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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Daniel XII].</TITLE>
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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<h3><a href="http://www.biblesnet.com" target="_blank">Back to Biblesnet.com Home Page</a>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC27011.HTM">Previous</A>]
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1712)
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</TD></TR></TABLE>
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>D A N I E L.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XII.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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After the prediction of the troubles of the Jews under Antiochus,
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prefiguring the troubles of the Christian church under the
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anti-christian power, we have here,
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I. Comforts, and very precious ones, prescribed as cordials for the
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support of God's people in those times of trouble; and they are such as
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may indifferently serve both for those former times of trouble under
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Antiochus and those latter which were prefigured by them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+12:1-4">ver. 1-4</A>.
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II. A conference between Christ and an angel concerning the time of
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the continuance of these events, designed for Daniel's satisfaction,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+12:5-7">ver. 5-7</A>.
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III. Daniel's enquiry for his own satisfaction,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+12:8">ver. 8</A>.
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And the answer he received to that enquiry,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+12:9-12">ver. 9-12</A>.</P>
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<A NAME="Da12_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Da12_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Da12_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Da12_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Promised Appearance of Michael; The Prophecy Sealed Up.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 534.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince
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which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be
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a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation
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<I>even</I> to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be
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delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
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2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall
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awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame <I>and</I>
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everlasting contempt.
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3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the
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firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars
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for ever and ever.
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4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book,
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<I>even</I> to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and
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knowledge shall be increased.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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It is usual with the prophets, when they foretel the grievances of the
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church, to furnish it at the same time with proper antidotes, a remedy
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for every malady. And no relief is so sovereign, of such general
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application, so easily accommodated to every case, and of such powerful
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efficacy, as those that are fetched from Christ and the future state;
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thence the comforts here are fetched.</P>
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<P>
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I. Jesus Christ shall appear his church's patron and protector: <I>At
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that time,</I> when the persecution is at the hottest, <I>Michael shall
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stand up,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+12:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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The angel had told Daniel what a firm friend Michael was to the church,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+10:21"><I>ch.</I> x. 21</A>.
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He all along showed this friendship in the upper world; the angels knew
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it; but now <I>Michael shall stand</I> up in his providence, and work
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deliverance for the Jews, <I>when he sees that their power is gone,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+32:3">Deut. xxxii. 3</A>.
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6. Christ is <I>that great prince,</I> for he is the <I>prince of the
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kings of the earth,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+1:5">Rev. i. 5</A>.
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And, if he stand up for his church, who can be against it? But this is
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not all: <I>At that time</I> (that is, soon after) Michael shall stand
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up for the working out of our eternal salvation; the Son of God shall
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be incarnate, shall be <I>manifested to destroy the works of the
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devil.</I> Christ <I>stood for the children of our people</I> when he
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was made sin and a curse for them, stood in their stead as a sacrifice,
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bore the cure for them, to bear it from them. He stands for them in the
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intercession he ever lives to make within the veil, stands up for them,
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and stands their friend. And after the destruction of antichrist, of
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whom Antiochus was a type, Christ shall <I>stand at the latter day upon
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the earth,</I> shall appear for the complete redemption of all his.</P>
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<P>
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II. When Christ appears he will recompense tribulation to those that
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trouble his people. There shall <I>be a time of trouble,</I>
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threatening to all, but ruining to all the implacable enemies of God's
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kingdom among men, such <I>trouble as never was since there was a
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nation.</I> This is applicable.
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1. To the destruction of Jerusalem, which Christ calls (perhaps with an
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eye to this prediction) such a <I>great tribulation as was not since
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the beginning of the world to this time,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+24:21">Matt. xxiv. 21</A>.
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This the angel had spoken much of
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+9:26,27"><I>ch.</I> ix. 26, 27</A>);
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and it happened about the same time that Christ set up the
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gospel-kingdom in the world, that Michael our prince <I>stands up.</I>
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Or,
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2. To the judgment of the great day, that day that shall <I>burn as an
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oven,</I> and consume the proud and all that do wickedly; that will be
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such a <I>day of trouble</I> as never was to all those whom Michael our
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prince stands against.</P>
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<P>
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III. He will work salvation for his people: "<I>At that time thy people
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shall be delivered,</I> delivered from the mischief and ruin designed
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them by Antiochus, even all those that were marked for preservation,
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that were <I>written among the living,</I>"
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+4:3">Isa. iv. 3</A>.
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When Christ comes into the world he will save his spiritual Israel from
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sin and hell, and will, at his second coming, complete their salvation,
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even the salvation of as many as were given him, as many as have
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<I>their names in the book of life,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+20:15">Rev. xx. 15</A>.
