end," antl the blessing pronounced on "waiting" in eh. xii. 1, 4, 6, 8, 12, 13 (comp. also 2 Pet. iii. 9). 3. But if deliberate, it was also sure-all the surer, in fact, on that ground. See again eh. x. 21 about the "Scripture of truth" (a purpose, it would seem, "written " down in order that the exact terms of the purpose and the exact nature of its fulfilment might afterwards be compared) ; also xi. 2; also the solemn oath in xii. 7; also, as showing the effect left on Daniel's mind when he began recording the vision, the opening declaration, "the thing was true," in Dan. x. 1. Thus we see how the prophet was lifted up in order that he might see things from above. .And thus, as it were, in his company, we are enabled to take a like view. We learn from it-1. How great is our natural igrwrance. "There are more things" indeed "in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in our philosophy "-yes, in our philosophy, with all its talk. More things, by far, are concealed than are revealed, both by our sight and by our search. 2. How false the estimate of our senses. The assaults of earthly enemies, disputes of Jews and Samaritans, the doings of kings and counsellors, the delays of years and centuries, only seem great to us because we see them so close. Viewed from a proper distance, as the mount of prophecy enables us to view them, they almost shrink out of sight-only important because of those larger issues of which they form part. At the same time, we also see-3. How great is God's care for hi,s people. Even in these smaller matters his eye is on them for good. Even in the darkest days he is shaping their path towards the light. The things of earth are not too petty, the things above earth are not too lofty, all together are not too intricate for his omnipotent care (see Pa. xcvii. 11 ; Rom. viii. 28). What was said of Gad is true of all Israel (Gen. xlix. 19)-They "shall overcome at the last." 4. How great is God:s concern even/or the comfort of those who fear him. How affecting, on this view, at this crisis, is this seasonable vision to the afflicted prophet. How significant, also, that it should have been recorded and preserved to us as a kind of standing illustration to us of God's ways on this matter. He is not only always caring for his people; he is always wishing them to know that he is. Never more so than when it seems to them, as it probably seemed to Daniel and the Jerusalem Jews in this day of rebuke and blasphemy, that he had "forsaken his people" (see Judges vi. 13).
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vdrs. 1-3.-Peace and purity. No sooner had the "children of the cap- tivity" begun their good work of rebuilding the house of the Lord than difficulties began to arise. They found, as we find, that the work of God does not proceed smoothly from beginning to end, as, at the outset, we are apt to think it will ; that from without and from within obstacles and discouragements spring up and beset us. They soon found that they had to do with- _!. A PROFFERED ALLIANCE (vers. 1, 2). Their neighbours, the Samaritans, o. rm.xed people, composed in part of the remnant of the ten tribes o.nd in part of the Assyrians deported by Eear-haddon from their own country and planted there, made offers of alliance. Moved by jealousy, thinking that the name and fame of a temple o.t Jerusalem would eclipse anything of the kind they had, perhaps fearing lest it should win the hearts of the people away from the "mongrel religion " which they had adopted-a miserable compromise between pure religion and gross super- stition-they came proposing to make common cause with the returned Israelites. "Let us unite our forces," they said. "We will build together; this temple, erected by our joint labours, shall be common property: we worship the same God whom you worship, and there need not be any separation between us." Thus impurity approaches purity ; thus error seeks alliance with truth ; thus worldliness addresses piety. "Let us walk together," it says. "We will sink our differences; we will keep un)illeasant divergencies of conviction in abeyance, and stroll together in sweet communion along the path of life." Here was- II. A POWERll'UL TEMI'TATION. Jeshua-and still more Zerubbabel, who was !lllswerable for the peace and order of the community-m,.y well have thought that it was a time for conciliation. The little state was not yet fairly eetablished. It was still in ita very infancy, and might well shrink froi:p the field of conteption. lt 11:ZI\A. a 50 THE BOOK OF EZRA. [cu. 1v. 1-6.