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dead, and to the day of judgment. Michael, the prince, is generally understood to be the Son of God himself, who, under the Old Testament, often appeared as captain of the Lord's hosts, and of his people's salvation.

The first verse brings us to the eve of the general resurrection and final judgment; when the books are opened, and all found written in the book of life (or mercy) shall be delivered. But hark! the trumpet sounds, and the graves are opened! And the many, the multitudes of them who sleep in the dust of the earth, are awakened, some to "everlasting life, and some to everlasting contempt and shame." But the discovery is premature; the scene is instantly closed-the words are shut up, and the book is sealed. One important fact, however, is left revealed; "Many shall run to and fro," hither and thither, like couriers in the time of war, " and knowledge shall be increased:" knowledge of the most important kiud, the knowledge of God's salvation. Then, those who are wise themselves, shall endeavour to enlighten others; to turn them from darkness to light," and from sin to righteousness; and those who are thus active, whether to instruct infants at home, or Pagans abroad, shall shine with the splendour of the firmament, and as the stars for ever. Here is certainly the best encouragement to ministerial and missionary exertions, for whatever may be the labours and trials of such on earth, "great is their reward in heaSven."

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These things" the angels desire to look into" (1 Peter i. 12), and therefore, while they were walking on either side the river,

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one asked the recording angel, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? The answer is still clothed in mystical language: "For a time, times, and half a time," at the end of which, all these things shall be fulfilled.

On the numbers here given in the 11th and 12th verses, Dr. Boothroyd thus remarks: "Here is a fixed point at which to begin our calculation; but it is still difficult to determine when this period commenced. The taking away the daily sacrifice, and setting up the abomination of desolation, may be applied to various similar events. The profanation of the temple by Epiphanes is said to be this setting up, (1 Mac. i. 54), and our Lord applies it to the destruction of the temple by the Romans. (Matt. xxiv. 15.) Some date it from the rise of Antichrist, and suppose the 30 years more respected the period when the Jews will be converted, and the latter 45, the time when the fulness of the Gentiles shall be brought in."

But if Daniel heard and understood not, we surely need not blush to own our ignorance. Two things, however, are perfectly clear: 1. That the end of all the changes and revolutions in the world, is the purification of the church from error and from sin; and, 2. That at the final close of all these transactions, every good man will have an honourable lot assigned to him among those that are redeemed and purified. In the mean time, it is our duty to be diligent in studying the Scriptures, and active in promoting the great ends of providence, as there revealed, but not too curious to pry between the sacred leaves which God has "closed and sealed."

NOTES.

of the Millennium, which is generally expected to commence with the 7000th year of the world, as we shall have farther occasion to remark.

As to the 2300 days in chap. viii. 14, we have remarked above (see Note there), they may probably be literally intended: but since men so great as

ADDENDA TO CHAP. IX., Ver. 24-27.

We have given the above as the most generally received interpretation, and probably the true one, though attended with considerable difficulties. Some of these seem to be avoided (though others may he created) by commencing the calculation in the 20th of Artaxerxes, when orders were given for rebuilding the city as well as the temple. The great difficulty, however, regards the last week of years, when the Romans destroyed the temple, and which, instead of following the death of Messiah within seven years, was almost 40 years after that event.

In order to avoid this difficulty, Dr. Stonard divides the prophecy into two parts,

Sir Isaac and Bp. Newton have reckoned them as prophetic years, they may possibly terminate with some of the other periods. However, we have no disposition to prognosticate; "Blessed is he that waiteth!"

and reckons the first week as completed in the building of the temple; but this week, he considers as previous to, and forming no part of the 70 weeks, which he commences from the completion, and not the foundation, of the temple; and terminates with its destruction in A. D. 70. In this view, he applies the whole of ver. 26 to the Messiah, the middle clause of which he thus renders: "And he (Messiah) shall destroy the city and the sanctuary with the leader which cometh (Titus): and his end shall be with an inundation, &c. (p. 42.)

We mention this hypothesis merely to recommend it to examination, for which we have here no room.

THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET

HOSEA.

INTRODUCTION.

