ciples of their kind: as that a government must be; without which every one is the enemy of every one, and all tend to mutual destruction, which are appointed of God for mutual preservation; that in government some do rule, and some be in subjection; that all rule be for the good of them that are ruled; and the like principles that flow necessarily from the very nature of political society.

Some things again are alterable and dispensable, merely upon the account of preserving the former principles, or the like if any of them are out of course, it is a vacuum' in nature politic, for which all particular elements instantly dislodge and transpose themselves to supply; and such are all forms of governments amongst men, which if either they so degenerate of themselves that they become directly opposite, or are so shattered by providential revolutions as to become useless to their proper end, may and ought to be changed, and not upon other accounts: but now for other things in government, as the particular way, whereby persons shall be designed unto it, the continuance of the same persons in it, for a less or greater proportion of time, the exercise of more or less power by some sorts, or the whole body of them that are ruled, the uniting of men for some particular end by bonds and engagements, and the like occasional emergencies, the universal disposal of them is rolled on prudence to act according to present circumstances.

(2.) Love to his people. This was the second qualification, wherein Daniel was so eminent. And our deceased friend, not to enter into comparison with them that went before, had clearly such a proportion, as we may heartily desire that those who follow after, may drink but equal draughts of the same cup; that as his pains, labour, travail, jeopards of his life, and all that was dear to him, relinquishment of relations and contentments, had sweetness and life from this motive, even intenseness of affection to his people, the people of whom he was, and whose prosperity he did desire, needs no farther demonstration, than the great neglect of self and all self-concernments which dwelt upon him in all his tremendous undertakings: 'vicit amor patriæ,' or certainly he who had upon his breast and all his undertakings selfcontempt so eminently engraven, could not have persisted wrestling with so many difficulties to the end of his days:

it was Jerusalem, and the prosperity thereof, which was preferred to his chief joy. Neither,

(3.) Did he come short in righteousness in the administration of that high place whereto he was called? nay than this, there was not a more eminent stone in that diadem which he had in the earth. If he lay not at the bottom, yet at least he had a signal concurrence in such acts of justice, as antiquity hath not known, and posterity will admire. Neither was it this or that particular act that did in this bespeak his praise, but a constant will and purpose of rendering to every one his due.

I shall not insist upon particulars, in these and sundry other personal qualifications, between the persons mentioned a parallel may lie.

2. As to employment, that of Daniel was mentioned before: it was the receiving, and holding out from God, visions of providential alterations, disposing and transposing of states, nations, kingdoms, and dominions; what he had in speculation, was this man's part to follow in action; he was an eminent instrument in the hand of God in as tremendous providential alterations, as such a spot of the world hath at any time received, since Daniel foresaw in general them all: and this, not as many have been carried along with the stream, or led by outward motives, and considerations far above their own principles and desires, but seeingly and knowingly, he closed with the mind of God with full purpose of heart, to serve the will of the Lord in his generation. And on this account did he see every mountain made a plain beforehand, by the Spirit of the Lord, and staggered not at the greatest difficulties through unbelief, but being steadfast in faith, he gave glory to God.' And to complete the parallel, as Daniel's visions were still terminated in the kingdom of Christ; so all his actions had the same aim and intendment. This was that which gave life and sweetness to all the most dismal and black engagements that at any any time he was called out unto. All made way to the coming in of the promised glory. It was all the vengeance of the Lord and his temple.' A Davidical preparation of his paths in blood, that he might for ever reign in righteousness and peace; but be he so or so, the truth of our proposition is confirmed towards him: That there is an appointed sea

son when the saints of the most eminent abilities in the most useful employments shall receive their dismission, &c.

I shall briefly open the rest of the words, and so take up the proposition again, which was first laid down.

Secondly, Then, there is the term allotted to him in this state of his dismission: Until the end be.'

Three things may be here intended in this word 'end.'

1. The end of his life: Go thou thy ways to the end of thy life,' and days. But this we before disallowed, not consenting that Daniel received a dismission from his employment before the end of his life and pilgrimage.

