Ver. 13.-In view of the end. Daniel is the apocalyptic prophet of the Old Testament. To him, more than to any other man, were given visions of the vast future and the destined end of the preseut world. Such revelations must have made a deep impression on the man himself. The right use of that impression is here indicated. 1. IN VIEW OF THE END WE SHOULD LIVE OUB PRESENT LIFE QUIETLY, FAITH- FULLY, AND PATIENTLY. 'l'he vision of the end is not to distract our attention from present dutiee, but rather to inspire us for them. The neglect of practical Christianity for millennarian speculations is contrary to the purpose of revelation. The idea that we must omit any earthly duty in order to be ready for heaven is a delusion. He is most fit to die who is most fit to live. He who does his work best hem is most ready for his rest hereafter. And he who feels most truly the power of the world to come will serve most faithfully in the present world. 1. We should be simple and calm. 'l'ha true view of the end is not disturbir,g and exciting. It brings before our mind visions of rest and peace, the anticipation of which should impart a quiet simplicity to our spiritual life. 2. "We should be/aithful to our mission." "Go thy way"-do not gu out of thy vocation. Serve God there. Prepare for the end in thy natural condition. If the end is thought of, it should inspire the more earnestness in present work, because (1) this is a preparation for the end; (2) we are cheered in this by the prospect of the end. We can walk with more energy and gladness if we know that in going our way we are nearing light and home and rest. 3. We ,hould be patient. Daniel is admonished to go ou his way till the end. 'l'his implies patience. He that thus "waiteth" is blessed (vcr. 12). We do not know when the end will be. We cannot expedite it. It is best that it should delay till God's time. Since his time is best, impatience is foolish. 11. A SUFFICIENT REVELATION OF TBE END IB GIVEN TO US FOB GUIDING OUR COURSE HERE ABIGliT. We need have no feverish anxiety about the future if we are truly Christian. Though there is much mystery, there is light for guidance and encouragement. This reveals important facts, viz.: 1. There will be rest-the rest of the grave (Job iii. 17), and the sleep in Jesus (1 Thess. iv. 14). 2. There will be a resurrection. Daniel will awake from the sleep of the grave to "stand in his lot" (ver. 2). This is confirmed by the teaching (John v. 28, 29) and example of Christ (1 Cor. xv. 12). Whatever may be the external conditions of the resurrection, the essential fact is life efter death, with the possession of all our po~ers and faculties. 3. There will be a discriminating allotment of destinies in the future life. Daniel will stand iu his lot. Every man will go to "his own place" (Acts i. ~5). The place is first determined (1) by merit ; (2) by fitness ; (3) by the natural development of the future out of the present (Gal. vi. 7); but finally assigned according to the righteoUB judgment and forgiving grace of God (Acts xvii. 31).
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vere. 1-3.-The sliining of the clear and the converting. "And they that be wise shall shine," etc. (ver. 3). Here are two types of humanity and two destinies. There is a likeness both in the types and in the destinies, such as we might expect from the parallelism of the text; at the same time, there are differences. 'l'he one type is in advance of the other; so is the Divine recognition in the one case as against the r,receding. In the one case we have an attribute of soul, in the other au activity. fhe first is followed by a radiance like that of the open sky; the second, by a brilliance like to that of the stars. I. TrrE CLEAR. 'l'urn to the Hebrew, and it will soon be seen that the essential idea in tho word translated "wise" is that of a clear eye with a clear outlook. Cleave to this idea, and let it determine our description of the character here set before us. In such a character: 1. The soul is clear. Not nb8olutdy here on earth, but rela- tively in contrnst with the former state. Transparent. l'ure (Matt. v. 8). No moral taint of such a kind as to destroy the vision of spiritual and eternal thiugs (John viii. 346 'l'HE BOOK 01<' DANIEL, [cu. x.11. 1-18.