of the vision, and that Daniel was commanded to begin the seventy weeks at the going forth of the decree, to build the streets and walls of Jerusalem in troublous times; that this decree given to Ezra, was exactly 490 years, to a day, before the crucifixion of Christ; and that there is no account, by Bible or any historian, that there was ever any other decree to build the streets or walls of Jerusa lem. We think the proof is strong, that the vision of Daniel begins 457 years before Christ; take which from 2300, leaves 1843, after Christ, when the vision must be finished. But the objector may say, perhaps your vision does not begin with the seventy weeks. Let me ask two or three questions. Does not the angel say to Daniel, ix. 23,"Therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision?" Yes. Does not the angel then go on and give his instruction concerning the 70 weeks? Yes. Do you believe the Bible is true? We do. Then if the Bible is true, Daniel's 70 weeks are a part of the vision, and 490 years were accomplished when the Messiah was cut off, and not for himself. Then 1810 years afterwards the vision is completed; and we now live about 1803 years after, of course it must have begun within seven years of that date. But it is very reasonable to suppose it begun with the 70 weeks; for the angel said it would establish the vision, that is, make it sure; for if the 70 weeks were exactly fulfilled at the death of Christ, then would the remainder be in 1810 years after, which would be fulfilled A. D. 1843, as we have before shown.

And now, my dear hearer, are you prepared for this great and important event? Are you ready for the judgment to set, and the books to be opened? Let this subject sink deep into your hearts, let it follow you to your bed-chambers, to your fields, or your shops: not one jot or tittle of the word of God shall fail. If he has spoken it will come, however inconsistent it may look to us. Be admonished, then, and see to it that you are prepared. Compare the vision with the history of the kingdom, and where can you find a failure? Not one. Then, surely, here is evidence strong that the remainder will be accomplished in its time, and that time but seven years. Think,

sinner, how good God is to give you notice, and prove it a thousand fold. Remember the old world; they thought Noah was a maniac, but the flood came, and they were reserved in chains of darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Remember the cities of the plain. Lot was unto them like one that mocked; but the same day God rained fire and brimstone upon them, and they are suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Be warned, then; fly to the ark, Christ Jesus, before the door is shut; escape to the mountain of the house of the Lord before the Lord shall rise up to the prey, and you be driven away in your wickedness. Amen.

LECTURE IV.

DANIEL ix. 24. 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 everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy.

OUR text is one of the many found in the word of God, which prove the authenticity of the scriptures-gives us a powerful weapon against Judaizing teachers, and meets the infidel on his own ground, the history of the world.

It sets a seal to prophecy that it is true, and shows that the prophets were inspired.

It gives incontestible evidence against the Jew, and proves that Jesus of Nazareth was the true Messiah.

It unlocks the wonderful vision of Daniel's four kingdoms; also the vision of the ram, the he goat, and the little horn.

It brings to view the great blessings of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ-reveals the exact time of its accomplishment, and shews the source of the gospel, proclaiming good news to lost man, even in anticipation of that important era when the Gentiles should be fellow heirs with the Jews in faith.

It establishes the wavering, and gives hope and confidence to the tried and tempted child of God, that he will fulfill all his promises, according to the letter and spirit of his word.

This text furnished Simeon, Anna, Nathaniel, and others, with a strong faith that they should see the consolation of Israel.

By this text the high priest convinced the council of the necessity of putting to death Jesus. "Then gathered the chief priests and Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doth many miracles. If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him; and the Romans will come, and take away both our place and nation."

"And one of them, named Caiaphas, being high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, nor consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. And this spake he not of himself: (not his own prophecy) but being high priest that year, he prophecied (from Daniel's seventy weeks; for there is not another prophecy in the Old Testament which shows what year Christ should suffer,) that Jesus should die for that nation; and not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad." John xi. 47-53.

The high priest argues that Jesus must die for the people.

The seventy weeks shows that the Messiah must be cut off, at the close of the last week, and not for himself. Also Peter had occasion to say in his epistle, "Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophecied of the grace that should come unto you, searching what, or what manner of time, the spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified before hand the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow." 1 Peter i. 10, 11.

Where was the exact time of Christ's sufferings prophecied of but in Daniel's seventy weeks? Again to this Christ alludes, when he says, "My time is not yet fully come;" and, "Then they sought to take him, but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come:" that is, the seventy weeks were not yet fulfilled. John vii. 8, 30. Mark tells us, xiv. 41, "The hour is come; behold, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners."

The seventy weeks were now being fulfilled. And then at last, when Jesus had completed his work, when the fulness of time had come, he finished transgression and made an end of sin, he then cried, "It is finished, and gave up the ghost." The seventy weeks ended, our text was fulfilled; Christ had now become the end of the law for righteousness, to every one that believeth: he that knew no sin had become sin for us, and death had struck his

last blow that he would ever be able to give the Son of God. Daniel's vision is now made sure; the Messiah cut off, the time proved true, as given by the prophet Daniel.

Now, ye infidels, can this be priestcraft? And ye Judaizing teachers, is not this the Christ? Why look ye for another?

I shall now take up the text in the following manner: I. I shall show what is to be done in seventy weeks. II. When the seventy weeks began, and when they ended.

I. The text tells us, "Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city." That is, upon the Jews, who then were the people of Daniel, and also in Jerusalem, which then was called the "holy city." The first question which would naturally arise on the mind, would be, What for to do? The text and its context must tell us.

1st. "To finish the transgression." When was transgression finished? I answer, at the death of Christ. See Heb. ix. 15, " And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance." Isaiah liii. 8, "For he was cut off out of the land of the living; for the transgression of my people was he stricken."

This was also per

2d. "And to make an end of sins." formed at his death. See Heb. ix. 26, " But now once in the end of the world hath he appeared, to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself." And 1 John iii. 5, "Ye know that he (Christ) was manifested to take away our sins."

3d. "And to make reconciliation for iniquity." Was this also performed at his death? Yes. See Coll. i. 20, "And having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things to himself." Heb. ii. 17, "Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren; that he might be a merciful and