But God, whom they thus publicly honoured, interposed. The flaming element was not suffered to hurt them. Their chains fell off: and they walked amidst the furnace in perfect composure and security. Here was unyielding 'regard for the authority of Jehovah; and here was demonstration of the everlasting truth, that they who trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.

We are led by the passage to contemplate the NATURE and the IMPORTANCE of CHRISTIAN DECISION.

I. ITS NATURE.

Christian decision, in general terms, is an inflexible regard for the will and honour of God. It is a firm adherence to that course of conduct, which God has manifestly shown to be the path of duty. It is opposed to a wavering, timid spirit, and a partial discharge of religious obligations. In illustrating its nature, a few of its characteristics may be distinctly considered.

1. It is always exercised with special regard to the will of the Most High.

In this respect, it is distinguished from a native decision of character. The latter is an inflexible adherence to the course marked out by one's own mind. That course may be in accordance with the will of God, or it may be in direct opposition to it. The determination of the individual is formed; and it is not easily shaken, whether it be morally right or morally wrong. But the man of Christian decision resolves, and acts accordingly, in view of the manifest pleasure of God. His explicit precept, or plain providence, gives shape to every determination. That precept or providence is looked upon as the foundation of duty: and hence the course determined upon is right in itself, and worthy to be pursued, through evil report and through good report. And thus, true Christian firmness, and indeed heroism, may exist even in connexion with a native timidity of character.

Of this nature was the decision of the three Jews in Babylon. They refused to obey the impious mandate of Nebuchadnezzar, not from obstinacy, but because the law of the Lord was graven upon their hearts. That law clearly marked out their course of duty in the given case; and they could not do otherwise than pursue it. Whether they possessed native fortitude or native timidity of spirit does not appear; but they had that regard for the character, and government, and worship of the Most High, which inspired them with unconquerable resolution.

2. Christian decision is exercised in regard to matters of real importance.

Among mere worldly men, a certain robustness of spirit is often exhibited as decisively in matters of indifference, as in matters of moment. Of two ways, each may be pursued without crime, and without damage to any one: but there is a partiality for one course, and that course must be pursued at all hazards. Nothing of importance is depending upon the man's decision; and yet he is immoveably fixed. His firmness under such circumstances is a native obstinacy of character; not that exalted temper of mind, which asks for the path of duty, and fearlessly pursues it.

In matters of trivial concern, true evangelical decision may be easy and yielding. It exhibits a due respect for the feelings, wishes, and prepossessions of others. It was a bright characteristic of the apostle Paul; who was yet ready to become all things to all men, that he might by all means save some. At the same time, in matters of real moment, evangelical decision displays itself with unshrinking promptitude and perseverance. And such was the case, in which those three men upon the plain of Dura were called to act. An attack was made upon the very foundation of all true religion. The most daring indignity was cast upon Jehovah; and to join the general homage before the idol god, would be to sanction the gross impiety of the king, as well as to disgrace their own religion, and blast for ever their character. It was a case, therefore, imperiously demanding the decision they exhibited. Every thing precious in religious principle, as well as every thing tremendous in religious sanctions, required them to act as they did.

3. True Christian decision is exercised with but little anxiety about consequences.

The three Jews before the haughty monarch of Babylon, in adopting the resolution they did, were governed by other considerations than such as too commonly exert a controlling influence. They occupied stations of rank and power. A solicitude about consequences would have whispered, these must be sacrificed, unless the impious edict is complied with.' The furnace with its blazing horrors was before them; and the burning wrath of the king they knew to be relentless. So that the prospect immediately before them was, of course, inexpressibly appalling. They knew, indeed, that the God of heaven could sustain and defend them; but he had given them no explicit pledge of protection. Still, in obeying the clear injunctions of con-> science and of God, they were willing to risk consequences.

The moment the Christian begins to inquire how a given course of duty will probably affect his reputation, his means of advancement, or his safety; that moment he adopts a principle of action which is wide

True Christian decision

from a character of evangelical decision. keeps its eye upon the eternal law of God. It asks, not what will satisfy the claims of earth, but what will meet the claims of Heaven; not what will probably secure a quiet passage through this world of gayety, pride, and corruption; but what will exalt the honour of the Most High, and secure his benediction; not what may seem for the present safe, but what is right.

4. True Christian decision is uniform and unqualified.

It was but a single violation of the principles of their religion which the king demanded of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. To fall down and worship the golden image would be but the act of a moment. It would exceedingly gratify one, whom doubtless it was their pleasure to honour. It might save them from temporal disgrace and ruin. It would continue them in a station of rank, influence, and extended usefulness. True, it would be but a single and a momentary act. But by that single, momentary act, what would they have done? Why, they would have renounced their allegiance to the Most High, cast public insult upon his throne, given countenance to the whole system of guilty idolatry, and prostrated their own character for religious decision. If they could shrink from the claims of their religion in one case, why not in a thousand? And what is the difference of principle between a deviation from manifest duty in a case of apparently trivial importance, and one of obvious magnitude? The Judge of all the earth has decided, He that is unjust in the least, is unjust also in much.

