shippeth, shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace."

And now what was the motive-we cannot forbear to ask-what was the motive which could have prompted men to such conduct ?-Devotion to their God, my brethren,- resolved-unflinching uncompromising devotion to their God.— "The people, nations, and languages" around them, knew not the one Jehovah, and were therefore ready, at the command of their despotic monarch, to "fall down and worship" either Bel, or the golden image, or any other god, "the work of men's hands," which in his pride of power he might "set up." But these men had "not so learned" the Lord.They were of the children of the captivity

-some of the exiled sons of Zion. They were persons, however, so distinguished for their fidelity and zeal in the service of the God of Israel, that the prophet Daniel himself had requested of the king to appoint them rulers under him, "over the affairs of the province of Babylon '."

1 Dan. ii. 49.

Were these the men to bow down and worship a golden image, set up by one who but a short time since had declared that "their God was of a truth, a God of gods, and a Lord of kings 1?"-Hear them. Mark the lofty tone that they assume when dragged before the incensed despot." Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods-nor worship the golden image which I have set up? Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made, well-but if ye worship not-ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace-and who is that

1 Dan. ii. 47.

God that shall deliver you out of my hands? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, 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 we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up."

There spoke, my brethren, the genuine spirit of martyrdom.-There spoke the spirit which shortly after animated Daniel, -when, knowing that the writing was signed which condemned every man who should worship the true God, to the lions' den," he went into his house, and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime 1."

There spoke the spirit which glowed in the breast of Paul-who though knowing that bonds and imprisonment, and even death awaited him, was yet willing to be offered, was ready "to spend and he spent" in his Master's service-if so be that dying or living he might be the Lord's-might conduce to the diffusion of his Gospel, and to the increase of the glory of his name.

There spoke the spirit-which in many an age since that has supported the dauntless champions of the faith, when for the truth's sake as it is in Jesus "they were stoned, were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword"-when they were tortured, in short, by every method which cruelty could devise-“ not accepting deliverance (at the expense of their profession) that they might obtain a better resurrection'."-The steady principle which animated the conduct of each individual of this noble army of martyrs was the same. They relied entirely upon

1 Heb. xi. 37. 35.

the power of God to deliver them, in his own good time, and according to his own good pleasure-out of all their perils. They stedfastly resolved meanwhile, to do their own duty, happen what might and leave the event to him -under a lively conviction that "the God of all the earth must do right," and that it would be sufficient glory for them, to be permitted either by their life or death, to conduce to the setting forth of his glory.

There never was a time, my brethren, when this principle has not been needed in the Christian Church, and there never was a time when it has not been found.By public or by private events, the believer may be continually called upon to exercise it." Think not that I am come to send peace upon earth"-said the Author of our faith, "I came not to send peace, but a sword'."-And seldom has that sword been idle!-He himself felt

1 Matt. x. 34.