hour; and the third was at three in the afternoon, which was called their ninth hour. The last was the time of the evening sacrifice, the hour that Christ offered up himself a sacrifice for sinners. Daniel, in his high station, ordered his affairs, though numerous, in such a manner, that they should not hinder his solemn devotions. He had his particular seasons for prayer, and so have all, who mean to walk with God. If he had restrain ed prayer, under these circumstances, he would have declared by his neglect, that he regarded man more than God; he would have sinned against his own conscience, offended the generation of the righteous, and hardened his enemies and the enemies of his God, by giving them occasion to triumph and blaspheme. Being resolved, he feared not to be found praying; his boldness prevented his enemies from breaking open doors to obtain proof against him.

Here, we behold the faithful. man. Here, we see true relig. ion exemplified. Such was the practice of one, who had the tes timony of a heavenly messenger, that he was greatly beloved of God; of one, who, during the whole seventy years' captivi

ty, was the chariot of Israel and in prayer, you cannot but sec

the horseman thereof, as Elijah was in his day.

Reader! pause, and ask yourself, whether you possess any portion of the excellent spirit of Daniel. Perhaps you profess, as he did, to be the friend of God; and yet stand chargeable with great inconstancy in your secret and family devotions, excusing yourself on account of the multitude of your avocations, and the crowd and hurry of your business. But is it rational to conclude, that in the comparatively small sphere in which you move, your hands are more full than were Daniel's? Upon him the management of an extensive kingdom, of an hundred and twenty provinces principally devolved, and yet he found time and heart to be frequent and constant in his devotions. He wisely regulated all his affairs, and failed not of drawing near to his God, three times, every day. In what light, then, will you view your real character, if you find it in your heart wholly to dispense with family worship, on account of worldly concerns? Will you not have reason to fear, that you are destitute of that excellent spirit, which appeared in Daniel, and OR account of which he was greatly beloved of God? Trying as such a conclusion may be, it is naturally drawn.

a

But are you ready to say, that you do not wholly dispense with the worship of God in your house; that you commonly seek the divine favour, at least once

every week? Admitting that

that God is greatly robbed of his honour. That holy Being, whom Daniel delighted to serve, and who took such particular notice of his constancy in prayer, no doubt takes particular notice of all your neglects of the duty. He weigheth the actions of men, and pondereth all their goings.

Supposing your conscience allows you to say, that you never omit the morning and evening sacrifice in your house, only at those times when strangers, who are not religiously disposed, are present. Would this shield you from blame? Would this fully satisfy you, that you possessed a spirit of prayer? Compare such a practice with the conduct of Daniel. He failed not to pray, when he knew he was among the enemies of God, and when he was conscious that they were seeking occasion to deprive him, not only of all his honours, but his life. Seriously consider this example, and let the reproof which it may administer be as seed sown on good ground.

H.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM A
PIOUS FRIEND TO CHRISTIAN
PARENTS, ON THE SUDDEN
DEATH OF THEIR LOVELY IN-
FANT.

"I will be a God to thee, and to thy seed."

66 Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

Oct. 21, 1801:

you can say this, consistently with My very dear Friends,
truth, still, comparing such a
practice with Daniel's constancy

HAVE I not reason to offer you my congratulations, that

« AnteriorContinua »