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They were written there before the world, and will be <I>found
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written</I> there at the end of the world, when the books shall be
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opened.</P>
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<P>
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IV. There shall be a distinguishing resurrection of those that <I>sleep
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in the dust,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+12:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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1. When God works deliverance for his people from persecution it is a
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kind of resurrection; so the Jews' release out of Babylon was
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represented in vision
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+37:1-28">Ezek. xxxvii.</A>)
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and so the deliverance of the Jews from Antiochus, and other
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restorations of the church to outward prosperity; they were as <I>life
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from the dead. Many of those</I> who had long slept in the dust of
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obscurity and calamity shall then awake, some to that life, and honour,
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and comfort which will be lasting, everlasting; but to others, who,
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when they return to their prosperity, will return to their iniquity, it
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will be a resurrection to shame and contempt, for the <I>prosperity of
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fools</I> will but expose them and destroy them.
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2. When, upon the appearing of Michael our prince, his gospel is
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preached, many of those who <I>sleep in the dust,</I> both Jews and
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Gentiles, shall be awakened by it to take upon them a profession of
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religion, and shall rise out of their heathenism or Judaism; but, since
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there will be always a mixture of hypocrites with true saints, it is
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but some of those who are <I>raised to life</I> to whom the gospel is a
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<I>savour of life unto life,</I> but others will be raised by it <I>to
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shame and contempt,</I> to whom the gospel of Christ will be a
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<I>savour of death unto death,</I> and Christ himself set for their
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fall. The net of the gospel encloses both good and bad. But,
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3. It must be meant of the general resurrection at the last day: <I>The
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multitude of those that sleep in the dust shall awake,</I> that is,
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all, which shall be a great many. Or, <I>Of those that sleep in the
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dust</I> many shall arise to life and many to shame. The Jews
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themselves understand this of the resurrection of the dead at the end
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of time; and Christ seems to have an eye to it when he speaks of the
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<I>resurrection of life</I> and the <I>resurrection of damnation</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+5:29">John v. 29</A>);
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and upon this the Jews are said by St. Paul to expect a <I>resurrection
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of the dead both of the just and of the unjust,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+24:15">Acts xxiv. 15</A>.
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And nothing could come in more seasonably here, for, under Antiochus's
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persecution, some basely betrayed their religion, others bravely
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adhered to it. Now it would be a trouble to them that, when the storm
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was over, they could neither reward the one nor punish the other; this
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therefore would be a satisfaction to them, that they would both be
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recompensed according to their works in the resurrection. And the
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apostle, speaking of the pious Jews that suffered martyrdom under
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Antiochus, tells us that though they were tortured yet they <I>accepted
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not deliverance,</I> because they <I>hoped to obtain this better
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resurrection,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+11:35">Heb. xi. 35</A>.</P>
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<P>
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V. There shall be a glorious reward conferred on those who, in the day
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of trouble and distress, being themselves <I>wise,</I> did <I>instruct
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many.</I> Such were taken particular notice of in the prophecy of the
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persecution
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+11:33"><I>ch.</I> xi. 33</A>),
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that they should do eminent service, and yet should <I>fall by the
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sword and by flame;</I> now, if there were not another life after this,
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they would be <I>of all men most miserable,</I> and therefore we are
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here assured that they shall be recompensed <I>in the resurrection of
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the just</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+12:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>):
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<I>Those that are wise</I> (that are <I>teachers,</I> so some read it,
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for teachers have need of wisdom, and those that have wisdom themselves
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should communicate it to others) <I>shall shine as the brightness of
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the firmament,</I> shall shine in glory, heavenly glory, the glory of
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the upper world; and those that by the wisdom they have, and the
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instructions they give, are instrumental <I>to turn</I> any, especially
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to <I>turn many to righteousness,</I> shall shine <I>as the stars for
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ever and ever.</I> Note,
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1. There is a glory reserved for all the saints in the future state,
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for all that are wise, wise for their souls and eternity. A man's
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wisdom now <I>makes his face to shine</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+8:1">Eccles. viii. 1</A>),
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but much more will it do so in that state where its power shall be
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perfected and its services rewarded.
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2. The more good any do in this world, especially to the souls of men,
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the greater will be their glory and reward in the other world. Those
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that turn <I>men to righteousness,</I> that <I>turn sinners from the
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errors of their ways</I> and help to <I>save their souls from death</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jam+5:20">Jam. v. 20</A>),
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will share in the glory of those they have helped to heaven, which will
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be a great addition to their own glory.
