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to say, that there was a certain captive who came from Judea, a Jew by birth; but brought away thence by Nebuchadnezzar, when he destroyed Jerusalem; whose name was Daniel; a wise man, and one of great sagacity in finding out what was impossible for others to discover, and what was known to God alone; and who brought to light and answered such questions to Nebuchadnezzar, as no one else was able to answer, when they were consulted. She therefore desired that he would send for him, and inquire concerning the writing; and to condemn the unskilfulness of those that could not find their meaning; and this although what God signified thereby should be of a melancholy

nature.

When Baltasar heard this, he called for Daniel; and when he had expressed what he had learned concerning him and his wisdom, and how a divine spirit was with him, and that he alone was fully capable of finding out what others would never have thought of; he desired him to declare to him what this writing meant. That if he did so, he would give him leave to wear purple, and to put a chain of gold about his neck, and would bestow on him the third part of his dominion, as an honorary reward of his wisdom, that thereby he might become illustrious to those who saw him, and who inquired upon what occasion he obtained such honours. But Daniel desired, "that he would keep his gifts to himself; the effect of wisdom, and of divine revelation admitting of no gifts; but bestowing its advantages on petitioners freely; but that still he would explain the writing to him. He said, it denoted that he should soon die; and this because he had not learned to honour God, and not to admit things above human. nature, by what punishments his progenitor had undergone for the injuries he had offered to God; and because he had quite forgotten how Nebuchadnezzar was removed to feed among wild beasts, for his impieties, and did not recover his former life among men, aud his kingdom, but upon God's mercy to him,

mother Nitocris appears to have been the real regent afterwards; Baltasar being a weak and effeminate prince, as I have already noted, and as his history shews. N. B. It is plain that though Xenophon knew the history of Cyrus, yet did he not know his chronology, or how long he was in his war. He thought those wars, before the

after many supplications and prayers. Who did thereupon praise God all the days of his life, as one of almighty power, and who takes care of mankind. He also reminded him that he had greatly blasphemed against God, and had made use of his vessels amongst his concubines; that therefore God was angry with him, and declared by his writing beforehand what a sad conclusion of his life he should come to. And he explained the writing thus: "MANEH: this, if it be expounded in the Greek language, may signify Apidus, a number; because God hath numbered so long a time for thy life, and for thy government; and there remains but a small portion. THEKEL: this signifies Erados, a weight; and means that God hath weighed thy kingdom in a balance, and finds it going down already. PHARES: this also in the Greek tongue, denotes Kλágua, a fragment; God will therefore break thy kingdom in pieces, and divide it among the Medes and Persians."*

When Daniel had told the king that the writing upon the wall signified these events, Baltasar was in great sorrow and affliction, as was to be expected when the interpretation was so heavy upon him. However he did not refuse what he had promised Daniel, although he were become a foreteller of misfortunes; but bestowed it all upon him. As reasoning thus, that what he was to reward was peculiar to himself and to fate, and did not belong to the prophet; but that it was the part of a good and a just man to give what he had promised, although the events were to be of a melancholy nature. Now after a little while, both himself, and the city were taken by Cyrus king of Persia, who fought against him. For it was Baltasar, under whom Babylon was taken; when he had reigned seventeen years. And this is the end of the posterity of Nebuchadnezzar, as history informs us. But when Babylon was taken by Darius, and when he, with his kinsman Cyrus, had put an end to the dominion of the Babylonians, he was sixty-two years old. He was the son of Astyages; and taking of Babylon, to have been over in a very few years; contrary to the strongest evidence elsewhere; though in contradiction to this, he knew Cyrus to be younger than Cyaxares, and a very old man before he died; which agrees with the other testimonies of antiquity." * Daniel v. 28.

had another name among the Greeks. Moreover, he took Daniel the prophet, and carried him with him into Media, and honoured him very greatly, and kept him with him, for he was one of the three presidents whom he set over his three hundred and sixty provinces.

However, while Daniel was in so great dignity, and in so great favour with Darius, and was alone intrusted with every thing by him, as having somewhat divine in him, he was envied by the rest; for those that see others in greater honour than themselves with kings, envy them. And when those that were grieved at the great favour Daniel was in with Darius, sought for an occasion against him, he afforded them no occasion at all. For as he was above all the temptations of money, and despised bribery, and esteemed it a very base thing to take any thing by way of reward, even when it might be justly given him, he afforded those that envied him not the least handle for an accusation. So when they could find nothing for which they might calumniate him to the king; and thereby deprive him of the honour he was in; they sought for some other method whereby they might destroy him. When therefore they saw that Daniel prayed to God three times a day, they thought they had found an occasion by which they might ruin him. So they came to Darius, and told him, that the princes and governors had thought proper to allow the multitude a relaxation for thirty days; that no one might offer a petition or prayer either to himself, or to the gods; but that he who should transgress this decree should be cast into the den of lions, and there perish.‡

Hereupon the king, not being acquainted with their wicked design, nor suspecting that it was a contrivance against Daniel, said he was pleased with this decree; and promised to confirm what they desired; he also published an edict to promulgate that decree which the princes had made. Accordingly all the rest took care not to transgress those

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injunctions, and rested in quiet. But Daniel had no regard to them; but as he was wont he stood and prayed to God in the sight of them all. The princes having now met with the occasion they so earnestly sought, came presently to the king, and accused Daniel as the only person who had transgressed the decree; while not one of the rest durst pray to their gods. This discovery they made, not because of his impiety, but because they had watched him and observed him out of envy. For supposing that Darius did thus out of a greater kindness to him than they expected, and that he was ready to grant him pardon for this contempt of his injunctions; and envying this very pardon to Daniel, they did not become more favourable to him, but desired he might be cast into the den of lions, according to the law. So Darius, hoping that God would deliver him, and that he would undergo nothing that was terrible by the wild beasts; bade him bear this accident cheerfully: and when he was cast into the den, he put his seal to the stone that lay upon the mouth of the den, and went his way. He then passed all the night without food, and without sleep; being in great distress for Daniel. But when it was day, he got up, and came to the den; and found the seal entire, which he had left the stone sealed withal; he also opened the seal, and called to Daniel, and asked him if he were alive? And as soon as he heard the king's voice, and said, that he had suffered no harm; the king gave order that he should be drawn up out of the den. Now when his enemies saw that Daniel had suffered nothing which was terrible, they would not own that he was preserved by God, and by his providence; but they said, that the lions had been filled with food, and on that account it was, as they supposed, that they would not touch Daniel, nor come to him. And this they alleged to the king. But the king, out of an abhorrence of their wickedness, gave order that they should throw in a great deal of flesh to the lions; and when temple: If thy people, when led away captive, pray unto thee toward their land which thou gavest unto their fathers, the city, which thou hast chosen, and the house, which I have built for thy name; then hear thou their prayers, and their supplication, in heaven, thy dwelling place, and maintain their cause, 1 Kings viii. 48, 49. B, Daniel vi 7.

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