Vere. 14--18.-" One thcughaess act "brings much so,.,.ow." Kina Darius was free from many bad qualities which have stained the reputation of oth;r monarchs. He had more gentleness and kindness-had more regard for the interests of others-than most Orient.al kings. Yet he had grave faults also. He was too fond of ease. He was too ready to allow others to take the responsibility which of right belonged to him. To share the responsibilities or government with competent statesmen is an advantage to all; but his readiness to sign decrees without weighing their significance and design is a grave dereliction. The foibles which in a private person escape an adverse judgment may in a king be ruinous to the nation. I._ A TRO_UGHT_I,ESS ACT REVEALS_ TRE lNTERYAL WEAKNESS_ 01' OBARAOTER. King Danu~, hanng discovered the practical outcome of the rash edict, was "sore displeased wilh himself.". 'fhis feeling is commendable. He does not blame the cunning, the envy, the mahce of olhers, so much as the easy thoughtlessness of himself. Others may be more blameworthy accomplices than ourselves in an evil transaction; but if any blame attach to ourselves, it is wiser first to discover and remove the mote in our own eye, before we touch the beam in another's eye. An hour's serious reflection, at the right time, would have prevented this Oriental king much anguish and remorse. It was an alleviation of his inward grief that he had not intended to do Daniel h1um; yet, in effect, his thoughtlessness had produced as much suffering on others as if he had been instigated by feelings of bitterest malice. He ought to have given the edict mature consideration before be gave to it the authority of his great name. He ought to have inquired into its purpose, its meaning, its probable effects on society. 'l'he very haste of the councillors ought to have awakened his vigilance. Too easily hi.a supple will yielded to others' inclination. Too easily he swallowed the bait of human adulation. Truly saith our poet- .. Evil is wrought by want of thought, As well as want of heart." II. A THOUGHTLESS ACT GIVES SCOPE TO WICKED MEN TO EXECUTE THEIB PLOTS, Want of vigilance upon our part gives an advantage to our enemies, which they seize upon with avidity. We might often nip iniquity in the bud, if we were only on the alert against the secret machinations of the tempter. We encourage wicked men in their base intrigues, if only inadvertently we smooth the way for their success. We are counselled by a high authority to be "wise as serpents." Intelligence has been given to us for this selfsame purpose, and it is a sin to allow any faculty of mind to be lulled into needless sleep. Darius had both admiration and personal regard for Daniel; but this very esteem and preference of the king brought with it elements of danger to the prophet. Hence the affection of the king ongbt to have been thoughtful, inventive, watchful The mean-souled officials had prepared the axe, and unwittingly the king gave them the handle by which the better to use it, For want of wariness, we may lend sheep's clothing to human wolves. III. A TJIOUGHTLEBS ACT OFTEN LEADS TO BAD AND IIlBEPABABLE BEBULTB. It was a settled principle in the Persian government that a law, having once received the sian-manual of the king, could in no way be altered or repealed, This principle in tb~ main was beneficent and useful In a period when communication between the palace and the remote provinces was difficult and tardy, it was a great advantage to the people to know that a law, once enacted, was fixed and irreversible. But the knowledge of this first principle ought to have made Darius all the more cautious and wary in affixing the seal of authority to any new decree. He was master of that siruph, act; but, having performed it, he was no longer master of its consequ~nces. It woulJ have imperilled his reputation, hie influence, perhaps his governmen~ itself, if ht sl,ould l,ave ventured to reacind it, Yet no sooner was the effect of his rash OIi, VI, 1-28.] TIIE BOOK OF DANIEL. 205
deed discovered than remorse seized his mind. Conscience lashed him for hi 8 folly. Hie appcUto depnrts. 'l'he desire for enjoyment ceases. Yea, the very cnpacity for enjoyment is suspended. Sleep forsakes hie bed. Hie pillow is sown with sharpest thorns, No rest can the king find for body or for mind, because an innocent life a noblo lire, is jeopMdized through hie rash deed. Hie mind roams over a variety of devices by which, if possible, he can yet protect Daniel from the ferocity of human wol vee, Ilut the king himself is powerless-as power lees as the meanest peaoan tr-in this ml\tler. He bad, not long since, the power to defend any and every subject, but he has thoughtlessly allowed the power to depart. It is in other bands now, anrl cannot be recalled. Opportunity has fled. The king is a prisoner in the hanrls of evil workers, and is compelled by them to do a disgraceful deed-to sign the death- warrant of his best friend, Nothing is left to him but his tears. Oh the bitter fruits of rashness 1-D.