complishment was reserved for the latter days. Notwithstanding present appearances, and the disappointed expectations of the prophet, there was a time preordained 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 character 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. When he shall have appeared, shall have fulfilled the office assigned to him, and shall have come to his end in the manner described, then it will be known that the event in question is approaching. Then let Israel lift up their heads; for their redemption draweth nigh.

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CHAP. III.

"THE KING" SHOWN TO BE LITERALLY AN INDIVIDUAL KING.

FROM the view which has been given of the design and object of the prophecy under consideration, it is obvious that all the circumstantial particulars predicted in the eleventh chapter, respecting the kings of the north and of the south, must be understood as subservient to the introduction of the King, whose beginning, operations, and end, were to be so distinctly marked. But in the detail of these introductory particulars, one circumstance of considerable moment is to be noticed. The language in which this prophecy is delivered is not, like the usual language of prophecy, symbolical and figurative, but literal and divested

of figure.

"And now (continues the Angel, ch. xi. 2.) will I show thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all; and by his strength, through his riches, he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia." Here we see that kings are not represented, as in the preceding visions, under the symbols of beasts and horns, but they are literally spoken of as kings. Neither in this prophecy does the term king necessarily signify, as is sometimes the case, a kingdom, or succession of kings reigning through a long series of years. The kings here specified were individual kings, as history clearly shows: for after the death of Cyrus, three kings did actually reign, Cambyses, Smerdis the magian, and Darius Hystaspes: to whom succeeded Xerxes, the fourth king here mentioned; who having acquired immense riches, and collected innumerable forces, undertook the memorable expedition against Greece;