fruit of the Christian Church who had fallen by Pagan persecution, and Michael the Archangel is represented as contending with the powers of darkness, in behalf of the Church nor could the accusations of Satan be refuted, or his malice repelled, otherwise than by the merits of the all-atoning blood of Christ; and by the plea, as an evidence of their faith in him, that for his sake, the Saints "loved not "their lives unto the death."

The above examples may serve to explain the passage now under consideration, where we find that Satan, the God of this world (described as the Prince of Persia, the then ruling kingdom of the world) is said to have opposed the merciful designs of God with regard to his Church; and for one-and-twenty days to have delayed the Angel Gabriel, who was commissioned to bring to Daniel an answer to his prayer. Such appears to be the necessary interpretation of the passage; and it is here represented, that the assistance of the Archangel Michael was required to enable Gabriel to overcome the Prince of Persia:" which affords a clear proof that it is Satan himself who is so called. The words of Gabriel, " I remained there with the Kings of Persia;" must be necessarily referred to the one-and-twenty days that he was so detained.

"

The subject of this passage is found but in few parts of Scripture: some useful lessons, however, may be drawn from it. If there be "war in Heaven," and the victory is not there obtained without a contest; how can we, being weak flesh and blood, who have to war against principalities and powers, expect success without some exertion, and without a continual reference to the power of our Saviour, who alone is said through death to have destroyed "him that had the power of death, that is, the Devil." Such passages of Scripture must shew the error of those who "live carelessly;" and of the efficacy of prayer by the members of the Church of Christ, in behalf of themselves and others, Daniel affords a most striking example. Ver. 15. "And when he had spoken such words "unto me, I set my face towards the ground, " and I became dumb. 16. And, behold, one

like the similitude of the sons of men touched

my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, "and said unto him that stood before me, O

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my Lord, by the vision my sorrows are turn"ed upon me, and I have retained no strength. "17. For how can the servant of this my "Lord talk with this my Lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in

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neither is there breath left in me. 18. "Then there came again and touched me one

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like the appearance of a man, and he strength"ened me. 19. And said, O man, greatly

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beloved, fear not, peace be unto thee, be

strong, yea, be strong and when he had spoken to me, I was strengthened, and said, "Let my Lord speak; for thou hast strength

"ened me." In the former vision it is said (chap. ix. 21) that while Daniel was praying, the man Gabriel touched him; no doubt, therefore, but Gabriel is here also the subject of the text: who again touches him, and strengthens him. Who this exalted being is, we are not informed; but he appears to be that one of created beings, who is most immediately employed under our Saviour, in directing the concerns of the Church, and in furthering the great work of salvation; we only read besides of Michael the archangel so distinguished by name; and his employments with regard to the Church are of the highest order; for we find him at one time overthrowing the kingdoms of this world, and at another time ushering in the kingdom of Christ, and he informs Daniel that he alone with Michael who appears to preside over the affairs of the Jewish nation, were so employed by the Great Head of the Church; for he says, in the verses immediately following these, "There is none

"that holdeth with me in these things but Mi"chael your Prince."

Ver: 20. "Then said he, Knowest thou "wherefore I come unto thee? and now will "I return to fight with the Prince of Persia : "and when I am gone forth, lo, the Prince of Grecia shall come. 21. But I will shew "thee that which is noted in the scripture of "truth: and there is none that holdeth with me "in these things, but Michael your Prince." Chap. xi. ver. 1. " Also I, in the first year of "Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm "and to strengthen him." Gabriel had 19 years before expounded to Daniel the vision in which was represented the overthrow of the Babylonian empire by the Medes and Persians, and which was typified by the pushing Southward of the Ram: that event had since taken place; and the Angel here informs Daniel, that it was brought about through his instrumentality, for that he stood by Darius to strengthen him in that important work, the siege of Babylon, undertaken by the united forces of the Medes and Persians. For the reign of Darius being dated from the taking of this city, this event must be considered to be the one referred to by the Angel, when he says, in the verses above quoted, " I, in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood

"to confirm and to strengthen him." He informs him further, that it would be through his agency that the remainder of the events predicted in the vision of the Ram and He-goat would be brought about, and that he should hereafter go forth to fight against the King of Persia, or Darius (Codomannus), strengthening the Prince of Grecia, or Alexander, to overthrow him and we probably read of the accomplishment of this prediction of the Angel in what is recorded respecting Alexander, "that when he was yet at Dio, in Macedonia, "and there deliberating with himself how he "should carry on his war against the Persians, "and was in much doubt about the under

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taking," he was encouraged in a dream ""to lay aside all thoughtfulness and diffi"dence about this matter, and pass boldly over "into Asia," for "that God would be his

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guide in the expedition, and give him the

Empire of the Persians*." But Gabriel not only announced, and himself assisted to effect, the overthrow of the kingdoms of this world, but was also employed, as has been observed, in introducing the kingdom of Christ. He had already foretold to Daniel the first advent of our Saviour, in the prophecy of the seventy

* Prideaux, Vol. I. Book VII. Part I.