The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 133

daily. According to our present loyalty will be the extent of future award. " Be thou ruler over ten cities; . , . be thou rnler over five cities." UL HUMAN B0VEilEIGNTY DOES NOT NEC&SSARil,Y IMPLY THE POSSESSION 01!' THE N0ULEBT QUALITIES. 'l'he Chaldean sovereignty is represented by gold; the Persian, by sil vcr; the Grecian, by brass; the Roman, by iron. One man, though ill-fitted for the vost, may reign by virtue of hereditary succession. Another reigns by reason of his superior sagacity. A third reigns by virtue of real strength of character. A fourth reigns by reason of successful intrigue, or as the result of violent and unscrupulous war. Might is often mistaken for ri11:ht. One throne is based on law; another regt.~ on bayonets. Qualities and principles very inferior intrinsically often come to the surface, and dominate in human affairs. 'l'he dross rises to the top; the virgin metal keeps in obscurity. A Herod is on the throne; Jesus dwells in a stable I The silver is preferre,l to the gold, yea, the brass takes the place of both. Yet this is only a temporary displacement. IV. SoVEREIONTY BASED ON HETEROGENEOUS ELEMENTS COLLAPSES. Iron and clay are both useful in their place; but it was never intended that they should be fused into a unity. A short-sighted monarch frequently vacillates between three or f. ,nr discordant principles, and, though fortune may, for a time, seem to favour him, yet he never succerds. Now he insists on royal prerogative; then he concedes to selGsi1 prudence. To-day he uses physical power; to-morrow he yields to fear. "A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand." True principle, consistently adhered to, triumphs at last.-D. Vers. 44, 45.-The establishment of a permanent kingdom. It is worth while to note the period in which this new kingdom was destined to arise. "In the days of theJ;e," i.e. Roman," kings." God had chosen to defer the visible manifestation of his kingdom until men had learnt the folly and the crime of attempting to do without him. We of this age are permitted to see the exact fulfilment of these words. Verily our God is a God of truth. I. ODSERVE THE FOUNDER OF THIS NEW KINGDOM. When it was said, in 8 previous part of this chapter, that the God of heaven had given to Nebuchadnezzar a kingdom, it is not meant that God was the only Person taking part in the elevation of that monarch. Human interests and ambitions exercised their power. Possibly Satau instigated the evil passions of some of the statesmen of that day. But all the events were under the controlling will of God. He allows human and Satanic activity, but only within a limit imposed by his own wilL On the other hand, the founding of this new kingdom is exclusively his work. From first conception to final completion, the work is God's. The heavenly principles on which it is founded are of his origination. The God of heaven hath done it: who can withstand? "The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed. But he that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall have them in derision." II. ITS MYSTERIOUS MANIFESTATION. It was a stone cut out of the mountain without hands. 'l'he process of founding this empire is new and unprecedented. Into its constitution no form of human policy enters. It was a part of a mountain-a small part-mysteriously detached from the solid whole. By virtue of its own innate energy it grew and spread until it became a mountain also. Herein is symbolized the fact that Christ's kingdom on the earth is a part of heaven itself; it shall gradually grow into the likeness of heaven itself. There shall bti a new earth, iu which dwelleth righteousness. III. !Ts IMMUTABILITY. "It shall not be left to other people." In other wor<ls, no change of dynasty shall occur. Our King Emmanuel shall reign for ever. As be possesses an unchanging priesthood, so he holds an unchanging royalty. No change in its principles, or in its laws, or in its modes of aggression, shall be permitted.. They are perfect in dl'sign from tho very commencement. Nor, in the best sensl', shall the true subjects in this kingdom be changed. Christ hates divorcements. "Having loved his own, he will love them to the end." Once Christ's, we are Christ's for ever. In removing us from the visible kingdom on earth, death, as our King's officer, does bu~ l)0nver to tho hi~hcr :province-the metropolis of lhe king;dom, viz. the invisible,  [)4 THE DOOK OF DANillL. [on. u. 1-49,