fore the year 1822; and that as there were no circumstances which, during that year, particularly marked the progress or success of those efforts, so there seems to be no adequate reason for assigning the standing up of Michael to that specific period. Had those efforts commenced in that particular year, then, indeed, there might be some ground for assuming that the prophecy had thus received its accomplishment. But to obviate this objection it may be sufficient to say, that it proceeds upon a misunderstanding of the meaning of the prophecy. It is not the conversion of the Jewish people, their spiritual deliverance, of which the angel speaks in the vision. This of course must be implied and supposed as taking place according to the general predictions of Scripture. But the interference of Michael in their behalf, as stated in the vision, is evidently a political interference, and the deliver

*

ance promised a political deliverance. Both Michael and the angel, who speaks,

* That the deliverance here intended is a political deliverance, may be inferred from the figurative language which is employed, in the following verse, to describe it, and which speaks of it as a resurrection from the dead; the same figure which is made use of by Isaiah, xxvi. 19., and Ezek. xxxvii. 12, 13., to describe the same event; in both of which passages the restoration predicted is evidently political. See also Rev. xi. 8-11., where the same figure is used to describe the political revival of the Protestant cause. The very circumstance, indeed, mentioned in Daniel, that some of the Jews at this time "shall awake to everlasting shame and contempt," shows that it is a political resurrection' which is here meant, a recovery from their present abject and depressed condition, which may take place while many of them, being yet in an unconverted state, may continue to oppose Christianity, and may at last perish in their sins. See Ezek. xxxiv. 11-22. In this connection, Dan. xii. 3. may be understood either as an encouragement to those who shall promote the conversion of the Jews, or as an intimation of the subsequent diffusion of Christianity by the agency of Jewish con

verts.

are represented in the tenth chapter as fighting for the captive Jews, against "the prince of the kingdom of Persia ;" and though the person intended by this expression was probably an "evil angel," by whom Satan managed his concerns in and by that kingdom, yet the context shows that the events, to which the agency of Michael was directed, were political events; and intimates that the object of his interference was the ordering and over-ruling, in favour of the Jews, the counsels and operations of the Persian government. As analogy, therefore, would require that a similar interpretation be put on similar expressions in the subsequent part of the same prophecy, it is plain, that the standing up of Michael, in the twelfth chapter, must be considered as descriptive merely of his interference as to the political state of the Jews, and to the political events connected with their recovery and restoration from

their present dispersions.* Consequently, no previous efforts to promote their spiritual deliverance can be considered as invalidating the conclusion mentioned in the beginning of the present chapter.

* A new gold coinage for Greece has been lately executed at Paris, under the direction of Denon, the traveller. On one side is the archangel Michael with a flaming sword, and a dove; the latter, the symbol of peace. On the reverse, a lion, the emblem of strength, encircled by a serpent, meant to indicate eternity, and around, the word " Resurrection."- Christian Observer for Feb. 1824, p. 119.

89

CHAP. XIV.

THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINued.

A SECOND result, following from the interpretation which has been confirmed, is this, that we are now fast advancing towards that season of unprecedented trouble, to which reference has been repeatedly made in the course of this discussion. For the angel, having spoken of the standing up of Michael, immediately adds, "And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time; and at that time thy people shall be delivered." It seems plain from this passage that the predicted time of unexampled trouble is closely connected wtth the standing up of Michael, and will follow it at no great