534.

DISQUISITION IV.

But I will show thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth.-DANIEL X. part 21 v.

These words are a part of the last verse of the tenth chapter of Daniel. We are informed by that chapter, that Daniel in the third year of Cyrus, king of Persia, in the four and twentieth day of the first month; had a vision, as he was by the side of the river Hiddikel. He beheld there a man "clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with the fine gold of Uphaz;" whose body was "like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet, like in color to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude." Daniel was overcome by this vision, and fell prostrate upon the ground; and while in that position, 'an hand touched him, and set him upon his knees and palms of his hands,' and a voice said, "O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright, for unto thee am I now sent. * * * Fear not, for, from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. * *** I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days. **** Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? ** 1 will show thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth."

Daniel, previous to this vision, had been mourning and fasting three full weeks; and the expression of the angel, "I am come for thy words," seems to refer to the prayers which he had offered during that time. That he had given himself to prayer throughout that protracted fast, we cannot doubt; and from the former part of the 12th verse-"Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand," &c.—we are instructed, that he had been deeply desirous to understand something; and from the conclusion of that verse, together with the 14th,-"I am come for thy words"-"Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days," it appears that the angel who addressed him, came in answer to those desires, which had caused him such anxiety; and also, that those desires had been specific :-that they were, to obtain an understanding of the coming fortunes of his people. "Fear not, Daniel, * * I am come for thy words. *** I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people, in the latter days. *** But I will show thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth.".

It appearing, then, first, that the angel came in answer to Daniel's prayers, (“Thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words," 12th verse,) and second, that he came to instruct Daniel in the prophetic history of his people, ("I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people, in the latter days," 14th verse,) and third, that Daniel had a promise from the angel, in the words of the text, that the instructions given, should be shown from what had already been noted, in the scripture of truth, ("I will show thee that which is noted

in the scripture of truth,” 21st verse,) it becomes a matter of some importance to ascertain the true answer to the inquiry—

IN WHAT SCRIPTURE ARE THE PROMISED INSTRUCTIONS NOTED?

In order more easily to answer this inquiry, it will be convenient to have the eleventh and twelfth chapters, for in these the promised instructions are given, divided into sections, according to their subjects.

The subjects, as we find them introduced, are as follows:

1. In chapt. xi. 1st and 2d verses.—Media and Persia. 2. 3d and 4th verses.-Grecia.

3. 5th-13th verses.-Two kings, of the north and of the south.

4. 14th-29th verses.-The Roman power.

5. 30th and 31st verses.-The ships of Chittim, or the Barbarous nations of the north.

6. 32d-35th verses.--The Papal power, or Abomination that maketh desolate.

7. 36th-45th verses.-Atheistical and revolutionary France.

8. In chapt. xii. 1st-5th verses.-The standing up of Michael-time of trouble-deliverance of the saintsresurrection-glory of the wise-sealing of the visionsigns of the time of the end, &c.

9. 6th and 7th verses.-An inquiry, "How long to the end of these wonders ?" and the reply thereto, in part. 10. 8th-10th verses.-Another inquiry, and its answer, showing that the vision was then sealed, and also giving some signs of the time of the end.

11. 11th-13th verses.-The completion of the reply in answer to the inquiry, "How long to the end of these wonders ?"

These eleven sections embrace all the instructions, which were given in pursuance of the promise in the text; and if any object to the sections, on account of application, I reply that, for the present purpose, the application of the sections, whether right or wrong, is of no concern. If the division is allowed to be philosophical, it is all that is now asked.

In pursuing the inquiry-In what scripture are these instructions noted?' I shall use the division already made, advancing, section by section, unto the last.

SECT. I. xi. 1-2.

In the first year of Darius, the Mede, 1 stood to confirm and to strengthen him.And now I will show thee the truth. There shall stand up yet three kings in Persia.'(Media and Persia, the subjects.)

We read in Daniel viii. 20.

"The ram which thou sawest, having two horns, are the kings of Media and Persia."

SECT. II. gi. 3, 4

"And a mighty king shell stand up, who shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will. And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven, and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled, for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others besides those."

"And the rough goat is the king of Grecia, and the great horn that is between his eyes, is the first king. Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power."

SECT. III. xi. 5-13.

Daniel viii. 21-22.

This section includes the history of the two kingdoms, north and south, i. e. Syria and Egypt and are two of the four, noticed in Daniel viii. 22, which stood up out of Grecia.

:

"Four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.” These kingdoms were, Syria, Egypt, Thrace, and Macedon.

SECT. IV. xi. 14-29.

Daniel viii. 22.

And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south; also the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision, and also the Prince of the covenant shall be broken!'

"And the people of the prince that shall come, shall destroy the city and the sanctuary." (The Romans.)— "And after threescore and two weeks, shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself."

SECT V. xi. 30-31.

Daniel ix. 26.

'And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall take away the Daily, and shall place the Abomination that maketh desolate."