tive on a rock in the ocean. "I saw the wicked in great power, spreading himself like a green bay tree: he passed, yea, was not: I sought him, but he could not be found."*

2. This warning teaches us, that Providence assigns the power of which it deprives guilty princes to those whom it pleases. Sometimes we behold it seized by the people over whom they ruled, and who, unable to bear the yoke of oppression any longer, throw it at once from their necks, and tell their tyrants that they are determined to be free. It is to be lamented, that in many of the instances in which this convulsion has taken place, popular fury knew not where to stop; and while it cried, "Hew down the tree, cut off its branches, and shake off its fruit," it has torn up the plants around it which promised both shelter and beauty.

In other cases, Providence transfers the empire to the relations of guilty princes, taught by their fall to rule in the fear of God. Such was the happy case in our own country, when the sceptre was taken from the Stuarts, a race of kings noted for imbecility, duplicity, and the love of arbitrary power,-and placed in the hands of men who have shown themselves the fathers of their people.

At other times, Providence assigns the power to strangers, and to strangers of the lowest degree, but distinguished by captivating address or daring ambition.

"This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones, to the

* Ps. xxxvii, 35, 36.

intent that the living may know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men." "'* We have seen the throne which was for so many centuries occupied by the Bourbons, and which has been again restored to them, given to a military adventurer of wonderful talent; and imperial splendour shone for a season in a land where the pomp of kings was supposed to be for ever extinguished in their blood. When the crimes of nations call for the vengeance of Heaven, he gives them into the hands of rulers, whose finger is heavier than the loins of those whom they have supplanted. In other cases he drives out the oppressor, and gives them kings to rule them in righteousness and mercy.

3. This warning suggests that God gives various indications of his intention of terminating the power of kings, and of transferring it to others. In this age we are not to expect, as in the case of Belshazzar, a sign from Heaven to indicate that the period for the fall of empires is come, but in many ways is this impression produced in the hearts of princes, and it is legible in the events of Providence. Princes, notwithstanding the flatteries of their courtiers, have been unable to shake off the gloomy apprehension of the decline of their glory. God has awakened in the proud hearts that denied him, the sad forebodings of a falling throne, and of a successful rival rising up in their place. How miserable was a great part of Saul's life as a king through his jealousy of David! In him

Dan. iv. 17.

tive on a rock in the ocean. "I saw the wicked in great power, spreading himself like a green bay tree: he passed, yea, was not: I sought him, but he could not be found."

2. This warning teaches us, that Providence assigns the power of which it deprives guilty princes to those whom it pleases. Sometimes we behold it seized by the people over whom they ruled, and who, unable to bear the yoke of oppression any longer, throw it at once from their necks, and tell their tyrants that they are determined to be free. It is to be lamented, that in many of the instances in which this convulsion has taken place, popular fury knew not where to stop; and while it cried, "Hew down the tree, cut off its branches, and shake off its fruit," it has torn up the plants around it which promised both shelter and beauty.

In other cases, Providence transfers the empire to the relations of guilty princes, taught by their fall to rule in the fear of God. Such was the happy case in hen the sceptre was take kings noted for im

intent that the living may know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.' "'* We have seen the throne which was for so many centuries occupied by the Bourbons, and which has been again restored to them, given to a military adventurer of wonderful talent; and imperial splendour shone for a season in a land where the pomp of kings was supposed to be for ever extinguished in their blood. When the crimes of nations call for the vengeance of Heaven, he gives them into the hands of rulers, whose finger is heavier than the loins of those whom they have supplanted. In other cases he drives out the oppressor, and gives them kings to rule them in righteousness and mercy.

3. This warning suggests that God gives various indications of his intention of terminating the power of kings, and of transferring it to others. In this age we are not to expect, as in the case of Belshazzar, a sign from Heaven to indicate that the period for the fall of empires is come, but in many ways is this imession produced in the hearts of princes, and it is ible in the events of Providence. Princes, notithstanding the flatteries of their courtiers, have Deen un” to shake off the gloomy apprehension of eir glory. God has awakened in the denied him, the sad forebodings of a and of a successful rival rising up in Low miserable was a great part of Saul's through his jealousy of David! In him

the

iv. 17.

tive on a rock in the ocean. "I saw the wicked in great power, spreading himself like a green bay tree : he passed, yea, was not: I sought him, but he could not be found."*

2. This warning teaches us, that Providence assigns the power of which it deprives guilty princes to those whom it pleases. Sometimes we behold it seized by the people over whom they ruled, and who, unable to bear the yoke of oppression any longer, throw it at once from their necks, and tell their tyrants that they are determined to be free. It is to be lamented, that in many of the instances in which this convulsion has taken place, popular fury knew not where to stop; and while it cried, "Hew down the tree, cut off its branches, and shake off its fruit," it has torn up the plants around it which promised both shelter and beauty.

In other cases, Providence transfers the empire to the relations of guilty princes, taught by their fall to rule in the fear of God. Such was the happy case in our own country, when the sceptre was taken from the Stuarts, a race of kings noted for imbecility, duplicity, and the love of arbitrary power,-and placed in the hands of men who have shown themselves the fathers of their people.

At other times, Providence assigns the power to strangers, and to strangers of the lowest degree, but distinguished by captivating address or daring ambi

tion.

"This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones, to the

*Ps. xxxvii. 35, 36.