may evinced in Dan... Te Kaccabees oid possibly hav Age sunce mentioned in the book dreamery stris, and proved: emre the Maccabean age, 25 Tomas prie the mist yourance of the history and geography touches prevailed among the Jews in Palestine, and an exat Unpretensive knowledge of the history of a period so dark and Lady 50 remote as the captivity en, did not exist and could not have And the same may be said of the accurate knowledge exhibited the book of the institutions, manners, usages, and entire state of things, beating in the Babylonian and Medo-Persian times. Again, it has been remarked that the complexion of the prophecies of Danzel corresponds so exactly with what is related in the historical part of the circumstances of his life, that even the most crafty impostor would not have been able to produce Messianic idea also he borrows his colours from his external relations. oughout there is apparent a religious, as well as a political gift, such we meet with in no other prophet." Lastly, the canon of the Old Testament contains the Book of Danicl, and t canon was closed by Ezra the scribe, and Nehemiah, the second ses in Jewish estimation, about 400 B.C. Hence the prophecies of niel were already at that date recognised as inspired writings. It is e the book does not appear in the list of the prophets, because Daniel s not officially a Jewish prophet, but a Babylonian statesman. David, o, though a prophet, was officially a king, and thus his writings, like aniel's, are classed among the hagiographa, or sacred books, rather an among the prophets. The principle of the Jewish arrangement of e canon was, that sacred writings by men in secular office, and not occu ying the pastoral or prophetic position, were put in a class apart from he prophets. Hence Daniel appears not in the list with Isaiah, Jere niah, and Ezekiel, but rather with David and Solomon, and Mordecai the vriter of Esther. But the Jewish rabbis hold his prophetic revelations n the highest esteem, and the Talmud places him above all other prophets There is therefore no question at all for candid minds that the book is authentic, and rightly attributed to the time of the Babylonish captivity and if so, it must be granted by all that it contains prophecy-definite predictions which have been most marvellously fulfilled. The importance of this conclusion can scarcely be over-estimate though it seems to be less appreciated by Christians than by sceptis They regret their inability to wrest a mighty weapon out of the hands of the Church. But we-what use are we making of it? What executi are we doing with it? Is it not a pity that it is allowed to so great extent to lie idle? If eight or nine centuries of fulfilled prophecy drove Fuply third century, to feel that we must either admit Divine in prove the Book of Daniel spurious, ought not the twentyof it, to which we in our days can point, be even mare de vincing candid inquirers and confounding prejudicel battle of authenticity has been fought and won; a s be invented. Archæological discovery may among the Babylonian records; it will certai against the book which it has already done s rests with Christian teachers |