mid of Egypt. From the situation of Babylon, in a clear atmosphere, and a serene sky, together with the advantage of this immense elevation, arose the superiority of the Chaldeans in astronomical studies. The description of this immense city, which has now been submitted to you, was necessary that you may understand the nature of those operations adopted by Cyrus in obtaining possession of it.

We are not to wonder that the heart of Nebuchadnezzar, the resistless conqueror, and the lord of Babylon, was inflated with pride. Where there is not a principle of religion to counteract the influence of human depravity, the power of a lofty spirit admits of no restraint. But "pride "is nigh unto destruction; and an haughty spirit goeth before a fall." Nebuchadnezzar ascribed to the power of his own arm, the glory and the majesty of his kingdom, and the Deity punished him, by driving him from human society. He would be a god, and he became less than a mant! His humiliation had been predicted in a vision, explained to him by the

* For a general description of it, see Anc. Univ. Hist. Vol. II. b. i. c. 9, and Vol. I. b. i. c. 2. See also note 3, at the end of this Lecture.

† Dan. iv. 29-33.

prophet Daniel, a year before it took place *, The five following considerations may perhaps tend to confirm this event, as an historical fact.

1. It is circumstantially related in a decree which Nebuchadnezzar issued upon his restoration to his kingdom: which decree must have existed at the very time when the scriptural account was written; admitting (which we may reasonably claim) that the event was recorded at the time which it asserts, and possesses the antiquity ascribed to the book of Daniel: therefore imposition was impossible, and the attempt among contemporaries, would only have exposed the writer to derision. It is not the relation of a transaction previous to his birth, which Daniel has written, but he was an eye-witness of the circumstance, an actor in the scene, and the whole Jewish nation, as well as the Babylonish empire, were concerned in it.

2. Scaliger, thinks that this madness of Nebuchadnezzar is obscurely hinted in a fragment of Abydenus, preserved by Eusebiust-wherein. having, from the testimony of the Chaldean writers, represented the king to have fallen into an extasy, and to have foretold the destruction

of that empire by the Medes and Persians, he adds" immediately after uttering this pro"phecy, he disappeared," which Scaliger, supposes refers to the deposition of his kingly authority, and to his exclusion from society.

3. Herodotus speaks of his pride, and of his defiance even of divine power, in much the same terms as those used by the inspired writer. He says "such was his loftiness and presumption, "that he boasted, it was not in the power of "God himself to dispossess him of his kingdom, so securely did he deem himself established "in it*."

4. Josephus asserts this event: and amid all his numerous opposers, and their diversified objections, the relation of this fact by him was never disputedt.

5. By Ptolemy's canon, a contemporary record, Nebuchadnezzar is said to have reigned forty-three years, eight of which are passed over in silence. His actions, as recounted both by sacred and profane historians, are so remarkable, and his spirit so enterprising, that it can scarcely be imagined that he should be inactive during eight years, or that his atchievements

* Herod. lib. 2.

+ Joseph. de Anti. Judeor. Tom. I. lib. x. cap. 10.

in that period should be buried in oblivion. The conclusion is in favour of the record of Daniel, that he was excluded from society, for seven years, till he learned to acknowledge the hand which had made him great, and to ascribe all power to God*. Of the reign and the works of Nebuchadnezzar, Josephus has preserved the testimonies of Berosus, Megasthenes, Diocles, and Philostratus.

BEROSUS, in the third book of his Chaldaic histories says that "his father died at Baby"lon after having reigned twenty-one years: "that Nebuchadnezzar was at that time absent "in Egypt, but having received the intelligence "of his father's death, he arranged his affairs "abroad, and committing the care and trans

portation of the Jews, Syrians, Egyptians, "and Phenicians, to his friends to follow him "with his army and carriages to Babylon, he "himself with a few men hastened thither, and "took upon himself the government of the empire" Again he adds, "with the spoils of war, he most magnificently decorated the temple of Belus-he enlarged the old city"built within it a triple wall-erected a mag"nificent palace"-and so he goes on to speak

66

See Prideaux's Connec. Vol. I. b. 1) in locum.

of the hanging gardens, and of his other operations. "MEGASTHENES, in the fourth book "of his Indian history, mentions this garden, "and asserts that Nebuchadnezzar surpassed "Hercules in valour, and in the greatness of "his exploits." "DIOCLES in the second book "of the Persian history, and PHILOSTRATUS, "in history of India and Phenicia, say that he besieged Tyre thirteen years, and took it in "the reign of Ithobal*."

To Nebuchadnezzar succeeded Evil-Merodach, who set Jechoniah at liberty and made him one of his friends. After a reign of vice and folly of two years, he was slain by the conspiracy of his own family.

To him succeeded Neriglasser, who reigned only four years, and was slain in a battle against Cyrus.

To him succeeded Belshazzar, with whose life the Babylonish captivity terminated. Cyrus, conducted by an invisible hand, advanced gradually towards Babylon, and closely besieged it while Belshazzar, or rather Nitocris the queen-mother (for the character of Belshazzar by all profane historians is, that he was wholly

* Joseph. de Antiq. Jud. Tom. I. lib. x. cap. 11. Hudsoni edit. See also note 4, at the end of this Lecture.