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3. Ministers of Christ, who have obtained mercy of him to be faithful
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and successful, and so are made <I>burning and shining lights</I> in
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this world, shall shine very brightly in the other world, shall shine
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<I>as the stars.</I> Christ is <I>the sun,</I> the fountain, of the
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lights both of grace and glory; ministers, as stars, shine in both,
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with a light derived from him, and a diminutive light in comparison of
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him; yet to those that are <I>earthen vessels</I> it will be a glory
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infinitely transcending their deserts. They shall <I>shine as the
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stars</I> of different magnitudes, some in less, others in greater
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lustre; but, whereas the day is coming when the stars shall fall from
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heaven as leaves in autumn, these stars shall <I>shine for ever and
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ever,</I> shall never set, never be eclipsed.</P>
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<P>
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VI. That this prophecy of those times, though sealed up now, would be
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of great use to those that should live then,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+12:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>.
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Daniel must now <I>shut up the words and seal the book</I> because the
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<I>time would be long</I> ere these things would be accomplished: and
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it was some comfort that the Jewish nation, though, in the infancy of
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their return from Babylon, while they were few and weak, they met with
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obstructions in their work, were not persecuted for their religion till
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a long time after, when they had grown to some strength and maturity.
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He must <I>seal the book</I> because it would not be <I>understood,</I>
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and therefore would not be regarded, till the things contained in it
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were accomplished; but he must keep it safely, as a treasure of great
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value, laid up for the ages to come, to whom it would be of great
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service; for <I>many shall then run to and fro, and knowledge shall be
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increased.</I> Then this hidden treasure shall be opened, and many
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shall search into it, and dig for the knowledge of it, as for silver.
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They shall <I>run to and fro,</I> to enquire out copies of it, shall
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collate them, and see that they be true and authentic. They shall read
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it over and over, shall meditate upon it, and run it over in their
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minds; <I>discurrent--they shall discourse</I> of it, and talk it over
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among themselves, and compare notes about it, if by any means they may
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<I>sift out</I> the meaning of it; and thus <I>knowledge shall be
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increased.</I> By consulting this prophecy on this occasion they shall
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be led to <I>search</I> other <I>scriptures,</I> which shall contribute
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much to their advancement in useful knowledge; for <I>then shall we
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know if we follow on to know the Lord,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+6:3">Hos. vi. 3</A>.
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Those that would have their knowledge increased must take pains, must
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not sit still in slothfulness and bare wishes but <I>run to and
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fro,</I> must make use of all the means of knowledge and improve all
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opportunities of getting their mistakes rectified, their doubts
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resolved, and their acquaintance with the things of God improved, to
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know more and to know better what they do know. And let us here see
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reason to hope that,
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1. Those things of God which are now dark and obscure will hereafter be
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made clear, and easy to be understood. <I>Truth is the daughter of
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time.</I> Scripture prophecies will be expounded by the accomplishment
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of them; <I>therefore</I> they are given, and for that explication they
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are reserved. <I>Therefore</I> they are <I>told us before,</I> that,
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<I>when they do come to pass,</I> we may believe.
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2. Those things of God which are despised and neglected, and thrown by
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as useless, shall be brought into reputation, shall be found to be of
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great service, and be brought into request; for divine revelation,
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however slighted for a time, shall be <I>magnified and made
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honourable,</I> and, above all, in the <I>judgment of the great
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day,</I> when the books shall be opened, and that book among the
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rest.</P>
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<A NAME="Da12_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Da12_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Da12_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Da12_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Da12_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Da12_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Da12_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Da12_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Da12_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Daniel's Solicitude to Know the Times; Period of Prophecy; Daniel Comforted.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 534.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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|
<FONT SIZE=+1>5 Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the
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one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that
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side of the bank of the river.
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6 And <I>one</I> said to the man clothed in linen, which <I>was</I> upon
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the waters of the river, How long <I>shall it be to</I> the end of
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these wonders?
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7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, which <I>was</I> upon the
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waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left
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hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that <I>it
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shall be</I> for a time, times, and a half; and when he shall have
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accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these
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<I>things</I> shall be finished.
