days. The angel concludes with a comfortable word to Daniel. 13 But go thou thy way till the end [be] for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days; or, thou shalt come to thy end: that is, thou shalt die long before these things come to pass, or are understood, and shalt rest in thy grave, and not be afflicted with the distresses here mentioned, and shalt receive a full reward at the resurrection of the just. 1. REFLECTIONS. PON the whole, we may exclaim with Bp. NEWTON, 'What an amazing prophecy is this!' comprehending so many various events, and extending through so many successive ages; even from the first foundation of the Persian empire, (five hundred and thirty years before Christ,) to the general resurrection and the farther it extends, and the more it comprehends, and the better it is understood, the more amazing surely, and the more divine, it must appear. What stronger and more convincing proofs can be given or required, of a divine providence and a divine revelation? 2. Let us, in the faith of this prophecy, expect the resurrection of the dead. Some modern divines have attempted to prove that there is no resurrection of the body, but only of the soul to a new life but this prophecy, as well as many passages in the New Testament, prove a resurrection of the body. What else can be meant by many that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake? And Oh, let us think seriously how they will arise; some, who while here, were past remorse, and gloried in their shame, shall awake: when their guilt shall be brought to light, convicted and confounded, shame shall return upon them double, and they shall be objects of scorn and contempt to the whole world. Good men shall arise to everlasting life and they shall have peculiar honour who have turned many to righteousness. The more they do here, the more glory shall they have hereafter. This is great encouragement to parents and ministers to be diligent in their respective duties to the souls committed to them; and may we all, so behave here, that we may attain to the resurrection of the dead, and of them that sleep in Jesus! In this passage three remarkable periods are pointed out: twelve hundred and sixty, twelve hundred and ninety, and thirteen hundred and thirty five. What they refer to is very uncertain, and can only be conjectured. The daily sacrifice being taken away, cannot here refer to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans; therefore many understand it of the Saracens' conquering Jerusalem, and turning the christian churches in the east into mosques; and some, by the daily sacrifice, understand the Lord's supper. It is remarkable, that the imposture of Mahomet, and the tyranny of popery, began at the same time: and it seems here to be intimated, that both shall fall nearly together. The first period of twelve hundred and sixty years, may perhaps refer to the fall of the Mahometan power: thirty years after, the Jews are to be fully restored and settled in their own land: and about forty years after that, there is to be a glorious time, when the fulness of the gentiles is to be brought in, and the happy state of the church for one thousand years to begin, But the words are shut up; the vision is sealed; and therefore I shall say no more of it. 3. A diligent inquiry into the meaning of the scripture, with a humble, teachable spirit, will be attended with success. The labours of learned men have cleared up many difficulties in scripture. We better understand the prophecies than our fathers, and our posterity will understand them better than we. They grow clearer, the nearer they come to their accomplishment. Let this excite us to take pains in the study of the scriptures. But remember, we must come to the work with upright and pure hearts. The wise shall understand, but not the wicked; their lusts and passions prejudice them both against truth and duty. But he that will diligently search after the will of God, and is determined to do it, shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God; shall understand the scriptures, and be made wise to salvation. 4. What a comfort is it to good men, that there is a rest remaining for them, and a happy lot in a future world. Blessed be God, this is plain, amidst all the obscurities of prophecy, that good men when they die, enter into peace, rest from their labours and sorrows; and that there is a world of perfect light and happiness before them. Let it be our ambition to have our lot among God's saints, and our everlasting portion with his chosen. Here we know but in part, and see through a glass darkly; but when that which is perfect is come, that which is only in part shall be done away. |