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"thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians" Dan. v. The moment this great monarch cast his eyes upon this miraculous writing "his countenance was changed and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another." How much greater cause then has the profane and worldly man to be seized with horror and dismay, who, in the midst of pomp and deceitful pleasures may perceive the frightful hand of Death writing on every wall in his house in capital letters, and even engraving on his forehead, that God hath numbered his days, and that this in which he breathes shall be soon followed by an eternal night! That God hath weighed him in the balance of his justice, and found him light as the wind; and that the Almighty Disposer of all things, to whom vengeance belongs, will soon disrobe him of all his glory and riches. The expectation of Death is more intolerable to them than Death itself; and they had rather cast themselves headlong into the bottomless pit of hell, than endure the terror and fears of it in their guilty consciences. In short, if there be any who die unconcerned, or without any terror upon their conscience, they must be either pereous entirely stupid and brutal, or like a drunkard who is thrown from a precipice when fast asleep.
FINIS.
