"those who walk in pride, he is able to "abase."

Happy had it been for his successor, if this awful display of divine justice, had wrought, in his heart, obedience. But Belshazzar learned not wisdom from his grandfather's humiliation. He exceeded his great progenitor in impiety. He stood on the pinnacle of empire, till he was giddy with gazing upon the rolling world beneath him! The forces of Cyrus surrounded the city: but, trusting in it's impregnable strength, the defence of the river, and the greatness of his stores, he laughed his enemies to scorn. The feast was spread, and the revellings had commenced. Death hovered round his court, and destruction brooded over his city, while he was sunk in senseless security. And now, the voice of joy, and the noise of riot, resound through the palace. The monarch calls upon his nobles to devote the hours to gaiety; to scatter their fears to the winds; to drink defiance to the warrior advancing to their very gates; and, to fill the measure of his iniquity, to add insult to the miseries of his captives, to crown dissipation with sacrilege, he requires, last of all, the vessels of the sanctuary, that they might be profaned by their application to not merely common uses, but to the vile purposes of debauchery. It is done. The king is

lost in unbounded pleasure, and intoxicated with unlimited power.-In one moment, the voice of riot ceases,-silence, as profound as the stillness of the grave, reigns through the whole palace-every tongue is chained-every eye is fixed-despair lowers on every countenancethe charm is broken-and the night of feasting is turned into unutterable horror! See! yonder shadow, wearing the appearance of the fingers of a man's hand, glides along the wall of the palace opposite the monarch, and writes, in mysterious characters, "MENE, MENE, TEKEL, "UPHARSIN." What has changed that youthful countenance? What has chased it's bloom of beauty, and drawn on it the strong lines of misery? Behold, this king, who lately dreamed that he was more than mortal, trembling on his throne! "The joints of his loins are loosed, " and his knees smite one against another!" What the army of Cyrus could not do, a supernatural hand, writing four little words, has effected; and his soul melts within him through terror! But say, what is the cause of this premature distress? Perhaps yonder inscription declares the permanence of his kingdom; and inscribes, in those hidden characters, the destruction of his enemies? Ah no?-Conscience read too well the handwriting; and interpreted the solemn sentence of impending ruin, long

before Daniel explained the inscription! While all was riot, during the first part of the night, and dismay, during the remainder, Cyrus had diverted the river from it's course, had entered the city, through it's exhausted channel, unperceived, and was now at the palace gates. The empire was lost; the captive Jews were liberated: and "that same night was Belshazzar, the king "of the Chaldeans, slain." Behold another, added to the innumerable sad evidences, that the "pride of the heart" fatally "deceives," and finally ruins those who cherish it.

2. SITUATIONS IN LIFE, WHICH SHOULD LAY THE FOUNDATION OF GRATITUDE, WHEN UNSANCTIFIED, BECOME THE BASIS OF REBEL

LION.

The prophet addressed those who dwelt in "the clefts of the rock, and whose habitation "was high:" who enjoyed, both an elevated, and a secure, situation. This should have ministered to thankfulness: it should have reminded them of the hand that raised them to the eminence which they occupied. But no: it kindled" pride of heart:" it inflamed the imagination with the desire of independence: it stirred up rebellion: it implanted in their bosoms false confidence: it betrayed them to their ruin. They said, "Who shall bring me "to the ground?" But the birth of their pre

sumption was the death of their security: for while they spake these "great, swelling words" of arrogance, the protection of God was withdrawn. Adversity has "slain it's thousands:" but prosperity, it's "tens of thousands." Those that have weathered the tempests of suffering, have been ingulfed in the whirlpool of dissipation. Elevation makes the head unsteady, and the feet totter; therefore, if Providence exalt you, hold fast the hand which conducts you to the perilous summit.

3. NO SITUATION IN LIFE, HOWEVER APPARENTLY FORTIFIED, IS SECURE, WHEN GOD IS

OUR ENEMY.

Though thou exalt thyself as the eaglě, ánd "though thou set thy nest. among the stars, "thence will I bring thee down, saith the "LORD." How clear and express are these words! "Though thou exalt thyself.”—When God elevates a man, he gives him grace equal to his temptations: but there are, who make haste to be rich-who press through every consideration to power-who will be great-and "exalt themselves" at the sacrifice of every principle. Yonder city rises on that determination. The tower rapidly advances. It is of prodigious strength and magnitude. But it's desolation is decreed in heaven; and although it aspired to the stars, it is brought down to the

ground. Let us, therefore, stoop to rise. Let us "humble ourselves under the mighty hand "of God; and he shall exalt us in due time.” If we would build securely, we must lay the foundation of our edifice on the top of yonder everlasting hills, and set up it's walls in the unchangeable heavens: for

"He builds too low, who builds beneath the skies!"

What, then, is their state, who are labouring to ascend to heaven by a superstructure of their own elevation? who " reject the righteousness "of God, and go about to establish one of "their own?"-" The pride of their heart hath "deceived them;" and divine agency alone can destroy the delusion. What shall be said to those who imagine themselves in security, yet have not "fled for refuge to lay hold upon the

hope set before them?" Even now is the decree of heaven gone forth against all ungodliness: even now is the sentence of condemnation issued against the impenitent: even now conscience thunders, "Thou art weighed in "the balances and art found wanting!"-and God confirms the decision!