kingdom of Persia (pursues the angel) withstood me one-and-twenty days: but lo! Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, and I remained there with the kings of Persia." During the season of Daniel's protracted humiliation, the affairs of his people, in whose behalf he was praying, had not been neglected. The angel had been employed in counteracting the machinations of their enemies, and by the assistance of Michael had prevailed. " And now (says he) I am come to make thee understand, what shall befall thy people in the latter days." Here was the purport of his message. It related to the future destinies of Israel. And such, then, we may conclude, had been the subject of Daniel's supplication. He was looking for a present fulfilment of the predictions respecting his people. And such a fulfilment they would, in part, receive. But their grand and final accomplishment was reserved for the latter days. Notwithstanding present appearances, and the disappointed expectations of the prophet, there was a time pre-ordained in the counsels of Jehovah, when all his hopes would be amply realised, and the redemption of his people be commensurate with his largest anticipations. Did he enquire as to the time, and the circumstances, when this event would take place? This further

+

information would be granted him. It shall take place at "The Time of the End;" when a King, distinguished by marks the most discriminating, and by exploits the most extraordinary, shall come to his end in a manner as unexpected as unprecedented. "At that

time" (as we read in the first verse of the twelfth chapter) shall Michael stand up, the great prince, which standeth for the children of thy people; and there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation, even to that same time; and in that time shall thy people be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book."

Such, then, was the object of the vision. Its chief and leading design was to vouchsafe to Daniel an assurance of the certain though distant accomplishment of the prophecies relating to the deliverance of his people: while at the same time, in subserviency to this principal design, a full exposition was interposed of intermediate events to be fulfilled in successive ages, as leading to the final event, and as adding, by their own accomplishment, new assurance of its future certainty. And such, then, being the object of this vision, it must, in our endeavours to interpret the prophecy, be distinctly kept in view. It is in reference. to this object, that "the King," whose cha

racter and exploits are so minutely described, must be contemplated. He is introduced into the prophecy for the purpose of furnishing a testimony to the great event which the vision was intended to predict. Whatever other part in the general transactions of the world he might be designed in the Divine counsels to fulfil however subservient in other respects he might be made as an instrument in the hands of the Almighty, for accomplishing the secret or the revealed purposes of his will; yet still, the main end, for which he was to be raised up, would be to stand prominently forth as a Witness; to indicate by the discriminating features, which his extraordinary character and career would exhibit, the arrival of that long anticipated era, in which Michael would at length stand up for the people of Daniel; and their deliverance, though in times of peculiar trouble, would be accomplished. When this "King" shall have appeared; shall have fulfilled the office assigned to him; and shall have come to his end in the manner described; then let it be known that the era in question is arrived. Then let it be known that Michael, the great prince, which standeth for the people of Daniel, is standing up; and that the time of trouble, such as never was, during which their deliverance shall be effected, is fast ap

proaching. Then let Israel lift up their heads, for their redemption draweth near.

But it has been already proved in the preceding discussions, that "the standing up of Michael" for the Jews, synchronizes with the effusion of the Sixth Vial; and that the events, to which that expression refers, are the same with those by which the way for the Kings of the East is prepared.* It follows, therefore, that any sign, which indicates the standing up of Michael, and the near approach of the Time of Trouble, will equally show, that the Sixth Vial is already in operation and that the commencement of the Seventh, when that time of trouble will begin, is at no great distance. Consequently, if the position, which has been discussed in the preceding pages, has been duly established, and the present season is, in truth, that Interval or Crisis, which it has been represented to be, then the King, of whom Daniel speaks, has already made his appearance, has run his career, and is come to his end; and in thus fulfilling this remarkable prophecy, has furnished to the Church that signal and specific mark, which it is not unreasonable from the analogy of the Divine proceedings to expect, would at this Crisis be

* See pages 77, 78.

vouchsafed. The inquiry, then, which offers itself for consideration is this: Has the prophecy in question received its accomplishment? Has the King, whose extraordinary character and exploits Daniel describes, appeared on the scene of action, and fulfilled the part and the testimony assigned to him in the prediction?