Ver. 35.-Purged by trial. I. THE CmracH NEEDS PUJITT'ICATION. The people "of understanding" are to be purged and made white. These are clearly the people who are "wise unto salvation "-the true Church. 1. The ends of the gospel are not attained until the Church is completely purified. The first aim is to gather men into the Church by penitence and faith. The second is to perfect them when they are in the Church. The forgiving grace of God does not dispense with the necessity of holiness. It passes over the sin of the past, that it may secure a better life for the future. The ends of Christ's work are not satisfied in releasing us from the penalties of our sins, and securing present peace and future blessedness. They seek the complete renewal and purification of our lives. 2. These ends are only attained by a lifelong process of purification. The a.et of conversion does not satisfy them. Though the life may be turned from sin to God, evil still lingers, old sins 1ise up again, and new tempta- tions often prove too stronj!;, Hence the need of the Christian's daily prayer for forgive- ness, and the need of a continual discipline in holiness. H. THE CHURCH IS PURIFIED DY IlER TBIALB. Some of them fall to try, and thus to purge. Trial purges: (1) by making us think humbly of ourselves, and suggesting the question whether we have not brought it on ourselves by our sin; (2) by making us dissatisfied with this world, and therefore anxious to be right in relation to the spiritual world; (3) by leading us to feel the need of God, and so to seek to be con- formed to his mind. These, however, are only secondary means, and need right using. Trouble may harden in sin or result in complaints against Providence. ·we need the Spirit of God to euable us to profit by the holy influences of trial. This conception of the end of trial should lead us (1) to accept it with patient submission, since it is sent, not as vindictive punishment, but as purifying chastisement; and (2) to seek grace to use it profitably. III. WIIEN THE PURIFIOATION OF THE CHURCil IS ACCOMPLISHED, HER TRIALS WILT, CEASE. 1. This will be complete. The battle with siu will not List for ever. The dross will be all purged away, nnd the people of God will be free from all taint of sin and all indwelling love awl power of it. This is the final issue of the discipline of this life, which will be accomplished in the next. 2. Then trial will cease. 'l'he presc11t 328 THE BOOK OF DANIEL. [cu. xt, 1-45,
life of probnticn, education, and discipline ie only temporary (2 Oor, iv. 17), It wlll be followed by 11, life of perfect peace (Rev. xxi. 4). Vers. 86-38.-Seif. The undue prominence of self ie a leading characteristic of all sin,just as ell goodness implies self-denial. Where this is allowed, it is shown in every sphere of life. I. IN ACTION, SELF APPEABB AS SELF-WILL, "The king shall do according to hie will." 'l'his implies the neglect of law and right, of the will of olhers and of the will of God. It is seen in tyranny, in rebellion against lawful authority, and in the denial of our duty as servants of God. Il. IN THOUGHT, SELF re BEEN AS SELF-WORSHIP. " He shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god." The shadow of self is thrown over everythin", All things are viewed in their relation to self, and valued according as they ple11se ;r inconvenience self. Self is the ideal standard to which nothing is equal, and by com- pari~on with which all merit is measured. Ill. lN RELJGIOUB KATTERS, SELF IS IUNIFESTED BY THE CDOICE OF WORSHIP ACCORDING TO PRIVATE CONVENIENCE. The king rejects the God of his fathers, and blasphemes the "God of gods" because the will of the great God is ngainst hie evil conduct. He eelects for worship a "god of forces" as more suited to his lawless violence. Thus where self dominates, the truth of religion counts for nothing, no reve,-enoe is felt for the awful holiness and majesty of God, but.convenience settles the creed, and that religion is adopted which involves the least self-denial. Thus degraded, religion is no longer the master, it is the slave of man. But surely religion should be accepted because it ie true, whether it suits our convenience or not, and must then be felt to guide and overawe our lives. IV. IN SOCIAL RELATIONS, SELF APPEARS .A.II SELF-ASSERTION A.ND NEEDLESS BREA.OH OF CUSTO.IL The king disregards tbe habits of his age, apparently out of contempt and pure indifference. The bondage of custom is degrading. But indifference to the habits of others is insulting and sometimes cruel. It is a proof of cold selfishness. Where it is necessary to be independent, we should let our conduct be conciliatory rather than irritating, if we would practise humility and generosity. V. Ix PRACTICAL RESULTS, THE PBOKINENOE OF SELF IS EVIDENCED BY DEBTBUC• TIVE VIOLENCE. The god chosen is the" god of forces." Might takes the place of right. The will and welfare of others are often crossed. How many ware have no better origin ! Fina.Uy note: THOUGH THE UNDUE ASSERTION OP SELF JIIA.Y SUCCEED FOB A BEASON, IT IS DOOMED TO ULTJIUTE FA.ILUBE. The king prospers, but only "till the indig- nation be accomplished." In the final issae self-seeking brings ruin. Selfishness prospers for a time, and unselfishness means temporary loss, but ultimately the suppres- sion of self would lead to our lasting welfare (Matt. xvi. 25),
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 1-eh. xiL 1.-The roll of the univeraal Ohurch. "Thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book" (eh. xii. 1). Two remarks here seem necessary on the part of the writer of this set of homilies. 1. That, deeply interesting as may be the eleventh chapter considered as propbec~, ~nd so demanding minute historical exposition, there does not seem to be mu~h adm1ttmg of strictly Lomiletica.l treatment. The impression of others may be different; but that is our view; and we act upon it by advancing to the twelfth chapter. 2_. That the homilies immediately following are founded upon the view expressed by Keil, that the closing verses of the eleventh chapter refer to "the end of the present world- period," not to .A.ntiochus Epiphanes, but to the final enemy of the people of God, the antichrist; and further, that the firnt three verses of the twelfth chapter treat of "the final deliverance uf Israel from the last tribulation." In uther words, that the prophecies of Dauiel close by projecting themselves on into the closing scenes of the history of our world. The first verse declares that the close of earth's history shall be a time of unparalleled trouble; that the activity of Michael, the guardian angel on, n. 1-46.J THE BOOK OF DANIEL. 829