degree greater: For IlelHhnzzar there was: 1. T~e wilness of creation. 2. The open page of providence. (See ver. 22.) 3. The voice of that moral nature which is commou to every rno.n, 4. 'l'he interpretation of them by the high Chaldw,n wltwe. o.g. the revelation of the glory of Go<l in the stArB of heaven was one that 8hone with special cleo.rnese 011 the Chaldran plain (~ee Sir G. C. Lewis's 'Astronomy of the Ancients,' eh. v.). 6. Special Divine revelations; e.g. in the interpretation of Nebu- chadnezzar's dream (he had not been dead twenty-three years); in the deliverance of the heroic three, by the presence of the Saviour in the fire; by the insanity and recovery of the king. Nor must we forget that Ilelshazzar was not further away from the Divine than a modern worldling; for in his own realm lived the Church, with whom lay the oracles of God. Compare Louis XIV. and the Huguenots. And enough had been done to draw aUeution to these. II. THE STARTING-POINT, 'Jhe sin of the king was nothing else than that practical, atheism (vers. 22, 23) which so ofien shows itself callously iodiffereut to all those serious considerations which even people of ordinary prudence cntertaiu (uote: the city at the moment in a state of siege); and which usually is associated with epicurean life. III. TrrE ROAD DOWN, A distinct gra<iation in evil is marked in this, as in every other career. The steps may be different with different sinners; but there is a gradual descent with all, though it must be admitted that on "tl,at night" some were taken by the king at lightning speed. 'l'he king : 1. Ignored all the cirCV,m- stances of his posit-ion. This was indeed terrible. For long the Persian lines had been drawn round the city; engineers had been turning the river from its bed. At this hour things were becoming critical. Facts are stubborn things, which even a beatheu might note. 2. Defied Providence. Such extravagauce at such a time. lm~gine the authorities of Paris banqueting in the late siege. A false security the presage of ruin. 3. Sacrificed his own dignity. As king-as man. Not usual for Babylonian kings to make themselves the boon companions of their subjects--even the highest, We owe respect to men, as made in the image of God-rational, moral, immortal, etc.; but not the less -to oorselves. 4. Plunged into drunkenness. The lightning leaps which immediately follow are to be distinctly assigned to the drunken condition of the king. Much may and should be here said on the intimate relation existing between moral and spiritual degradation generally and alcohol; and also on the close connection between alcohol and many forms of vice. It is the root of many vices. (The writer of these notes feels that educated men are still the children of many illusions anent this powerful chemical ageot; these are well dealt with in 'Dialogues on Drink,' by Dr. Richardson.) 5. Jested with things sacred. Sure mark of a "fool" in the Hible sense. "Holy vessels will we have for such delicious wine," may the king be supposed to say, (Matthew Henry is full and good on this.) 6. Violated the decencies of domestic life. The bringing the harem into the banquet- chamber was a gross offence against even the Oriental idea. (On this see Dr. Raleigh, 'Esther,' lect. ii.) 7. Insulted God. Drank they out of vessels sacred to him, unto other godA. So the indifference of a passive practical atheism culminates in open defiant antagonism against God. IV. TnE DREADFUL END. The loss of everything-kingdom, life, etc. Many things will need to be looked at ere the final ruin of the night ct>mes up for consideration; but this is the place specially to observe that it was the king's own sin and folly of that very hour that led straight to ruin. Had the king and "the lords" beau on the alert, not even the turning of the river from its bed ha,l bid them at the mercy of the besiegers. But the revelry incapacitated them. Sin is its own avenger 1-R.
Vera. 5-17.-The crisis of awaking. "Then was Daniel brought in before the king" (ver. 13). In introducing the present subject the following features and incidents of the history need vivid and powerful setting: suddenness of the apparition -ouly fingers writing-in ancient Hebrew characters (same as those of the two Sino.itic tBbles)-on the plain plaster over against the candlestick-seen by its light -the effect upon the king, pale, trembling, sobered (he will not die drunk)-e. gree.t cry for help-why" third ruler"? (Belshazzar co-regent with his father Nabonadius) -inability of the mo.gi-consternatioll and confusion of the as~embly-Daniel still iii l>ANili:L, Ii 1'8 THE BOOK OP DANIEL. [011. Y, 1-81.