Lastly; encouraged by the salutary promise in the text, let the timid and unestablished plead it in faith before the throne of grace. God is faithful to fulfil what he hath spoken; and the experience of his people hath borne testimony to his veracity and his compassion in all ages. Plead the promise in the all-meritorious name of Jesus, in whom all the promises are yea and amen. Urge the covenant engagements of the Father to him, whereby he hath promised that all his children shall be taught of God. Expect no favor upon your own account; but look for every thing from him, in whom all fulness dwelleth, and in whom the Father is well pleased. Let not some difficulties, or a little suspense, discourage you. Continue instant in prayer. Wait in faith, in hope, in patience. And the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by CHRIST JESUS, after that ye have suffered awhile, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you! To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever! Amen. SERMON VIII. BELSHAZZAR’S DOOM; OR, SINNERS, WHETHER PRINCELY, PATRICIAN, OR PLEBEIAN, WEIGHED IN THE BALANCE, AND FOUND WANTING. “_TEKEL_, _Thou art weighed in the balances and art found wanting_.” DAN. v. 27. THE history, to which the words of the text refer, is extremely memorable. During the captivity of the Jews, a variety of singular events concurred to prove that the sins, which brought desolation upon their country, and subjected them, for a period of seventy years, to the Babylonish yoke, had not, nevertheless, wholly alienated the affections of Jehovah from them, or dissolved that covenant relation which he had originally adopted towards them, as the “God of Abraham,” and that any act of indignity perpetrated against an afflicted people, or any insult cast upon the service of their temple, would be recognized as the highest affront to the Majesty of Heaven, and not be suffered to pass with impunity, though the perpetrators were the princes and potentates of the earth.