January 12

He was the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar. Merodach Baladin was his father. His mother was Nitocris, a woman of a masculine understanding, and to whose counsel he was much indebted. He appears in the sacred story like a man by the way-side, hung in irons. The memory of the just is blessed; but the name of the wicked shall rot, or if preserved, it is perpetuated in disgrace. The noticing of some persons is renown, of others is infamy. Amyot, Bishop of Auxerre, and great almoner of France, not long before his death, was urged to write the history of his country; "I love my sovereigns too well," said he, "to write their lives." Let us so live, as, when dead, we may yet speak, or be spoken of, to our honour, and the improvement of others.

The event—he "was slain." Though a king, and even called "The king of kings," he yields to "the king of terrors." "I said, ye are gods; but ye shall die like men, and be as one of the princes. Man that is in honour and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish." The dwellers in dust, who had once trembled before him, are represented as insulting the king of Babylon. "Art thou also become weak as we? Art thou become like unto us? Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee"—What a change!—But observe, not only his death, but the manner of it. He might have died in a good old age, and gradually, and in a peaceful bed—but he is cut off prematurely, suddenly, and violently—he was slain.

When? "That night." What night? The night of his festivity. He had made a great feast unto a thousand of his lords, and music, and dancing, and every kind of indulgence filled the palace. How little did he suspect the vicinage of danger; of death! Marriage rites have sometimes been prevented, or immediately followed by funeral solemnities. A man has built and embellished a mansion, and prepared an entertainment to crown his wishes; but instead of taking possession of it, he has entered the house appointed for all living. Another has planned a favourite journey, but at the very commencement of it, he has been turned into the way of all the earth. "Boast not thyself of to-morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth." That night was the king of the Chaldeans slain. What night?

The night of his wickedness. Festivity, and intemperance, and profaneness, generally go together. Job therefore, though he did not oppose the feasting of his sons in each other's houses, yet feared for them; and prayed and offered sacrifices, lest they should have sinned, and cursed God in their heart. But what dreadful excess of riot was here! "Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem, that the king and his princes, his wives and his concubines, might drink therein. Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king and his princes, his wives and his concubines, drank in them. They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone." Sentence against an evil work is not always speedily executed; for God is long suffering, not willing that any should perish. But sin has frequently been