year. To this they added weeks of cycles, or of sabbattic years, called the Jubilee cycle. Every fiftieth year was the Sabbath of this cycle of years, making the seventh of the sabbatic years. The prophet did not use days for years, but simply spoke of weeks of years, according to Jewish customs, instead of weeks of days. And when the seventy weeks of years transpired, this Scricpture prophecy was fulfilled in every particular, and has become an imperishable monument of the inspiration of the prophets and of the truth of the Sacred Scriptures. The principle of interpretation I am noticing is proved erroneous by statements found in the book of Daniel, which show, that such was not his mode of expression. 1. It is said chapter 10: 13, "the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days." This period is refered to in verse second and is denominated three weeks, meaning weeks of days, and not of years. This could not have been significant of years, for the event took place in the third year of the reign of Cyrus, and he did not live only 19 years after taking Babylon. In chapter 4, Daniel interprets the dream of Nebuchadnezzar, in which he says that "the king shall be driven from men-his dwelling place shall be with the beasts of the field- he should eat grass like oxenhe should be wet with the dews of Heaven, and seven times should pass over him, when he should know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men,-and giveth it to whomsoever He will." These seven times are seven years. But they cannot be taken to represent as many years, as there are days in those years or times. Agreeably to the prediction after the literal time expired, the king was restored to his throne. Thus, without the shadow of authority, this mystical mode of interpretation has been adopted, which has filled the world with fanaticism, speculations and unbelief. I must therefore, take the wiser course of keeping within the sphere prescribed by the prophet, in vindicating the truth of prophesy. LECTURE III. Revelation designed to be understood-Expectation to render Daniel's Prophecies intelligible-Nebuchadnezzar's dream-Daniel's vision of Four Beasts-Their representation of four great Monarchies, the Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Macedonian, and Roman-Prophecies concerning them. AND NOW WILL I SHEW THEE THE TRUTH. ALTHOUGH ingenuity may enforce a variety of speculative and plausible constructions on the word of prophecy, yet the true import is not so difficult to understand, if we pay careful attention to the internal helps furnished for guidance in interpretation. We should never look for a hidden, mystical meaning of Scripture testimony, unless the nature of the case absolutely demands it. It is a Divine Revelation, and was designed to be understood without difficulty in ascertaining its signification. It may be therefore safely infered, that the sentiment and truth of prophecy may be readily known after its fulfilment, and its application may be easily determined. Had not various things conspired to direct the minds of theologians in to foreign channels, they would not have sought for the fulfilment of Daniel's visions in circumstances and events so far remote from the true construction; and a Christian people would not have been so divided in their views of Scripture prophecy, nor thrown into such a state of confusion and doubt relative to the true application of Divine testimony. I think I shall be able to place so much of the Revelation of Daniel, as shall be brought under review, in such a clear and |