(2.) Love to his people. This was the second qualification wherein Daniel was so eminent. And our deceased friend — not to enter into comparison with them that went before — had clearly such a propor- tion as we may heartily desire that those who follow after may drink but equal draughts of the same cup. That his pains, labour, travail, jeopards of his life and all that was dear to him, relinquishment of relations and contentments, had sweetness and life from this mo- tive, even intenseness of affection to his people, the people of whom he was, and whose prosperity he did desire, needs no farther demon- stration than the great neglect of self and all self-concernments which dwelt upon him in all his tremendous undertakings. " Vicit amor patriae," or certainly he who had upon his breast and all his undertak- ings self-contempt so eminently engraven, could not have persisted wrestling with so many difficulties to the end of his days. It Avas Jerusalem and the prosperity thereof which was preferred to his chief j oy. Neither, —
(3.) Did he come short in righteousness in the administration of
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tliat high place whereto he was called; nay, than this there was not a more eminent stone in that diadem which he had on the earth. If he lay not at the bottom, yet at least he had a signal concurrence in such acts of justice as antiquity hath not known, and posterity will admire. Neither was it this or that particular act that did in this bespeak his praise, but a constant will and purpose of rendering to every one his due.
I shall not insist upon particulars : in these and sundry other per- sonal qualifications, between the persons mentioned a parallel may lie.
2. As to employment, that of Daniel was mentioned before : it was the receiving and holding out from God visions of providential alte- rations, disposing and transposing of states, nations, kingdoms, and dominions. What he had in speculation was this man's part to fol- low in action. He was an eminent instrument in the hand of God in as tremendous providential alterations as such a spot of the world hath at any time received, since Daniel foresaw in general them all : and this, not as many have been, carried along with the stream, or led by outward motives and considerations far above their own prin- ciples and desires, but seeingly and knowingly he closed with the mind of God, with full purpose of heai't to serve the will of the Lord in his generation. And on this account did he see every mountain made a plain beforehand by the Spirit of the Lord, and " staggered not at the greatest difficulties through unbelief; but being steadfast in faith, he gave glory to God." And to complete the parallel, — as 'Daniel's visions were still terminated in the kingdom of Christ, so all his actions had the same aim and intendment. This was that which gave life and sweetness to all the most dismal and black en- gagements that at any time he was called out unto. All made way to the coming in of the promised glory. It was all the " vengeance of the Lord and his temple," — a Davidical preparation of his paths in blood, that He might for ever reign in righteousness and peace. But be he so or so, the truth of our proposition is confirmed towards him, That there is an appointed season, when the saints of the most emi- nent abilities, in the most useful em,ployments, shall receive their dis- 'inission, etc.
I shall briefly open the rest of the words, and so take up the pro- position again which was first laid down.
II. Then, there is the term allotted to him in this state of liis dis- mission: " Until the end be."
Three things may be here intended in this word, " end."
1. The end of his life: " Go thou thy ways to the end of thy life and days." But this we before disallowed, not consenting that Daniel received a dismission from his employment before the end of his life and pilgrimage.
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2. The end of the world : " Go thy ways to the end of the world : till then thou shalt rest in thy grave." But neither yet doth this seem to be particularly intended in these words. The words in the close of the text do expressly mention that, calling it "the end of days;" and in so few words, the same thing is not needlessly repeated : be- sides, had this expression held out the whole time of his abode in the state of rest here signified, it must have been, " Go thou thy wa3'^s, for thou shalt rest until the end be." So that, —
3. The " end " here is to be accommodated unto the things whereof the Holy Ghost is peculiarly dealing with Daniel; and that is, the accomplishment of the great visions which he had received, in break- ing the kingdoms of the world, and setting up the kingdom of the Holy One of God. Daniel is dismissed from farther attendance in this service ; he shall not see the actual accomplishment of tlie things men- tioned, but is dismissed, and laid aside unto the end of them. The word " until/' in the Scripture, is not such a limitation of time as to assert the contrary to what is excepted, upon its accomplishment " Until the end," doth not signify that he should not rest after the end of the things intimated ; no more than it is affiraied that Michal had children after her death, because it is said that until her death she had none, 2 Sam. vi. 23. This, then, is that end that he is dis- missed unto, — Tlie appointed season for the accomplishment of those glorious things which he had foreshown.