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<p>Here is 1. Proof made of Daniel’s praying to his God, notwithstanding the late edict to the contrary (<a class="bibleref" title="Dan.6.11" href="/passage/?search=Dan.6.11">Dan. 6:11</a>): <i>These men assembled</i>; the <i>came tumultuously together</i>, so the word is, the same that was used <a class="bibleref" title="Dan.6.6" href="/passage/?search=Dan.6.6">Dan. 6:6</a>; borrowed from <a class="bibleref" title="Ps.2.1" href="/passage/?search=Ps.2.1">Ps. 2:1</a>; <i>Why do the heathen rage</i>? They came together to visit Daniel, perhaps under pretence of business, at that time which they knew to be his usual hour of devotion; and, if they had not found him so engaged, they would have upbraided him with his faint-heartedness and distrust of his God, but (which they rather wished to do) they <i>found him on his knees praying</i> and <i>making supplication before his God. For his love they are his adversaries</i>; but, like his father David, he <i>gives himself unto prayer</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="Ps.109.4" href="/passage/?search=Ps.109.4">Ps. 109:4</a>. 2. Complaint made of it to the king. When they had found occasion against Daniel concerning <i>the law of his God</i> they lost no time, but applied to the king (<a class="bibleref" title="Dan.6.12" href="/passage/?search=Dan.6.12">Dan. 6:12</a>), and having appealed to his whether there was not such a law made, and gained from him a recognition of it, and that it was so ratified that it might not be altered, they proceeded to accuse Daniel, <a class="bibleref" title="Dan.6.13" href="/passage/?search=Dan.6.13">Dan. 6:13</a>. They so describe him, in the information they give, as to exasperate the king and incense him the more against him: “He is <i>of the children of the captivity of Judah</i>; he is of Judah, that despicable people, and now a captive in a despicable state, that can call nothing his own but what he has by the king’s favour, and yet <i>he regards not thee, O king! nor the decree that thou hast signed</i>.” Note, It is no new thing for that which is done faithfully, in the conscience towards God, to be misrepresented as done obstinately and in contempt of the civil powers, that is, for the best saints to be reproached as the worst men. Daniel regarded God, and therefore prayed, and we have reason to think prayed for the king and his government, yet this is construed as not regarding the king. That excellent spirit which Daniel was endued with, and that established reputation which he had gained, could not protect him from these poisonous darts. They do not say, He makes his petition to his God, lest Darius should take notice of that to his praise, but only, <i>He makes his petition</i>, which is the thing the law forbids. 3. The great concern the king was in hereupon. He now perceived that, whatever they pretended, it was not to honour him, but in spite to Daniel, that they had proposed that law, and now he is <i>sorely displeased with himself</i> for gratifying them in it, <a class="bibleref" title="Dan.6.14" href="/passage/?search=Dan.6.14">Dan. 6:14</a>. Note, When men indulge a proud vain-glorious humour, and please themselves with that which feeds it, they know not what vexations they are preparing for themselves; their flatterers may prove their tormentors, and are but <i>spreading a net for their feet</i>. Now, the king <i>sets his heart to deliver Daniel</i>; both by argument and by authority he labours <i>till the going down of the sun</i> to <i>deliver him</i>, that is, to persuade his accusers not to insist upon his prosecution. Note, We often do that, through inconsideration, which afterwards we see cause a thousand times to wish undone again, which is a good reason why we should <i>ponder the path of our feet</i>, for then <i>all our ways will be established</i>. 4. The violence with which the prosecutors demanded judgment, <a class="bibleref" title="Dan.6.15" href="/passage/?search=Dan.6.15">Dan. 6:15</a>. We are not told what Daniel said; the king himself is his advocate, he needs not plead his own cause, but silently commi
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