have declared with more candour, that if they could get rid of this prophecy, they should not fear any arguments that christians could bring from other prophets to prove that the Messiah is come. Therefore it was that Rabbi Josue, who saw the destruction of the temple, exclaimed that the time of the Messiah was past; as knowing that according to this prophecy and that of Haggai, to be explained hereafter, He was to appear before the temple was destroyed, and the sacrifice and oblation had consequently ceased.

The remaining chapters of this book contain other visions, in which an angel tells the prophet what was to happen in several kingdoms both before and after the coming of Christ; of the prophe cies contained in which some are not yet fulfilled. In these events the Jews were first concerned, and afterwards the church of Christ. These do not belong to the present subject, but have lately been well

* Rabbi Josue qui excidium templi vidit, Messiæ tempus advenisse dicebat, ut testatur R. Jacob in Caphtor. Grot. de Verit. v. 14.

and

and ably explained by Mr. Faber, and their connection with the apocalypse shewn. In the xiith chapter these events are brought down even to the general resurrection; and Christ himself perhaps is introduced under the name of Michael the Great Prince, to deliver those whose names are written in the book of life. Yet though a particular time is appointed when this is to happen, a thousand three hundred and five and thirty days, (ver. 12.) probably accordingly to the usual prophetic style so many years, it is still uncertain from whence these years, and those mentioned in the 11th verse, are to be dated, and consequently when they will conclude. Yet if Mr. Faber's hypothesis be well founded, as indeed it appears to be, passing events lead us to suppose the completion of prophecy to be nearer at hand than is generally believed. But we shall hardly know certainly till the time is come, or at least fast approaching; for the words are shut up, and the book sealed even to the time of the end, (ver. 4.) And it is, as Prideaux

8

justly

justly observes, "the nature of such (and indeed of almost all) prophecies, not to be understood till they are throughly fulfilled." For God does not cause future events to be foretold to gratify our curiosity, or to raise our expectation, but to prove to us, when they are come to pass, that he knew of them beforehand, and that they happened by his appoint

ment.

Soon after this last vision it is supposed that Daniel died, very far advanced in years; and it is thought that he did not return with the two tribes into Judæa after their seventy years captivity, but died in Babylon.

13

CHAP.

CHAPTER XII

The Prophecies of Haggai

SEVERAL years however before the decease of Daniel, and about 520 before Christ, Haggai began to prophecy. He was with the people after their return to Jerusalem, while they were rebuilding the city and the temple. But as they neglected to finish the temple, which had been begun about 15 years before, for the sake of ornamenting their own habitations; this prophet was sent to urge them to complete it, by assuring them that the glory of this second temple should be greater than that of the first, which Solomon built, however magnificent that had

been,

been, because in this the promised Redeemer should appear.

This part of the prophecy is introduced in the second chapter, ver. 3; Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? And how do you see it now? Is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing? Now there might be, and probably were, several persons then living, who could remember the first temple. It was now about sixty-six years since that had been destroyed; and it may naturally be supposed that the old people, whose minds fondly dwelt on the splendor and riches of Solomon's temple, despaired of ever seeing this equal to it: and they probably discouraged those who were building this new temple, by pointing out in strong and melancholy language the vast, and indeed essential difference which there was between them. For it was not only in the magnificence and ornaments of the two temples that this great difference consisted; for in the sight of God they were of no estimation. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of Hosts, U

ver