2. The end of the world: 'Go thy ways to the end of the world' till then thou shalt rest in thy grave. But neither yet doth this seem to be particularly intended in these words. The words in the close of the text do expressly mention that, calling it 'the end of days;' and in so few words, the same thing is not needlessly repeated: besides, had this expression held out the whole time of his abode in the state of rest here signified, it must have been, "Go thou thy ways, for thou shalt rest until the end be:' So that,

3. The end' here is to be accommodated unto the things, whereof the Holy Ghost is peculiarly dealing with Daniel; and that is, the accomplishment of the great visions which he had received, in breaking the kingdoms of the world, and setting up the kingdom of the holy one of God: Daniel is dismissed from farther attendance in this service, he shall not see the actual accomplishment of the things mentioned, but is dismissed and laid aside unto the end of them. The word' until,' in the Scripture, is not such a limitation of time, as to assert the contrary to what is excepted, upon its accomplishment: 'Until the end,' doth not signify that he should not rest after the end of the things intimated, no more than it is affirmed that Michal had children after her death, because it is said, that until her death she had none; 2 Sam. vi. 23. this then is that end that he is dismissed unto; the appointed season for the accomplishment of those glorious things which he had foreshewn.

Observation II. God oftentimes suffers not his choicest servants to see the issue and accomplishment of these glo

rious things, wherein themselves have been most eminently engaged.

Thirdly, The third thing (that we may make haste) is his state and condition, during the time which he lies under this dismission, in these words: For thou shalt rest.'

There is nothing of difficulty in these words, but what will naturally fall under consideration in the opening of the proposition which they hold out: which is,

Observation III. The condition of a dismissed saint is

a condition of rest: Thou shalt rest until the end be.'

What this rest is, and from what, with wherein it consists, shall be afterward explained.

Fourthly, The last thing in the text is the utmost issue of all these dispensations, both as to his foregoing labour, and his present dismission, and following rest: 'Thou shalt stand in thy lot,' &c.

Here are two things considerable in these words.

1. The season of the accomplishment of what is here foretold, and promised unto Daniel; and that is in the end of the days:' that is, when time shall be no more, when a period shall be put to the days of the world: called the last day, the great day, the day of judgment; that is the season of the accomplishment of this promise, The day wherein God will judge the world, by the man whom he hath ordained.'

Observation IV. There is an appointed determinate season, wherein all things and persons according to the will of God will run into their utmost issue and everlasting condition.

2. The thing foretold and promised, that is, "That he should stand in his lot.'

Observation V. There is an appointed lot for every one to stand in, and measured portion, which in the end they shall receive.

Observation VI. There is an eminent lot hereafter, for men of eminent employment for God here.

I shall not be able to handle all these several truths which lie in the words; those only which are of most importance, and most suitable, may briefly be handled unto you. And the first is,

Observation I. There is an appointed season wherein the

saints of the most eminent abilities, in the most useful employments, must receive their dismission.

Zech. i. 5. Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?' Fathers and prophets have but their season, and they are not: they have their dismission; so old Simeon professeth, Nunc Dimittis,' Luke ii. 29. Now thou givest me a dismission: they are placed of God in their station, as a centinel in his watch-tower, and they have their appointed season, and are then dismissed from their watch. The great Captain of their salvation comes, and saith, 'Go thou thy ways,' thou hast faithfully discharged thy duty; go now unto thy rest. Some have harder service; some have harder duty than others; some keep guard in the winter, a time of storms and temptations, trials and great pressures: others in the sunshine, the summer of a more flourishing estate and condition; yet duty they all do; all attend in the service; all endure some hardship, and have their appointed season for their dismission: and be they never so excellent at the discharging of their duty, they shall not abide one moment beyond the bounds which he hath set them, who saith to all his creatures, Thus far shall you go, and no farther.' Oftentimes this dismission is in the midst of their work, for which they seem to be most eminently qualified.

The three most eminent works of God, in and about his children, in the days of old, were his giving his people the law, and settling them in the land of Canaan: his recovering them from the Babylonish captivity; and, his promulgation of the gospel unto them. In these three works, he employed three most eminent persons; Moses in the first, Daniel in the second, and John Baptist in the third, and neither of them saw the work accomplished, wherein they were so eminently employed. Moses died the year before the people entered Canaan: Daniel, some few years before the foundation of the temple, and John Baptist in the first year of the baptism of our Saviour, when the gospel which he began to preach, was to be published in its beauty and glory. They had all but their appointed seasons, though their abilities were eminent: who like unto them? and their employment excellent, what like it in the earth? Yet at their seasons, they must go their ways to rest, and lie down, till