The three confessors, who had been marvellously preserved in the furnace, held high office in the province of Babylon.

Daniel was minister successively of the Assyrian who subjugated Judah, and of the Persian who subjugated Assyria.

Nay, Jesus himself, who was, according to the flesh, a prince of the house of David, had, by commanding his countrymen to pay tribute to Caesar, pronounced that foreign conquest annuls hereditary right and is a legitimate title to dominion.

It was therefore probable that great numbers of Tories, though they could not, with a clear conscience, choose a King for themselves, would accept, without hesitation, a King given to them by the event of war.

[609] On the other side, however, there were reasons which greatly preponderated.