the last ages. St. Paul clearly alluded to this prophecy, when he exhorted the Hebrew converts "to draw near to God, having their hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and their bodies washed with pure water." The purification from sin is thus evidently set forth amidst references to the Mosaic ordinances 1. CHAP. XXXVii. 1. 9. ACTS ii. 2. JOHN iii. 8. In this striking prophecy of the valley of dry bones, first the restoration of Israel, then the resurrection of the dead are implied; and after the most magnificent description, the whole is connected with the Messiah. Here again we perceive the mountains of Israel, the one king, and the general unity, which were prophetically applied to Christ and his religion ;— the cessation from idolatry, the pardon of sin and purification from it, with the usual promise, that they should be God's people, and He should be their God. Then this one King, who is again mentioned as the one Shepherd, is identified by his prophetic title, David, as the Messiah; and several passages, to which our attention has already been directed, 1 See Numb. xix. 17-19. Ps. li. 7. are repeated; so that we may observe, that the ulterior object of all the prophecies, in which these distinctive criteria occur, could only have been the Son of God manifest in the flesh; and that, whenever the low estate or punishment of the offending nation was mentioned, the prophets selected the promised advent of Christ, as the point, which they subsequently offered as a consolation. The prophecy of the valley of dry bones proves the clear insight, which Ezekiel had received, into God's purposes respecting Christianity, and is most peculiarly applicable to him, who by his resurrection became the firstfruits of them that slept, who by his Gospel brought life and immortality to light, and is now seated in all the plenitude of power at the right hand of God. DANIE L. DANIEL was of the tribe of Judah. Josephus says, that he was of the family of Zedekiah, the last king of Judah, before the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuzar-adan. The Jewish historian speaks of Daniel as one of the greatest of prophets, and mentions that his predictions, which related to the successes of Alexander, were shown to that monarch by the Jews, who in consequence had many privileges conferred upon their nation. He was carried cap tive to Babylon when about eighteen or twenty years old, 606 B. C.: it is therefore probable that he never returned'. His writings contain predictions respecting the Assyrian, Persian, Grecian, and Roman empires; the time at which Christ was to appear, the rise and fall of Christianity, the restoration of the Jews, and the end of all things. Sir Isaac Newton says, to reject the prophecies of Daniel is to reject the Christian religion; for this religion is founded upon his prophecy concerning the Messiah. The following are the most remarkable parts relating to the Redeemer : PROPHECY. "In the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms; and it shall stand for ever." Chap. ii. 44. Again: "Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people, and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins; and to make reconciliation for iniquity; and to bring in ever FULFILMENT. "Unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever; a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom." Heb. i. 8. Also: "And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end." Luke i. 33. "Now, when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the East to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we 1 Antient tradition almost unanimously affirms, that he died at Susa. PROPHECY. lasting righteousness; and to seal up the vision and prophecy; and to anoint the most holy. Know therefore, and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and build up Jerusalem unto the Messiah the prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks; the street shall be built again, and the wall even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself; and the people of the prince, that shall come, shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with flood; and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week; and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease; and for the overspreading of abominations, he shall make it desolate, even unto the consummation; and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate." Chap. ix. 2427. FULFILMENT. have seen his star in the East, and are come to worship him. When Herod the King had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them, where Christ should be born." Matt. ii. 1—4. Also: "How shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ, were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death, that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." Rom. vi. 2 -4. See also 1 John i. 7. 2 Cor. v. 17-20. Rom. iii. 23-26. x. 4. 1 Cor. i. 23, 24. 30. Luke xxii. 37. John xix. 28, 30. Rev. xxii. 18, 19. Mark i. 24. CHAP. ii. 44. HEB. i. 8. The second chapter of the book of Daniel contains a most remarkable prophecy of God's kingdom, that was to be set up, by the coming of the Messiah, to triumph over all other kingdoms, and to stand fast for ever. The narrative recorded is particularly interesting. In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, it appears Nebuchadnezzar had dreams, that troubled him exceedingly; which were evidently intended by Divine Providence to teach the haughty monarch, that there was a King greater than himself, and by the exaltation of Daniel to show, that he indeed was a true prophet. When the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, were unable even to describe the dream that the king had forgotten, much less to interpret it, Nebuchadnezzar was furious, and ordered all the wise men of Babylon to be slain. Daniel, however, obtained an interview with the king, and prayed for time, that he might show him the interpretation. The revelation was given to Daniel in a night-vision by Jehovah : on which his blessing, and praise, and glory to God are exceedingly fine and touching. "Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever; for wisdom and might are his. And he changeth the times and the seasons; he removeth kings, and setteth up kings; he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to |