Religious Faith the safeguard and consolation of Man.

admire what is grand and excellent, and to love what is good and benign, in the character of man.

While our affections are roused by the virtues of the departed saint, our thoughts follow him to the happy dwellings of eternity, where his spirit is now crowned with the rewards of his sublunary sufferings. Thence they revert to ourselves, and then, in anxious examination of our immortal hopes, are thrown back upon our past lives, to ascertain whether they exhibit the influence of that faith, and the practice of that obedience, which alone can tranquilize and compose the soul in its present state, and gild its prospects into eternity.

Of the divine and saving virtue, Faith, we have a remarkable instance in the case of the three Hebrew youths, who, in their native land, were called Ananias, Azarias, and Misael; but, in the captivity to which they were subjected in the punishment inflicted by Heaven on their idolatrous countrymen, received the names of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

Religious Faith the safeguard and consolation of Man.

Abednego. This portion of sacred history, being appointed by our church to be read in its service, this morning, I have chosen it for the introduction of a discourse, in which I propose to shew the nature and blessings of a religious faith.

After reciting some particulars in the history of these approved servants of the true and almighty God, the God of their fathers, in order to set before you the strength and excellence of their fidelity to Him, I intend to offer a few brief expositions and illustrations founded on this and other passages of Scripture, of the faith, which should characterize every professor of true religion, and which they so illustriously exemplified.—And lastly, if the time allowed, I would add some reflections, observations, and inferences, connected with the subject, in reference to the present state of religion in this great Metropolis, and other very populous parts of the kingdom. But, this part of my subject, I shall be obliged to postpone for a future occasion.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, of noble,

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Religious Faith the safeguard and consolation of Man.

if not royal extraction, were selected from the captives of Judah, on account of their personal and mental accomplishments, to attend in the palace of the conqueror. That they might be qualified for offices of trust and authority, they were instructed in the Chaldean language and learning. Their treatment was in every respect suited as well to the rank; which they had in their own country, as to the dignified station which they were intended to fill in their captivity. The king had given command for them to be supplied with provisions and wine from his own table. But they, with the righteous Daniel refused this sumptuous fare; because, either it had been polluted in the sacrifices and feasts of the idols, or it consisted of the meats forbidden by the law of Moses. Instead of this, they desired pulse to eat, and water to drink; for, obedience to the God of Israel, fidelity to their divine religion, was better to them, than all the luxuries of the Babylonian court.

This abstemious diet occasioned to their persons no loss of either strength or beauty. They even appeared more comely and healthy than

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Religious Faith the safeguard and consolation of Man.

the noble youths of Chaldea, who had feasted on the royal viands. Whether this happened by any particular agency of divine providence, or was the natural effect of their simple food, we cannot ascertain. There is, certainly, no reason to think that their excelling beauty was the necessary result of a miracle; for it might be the natural and necessary consequence of their temperate living.

Their integrity to their faith, however, did not bring them into disrepute with their conquerors. Their superior talents, and their irreproachable lives so recommended them to Nebuchadnezzar, that, in a short time, we see them promoted to honour, and appointed rulers in the province of Babylon. But, the temptations of ambition, no more than those of luxury, can draw them from their duty and allegiance to the Almighty King. Pleasures, riches, power, and dignity were nothing in their estimation, while opposed to the honour and service of their heavenly benefactor. Not all the coveted splendours, and enjoyments, and elevations of life; not even life itself was desirable to them, if it could not be retained without

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Religious Faith the safeguard and consolation of Man.

without a breach of the commands of Him, who gave it. Without his favour, they knew it could not be happy in its progress, nor blessed in its end. He had commanded that they should not worship any thing the work of men's hands, that they should worship and serve him only. Directly contrary to this command, Nebuchadnezzar had set up a golden idol, and proclaimed that all people of all descriptions throughout his mighty empire, who did not fall down and worship it, should suffer death in a burning fiery furnace. Upon these devout Jews this terrible decree had no influence. They would not worship the image. They were reported to the king. He summoned them before him, expostulated with them, and repeated his injunction with the horrible threat to force them to compliTheir reply was consistent with all their preceding conduct. They answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar we are not careful to answer thee in this matter,-If it be so; our God, whom we serve, is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But, if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that

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