The man of real evangelical firmness admits not the thought of a compromise with sin or with error. If a corrupt appetite asks for a slight indulgence, he promptly chastises it. If he is urged to a course of conduct sanctioned by extended custom, but yet sinful, he has principle enough to stand back. If he is threatened with disgrace, with poverty, or with violence, to induce him to violate his conscience and the claims of his God, and the demand be ever so trivial in itself, but yet actually sinful, he is still immoveable as the everlasting hills. He would sooner break asunder every cord of earthly friendship,-sooner encounter the frown of an infuriated world, than offend his Judge in heaven.

Christian decision, then, is an inflexible regard for the will and honour of God. It is always exercised with special reference to the divine authority; and thus differs from that mere native firmness or obstinacy of character, which some possess. It is exercised in regard to matters of real importance, in distinction from matters of indifference. It is exercised with but little anxiety about consequences. It is uniform and unqualified in its operations.

Such is the nature of Christian decision. We are next to consider,
II. ITS IMPORTANCE.

1. It is important as a matter of religious consistency.

The Christian has publicly professed a supreme friendship for Jesus Christ, and a supreme reverence for the unchanging truths and precepts of the Gospel. In thus openly espousing the Christian cause, it is to be presumed that he has counted the cost, and is prepared for selfdenial, and even for severe affliction and, consequently, if he shrink from duty when inclination is thwarted, when appetite or passion pleads, when custom tempts, or even when violence alarms; he turns aside from the course he has solemnly adopted, and contradicts the plain declaration of his own lips. Christian brother, you have sworn allegiance to Jesus of Nazareth: and what have you to do any more with idols? What have you to do but to obey your King? regarding every voice that would turn you aside from his will, or detract from his glory, as unworthy of a thought; or rather as a lure to blackest treason! These were the feelings of the three pious Jews before Nebuchadnezzar's image. They had chosen the eternal law as their rule of life, and the eternal God as their Sovereign; and there was a noble consistency between their avowed principles and their conduct. But suppose they had yielded to the royal mandate, and the voice of general custom, suppose they had shrunk from the appalling furnace,-what could have saved their holy profession from insupportable ignominy, or themselves from the odium of instability, and the inexpressible torture of a violated conscience?

2. Christian decision is important as a satisfactory evidence of real Christian character.

In a rigid adherence to the Gospel, consists all the religious decision. which is urged in this discourse. And in such a course consists obviously that evangelical obedience, which marks the children of God and beirs of glory. This principle carries the individual along in the uniform discharge of duty. And the growing brightness of his character leaves no room to doubt, that he is in union with God, and shall stand on Mount Zion above. The law of the Lord is his statute-book. The honour of God is the object of his steady efforts. And the opening records of the judgment, will display to assembled worlds, the soundness and loftiness of his religious character, and the appropriateness of his final and glorious award. This evidence of religious character was exhibited by the three intrepid Jews in Babylon. Their undeviating adherence to the worship of Jehovah, under such trying circumstances, evinced indeed a piety of no ordinary ardour and brilliancy.

A true Christian, in this imperfect state, may sometimes shrink from an exact discharge of duty. The dereliction, however, cannot be frequent. Much less can it be habitual. Is the Christian professor accustomed to yield to the claims of a corrupt appetite or passion? It is madness and mockery, that he should pretend to the spirit of adoption. Does he hear, without painful emotion, the Saviour's name abused? Jesus of Nazareth is not his Master; nor can he be his Saviour. Is he accustomed to shape his deportment according to the maxims and practices of a perverse world? His allegiance to God's throne is but a nominal allegiance. The mandate from that throne is, Come out from among them, and be ye separate, and touch not the unclean thing. Is he deterred from his duty by a dread of human displeasure, by a regard to his standing in society, or by any other selfish consideration? It is too manifest that the fear and love of God have never become fixed principles in his degenerate heart. This trial of character is a fair one. And his disposition to shrink from a fearless discharge of duty to attend to the momentous concern of religion as a matter of convenience or expediency-brands him as a hypocrite. It demonstrates the entire absence of that commanding principle which has sustained patriarchs, prophets, apostles, martyrs, and millions in glory of whom the world was not worthy. O, ye Christian worldlings! your unchristian life testifies against you. A direct voice from Heaven could not proclaim more decisively the hollowness of your religion, the delusion of your hope, and the tempest of wrath that must shortly overwhelm you. Ye are fig-trees in the vineyard, bearing only leaves and such are destined, all of them, to be withered by the Saviour's curse. He has no neutrals in his kingdom. He that is not with me, is against me; and he that gathereth not with me, scattereth abroad. ⠀

3. Christian decision is important even as a matter of safety.

The path of duty is commonly deserted from considerations of temporary interest. Some secular object is either to be gained, or is in danger of being sacrificed.

Perhaps by such policy a temporary advantage may be gained. A pressing evil may for once be avoided; or a desirable object secured. Yet of even this there is no certainty. Indeed, there is danger, even in this life, in pursuing any other than the course marked out by infinite authority. And there is the utmost safety to every important temporal interest, in committing thy way unto the Lord.

The policy of the three Jews in Babylon was of a grander kind. It assumed, as an established point, that the will of the Supreme was to be always regarded, whatever might be the will of others. And acting upon this principle, they had their reward even in this life. God him