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8 And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord,
|
|
what <I>shall be</I> the end of these <I>things?</I>
|
|
9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words <I>are</I> closed
|
|
up and sealed till the time of the end.
|
|
10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the
|
|
wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall
|
|
understand; but the wise shall understand.
|
|
11 And from the time <I>that</I> the daily <I>sacrifice</I> shall be
|
|
taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up,
|
|
<I>there shall be</I> a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
|
|
12 Blessed <I>is</I> he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand
|
|
three hundred and five and thirty days.
|
|
13 But go thou thy way till the end <I>be:</I> for thou shalt rest,
|
|
and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Daniel had been made to foresee the amazing revolutions of states and
|
|
kingdoms, as far as the Israel of God was concerned in them; in them he
|
|
foresaw troublous times to the church, suffering trying times, the
|
|
prospect of which much affected him and filled him with concern. Now
|
|
there were two questions proper to be asked upon this head:--<I>When</I>
|
|
shall the <I>end be?</I> And, <I>What</I> shall the <I>end be?</I>
|
|
These two questions are asked and answered here, in the close of the
|
|
book; and though the comforts prescribed in the
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+12:1-4">foregoing verses</A>,
|
|
|
|
one would think, were satisfactory enough, yet, for more abundant
|
|
satisfaction, this is added.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. The question, <I>When shall the end be?</I> is asked by an angel,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+12:5,6"><I>v.</I> 5, 6</A>.
|
|
|
|
Concerning this we may observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. Who it was that asked the question. Daniel had had a vision of
|
|
Christ in his glory, the <I>man clothed in linen,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+10:5"><I>ch.</I> x. 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
But his discourse had been with the angel Gabriel, and now he
|
|
<I>looks,</I> and <I>behold other two</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+12:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>),
|
|
|
|
two angels that he had not seen before, <I>one upon the bank of the
|
|
river on one side and the other on the other side,</I> that, the river
|
|
being between them, they might not whisper to one another, but what
|
|
they said might be heard. Christ stood <I>on the waters of the
|
|
river,</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+12:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>between the banks of Ulai;</I> it was therefore proper that the
|
|
angels his attendants should stand on either bank, that they might be
|
|
ready to go, one one way and the other the other way, as he should
|
|
order them. These angels appeared,
|
|
|
|
(1.) To adorn the vision, and make it the more illustrious; and to add
|
|
to the glory of the Son of man,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+1:6">Heb. i. 6</A>.
|
|
|
|
Daniel had not seen them before, though it is probable that they were
|
|
there; but now, when they began to speak, he looked up, and saw them.
|
|
Note, The further we look into the things of God, and the more we
|
|
converse with them, the more we shall see of those things, and still
|
|
new discoveries will be made to us; those that know much, if they
|
|
improve it, shall know more.
|
|
|
|
(2.) To confirm the discovery, that <I>out of the mouth of two or three
|
|
witnesses the word might be established.</I> Three angels appeared to
|
|
Abraham.
|
|
|
|
(3.) To inform themselves, to hear and ask questions; for the mysteries
|
|
of God's kingdom are things which the <I>angels desire to look into</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+1:12">1 Pet. i. 12</A>)
|
|
|
|
and they are <I>known to the church,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+3:10">Eph. iii. 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
Now one of these two angels said, <I>When shall the end be?</I> Perhaps
|
|
they both asked, first one and then the other, but Daniel heard only
|
|
one.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. To whom this question was put, to the <I>man clothed in linen,</I>
|
|
of whom we read before
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+10:5"><I>ch.</I> x. 5</A>),
|
|
|
|
to Christ our great high priest, <I>who was upon the waters of the
|
|
river,</I> and whose spokesman, or interpreter, the angel Gabriel had
|
|
all this while been. This river was Hiddekel
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+10:4"><I>ch.</I> x. 4</A>),
|
|
|
|
the same with Tigris, the place whereabout many of the events
|
|
prophesied of would happen; there therefore is the scene laid. Hiddekel
|
|
was mentioned as one of the rivers that watered the garden of Eden
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+2:14">Gen. ii. 14</A>);
|
|
|
|
fitly therefore does Christ stand upon that river, for by him the trees
|
|
in the paradise of God are watered. <I>Waters</I> signify
|
|
<I>people,</I> and so his standing upon the waters denotes his dominion
|
|
over all; he <I>sits upon the flood</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+29:10">Ps. xxix. 10</A>);
|
|
|
|
<I>he treads upon the waters of the sea,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+9:8">Job ix. 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
And Christ, to show that this was he, in the days of his flesh
|
|
<I>walked upon the waters,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+14:25">Matt. xiv. 25</A>.
|
|
|
|
He was <I>above the waters of the river</I> (so some read it); he
|
|
appeared in the air over the river.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. What the question was: <I>How long shall it be to the end of these
|
|
wonders?</I> Daniel would not ask the question, because he would not
|
|
pry into what was hidden, nor seem inquisitive concerning the times and
|
|
the seasons, which the Father has <I>put in his own power,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+1:7">Acts i. 7</A>.
