V crs. 1-3.-Royal witness for God. Even kings learn the humiliating lesson at last that they are but men. As a counterpoise to their advantages, thero is, on their side, this great disaclvantage, viz: th~t their miuds are singularly impervious to appeals from God. A drawback thu which more than counterweighs all their privilege. J. Goo's BEST GIFTS ARE OFTEN OO~VEYED TO MEN THROUGH PAINFUL CHANNELS. God '' canseth his sun to shine on the edl and the good. He sendcth rain on just o.nd unjust alike." So with earthly riches, honour, rank, fame. These gifts betol1en no special favour of the Highest. They are of so little worth that God gives them in abundance to his foe~. But his best gifts are obtained only through penitence, self-denial, suffering -both vicarious and pensonal. Job's wealth came, at the first, almost as an accident, and it exposed him to the envy and malice of Satan. If he bad lived and died in his luxurious ease, the world would never have heard of him. But suffering wrought in him patience, subrnissiou, and faith. This was wealth which entered into bis character, and abides with him still. The poor kingdoms of earth may be gained by the accident of birth, or by the mere chances of diabolic war; but the everlasting kingdom can only be reached through soul-tribulation. "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered." II. GoD's BEST GIFTS ARE INTENDED TO BEVEAL HIMSELF TO THE SOUL. These gifts, when rightly estimated, are prodigies of skill and mirrors of Divine love. If God may be seen in his material works, he can be yet more clearly seen in his gracious gifts to men. Every one of these is a love-token, bearing on it the impression of bis heart. N"bucbadnezzar had been wont to think that his royal good fortune was the highest good he possessed; but now he is led into the dark scbool of suffering, and made to learn his folly. Now he learns that God's gifts of mind, reason, memory, speech, are far nobler than royal di;mi ties, and that for the creation and preservation of these he is indebted to the God of heaven. Further, he is made to learn that there is a higher King than himself, and that to know and love God is the loftiest good of man. Jesus Christ is God's best Gift to man, because he reveals to us the Father. Let us value most those Llessings which bring us nearest to God! Ill. Gon's BEST GIFTS A.BE L'\'TENDED TO BEAUTIFY CHARACTER. Nebuchadnezzar's wealth, power, conquests, had brought no real good to the man; nay, they had done him harm. They had corrupted the better principles of his soul. '!'hey had made him self-sufficient, proud, tyrannicaL But now, in a season of mental suffering, God's grace bad touched his heart. In that humiliated state, the king learns his dependence on God, his need of Divine help, and the homage due to the supreme Jehovah. His pride is abated. His love of the world is diminished. He is constrained to giv.e unto God his due. He is made another man. His inmost character has been benefited. He is more indebted to temporary insanity than to all bis successful wars. IV. THE CEST GIFTS OF GoD DEMAND PUDLI0 ACKNOWLEDGMENT, There was the greatest pro1viety that the Cbaldean king should proclaim to the world his obligations to God. He had been placed under weighty indebtedness, and could show his gratitude in no other way than by declariug to the world his obligation. Often had be made proclamations aud edicts to propagate his own will and pleasure; it was fitting that he should Dow act as a dependent, as a herald of the great King. What better form--'- what other form---can gratitude assume, than publishing our obligations to the world? We ea.a do DO good to Goel iu return for his kindness; we may do good to our fellow- men. If ~ratitude be genuine it will be publicly acknowledged. Honest recipients of blessing will say, "Come, ye that foar God, and I will declare what he ha.tb done for my suul."-D.
Vere. 4-9.-T,·ue and false prophets. It is amazing how some men are addicted t<J fol1y.It 11eems ingrained into tb.e very nature of some men. Nebu.:hadnezzar had OH, IV, 1-37,] THE BOOK OF DANIEL. 167