322 DANIEL’S PROPHECY VINDICATED, — [ EXERC. XIV.
suited unto his desires and requests; and it contained an account of their state and condition until the consummation of all things that concerned them. The end of that people, or that for whose sake they were a church and people, was, as we have demonstrated, the bringing forth of Him in whom all the nations of the earth should be blessed. Until this was accomplished, it was impossible, from the decree and promise of God, that they should fall under an utter rejection or final desolation. But this is plainly foretold as that which should come to pass at the end of the time here determined, or instantly upon it: P37) Devin DYNpy AID Oy MND Map naw pivédy yan ny n21;—“ He shall cause the oblation and sacrifice to cease;” that is, utterly and everlastingly, putting thereby a period and final end unto their church-state and worship. But what then shall become of the people? “ By a wing of abominations he shall make them desolate;” or cause them to be wasted and laid deso- late by overspreading armies, either in themselves abominable, or abhorred by them. And in both these senses were the Roman armies D'S3pY 433,—“ a wing of abominations.” Neither was this to endure for a season only, but unto the consummation of the whole, verse 27. Now, it was inconsistent with all the promises of God, and the sole end of his wisdom in all that he had to do with that people, that this desolation should happen before the production of the Messiah. It being, therefore, expressly said in the text that the Messiah should come before all this was accomplished, who can be intended thereby but he who was promised unto the fathers from the foundation of the world?
Secondly, This whole revelation was granted unto Daniel for his relief in the prospect that he had of the ensuing calamities of the church, and recorded by him for the supportment thereof in those distresses; as were also those prophecies of Haggai and Malachi be- fore insisted on. Now, the only general promise which God, for the consolation of his church of old, renewed unto them in all ages, was this concerning the Messiah, wherein all their blessedness was inwrapped. This we have already manifested from Moses and all the prophets who ensued in their several generations. And he is therefore here no less intended.
Thirdly, Whatever benefit, privilege, or advantage, the church had any ground or reason to expect from the promises of God at the coming of the Messiah, they are all here expressed, as we shall im- mediately declare. And we may truly say, that if the things men- tioned, verse 24, were to be wrought by any other than the Messiah, the church had much more reason to desire him than the Messiah himself, as for any other work which remained for him to do,
Fourthly, Unless the Messiah and his blessed work be here in- tended, there is not one word of comfort or relief unto the church
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SECT. 28. ] DANIEL’S PROPHECY. VINDICATED. 323
in this whole prophecy ; for those who deny his coming to be here foretold are forced violently to wrest the expressions in verse 24 unto things utterly alien and foreign from the plain and only signi- fication of the words. And how inconsistent this is with the design of this angelical message we have before manifested. The context, therefore, evidently bespeaks the true Messiah to be here intended.
28. (2.) The names and titles given unto the person spoken of declare who he is that is designed. He is called mein, « Messiah,” and that zur’ 2ox4v, by way of eminency, and absolutely. Indeed the very name “ Messiah,” as appropriated unto the promised Seed, is taken from this place alone; for it is nowhere else used of him absolutely. “His Messiah,” or “The Messiah of the Lorp,’—that is, “his anointed,”—is often used, but absolutely Taz Mxssiau, here only. And it is not probable, the name being used but once abso- lutely in the Scripture, that any other should be intended but he alone whose name absolutely alone it is. The name, therefore, sufficiently denotes the person.
The addition of 12, verse 25,132 MWD, “ Messiah the Prince,” —makes it yet more evident; for as this word is often used to de- note a supreme ruler, one that goeth in and out before the people in rule and government, as 2 Sam. vii. 8, 1 Kings i. 35, xiv. 7, and in sundry other places, so it is peculiarly assigned unto the Messiah: Isa. ly. 4, DYOND Myr P22 YAN? OMANP TY 1 -—“ Behold, I have given him a witness unto the people, a leader” (or “ prince”) “and commander unto the people.” And these words are thus para- phrased by Jonathan: sma 52 Sy sy qSn aman Nonyd IV NN “ Behold, I have appointed him a Prince to the people; a King and Ruler over all kingdoms.” This is 7237 Wd, “Messiah the Prince,” Leader, or Ruler over all. And 7° is the same with ovAD, Mic. v. 1, “the Ruler;” and "95, Ezek. xxxiv. 23, “the Shepherd;” and sb), Ezek. xxxiv. 24, “the Prince;” or 78, Mal. iii. 1, “the Lord.” And to ascribe this name of 7] TW, “ Messiah the Prince,” abso- lutely unto any but the promised Seed, is contrary to the whole tenor of the Old Testament.