|
|
|
|
But, that he might have the satisfaction of the answer, the angel put
|
|
the question in his hearing. Our Lord Jesus sometimes answered the
|
|
questions which his disciples were afraid or ashamed to ask,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+16:19">John xvi. 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
The angel asked as one concerned, <I>How long shall it be?</I> What is
|
|
the time prefixed in the divine counsels for the <I>end of these
|
|
wonders,</I> these suffering trying times, that are to pass over the
|
|
people of God? Note,
|
|
|
|
(1.) The troubles of the church are the <I>wonder</I> of angels. They
|
|
are astonished that God will suffer his church to be thus afflicted,
|
|
and are anxious to know what good he will do his church by its
|
|
afflictions.
|
|
|
|
(2.) Good angels know no more of things to come than God is pleased to
|
|
discover to them, much less do evil angels.
|
|
|
|
(3.) The holy angels in heaven are concerned for the church on earth,
|
|
and lay to heart its afflictions; how much more then should we, who are
|
|
more immediately related to it, and have so much of our peace in its
|
|
peace?</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
4. What answer was returned to it by him who is indeed the <I>numberer
|
|
of secrets,</I> and knows things to come.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) Here is a more general account given of the continuance of these
|
|
troubles to the angel that made the enquiry
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+12:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>),
|
|
|
|
that they shall continue <I>for a time, times, and a half,</I> that is,
|
|
a year, two years, and half a year, as was before intimated
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+7:25"><I>ch.</I> vii. 25</A>),
|
|
|
|
but the one half of a prophetical week. Some understand it
|
|
indefinitely, a certain time for an uncertain; it shall be <I>for a
|
|
time</I> (a considerable time), for <I>times</I> (a longer time yet,
|
|
double what it was thought at first that it would be), and yet indeed
|
|
it shall be but <I>half a time,</I> or a part of a time; when it is
|
|
over it shall seem not half so much as was feared. But it is rather to
|
|
be taken for a certain time; we meet with it in the Revelation, under
|
|
the title sometimes of three days and a half, put for three years and a
|
|
half, sometimes forty-two months, sometimes 1260 days. Now this
|
|
determination of the time is here
|
|
|
|
[1.] Confirmed by an oath. The man <I>clothed in linen</I> lifted up
|
|
both his hands <I>to heaven, and swore by him that lives for ever and
|
|
ever</I> that it should be so. Thus the <I>mighty angel</I> whom St.
|
|
John saw is brought in, with a plain reference to this vision, standing
|
|
with his <I>right foot on the sea</I> and <I>his left foot on the
|
|
earth,</I> and with his hand lifted up to heaven, swearing <I>that
|
|
there shall be no longer delay,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+10:5,6">Rev. x. 5, 6</A>.
|
|
|
|
This Mighty One that Daniel saw stood with <I>both feet</I> on the
|
|
water, and swore with <I>both hands</I> lifted up. Note, An oath is of
|
|
use for confirmation; God only is to be sworn by, for he is the proper
|
|
Judge to whom we are to appeal; and lifting up the hand is a very
|
|
proper and significant sign to be used in a solemn oath.
|
|
|
|
[2.] It is illustrated with a reason. God will suffer him to prevail
|
|
<I>till he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy
|
|
people.</I> God will suffer him to do his worst, and run his utmost
|
|
length, and then <I>all these things shall be finished.</I> Note, God's
|
|
time to succour and relieve his people is when their affairs are
|
|
brought to the last extremity; <I>in the mount of the Lord it shall be
|
|
seen</I> that Isaac is saved just when he lies ready to be sacrificed.
|
|
Now the event answered the prediction; Josephus says expressly, in his
|
|
book of the <I>Wars of the Jews,</I> that Antiochus, surnamed
|
|
Epiphanes, surprised Jerusalem by force, <I>and held it three years and
|
|
six months,</I> and was then <I>cast out of the country</I> by the
|
|
Asmoneans or Maccabees. Christ's public ministry continued <I>three
|
|
years and a half,</I> during which time he endured the contradiction of
|
|
sinners against himself, and lived in poverty and disgrace; and then
|
|
when his power seemed to be quite scattered at his death, and his
|
|
enemies triumphed over him, he obtained the most glorious victory and
|
|
said, <I>It is finished.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) Here is something added more particularly concerning the time of
|
|
the continuance of those troubles, in what is said to Daniel,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+12:11,12"><I>v.</I> 11, 12</A>,
|
|
|
|
where we have,
|
|
|
|
[1.] The event fixed from which the time of the trouble is to be dated,
|
|
from the <I>taking away of the daily sacrifice</I> by Antiochus, and
|
|
the <I>setting up</I> of the image of Jupiter upon the altar, which was
|
|
the <I>abomination of desolation.</I> They must reckon their troubles
|
|
to begin indeed when they were deprived of the benefit of public
|
|
ordinances; that was to them the <I>beginning of sorrows;</I> that was
|
|
what they laid most to heart.
