liar manner, the dwelling-place of the Moft High; fo he is faid to have dwelt in the temple at Jerusalem, which, in feveral refpects, was an image of heaven. There God appeared from between the cherubims: there he was worshipped by his faints, and afforded them defirable manifeftations of his prefence and glory, when they were employed in the duties of his fervice. Thither this haughty monarch had fecretly faid, that he would afcend.I will exalt my throne above the ftars of God. It furely could not enter into the head of the Babylonian prince, that it was poffible for him literally to fulfil this extravagant refolution; and, therefore, it is neceffary to explain his words in their metaphorical fenfe. In this view, his throne. may denote his empire and royal authority. The stars of God may fignify the priests and teachers of the Ifraelites, who illuminated them by their inftructions, and to whom this defcription is fometimes given in prophetical language. These stars fhined with confiderable splendor in the mystical Jewish heavens, and in fome measure enlightened that church. Above thefe ftars this proud ambitious king refolved to set up his throne, to ufurp authority over the fervants of Jehovah, and to lay claim to that homage which was performed to the true God.- -I will fit alfo upon the mount of the congregation, in the fides of the north. Mount Zion, to which this defcription very well agrees, feems to be intended. In that mountain the children of Ifrael were commanded to affemble, that they might attend upon God in the inftitutions of his worship, and enjoy the peculiar privileges of which he had given them comfortable affurance. This was the mount of the congregation, or folemn convention, where God was pleased to meet with his people, and to commune with them.In the fides of the north, on which stood Jerufalem, the city of the great King. The words, thus explained, express the pre

* See Dan. viii. 10.

fumptuous

fumptuous determination of the impious king of Babylon, to go up to Jerufalem, that he might affume authority over the minifters of the Lord, and establish his dominion over the highly favoured mountain of Zion.

14 I will afcend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.

Pride and ambition know no bounds. Being feated upon mount Zion, this haughty prince promifed, that' he would get above the height of the clouds. This expreffion, like thofe contained in the former verse, muft, I fuppofe, be figuratively underflood, as the literal interpretation involves in it too abfurd a project to have been formed by a man in the exercife of reafon. The Lord promifed of old to his fervant Mofes, that he would appear in the cloud which rested above the mercy-feat; and, after the house of the Lord was built upon Zion, we read, that the house was filled with a cloud. Such was the arrogance of this proud man, that he refolved to ascend above the cloud, to take poffeffion of the fanctuary and fecret place, which the Almighty had appropriated for his own refidence, as a fymbol of his eternal throne in the highest heavens.I will be like the Moft High, in majefty, glory, and authority. Totally indifferent about refemblance to God in holiness, righteousness, and mercy, he wickedly afpired after likeness to him in the incommunicable glories of his divinity.The refolutions here expreffed, when collectively confidered, import, that this impious prince formed the extravagant and blafphemous purpose of rivalling the great God in majesty and grandeur, and of attaining greater dignity, and a more elevated condition, than mortal man can enjoy in this world. He afpired to nothing lefs, than that his excellency might mount up to the heavens, and his head reach to the clouds f.

15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the fides of the pit.

Disappointment, depreffion, and mifery, were to be the fatal confequences of this haughty infolence, and infatiable ambition.--Thou shalt be brought down to hell, the dreadful receptacle prepared for the separated fpirits of wicked men, where thou shalt be filled with forrow and anguifh; and where the worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.As if this was infufficient to represent the misery and wo in which he fhould be involved, it is added, To the fides of the pit. The expreffion may denote the low, neglected, and defpifed condition to which the prince was to be reduced. As elevation to heaven, in the language of fcripture, fignifies the highest exaltation; fo being thrust down to hell, and thrown to the fides of the pit, denotes the lowest and most abject depreffion, the most wretched and forlorn condition.

16 They that see thee, fhall narrowly look upon thee, and confider thee, faying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms?

Those especially who had feen the king of Babylon in his glory, and were the fpectators of his unexpected, fudden overthrow, contemplating this furprifing event, whereby he was dejected from the highest pinnacle of worldly grandeur, into a wretched and contemptible condition, were to be ftruck with wonder and aftonifhment. Beholding this remarkable inftance of the vanity of human pride, of the uncertainty of temporal greatnefs, and of the righteoufnefs, power, and providence of God, and obferving the various ways whereby the divine displeasure feizes upon haughty tranfgreffors, they were to exprefs their admiration in the following manner. To perceive the union of these with other circumstances, it would

be

be requifite, as hinted in the words before us, that they fhould attentively look upon the downfal of this great and powerful monarch, that they carefully infpect the incidents with which it was accompanied, and feriously confider the hand of Providence in its execution. In this way they would fee abundant reason to exclaim,

Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did fbake kingdoms? Is this fallen, defpifed, miferable creature, the great and powerful monarch who once made fuch a confpicuous figure on the earth, and fubjected many nations to his empire? Is this he who did fhake kingdoms to their very foundations, who overturned their conftitution and government, and, having vanquished them, united them to his dominions? Is this he at whofe approach the inhabitants of the earth were filled with confternation and terror, left he would do to them as he had done to many nations; deftroy their cities, pillage their country, rob them of their treasures, and put them to the fword, or carry them away captive.

17 That made the world as a wilderness, and deftroyed the cities thereof, that opened not the houfe of his prifoners?

That made the world as a wilderness, by laying wafte many populous countries and great cities, and plundering the inhabitants, whom he killed, took prifoners, or oppreffed with exorbitant taxes, fo that a prodigious extent of territory became folitary and unfrequented. That opened not the house of his prifoners. Such was his rigorous severity, and unrelenting cruelty, toward those whom he had taken captive, that he would not permit them to be fet at liberty, even after very long confinement. Is this the man who lately flourished like a green bay-tree, who was fo great and high that none could be feen equal to him? Is this the profane blafphemer, the ambitious prince,

prince, the cruel oppreffor, the cunning politician, the luxurious epicure, the powerful monarch, with whom the eyes of the people were dazzled, and the nations of the earth were haraffed? What an amazing change hath befallen this man! fuch indeed as demonftrates the vanity and uncertainty of all worldly grandeur, and at once excites wonder and compaffion. How doth he now shake and tremble! how low and defolate is his condition! how little and infignificant doth he now appear! This great alteration we afcribe entirely to the divine interpofition of that God, who abafeth them that walk in pride.

18 All the kings of the nations, even all of them lie in glory, every one in his own house.

To diverfify the fubject, and to give it additional fplendor, a different fcene is here opened. Certain perfons are introduced, who light upon the corpfe of the king of Babylon, caft out and lying upon the ground among the flain, covered with wounds, and fo disfigured that they hardly know him. His condition is contrafted with that of other princes. Among all nations great honour and refpect hath been given to their fovereigns, not only whilft they were alive, but even after they were dead: their corpfes were laid in state in their palaces. Clothed with the richest dress, and honoured with the enfigns of royalty which formerly belonged to them, they are put into fine coffins; and, after a confiderable time, they are interred in the earth, or the tomb, with great pomp and folemnity. Having in this manner been depofited in the fepulchres of their fathers, large and coftly monuments are erected, to perpetuate their memory, whilst their friends and their fubjects wear the badges of public forrow, and public lofs. This expenfive ceremony and parade is commonly proportioned to the worth of the deceased prince, the excellency of his administration,