The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 267

rns~~ting the fourth brute_ power. T~e angelic interpreter ~xplained, and also gave ndd1t1onal touches to the picture, or which we shall make use in the homily, ..4.ll this ,'.s the dream, mark I We shall assume that the single horn does not eland for the nntichrist of the Old TeRtament, vfa. Antiochue Epipbanes ; and that the schemes of interpretation which involve that it does so break down. 'l'he reasons for that assump- tion we could give, but would be more proper to the body of a critical commentary than to a homily. We must assume all this in homiletical treatment. This prophetic Scripture throws forward lights, then, on- I. RoME IMPERIAL. 1. It was thef()tl,rth brute world-power. (Ver. 17.) 2. Its gem:11s d~(fertti from those that had gone before. 11 Diverse," etc. (vcr. 23). 3. It apprnpriated to itself the good of every land. "Shall devour," etc. (ver, 23). 4. Its tyran.riy was oppressive. "Shall tread," etc. (ver. 28). 6. It survives until the final 01,erlltrow of aU brute-power by the establishment of the eternal kingdom. Rome imperial, Rome dismembered, Rome papal, are still Rome. 11 Orie /-one mighty and formidable power, trampling down the liberties of the world ; oppressing and persecutinu the people of God, the true Church; and maintaining an absolute and arbitrary dominio~ over the souls of men ; as a mighty domination standing in the way of the prouress0 of truth, and keeping back the reign of the saints on earth." II. Roirn DIVIDED. 1. The " ten horns" were .avereigntiu. 2. Dt111elopments of the Roman empire. 3. Contemporaneous. 4. The ea;act clesignation of them is not necessary. The "ten" have been designated. But differences of opinion hiLve arisen. 'l'his not wonderful, seeing that the new powers arose in a time of great confusion, and the boundaries were frequently changing. Perhaps strict literal and numerical exact- ness is not to be expected. 'l'he vague character of prophecy generally would warrant a contrary conclusion. III. RoKE PAPAL. The rise and progress of the papacy constitute a truly wonderful fulfilment of Daniel's dream. But it is necessary in all contemplation of the Romish religious system to distinguish carefully and ever in our minds between the Christian element iu it, and the corruption of that Christian element. (As illustration of this distinction, Collette's' Novelties of Romanism,' R.T.S., is invaluable.) 1. The" other" horn was another sovereignty. 2. It sprang from the Roman domination. Papal Rome in many ways represents Rome imperial, in the world-wideness of its sway, in possessing the same capital, etc. 3. It came into being after the dismemberment. After the ten, 4. Small at tlte beginning. From the apostolic age there had been a bishop at Rome ; but the rise of the papacy is to be dated from the assumption of civil power. Wnen P '!'his one of the most difficult questions in history. Different theories of interpretation depend on the answers. Enough that so small was the beginning, that none can answer with certainty-when? 5. The sovereignty differed from all other. (Ver, 24.) Combination of spiritual with secul:l.l' power. This involves a mighty difference, 6. It displaced othtr sovereignties. (Ver. i5.) "He shall subdue three kings." Either three kingdoms went down before it, or a third, about a third of the power and influence of existing monarchies disappeared. Distinct governments vanished before the rising papacy; and the papacy itself assumed civil functions. Here again it is not necessary to ilj.volve the broa.d incontrovertible facts with questionable historic detail (see end of v'er. 20). "More stout" refers to the magnitude finally attained. 7. Has been dis- tinguuhed, by a far-seeing sagacity. "Eyes like the eyes of a man." A sagacity of human serl, not Divine. The diplomacy of Rome, the sublety of the Jesuit, are notorious. The historical illustrations, medi1Eval and modern, are infinitely varied and innumerable. 8. By blasphemy. (Ver. 25.) "He shall speak great words against the Most High." Blii.sphemy (1) either denies to God something of his essential glory; (2) or assumes the nawes, attributes, and works of God for the creature. In both seuses the papacy has been guilty. The illustrations are numberless which are to be found in the doctrine, ritual, practice, and history of the Roman Church. Some of tbew terrible. Many of them are now open before UB, but we cannot present them here in our limited space. 9. By persecution. 10. The new sovereignty has " changed times and law." Not "laws," but the fundamental and eternal law of right. Of this, too, the illustrations are without number. IV. RoH.E JUDGED. (Ven. 11, 26.) 1. The dream even nowwaitafulfilment. Much l.:.aE Lc,,u fulfilled, but much remains to be. Imperial Rome has gone. The many other 011, vu. 1-28.] TllE BOOK OF DANIEL. 2-33