|
|
|
|
[2.] The continuance of their trouble; it shall last 1290 days,
|
|
<I>three years</I> and <I>seven months,</I> or (as some reckon)
|
|
<I>three years, six months,</I> and <I>fifteen days;</I> and then, it
|
|
is probable, the daily sacrifice was restored, and the abomination of
|
|
desolation taken away, in remembrance of which the <I>feast of
|
|
dedication</I> was observed even to our Saviour's time,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+10:22">John x. 22</A>.
|
|
|
|
Though it does not appear by the history that it was exactly so long to
|
|
a day, yet it appears that the beginning of the trouble was in the
|
|
145th year of the Seleucidæ, and the end of it in the 148th year;
|
|
and either the restoring of the sacrifice, and the taking away of the
|
|
image, were just so many days after, or some other previous event that
|
|
was remarkable, which is not recorded. There are many particular times
|
|
fixed in the scripture-prophecies, which it does not appear by any
|
|
history, sacred or profane, that the event answered, and yet no doubt
|
|
it did punctually; as
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+16:14">Isa. xvi. 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
[3.] The completing of their deliverance, or at least a further advance
|
|
towards it, which is here set forty-five days after the former, and,
|
|
some think, points at the death of Antiochus, 1335 days after his
|
|
profaning the temple. <I>Blessed is he that waits and comes</I> to
|
|
that time. It is said
|
|
|
|
(<U>1 Mac. ix. 28; x. 1</U>)
|
|
|
|
that the Maccabees, under a divine conduct, <I>recovered the temple and
|
|
the city.</I> Many good interpreters make these to be prophetical days
|
|
(that is, so many years), and date them from the destruction of
|
|
Jerusalem by the Romans; but what events they then fall upon they are
|
|
not agreed. Others date them from the corruption of the gospel-worship
|
|
by the antichrist, whose reign is confined in the Apocalypse to 1260
|
|
days (that is, years), at the end of which he shall begin to fall; but
|
|
thirty years after he shall be quite fallen, at the end of 1290 days;
|
|
and whoever lives forty years longer, to 1335 days, will see glorious
|
|
times indeed. Whether it looks so far forward or no I cannot tell; but
|
|
this, however, we may learn, <I>First,</I> That there is a time fixed
|
|
for the termination of the church's troubles, and the bringing about of
|
|
her deliverance, and that this time will be punctually observed to a
|
|
day. <I>Secondly,</I> That this time must be waited for with faith and
|
|
patience. <I>Thirdly,</I> That, when it comes, it will abundantly
|
|
recompense us for our long expectations of it. <I>Blessed is he</I>
|
|
who, having waited long, comes to it at last, for he will then have
|
|
reason to say, <I>Lo, this is our God, and we have waited for
|
|
him.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. The question, <I>What shall the end be?</I> is asked by Daniel, and
|
|
an answer given to it. Observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. Why Daniel asked this question; it was because, though he <I>heard
|
|
what was said</I> to the angel, yet he did not <I>understand</I> it,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+12:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
Daniel was a very intelligent man, and had been conversant in visions
|
|
and prophecies, and yet here he was puzzled; he did not understand the
|
|
meaning of the <I>time, times, and the part of a time,</I> at least not
|
|
so clearly and with so much certainty as he wished. Note, The best men
|
|
are often much at a loss in their enquiries concerning divine things,
|
|
and meet with that which they do not <I>understand.</I> But the better
|
|
they are the more sensible they are of their own weaknesses and
|
|
ignorance, and the more ready to acknowledge them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. What the question was: <I>O my Lord! What shall be the end of these
|
|
things?</I> He directs his enquiry not to the angel that talked with
|
|
him, but immediately to Christ, for to whom else should we go with our
|
|
enquiries? "What shall be the final issue of these events? What do they
|
|
tend to? What will then end in?" Note, When we take a view of the
|
|
affairs of this world, and of the church of God in it, we cannot but
|
|
think, What will be the end of these things? We see things move as if
|
|
they would end in the utter ruin of God's kingdom among men. When we
|
|
observe the prevalence of vice and impiety, the decay of religion, the
|
|
sufferings of the righteous, and the triumphs of the ungodly over them,
|
|
we may well ask, <I>O my Lord! what will be the end of these
|
|
things?</I> But this may satisfy us in general, that all will end well
|
|
at last. Great is the truth, and will prevail at long-run. All opposing
|
|
rule, principality, and power, will be put down, and holiness and love
|
|
will triumph, and be in honour, to eternity. The end, this end, will
|
|
come.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. What answer is returned to this question. Besides what refers to the
|
|
time
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+12:11,12"><I>v.</I> 11, 12</A>),
|
|
|
|
of which before, here are some general instructions given to Daniel,
|
|
with which he is dismissed from further attendance.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) He must content himself with the discoveries that had been made to
|
|
him, and not enquire any further: "<I>Go thy way, Daniel;</I> let it
|
|
suffice thee that thou has been admitted thus far to the foresight of
|
|
things to come, but stop here. <I>Go thy way</I> about the king's
|
|
business again,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+8:27"><I>ch.</I> viii. 27</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>Go thy way,</I> and record what thou hast seen and heard, for the
|
|
benefit of posterity, and covet not to see and hear more at present."