HOSEA, the first in order of the twelve MINOR Prophets, (whose writings sometimes made a separate volume) exercised his office in the kingdom of Israel much about the same time that Isaiah exercised his in the kingdom of Judah, and probably longer. "His prophecies are chiefly (but by no means exclusively) directed to the ten tribes, before their captivity, reproving them for their sins, exhorting them to repentance, and threatening them with destruction, in case of impenitence; but comforting the pious with the promise of the Messiah, and of the happy state of the church in the latter days, His style is so abrupt, sententious, and concise, that it borders sometimes on obscurity. And how should it not, when the subjects of 60 years' prophecy are condensed into a few pages? But it is, in many places, moving and pathetic, and, not seldom, beautiful and sublime. Hosea is a bold reprover, not only of the vices of the people, but also of their kings, princes, and priests. Like most other of the Hebrew prophets, however, he tempers his denunciations of vengeance with promises of mercy; and the transitions froin the one to the other, are often sudden and unexpected. He is generally supposed to have prophecied from the year 785 to 725, before the Christian Era." Dr. Jn. Smith.

Through all the minor Prophets, we shall pay constant attention to Abp. Newcome; and upon this prophet in particular to Bp. Horsley, who is one of its latest and ablest critics and commentators. The book is poetically rendered by all the modern transiators, and the poetry is of the most ancient cast: "pointed, energetic, and concise," says Bp. Lowth.

Before we enter upon our Exposition, we may here briefly consider a question which will necessarily meet us in the very entrance of the book. "Was Hosea directed to, and did he really, marry a wife of whoredom? or is this only to be considered as a vision, as some think, or a parable, as others?" Abp. Newcome seems to consider it as a fact, and Bp. Horsley is most decidedly of that opinion. We confess that we are not fond of resolving all the prophetic actions into mere visionary transactions, nor do we see any necessity for so doing in the present instance. The Prophet is not ordered to commit either adultery or fornication, but to marry; nor does it appear that the woman persevered in her criminality. The fact seems to us, that she had been previously married, during which connexion she had been criminal with another man; and actually had, at this time, children living with her, who had been born in adultery. This woman, who had been an adulteress, and these children of adultery, he is commanded to receive into his family; but there is no intimation of her being false to him; and a change of character may, we think, fairly be presumed. It may be said to have been an unseemly connexion; but the divine command justifies it; and all who knew of the Prophet's conduct would, of course, know the reason of it, and the authority on which he acted.

Bp. Horsley is, indeed, of opinion, that she was also unfaithful to the Prophet afterwards, which made her the more correct type of the Jewish Church. Of this, however, we see no necessity, since the object was to teach them, not to practice, but to abbor idolatry.

The Prophet]

THE

CHAP. I.

CHAP. I.

HE word of the LORD that came unto Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah; and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel.

2 The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said

to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD.

3 So he went and took Gomer the laughter of Diblaim; which conceived, and bare him a son.

4 And the LORD said unto him, Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and vill cause to cease the kingdom of the Louse of Israel.

5 And it shall come to pass at that ay, that I will break the bow of Israel the valley of Jezreel.

6 And she conceived again, and are a daughter. And God said unto

CHAP. I.

[marries Gomer.

him, Call her name Lo-ruhamah: for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel; but I will utterly take them away.

7 But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the LORD their God; and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen.

8 Now when she had weaned Loruhama, she conceived, and bare a

son.

9 Then said God, Call his name Lo-ammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.

10 Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.

11 Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land for great shall be the day of Jezreel. (A)

EXPOSITION.

(A) The Prophet commanded to marry an Aulieress, that he might have children by r, affording figurative instruction.-Uner the figure of a wife proving false to her arriage vows, and bearing children likely follow her example, the Prophet reprents the shameful idolatry of Israel, hich provoked God to cast them off. The hole passage contains information by ac on, instead of words. The Lord had been husband unto Israel, and they owed him e fidelity of a wife to a tender husband;

instead of this, however, they had long addicted themselves to spiritual fornication, or idolatry. The names here given to the Prophet's children, are all emblematical. The first is intended to put Israel in mind of their unrepented guilt, and the acts of cruelty committed in their palace of Jezreel. (1 Kings xxi. 1.) The second and third, signifying "Not finding mercy," and "Not my people," denote that, in consequence of their guilt, they were to be rejected and disowned by God. He promises, however, to repair the loss to his church,

NOTES.

