lhnt no triumph Is renl or enduring which is not the triumph of right()o,rnness over sin, V, LARGER REVEl,ATION CENTRES IN THE PERSON AND WOR!C OF MEBBIAH. If now nnd then God should lift us up to some spiritual height, and give us a wider visi0n of human destiny, wo should be amused and saddened a.t the littleness of our petitions. Often do we pray and plead for some good, which seems to us a very consummation of blessing; but when we have gained it, we find that there are far larger possessions awaiting us. Tho desires of Daniel's soul were concentrated on Israel's return to Palestine; yet, at the boat, this was only a temporal advantage. Change of place and resumption of worldly power would not in themselves secure nobleness of character or purification of soul. The bedt blessings of God can be enjoyed anywhere, and ami,l any outward conditions, But God is too wise and too beneficent to confine his 0(7ifts within the limits of human request. "His thoughts are not as our thoughts; " and from inferior restoration to outward privilege, as a starting-point, he leads our expecta- tions onward to a nobler restoration of character and of life. The centre of the world's hope (whether the world so regards it or not) is Jesus the Messiah. Before Gabriel had satisfied Daniel with respect to Israel's earthly fortune, he poured into Daniel's ear what was uppermost in his own mind-the advent of the Son of God. The grandeur, the value, the triumphant issues of Messiah's work,-these were the tidinas which he delighted to convey. 'l'he revelation which, in any age, man most needs is revelation respecting the removal of sin-knowledge how the great redemption can be accomplished. No tidings from heaven can ever be so joyous as these, viz. that sin shall meet with final destruction, and that reconciliation between God and man is made secure. Such a revelation embraces an enormous sweep of blessing, and comprises every possible interest of humanity. The possession of the earthly Canaan is a very short-lived benefit; the inhe.ritance of heaven is an eternal good. VI. 'l'HE LARGEB REVELATION EMBRACES THE FINAL TRIUMPH OF RIGIITEOUSNESB, For the present the outlook of Israel is flecked with light and shade. Like an April day, our present experience is an alternation of blustering storm and bright sunshine. 'l'he defences of Jerusalem, Daniel was assured, would be rebuilt, but would be rebuilt amid harassing trouble. Messiah the Prince should in due time appear; but Messiah should be cut off. The city and the sanctuary should rise from the reproach of present ruin, but they would again be destroyed-<lesolation, like a flood, would sweep over them. Sacrifice should be restored in the temple, but sacrifice and oblation should again cease. These were but temporary arrangements to prepare the world for a real atonement. But the final upshot shall be the destruction of abomination. Upon the desolater there shall be desolation. "All that defi!eth" shall be extermi- nated. Death shall die, "Ciptivity shall be led captive;" "Gou shall be all in all."-D,
EXPOSITION. the thing was true, but the time appointed CHAPTER X. was long; and he U.11derstood the thing, and had u.nde:rstandin.g of the vision. The Sep- Vere. 1-21.-THE ANGELS OP THE NA- tuagint rendering is, "In the first year of TIONS. Cyrus King of the Persiaru." This is at 'fhe three chapters (x., xi., and xii.) form a variance with all otharversions. As,however, section apart from the rest of Doniel. One these other versioru are derived from the Palestinian recension, they unitedly do not murked peculi11rity is the long ailll very old much more than counterbalance the LXX., interpolation which occupies nearly the "A decree ( 1rpocrTcx7,«cz) was revealed to whole of eh. xi. Not improbably something D11niol who was called Beltasar, and the has dropped out, and not a few things have vision is true and the decree." This is a CI\SO of doublet. Evidently some Egyptiau been modified in consequence of this iuter- manuscripts road Jiir;, (~azon) instead of 1:;nr1 polation. (~addabar ), aud this, or the rendenng of it, Ver. 1.-In the third year of Cyrus King hus slipped into the text from the margin. of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, "And a strong multitude understood the whoso name was oalled Beltoshazzar i and decree," The ti·anslalor here he.s bad r~-. 288 THE BOOK OF DANIEL. [CH, X, 1-21,