|
|
Note, Communion with God is not our continual feast in this world; we
|
|
sometimes are taken to be witnesses of Christ's glory, and we say,
|
|
<I>It is good to be here;</I> but we must go down from the mount, and
|
|
have there no continuing city. Those that know much <I>know but in
|
|
part,</I> and still see there is a great deal that they are kept in the
|
|
dark about, and are likely to be so till the veil is rent; hitherto
|
|
their knowledge shall go, but no further. "<I>Go thy way, Daniel,</I>
|
|
satisfied with what thou hast."</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) He must not expect that what had been said to him would be fully
|
|
understood till it was accomplished: <I>The words are closed up and
|
|
sealed,</I> are involved in perplexities, and are likely to be so,
|
|
<I>till the time of the end,</I> till the end of these things; nay,
|
|
till the end of all things. Daniel was ordered to <I>seal the book to
|
|
the time of the end,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+12:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>.
|
|
|
|
The Jews used to say, <I>When Elias comes he will tell us all
|
|
things.</I> "They are <I>closed up and sealed,</I> that is, the
|
|
discovery designed to be made by them is now fully settled and
|
|
completed; nothing is to be added to it nor taken from it, for it is
|
|
<I>closed up</I> and <I>sealed;</I> ask not therefore after more."
|
|
<I>Nescire velle quæ magister maximus docere non vult erudita
|
|
inscitia est--He has learned much who is willing to be ignorant of
|
|
those things which the great teacher does not choose to impart.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(3.) He must count upon no other than that, as long as the world
|
|
stands, there will still be in it such a mixture as now we see there is
|
|
of good and bad,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+12:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
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We long to see all wheat and no tares in God's field, all corn and no
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chaff in God's floor; but it will not be till the time of ingathering,
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till the winnowing day, comes; both must <I>grow together until the
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harvest.</I> As it has been, so it is, and will be, <I>The wicked shall
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do wickedly,</I> but <I>the wise shall understand.</I> In this, as in
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other things, St. John's Revelation closes as Daniel did.
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+22:11">Rev. xxii. 11</A>,
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<I>He that is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is holy, let
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him be holy still.</I>
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[1.] There is no remedy but that wicked people <I>will do wickedly;</I>
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and such people there are and will be in the world to the end of time.
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<I>So said the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceeds from the
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wicked</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+24:13">1 Sam. xxiv. 13</A>);
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and the observation of the moderns says the same. Bad men will do bad
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things; and a <I>corrupt tree</I> will <I>never bring forth good
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fruit.</I> Do men <I>gather grapes of thorns,</I> or bring forth good
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things from an evil treasure in the heart? No; wicked practices are the
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natural products of wicked principles and dispositions. <I>Marvel not
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at the matter</I> then,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+5:8">Eccl. v. 8</A>.
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We are told, before, that the <I>wicked will do wickedly;</I> we can
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expect no better from them: but, which is worse, <I>none of the wicked
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shall understand.</I> This is either, <I>First,</I> A part of their
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sin. They <I>will not understand;</I> they shut their eyes against the
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light, and none so blind as those that will not see. <I>Therefore</I>
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they are <I>wicked</I> because they <I>will not understand.</I> If they
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did but rightly know the truths of God, they would readily obey the
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laws of God,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+82:5">Ps. lxxxii. 5</A>.
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Wilful sin is the effect of wilful ignorance; they <I>will not
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understand</I> because <I>they are wicked;</I> they <I>hate the
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light,</I> and come not to the light, <I>because their deeds are
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evil,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+3:19">John iii. 19</A>.
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Or, <I>Secondly,</I> It is a part of their punishment; they will do
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wickedly, and therefore God has given them up to <I>blindness of
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mind,</I> and has said concerning them, <I>They shall not
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understand,</I> nor be <I>converted and healed,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+13:14,15">Matt. xiii. 14, 15</A>.
