_In the third year of Cyrus._ THE VISION ON THE BANKS OF THE HIDDEKELS The law of gradual development seems to pervade the government of God, and may be treated alike in the material and spiritual departments of his administration. The revelation which God has given to men has grown into its comple... [ Continue Reading ]
_I ate not pleasant bread._ INTENSE RELIGION About a hundred years ago, a man of God thus wrote in his diary: “I was enabled to persevere in prayer till I saw so much need of Divine help, that I knew not how to leave off, and had forgot I needed food. D. Brainerd.” Strange intensity of desire! He... [ Continue Reading ]
_And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision._ VISIONS FOR ONE’S SELF ALONE Many and many of these men whom we see plodding on in their dusty ways are travelling with visions in their souls. Nobody knew it but themselves and God. Once years ago they saw a light. They knew it, only for a moment, what compa... [ Continue Reading ]
_O Daniel, a man greatly beloved._ CHARACTER OF DANIEL Of those whose characters are recorded for our imitation, few, if any, will be found superior to Daniel. He is almost the only eminent saint in Scripture of whom no fault is recorded. Nor was his character for goodness merely of the negative ki... [ Continue Reading ]
_And to chasten thyself before thy God._ SOUL DISCIPLINE I. Its action on SELF. It is concentration of soul. “Set thy heart” is setting the whole soul to the work. 1. Concentration to spiritual study. “Set thy heart to understand.” To understand what ? Thyself, thy capabilities, thy moral obligat... [ Continue Reading ]
_Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me._ THE FESTIVAL OF MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS It has been shown that Daniel’s doctrine of the angels is to be found, much of it, in both the Old Testament and the New. The existence of the angels, their number, their nature and occupation, are all amp... [ Continue Reading ]
_And He strengthened me._ OUR LORD’S HUMANITY A SOURCE OF COMFORT We are not able, as yet, to bear the full revelation of divine things. We ought to be thankful that our God has revealed no more. It appears that, when weighed down under a sense of the divine presence, the readiest method of consol... [ Continue Reading ]
_O Man greatly beloved._ DANIEL Daniel is the servant of God seen in the haunts of the wicked world. No place is essentially unfit for the child of God. It is not of necessity in seclusion from the world that the saintly character is formed; holiness may exist, and the most perfect man be brought o... [ Continue Reading ]
_In the scripture of truth._ THE TEACHING OF SCRIPTURE The Scriptures not only demand our submission, but invite our investigation. Whatever men in the pride of their heart may urge against them, they describe the moral condition of man, and contain truths that suit him through every stage of weak... [ Continue Reading ]