In Dan. 3 we have the spirit and character in which the godly remnant will pass through their trials. It is not in that character, however, not the outward difficulties here referred to, but it is the aspect of the thing that I desire to call your attention to, because there are various trials which attend the soul while passing through this world. In Israel God was showing forth His mighty power in temporal deliverances, as in the case of Pharaoh; but with us it is a different thing, being spiritually delivered we are waiting for God's Son from heaven. All through, those who are faithful to God have been a suffering people. Obedience and reliance on God, characterize the seed all the way through. It is another thing we find here. Besides the love of power, they use religion to unite and band together, to oblige conformity to the king's word. No matter whether king or pope, if it is his religion, for religion being the strongest motive in the human heart, men use it to sway and influence others to gain their own selfish ends.