CHAP. I. Ver. 2. Great whoredom-that is, idolry. See Deut. xxxi. 16.

Ver. 4. And the Lord said.. Call his name Jezreel. This name is differently interpreted; either, "the ed of God” (which is adopted by Bp. Horsley), or, God will sow," which is preferred by Dr. Boothyd, as meaning that God would scatter Israel over the earth, as a sower scatters seed. See ch. ii. 23. Ibid. I will avenge the blood of Jezreel - Not e death of Jezebel in Jezreel, for he was commandto destroy the house of Ahab (2 Kings ix. 7-10); this cruelty in other instances, while residing at palace at Jezreel. (1 Kings xxi.) Newcome. deed blood seemed to be the delight of Jehu; and I he not go beyond his commission 2 Kings x. 11-14?

And will cause to cease. See 2 Kings xv. 8-12, 29. Ver. 5. Break the bow that is, the military strength. It is supposed, either that King Zecha rial died in this valley (Jezreel), or that some signal defeat was here sustained.

Ver. 6. Lo-ruhamah — that is, according to our margin, "Not having obtained mercy."-For I will no more have mercy-Heb. "I will not add any more to," &c. But I will utterly-Newcome "surely;" Heb. "Taking, I will take them away.' Ver. 7. Not save them by bow, &c. See 2 Kings xix. 35.

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Ver. 9. Lo-ammi-Marg. "Not my people." See 1 Pet. ii. 10.

Ver. 10. Yet the number, &c.-See Rom. ix. 27, 28.

The overthrow]

CHAP. XI.

DANIEL.

ALSO I in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him.

2 And now will I shew 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.

3 And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will.

4 And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven; and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled;

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[of Persia for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those.

5 And the king of the south shall be strong, and one of his princes; and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion.

6 And in the end of years they shall join themselves together; for the king's daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement: but she shall not retain the power of the arm; neither shall he stand, nor his arm: but she shall be given up, and they that brought her, and he that begat her, and he that strengthened her in these times.

7 But out of a branch of her roots shall one stand up in his estate, which

EXPOSITION-Chap. X. Continued.

Judea met with, in attempting to rebuild the house of their God, and the city of their fathers; and having understood, by divine revelation, that these troubles were to be of long continuance, he applies himself to prayer and fasting for three full weeks;" not fasting, absolutely, for being now upwards of 90 years of age, such an attempt would be a species of suicide; but he ate "no pleasant bread;" indulged in none of the delicacies to which his age and rank entitled him, but spent the time in humiliation before God, and in earnest prayer for himself and his country. And here we have a glance into the world of spirits, from which the vail of flesh separates us, and into which, by faith only, can we obtain a view, until this vail is rent in twain, and buried in the earth. Ah! little do we know of the scenes passing" above, beneath, around us." While Daniel is on his knees on earth, there is war in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the devil and his angels, till the latter shall be cast down and confined in hell for ever. The first contention we read of between the two worlds of spirits since the fall regarded" the body of Moses :" (Jude 9.) but the nature of their dispute, we cannot dare even to conjecture. In going through the Old Testament, we have had several glimp

ses of this spiritual warfare. Job was long a sufferer by it. Satan has his prophets and angels, as well as the Almighty, and we find them often clashing and disputing in the history of the prophets. See 2 Kings xxii. 15-23; also here (in Daniel), and in Zech. i. iii. and vi.

To us it appears to be the doctrine of the Bible, and we shall therefore not shrink from it, that God employs evil met and demons, as well as saints and angels, in the government of the moral world; and that under the same control as he employs storms and hurricanes, as well as genial showers and sunshine, in the government of the world natural. It seems very unnatural (as Mr. Wintle suggests) to understand by the prince of Persia, either Cyrus, or Cambyses, as opposing the building of the temple, who had so freely given leave for its erection, nor are there facts to support such an idea. The most sober and judicious commentators, as Grotins, Newcome and Lowth, as well as Wintle and Boothroyd, incline therefore to understand by this "prince of Persia," a being of celestial rank, but of malignaut intentions; for (as Dr. Watts remark's) he could not be a good angel, who would withstand either the angel Gabriel, or any of the holy angels,

NOTES.

