ABASE." In this contrast, we cannot but be struck with the extraordinary difference; and while, on the one hand, we deplore the folly and the madness of the king, we are led, on the other, to admire the humility which the terrible judgment he had passed through was the means of awakening within him. Never was human pride, and power, and grandeur, more fearfully humbled. From an absolute monarch whose will was law, and whose fiat bore natural life or death in its mandate; from the height of uncontrollable power and pride, which that power unhappily generated, we behold the great king hurled down to the level of the brute, driven from the cheerful haunts of men, and eating grass like the cattle, till he was brought to know that the Most High ruled in the kingdoms of men—till he perceived how impious his course had been; and then, at the end of the days—that is, at the termination of his infatuation—lifting up his eyes to heaven, his understanding returned to him, and "he blessed the Most High, and praised and honoured Him that livethnfor ever and ever." Such an acknowledgment as this is the true mark of sanity; but it may safely be affirmed, that, were we left undisturbed by the providential dispensations of the Lord, the salvation of many of us would be hopeless.
When worldly things go well with worldly minds, they are in good humour with Providence, and are willing to pay an apparent homage for the good things which they secretly hope to preserve, and even to increase by their own independent endeavours. That this is the temper of worldly men in prosperity, is evident from their general conduct in adversity; they are then deprived of their apparent confidence, for
