280 their apartments. But none of the luxuries or splendours of his palace could now give any pleasure to Darius. He retired to his bed, but hot to sleep, for he was thinking of his counsellor and friend, whom he had left in a den of wild beasts. But to return to the venerable prophet—it might have been expected that the lions would spring cupon Daniel and tear him to pieces, as soon as he came to the bottom of the den. But they did not do this. God, by his divine power, prevented it. How this was effected, whether by taming the fierce dispotions of these animais, or by taking away their strength, so that they were unable to do the prophet any injury, it is impossible to say. Daniel, thus wonderfully unhurt, probably spent the night in constant and earnest prayer tor his entire deliverance. In this dreadful place, his faith and confidence in his heavenly Father were much needed, and they were, no doubt, strongly exercised. : Assuredly too, his soul near to God in praise and thankfulness,andheldswoet.communion with him as hour after hour of the night wore away. Perhaps
