Daniel's undaunted piety.
Dan. vi. 10. Now when Daniel knew that the writing tvas signed, he went into his house, and, his windows being open in his chamber toioard Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
SUCH is the hatred which ungodly men bear to real piety, that it is not possible to serve our God aright without incurring their displeasure. Neither eminence in station, nor prudence of conduct, will screen us from the assaults of their envy and malice. If any thing could have secured the favour of man- kind, the wise and benevolent deportment of Jesus must have gained him universal approbation. But he was as much distinguished by the virulence of men's hatred, as he was by the unrivalled excellence of his own character.
Of all the persons whose history is recorded. in the Old Testament, we know not one who surpassed Daniel in wisdom, in integrity, or in a firm adherence to practical religion. His bitterest enemies, who were very desirous of finding in him some fault or error, were constrained to acknowledge, that they should not be able to attain their wishes, unless they should find it concerning the law of his God. Would one not have thought, that a person who could con- duct the affairs of a large empire with such skill, as that no error could be imputed to him ; and whose piety was so consistent, that not the smallest flaw could be found in his whole conduct, should be universally beloved ? Yet, so far was he from being an object of universal regard, that a conspiracy was formed against him by all the great men of the king- dom, and a law was framed, that rendered it criminal to pray unto his God. By this law he had no alter- native, but to violate the law and incur its penalties, or to violate his conscience and offend his God.
Daniel, without hesitation, chose the better part : and, " when he knew that the writing (which doomed
1132.1 daniel's undaunted piety. 523
him to the den of lions) was signed," he openly wor- shipped God, precisely as he had done aforetime.
To encourage all who are oppressed and per- secuted, to follow his example, we shall,
I. Make some remarks on his conduct —
[It might be said of Daniel continually, " Behold, he
prayeth ! " But why, in praying, did he look " towards
Jerusalem ?" Canaan was the land, Jerusalem the city, and the temple the house, in which God more particularly dwelt. And at the dedication of the temple, Solomon repeatedly entreated that God would hear the supplications of his people which should be offered towards that land, that city, that tem- plea. This had been before practised by David b, as it was afterwards by Jonah when at the bottom of the seac : and it may be considered as a typical ordinance, directing us to pray unto God, as our covenant- God in Christ, as dwelling with. man, yea, as dwelling in our very natured; even to Him, "in whom dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily e."
In this manner he prayed " three times a day." It seems to have been the habit of all pious Jews to observe stated seasons of worship three times a day. David practised it in his dayf: and in the Apostolic age the practice was continued s. One would have thought that a person who had so much secular business upon his hands as Daniel had, should have found it almost impossible to maintain such a practice with any degree of regularity, or indeed with any spirituality of mind : but, if the heart be thoroughly imbued with Divine grace, it will be found neither difficult nor irksome to lift it up to God in prayer, even in the midst of the most urgent business.