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God will not <I>give them eyes to see,</I> because they will do
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wickedly,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+29:4">Deut. xxix. 4</A>.
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[2.] Yet, bad as the world is, God will secure to himself a remnant of
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good people in it; still there shall be some, there shall be many, to
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whom the providences and ordinances of God shall be <I>a savour of life
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unto life,</I> while to others they are <I>a savour of death unto
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death. First,</I> the providences of God shall do them good: <I>Many
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shall be purified, and made white, and tried,</I> by their troubles
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(compare
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+11:35"><I>ch.</I> xi. 35</A>),
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by the same troubles which will but stir up the corruptions of the
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wicked and make them do more wickedly. Note, The afflictions of good
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people are designed for their trial; but by these trials they are
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<I>purified</I> and <I>made white,</I> their corruptions are purged
|
|
out, their graces are brightened, and made both more vigorous and more
|
|
conspicuous, and are <I>found to praise, and honour, and glory,</I>
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+1:7">1 Pet. i. 7</A>.
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To those who are themselves sanctified and good every event is
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sanctified, and works for good, and helps to make them better.
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<I>Secondly,</I> The word of God shall do them good. When the <I>wicked
|
|
understand not,</I> but stumble at the word, the <I>wise shall
|
|
understand.</I> Those who are wise in practice shall understand
|
|
doctrine; those who are influenced and governed by the divine law and
|
|
love shall be illuminated with a divine light. For if any man will
|
|
<I>do his will</I> he shall <I>know the truth,</I>
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+7:17">John vii. 17</A>.
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<I>Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser.</I></P>
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<P>
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(4.) He must comfort himself with the pleasing prospect of his own
|
|
happiness in death, in judgment, and to eternity,
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+12:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
|
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Daniel was now very old, and had been long engaged both in an intimate
|
|
acquaintance with heaven and in a great deal of public business on this
|
|
earth. And now he must think of bidding farewell to this present state:
|
|
<I>Go thou thy way till the end be.</I>
|
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|
|
[1.] It is good for us all to think much of going away from this world;
|
|
we are still going, and must be gone shortly, gone the way of all the
|
|
earth. That must be our way; but this is our comfort, We shall not go
|
|
till God calls for us to another world, and till he has done with us in
|
|
this world, till he says, "<I>Go thou thy way;</I> thou hast finished
|
|
thy testimony, done thy work, and accomplished as a hireling thy day,
|
|
therefore now, <I>Go thy way,</I> and leave it to others to take thy
|
|
room."
|
|
|
|
[2.] When a good man goes his way from this world he enters into rest:
|
|
"<I>Thou shalt rest</I> from all thy present toils and agitations, and
|
|
shalt not see the evils that are coming on the next generation." Never
|
|
can a child of God say more pertinently than in his dying moments,
|
|
<I>Return unto thy rest, O my soul!</I>
|
|
|
|
[3.] Time and days will have an end; not only our time and days will
|
|
end very shortly, but all times and days will have an end at length;
|
|
yet a little while, and time shall be no more, but all its revolutions
|
|
will be numbered and finished.
|
|
|
|
[4.] Our rest in the grave will be but <I>till the end of the days;</I>
|
|
and then the peaceful rest will be happily disturbed by a joyful
|
|
resurrection. Job foresaw this when he said of the dead, <I>Till the
|
|
heavens be no more,</I> they <I>shall not awake, nor be raised out of
|
|
their sleep,</I> implying that then they shall,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+14:12">Job xiv. 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
[5.] We must every one of us <I>stand in our lot at the end of the
|
|
days.</I> In the judgment of the great day we must have our allotment
|
|
according to what we were, and what we did, in the body, either,
|
|
<I>Come, you blessed</I> or, <I>Go, you cursed;</I> and we must
|
|
<I>stand for ever in that lot.</I> It was a comfort to Daniel, it is a
|
|
comfort to all the saints, that, whatever their lot is in the days of
|
|
time, they shall have a happy lot in <I>the end of the days,</I> shall
|
|
have their <I>lot among the chosen.</I> And it ought to be the great
|
|
care and concern of every one of us to secure a happy lot at last in
|
|
the <I>end of the days,</I> and they we may well be content with our
|
|
present lot, welcome the will of God.
|
|
|
|
[6.] A believing hope and prospect of a blessed lot in the heavenly
|
|
Canaan, at the end of the days, will be an effectual support to us when
|
|
we are going our way out of this world, and will furnish us with living
|
|
comforts in dying moments.</P>
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