d Abed-nego, he shall be cut in
pieces, and his house shall be made detestable." Dan. iii.

Thus we see how God began, even almost in the beginning of their
captivity, to notify his name, to multiply his knowledge, and set forth as
well his power as his wisdom, and true worshipping, by those that were
taken prisoners, yea, that were despised, and of all men contemned; so
that the name and fear of the God of Abraham was never before notified to
so many realms and nations. This wondrous work of God proceeded from one
empire to another; for Daniel being promoted to great honour by Darius
king of the Persians and Medes, fell into a desperate danger; for he was
committed to prison among lions, because he was found breaking the king's
injunction; not that the king desired the destruction of God's servants,
but because the corrupt idolaters, who in hatred of Daniel had procured
that law to be made, urged the king against his nature; but God, by his
angel, stopped the lions' mouths, and so preserved his servant; which
being considered, with the sudden destruction of Daniel's enemies by the
same lions, king Darius, besides his own confession, wrote to all people,
tongues, and nations, after this form; "It is decreed by me, That in all
the dominions of my kingdom, men shall fear and reverence the God of
Daniel, because he is the Living God, abiding for ever, whose kingdom
shall not be destroyed, and his dominion remaineth; who saveth and
delivereth, and sheweth signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath
delivered Daniel from the lions."

This knowledge was yet further increased in the days of Cyrus, who giving
freedom to the captives to return to their own native country, gave this
confession; "Thus saith Cyrus the king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the
earth hath the Lord God of heaven given unto me, and hath commanded me,
that a house be built to him in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whosoever
therefore of you, that are of his people, let the Lord his God be with
him, and let him pass up to Jerusalem, and let him build the house of the
Lord God of Israel; for he only is God that is in Jerusalem." (Ezra i.)
Time will not suffer me to treat the points of this confession, neither
yet did I for that purpose adduce the history; but only to let us see, how
constantly God kept his promise in increasing his people, and in
augmenting his true knowledge beyond men's expectation, when both they
that were the seed of Abraham, and t