This two weeks seem to extend from this time, until the Most Holy was anointed on the bank of Jordan. Oil had been used to anoint other high priests; but to anoint the great High Priest, that which the oil signified, was seen (the Holy Spirit) to descend and rest upon him. After his baptism, the Saviour travelled and preached, healed and instructed for three years and six months (just the half of a week,) before he was crucified. He rose from the dead, ascended, and told the lookers on to go and offer the covenant, in his name, to the earth, but to begin at Jerusalem. They did so; and, during another half week, thousands on thousands accepted, and with them the covenant was confirmed, before the preachers were driven from Judea to offer it to the Gentiles. last term of one week is divided into two parts. It was in the middle of it that the great sacrifice was offered, which annihilated the utility of all other sacrifices. It was in the middle of the last week that the oblation was poured out, which instantly checked the efficacy of all other oblations. We are told that, when Messiah should be cut off, it would not be for himself. This points us to the atonement; to the vicarious sufferings, which we have noticed, were shown so fully to Isaiah, and which he repeated with such strange variety of words. A covenant is an agreement between two parties. When one offers and the other refuses, a covenant is not confirmed. When both agree, it is confirmed or closed. God's part of the agreement, which he offers to make, is, that he will take the one who has sinned as his child. Place the everlasting righteousness brought into view by the Most Holy, during the last one of the seventy weeks, to the man's account, as though it belonged to him; to protect, train, and finally save. Reader, he is serious, and will confirm such a contract with you, if you wish it. Man's part of the covenant is, that he will accept the gift of this righteousness, confessing he did not make it himself; quit fighting his Maker; inquire after all his orders, and obey them. During the three years and a half before the death of Christ, he, with his apostles, confirmed this covenant with many of Daniel's nation, and his apostles, after he left them, did the same for half a week in his name. After this, obstinacy prevailed; and it was not very long before the "people of the prince," that was to come when Daniel lived, (the Romans,) came and did destroy "the city and the sanctuary." If any should inquire what is meant by the sentence, "The end of these shall be with a flood," I would answer, Read a full account of the siege and destruction of Jerusalem; and if the expression is not fully explained, I am unable to make it plainer. Flavius Josephus was a spectator of that flood. He wrote, and his books may be read. As it regards the desolations which were to overwhelm the nation which cut off the Messiah, we are only told that they should stream on until the consummation; how long before the consummation, this chapter does not tell. God's people have seen them pouring out, and have looked on with wonder for eighteen hundred years, asking, "Will this torrent never cease to beat upon the desolate? The answer is, Not before the consummation; but we have reason to believe this now approaches so near that we may begin to discern it dimly. Respecting the measurement of these three divisions of weeks, it is true, that the quibbler may cavil and speak zealously against the prophecy; and so he can quibble and speak plausible falsehood concerning the proper location of any star in the heavens. I shall then go on at once to the inference promised, and that is brief, and may be speedily drawn. Application. I had read heathen poets, and had applauded them. I had read ancient orators, and had admired them. I had watched with great curiosity, even a little turn of expression in a historian, who lived long since. Why did I not observe and wonder at the fact, that here, on the page of prophecy, which was written five hundred years beforehand, which had been in Egypt three hundred years before Messiah "was cut off," was found a relation of interesting events which were to take place, as accurate as the record of them after they did take place? Why was I not at least excited so far as to inquire into the matter? The reason is that man is inclined to run after falsehood and nonsense, with more activity than he is after truth and things of everlasting moment. Some millions of our race have found this out; but there are more millions who do not believe it. CHAPTER LXVI. Means of rescue.-The following passage of Scripture, taken from the same prophet, was not (if I now remember accurately,) observed faithfully by me, until I had a hope in the Messiah, who was cut off. I am, however, very confident that if I had noticed it closely at any period of my life, and had heard it expounded by any one acquainted with history, I should have deemed it worthy of a second reading. I might inform the reader that the passage is in the seventh chapter of Daniel, and ask him to take a Bible and peruse it; but I deem it best on many accounts to transcribe the most of the chapter. 2. Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. 3. And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. 4. The first was like a lion, and had eagles' wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made to stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it. 5. And behold, another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. 6. After this I beheld, and lo, another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. 7. After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. 8. I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. 9. I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. 10. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. 11. I beheld then, because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake; I beheld, even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. 12. As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away; yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time. 13. I saw in the night visions, and behold, one like the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. 15. I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. 16. I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things. 17. These great beasts which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth. 18. But the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever. 19. Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, |