Daniel 1:8-16

Mark the grace and watchful eye of the Lord in this instance over his people, or we shall lose the chief beauty of the history. Surely, nothing but grace could have prompted young men, like Daniel and his companions, to use such an abstinence in the King's court, with all their passions about them. And nothing but the overruling of the Lord, could for a moment have prompted the mind the Prince that had the charge of the captives to listen to the voice of Daniel, at the evident hazard of incurring the displeasure of the King, who, in these countries were despotic. And nothing but the grace and blessing of the Lord upon the poor fare, could have led to the hope of such effects. For certain it is, it is contrary to the common operations of nature; a poverty of living, always must induce from mere natural causes, a poverty of countenance. But under God's blessing, what may not be expected? Let us not overlook the sweet spiritual instruction which this feeding holds forth to the Churches of Jesus. Let the Melzars of the present day suspend or take away the carnal portions of our meat and wine; Jesus will give the bread in secret; and his people, like their Lord, will have meat the world knoweth not of. This is the King's meat indeed, and sent from the King's table. And oh! what a fairness of countenance will it induce at the end of the days, making the soul glad with the light of the Lord's countenance.