Daniel 1

Esau had the venison, but Jacob got the blessing: while the wicked have their meat sauced with God's wrath (Psalm 78:30-31), believers have their comforts seasoned with a blessing. It was a secret blessing from God made Daniel's pulse nourish him more, and make him look fairer,…

A blessing put sweetness into the least morsel of bread; it is like sugar in wine (Psalm 132:15): I will bless her provision. Daniel and the three children ate pulse (which was a coarse fare) yet they looked fairer than those who did eat of the king's meat (Daniel 1:15). From wh…

The Lord gave Joseph favor in the eyes of Potiphar, (Genesis 39:21). God brought Daniel in favor and tender love with the Prince of the Eunuchs, (Daniel 1:9). The Lord made his people to be pitied of all those that carried them captives, (Psalm 106:46).

2. God does nothing in the election of Peter, more than of Judas; nor can grace and mercy have place in the choosing of the one, rather than the other; but as free will is foreseen to play the game ill, or well, so go the eternal decrees of election and reprobation, and there ca…

If a physician for his fee will be faithful, although he be a stranger; much more will he be so if he be father to the patient, (so as his own life and comfort are bound up in that of the child's) or when much of his estate and comings in are from the life of the party to whom h…

He can make a little means go far. As he blessed the pulse to the captive children (Daniel 1:15), and made the widow's barrel of meal, and cruse of oil to hold out (1 Kings 17:14), and his filling and feeding five thousand with a few barley loaves, and a few fishes (Matthew 14:2…

If this be your case, learn to abhor yourself for it, and to be ashamed: for all is nothing, till we come to a constant and unchangeable resolution: so that we come to set it down with ourselves as an inviolable law: this is a duty, and I will do it, whatever it cost me; this is…

Persecution propagates the Church: the scattering of the Apostles up and down, was like scattering of seed, it did tend much to the spreading of the Gospel, Acts 8:1.4. 6. If the Lord of Hosts be on our side, he can alter the scene and turn the ballance of affairs when he please…

The person himself was a man highly favored of God, above all in his generation: so richly furnished with gifts and graces, that he is once and again brought forth as an example, and instanced in by God himself, upon the account of eminence in wisdom and piety. Yet all this pres…

While we are thinking and deliberating what to do, we lie open to temptations; the Devil has some hope of us: but when the bent of our hearts is set another way, and the Devil sees we are firmly resolved, and have holy purposes, he is discouraged. This was that which made Daniel…

Indeed further, of the alterations of the weather in general; but all this makes nothing to ratify divination of particular events in things contingent, which are to fall out in the state of kingdoms, families, and persons: for they are not causes, but signs, and that of some ge…

3 Uprightness and righteousness in the discharge of that high place whereunto he was advanced. For the first, the Holy Ghost bears ample testimony thereunto (Daniel 1:17, 20): As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom, and Daniel ha…