On DANIEL

When Babel's Grandees, by unjust Decree, With royal Signet, surreptitiously Obtain'd, and seal'd an Edict, that none should Exhibit a Request, or be so bold To make Petition, save unto their King, In thirty Days, in hopes thereby to bring T' inevitable Ruin, and destroy The Prophet Daniel, whose Sincerity, Was well approved; Can we find, that he Was e'er so startled at the rash Decree, As to omit what formerly he knew Was an incumbant Duty, or to shew His Zeal for Israel's God? But every Day Did he not, with his Window open, pray As formerly, and boldly supplicate For Israel's Seed in their afflicted State?

Now some may say, What Daniel, couldst not thou In Heart, and in thy private Closet bow, And make Petition in his Ear, that hears Deep Sighs and Groans, as well as louder Prayers; But indiscreetly thus thyself expose A sought-for Prey unto thy watchful Foes?

No, no; he stood not to consult his own Security, as knowing GOD alone, Whom he ador'd, was able to restrain The Wrath of Man, and in his sacred Name, Support his faithful Ones, though Trials should Be heaped on them, even sevenfold; Or else would give the sweet Experience, Of a desirable Deliverance. Thus noble Daniel, when Spies attended, He, as a Criminal, was apprehended And cast, by Sentence of malicious Men, Into the (now more gentle) Lions Den; Whither, approaching in the royal Robe Of spotless Innocence, th' eternal God, That holds the Lives of Creatures in his Hand, Muzzled the Lions Mouth, with a Command Of Abstinence; and whisper'd in their Ear Such Dread, that they durst not approach to tear The Angel guarded, Prey; but still must wait, Though Hunger-bit, for other coarser Meat. But Babel's King could not be unconcern'd, For upright Daniel: Ah, his Bowels yearn'd For this his faithful Subject: So that he Could take no Rest, but early rose to see What was become of him, or if the Power Of Israel's God, whom Daniel did adore, Was able to preserve him from the Paws Of those Devourers, and their rav'nous Jaws: Whereof, when Babel's King was satisfy'd By Daniel's Answer, who there testify'd His Loyalty to Heaven, his Innocence Towards the King, he's soon removed thence; Whilst his Accusers must become a Feast For them that durst not touch the sacred Guest: Th' eternal Arm's the same, his Love's the same, To those that trust sincerely in his Name. But those that doubt when he is pleas'd to prove, And saw such signal Tokens of his Love, Are now but rarely seen, our Foe prevails Too much against us, whilst our Courage fails; Do by Distrust and Doubting oft, I fear, Prevent those Wonders, which might else appear. Alas! 'tis Faith that conquers; he believ'd, And doubted not, and therefore was reliev'd: For he resisted even unto Blood, Therefore the Lord brought all about for Good. Shall Man prescribe a Way for him, whereby His glorious Name he best may magnify? A prudent General does not permit Such to appear in the Front, he knows unfit To bear the first Assault of the Enemy, But valiant Hearts, that cannot yield nor fly; Can then the everlasting Counsellor, The King of Kings, be more unskill'd in War? No, no; for he, the only wise Commander, Though of his meanest Soldier truly tender, Yet honours them in higher Place, that be Free to encounter Dangers chearfully. And tho' proud Gog and Magog arm for Fight, Destruction from his Sword shall stop their Flight: They shall not 'scape from his All-seeing Eye; His Wrath shall overtake them suddenly: He, and his Saints must have the Victory. Then why should any weak and faint appear? Though great Goliath glory in his Spear, And monstrous Stature, little Davidshall, Without Saul's Armour, make the Giant fall; And bring Deliverance to Israel's Host, Tho' the Philistines long against them boast: And tho' Worm Jacob's Seed be often prov'd With Tribulations, he is still belov'd, And for his Sake great Kings shall be reprov'd. The Lord of Lords will get himself a Name, He'll overturn, and overturn again, Until he come, whose Right it is to reign.