LECTURE V. CONTINUATION OF DANIEL II. 36-45, Having, in the preceding Lecture, given an explanation of the symbolical language of · Nebuchadnezzar's dream, which harmonizes in general with the opinions of the most distinguished commentators, I have left for present consideration the question of TIME, as indicated by the words "in the days of these kings," and subsequent expressions. In referring to the sentiments of others, be it understood that they are not pleaded as authorities; but while pursuing our own course of investigation, it is satisfactory to find the substantial concurrence of those who have given the greatest attention to the prophetic portions of Holy Writ, and who, though they have been sometimes charged with following each other implicitly, afford ample evidence, in their differences upon subordinate points, of the independent character of their individual inquiries. Never having seen the sub ject before us exhibited in a precisely similar manner, a candid consideration may be fairly demanded, while, after a very careful research, I proceed to give the result of my own decided judgment. Let us, however, "wrestle" in prayer to the "Father of Lights," that if in any thing we err, our minds may be irradiated and rectified by the more abundant illuminations of his Holy Spirit. Some interpret the predictions, "in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed," (v. 44.) and "thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold," (v. 45) as referring exclusively to the final period of the world, when the ten monarchies, which arose in the decline of the Roman empire, shall approximate the termination of their power; consequently they allege that the prophecy is to be regarded as still waiting for its accomplishment: others believe that the allusion is to the period of the first coming of Christ, and the establishment of Christianity, which they deem the " setting up of the kingdom," or the commencement of that spiritual dominion of the Son of God in the hearts of men, which will result in the glory of the millenial dispensation. The question therefore resolves itself into this, whether we are to con sider the kingdom of Christ as established at the introduction of his gospel, or whether it is yet to be begun by his personal appearance to introduce his kingdom and commence his reign. The sentiments which I have been led to entertain on this subject are developed in the following particulars. 1. As in the common language of prophecy, kings are to be taken as representing kingdoms, and as in this vision four kingdoms only are named, and the image is presented in the prophetic dream as a splendid whole, it seems most natural, if not inevitable, to understand the expression as referring to one of the four kingdoms in question, that is, necessarily, the last of them; which is, the Roman empire. Although the toes are mentioned as well as the feet, and although this figure may find its exemplification in the subdivision of that empire into the smaller states, which arose after the northern incursions, yet these are not specified in this part of the prophecy; that is, the toes are not mentioned as kingdoms, while the empires are. By "these kings," therefore, must be intended the kings, that is, kingdoms which have been previously enumerated. Consequently, "in the days of these kings," means in the time of the Roman empire. 2. That the prediction of the stone does not refer exclusively to the ultimate period of the world, appears evident from the distinct ness of the intimation that it would strike the image upon the feet, not upon the toes: the latter are mentioned after the former, as, according to the general construction of the statue, subsequent in time. Consequently, the empire of Rome was to be smitten when in its strength, or before the division into several kingdoms. This interpretation is verified by the fact, that Christ was born in the reign of Augustus, and the apostolic labors extended to the period of the commencing decline of Roman power. 3. To consider these representations as solely applicable to the period of the second coming of Christ, would be to suppose that the whole of his first manifestation, and of all that resulted from it in the early diffusion of Christianity, and its subsequent and existing extension were entirely overlooked by the spirit of prophecy. The great events belonging to the history of Christianity for nineteen or twenty centuries, would not then acquire even the notice of the least important transaction.But can we really conceive that the first appearance of Christ, which in its character was more remarkable, and in its moral results infinitely more magnificent than all the glory which can be supposed to invest the political empires of the world, were their glory to be viewed as in their combined and concentrated effulgence;-can it be presumed that the influence. It is difficult to perceive by what possible construction of words the figure of "a stone becoming a mountain," can be made exclusively to represent the circumstances of Christ's second advent; but if we consider it to describe the progression or growth of the religion of Jesus, from the period of its promulgation, to its predestined universality, it seems to correspond with the manner and degree of its prevalence to the present time, and the general expectation of the Christian church, arising from this and similar predictions, with regard to the splendid future. One objection has been made to this view of the subject, which has in it some plausibility, but which, nevertheless, appears upon examination to be devoid of force. How, it is inquired, can it be affirmed that the kingdom of Christ has been gradually extended, so as to be likely to fill the earth, when we consider the frequent decay of its influence, and the narrow boundaries within which it is even now, after the lapse of eighteen centuries, confined? To this it may be replied, that, in the interpretation of prophecy, it is requisite to take large and comprehensive views of time and space. It is not to individual objects, so much as to great outlines and prominent events, that our attention is to be directed. Prophecy places us as on the summit of a lofty rock, whence we are invited to survey |