nezzar.

He now boils with rage. His word is law, and he has never been openly disobeyed before. Orders are given to heat the furnace with a sevenfold heat; and special executioners are chosen to carry out his vengeance on these true-hearted servants of God.

Never did any martyrs more cheerfully meet their fate. They fearlessly submit; and are cast into the furnace. And every by-stander expects in a few moments to see their bodies reduced to ashes.

But what did they behold instead? Like the Israelites in the Red Sea, or Daniel amidst the lions, these youths were untouched in the midst of danger. The flames played around them. The heat did not even singe them. There these three servants of God were plainly seen, walking unharmed in the midst of the fire. It was indeed a miracle; and no one could deny it.

But look again. Are they alone? No, there is one with them, whose appearance shows that He is something more than man. It is the Son of God himself, acting as their Deliverer in this their hour of peril.

Thus were Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego spared. And the King and all the lookers-on were awe-struck, and acknowledged that the God of Israel was the true God.

After this we hear nothing more of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Like Daniel, they were promoted to high offices. in the kingdom of Babylon, and lived to honour God by their devoted lives.

Many a precious lesson does this history teach us.

First-It teaches us that God's dearest servants are called to passed through heavy trials and afflictions. Freedom from suffering is no proof of His love, but rather the reverse. "Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth."

Secondly-It teaches us that He can deliver, when help seems farthest off. Death appeared to stare these three Jewish youths in the face. But the Lord sheltered them, and brought them safely through all their trials. He never promises that His children shall be free from troubles; but He does

promise that He will be with them in their troubles.

Thirdly-It teaches us that if only Jesus be with us in the furnace, it will purify us, but it will not destroy us. Thank God, He is indeed with His people; for this is His gracious promise-" When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee."

Lastly-It teaches us also, that, in whatever situation we may be placed, we may honour God by our bold determination never to be ashamed of Him, but fearlessly to confess Him even before His enemies.

How few bold and decided Christians there are in the present day! How few are ready to take up their cross, and follow the Saviour! The roughness of the path too often frightens us, and the heat of the furnace is too much for us.

May God give us more courage in His service, so that, when dangers threaten, we may be faithful even unto death!

BELSHAZZAR;

OR, THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL.

THERE are some sinners who go through the world so smoothly, that no trouble appears to cross their path; and even in death they feel no alarm. But upon others God seems to set His mark—the plain mark of His displeasure. They are branded even in this world as His enemies.

Belshazzar was one of this last sort. He was a bad man, and the wrath of God clearly and unmistakably rested upon him. He was one of the ungodly kings of Babylon, and grandson to Nebuchadnezzar. He is only mentioned in one chapter of the Bible; and that is mostly taken up with one single striking circumstance of his life.

There is no difficulty however in gathering from it his true character. He was a thoughtless, worldly man-a forgetter of God-a profaner of holy things. The

wonderful dealings of God with his grandfather seem to have made no impression upon him; but he lived as if he had no God to serve, and no soul to be saved.

Such was Belshazzar's character. Concerning the early years of his life Scripture is altogether silent. Those years were probably years of sin; and it is well that nothing is said about them. It was in the seventeenth year of his reign, that an event occurred, which plainly showed that the Lord was looking down from heaven, and watching his evil course.

It happened, on a certain night, that a Royal Feast was prepared at Babylon. The King had sent forth his invitations to the principal lords and great persons about the Court. And no less than a thousand guests assembled in the banquetting-room. The spacious chamber glittered with its golden ornaments, and hundreds of lamps sent forth their dazzling light. On the tables was spread every luxury that Babylon could produce. There were meats for every taste, and wine enough to drive away care from every breast. "The harp, and the viol,