The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 131

destroy all the wiee men of Ilabylon I" B11t Daniel had issued another mnndntr "Destroy not I" and Daniel'e word prevailed. A strange foreshadowina this o[ e.nother event. Five hundred yee.rs later Herod commanded the massacre ~f all the infants in Ilethleham ; yet One of the innocent babes was spared to become th~ Saviour of the world and Herod's Judge. So mercy" rejoices against judgment."-D. Vere. 26-30.-Needful preparatiO'flB to receive Divine revelation. Subjective con- ditions of mind aro requisite for objective truth to enter. Common light cannot penetra tc walls of stone or iron shutters. The electric force will only circulate along proper conductors. And if material forces demand suitable conditions i[l which to perform their active mission, eo much more does the spiritual force of truth require that the mind of the recipient shall be sensitive, candid, impressible. Such was the gross, unspiritual state of some populations in Palestine, that even Jesus could not do his mighty works among them. Daniel proceeds to prepare the soil for the seed. I. PREJUDICE MUST DE DISARMED. The anger of the king had been so greatly excited by the impotence and the imposture of his wise men, that Daniel perceived it best to forego his privilege of entering the monarch's presence at will. It was better to take the circuitous route of a formal introduction, as if he were a stranger. Hence the marshal of the conrt precedes the Hebrew prophet, secures the monarch's attention, and introduces Daniel, not as one of the royal college of sages, but simply ae a Jewish captive. The former credulity of the king had given place to utter scepticism, Bo men's minds oscillate between the points of easy, groundless belief and obstinate prejudice. Novice so frequently assumes the air of respectable propriety as this vice of prejudice. It serves as a thick fog to ehut out from the mind the clear light of heavenly truth. "There's none so blind as those who will not see." II. INQUIRY MUST BE .AWAKENED, "Art thou able to make known the dream?" Inquiry is the natural state of the human mind. It is its sense of hunger-the putting forth of its prehensile organs to obtain food. To the spiritually inert nothing will be revealed. Sincere desire for wisdom will impel us to interrogate every possible teacher, nnd to say, "Art thoU, able to add to my stock of knowledge?" The troe philosopher or prophet will often appear in very modest garb, as did Daniel; but the spirit of the lee.rner is a spirit of humility-'tis the spirit of a child. Remote as the antipodes is the temper that a.eke, " Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" " Every one that seelceth findeth," We may often find through a dependent-through a despised slave-what we cannot find ourselves. Nebuchadnezzar, with all his royal gifts, could not find an interpreter. Arioch, the captain of his guard, greets him with the news, "I have found him I'' A little captive maid in Naaman's kitchen could direct her master where to find a cure for his leprosy. III. TnusT IN F.ALSE PROPHETS AND IN FALSE SYSTEMS MUST BE DESTROYED. Side by side with the growth of true faith must proceed the destruction of a false faith. The pompous monarch had rested his faith in the magicians and soothsayers, without wfficient reason. He had very likely prided himself on the superhuman wisdom of his counsellors. Yet what guarantee had he that they had ever spoken truth? Had he ever examined their credentials? ever put to the test their real capacity ? If not, he was simply the victim of self-imposed credulity. The institution of sorcery was ancient and time-honoured, but none the less was it false and corrupt. If the king would not take the pains to examine the pretensions of these magicians, he deserved to be deceived. A Heaven-sent teacher is an incalculable treasure; a false prophet is a poisoned cup-a wolf in sheep's c:0t!:.'..::;; " TT'I/ the spirits, whether they be of God." No hum11n authority is self-01iginative; we mu~t Kno,~ :~c source whence it sprang. " Oease from man, whose breath is in his nostrils.'' IV. RECOGNITION OF Gon MOST BECOMING IN MEN, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES OF PER- 1LEXITY, "There is a God in heaven." Nor is that heaven far removed. "In him we Jive and move and exist." Even the magicians had confessed that there were invisible deities: "The gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh." Why did not the king in secret prostrate himself before these, and entreat their aid? If we believe in God, we ehl\ll recognize him, honour him, and use him in seasons of need. The true God does not love to see us grope in darkness; he longs to give us light. Our mental ca:pacities preach to us this truth, He "revealeth secrets.'' "The secret of the Lord  THE BOOK OF DANIEL. tcH. It. 1-49.