CHAP. XI. Ver. 1. To confirm and to strengthen him-that is, Darius. See chap. ix. 1.

Ver. 4. His kingdom shall be plucked-Wintle, "Torn up." This was remarkably fulfilled in the destruction of his family and the distribution of his empire among strangers.

Ver. 6. Shall join themselves together-Heb. "Associate themselves." See Exposition. To make an agreement-Heb. "To set things to rights."

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shall come with an army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail :

8 And shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes, and with their precious vessels of silver and of gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the north. 9 So the king of the south shall come into his kingdom, and shall return into his own land.

10 But his sons shall be stirred up, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces; and one shall certainly come, and overflow, and pass through: then shall he return, and be stirred up, even to his fortress.

11 And the king of the south shall be moved with choler, and shall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of the north and he shall set forth a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into his hand.

12 And when he hath taken away the multitude, his heart shall be lifted up; and he shall cast down many ten thousands: but he shall not be strengthened by it.

13 For the king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come after certain years with a great army and with much riches.

[of Greece.

14 And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they shall fall.

15 So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mount, and take the most fenced cities: and the arms of the south shall not withstand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to withstand.

16 But he that cometh against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him: and he shall stand in the glorious land, which by his hand shall be consumed.

17 He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he do: and he shall give him the daughter of women, corrupting her: but she shall not stand on his side, neither be for him.

18 After this shall he turn his face unto the isles, and shall take many: but a prince for his own behalf shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease; without his own reproach he shall cause it to turn upon him.

19 Then he shall turn his face toward the fort of his own land: but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found. (P)

CHAP. XI.

EXPOSITION.

flicts between the king's of the north and south. (P) Ver. 1-19. The overthrow of Per-Among the kings yet to stana up, Cyrus sia by the king of Greece; and various con- could not be included, because he was then

NOTES.

Ver. 8. Their precious vessels-Heb. "Vessels of desire."- -Their gods,- See Isa. xlvi. 1, 2.

Ver. 10. One shall certainly come and overflow.This is pointed and remarkable; Seleucus Ceraunus assembled a multitude of forces, but for want of money (the sinews of war) could not proceed, but was poisoned by two of his generals; but his brother Antiochus did come and overflow, and pass through, &c. Then shall he return, &c.-Marg." Then shall he be stirred up again," and proceed even "to his fortress," or fortified towns.

Ver. 12. Many ten thousands." Many "is an nnnecessary supplement. Wintle reads, "Though he shall lay prostrate (or cast down) ten thousands, he shall not prevail."

Ver. 13. After certain years-Heb. "At the end of times of years;" i. e. at the appointed time. Ver. 14. The robbers, &c. — Wintle, "The perverse sons (or children) of thy people.

Ver. 15. The most fenced cities-Heb. "The cities of munitions."

Ver. 16. He that cometh-that is, Antiochus.The glorious land-Wintle, "The land of glory."Margin, "Goodly land." See Deut. iii. 25 Shail be consumed-Wintle, more literally, "finished;" i. e. completely subdued "under his power." So Boothroyd.

Ver. 17. Upright ones with him-Wintle, "Proposals of alliance with him;" but the Heb. is "Uprightnesses," which we should render "fair proposals;" i. e. of alliance. See Expos.

Ver. 18. To the isles-Wintle," Maritime towns," viz, of Greece. But a prince-Boothroyd, "A commander shall cause the reproach offered to him to cease, and bring disgrace upon himself;" i. e. he was completely defeated by the Romans, and fled back. to his own land; where, laying heavy exactions. upon it to pay the impositions of the Romans, he was slain by his own people at Elymais.

Ver. 19. Toward the fort - Wintle, "The fortresses; i. e. the fortified parts of his own land.

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