Dan. 9:1-3 Daniel learned from the books of the prophets, especiall from Jeremiah, that the desolation of Jerusalem would continue sevent years, which were drawing to a close. God's promises are to encourag our prayers, not to make them needless; and when we see the performanc of them approaching, we should more earnestly plead them with God.

Dan. 9:4-19 In every prayer we must make confession, not only of the sins we have been guilty of, but of our faith in God, and dependenc upon him, our sorrow for sin, and our resolutions against it. It mus be our confession, the language of our convictions. Here is Daniel' humble, serious, devout address to God; in which he gives glory to his as a God to be feared, and as a God to be trusted. We should, in prayer, look both at God's greatness and his goodness, his majesty an mercy. Here is a penitent confession of sin, the cause of the trouble the people for so many years groaned under. All who would find merc must thus confess their sins. Here is a self-abasing acknowledgment of the righteousness of God; and it is evermore the way of true penitent thus to justify God. Afflictions are sent to bring men to turn from their sins, and to understand God's truth. Here is a believing appea to the mercy of God. It is a comfort that God has been always ready to pardon sin. It is encouraging to recollect that mercies belong to God as it is convincing and humbling to recollect that righteousnes belongs to him. There are abundant mercies in God, not onl forgiveness, but forgivenesses. Here are pleaded the reproach God' people was under, and the ruins God's sanctuary was in. Sin is reproach to any people, especially to God's people. The desolations of the sanctuary are grief to all the saints. Here is an earnest reques to God to restore the poor captive Jews to their former enjoyments. Lord, hearken and do. Not hearken and speak only, but hearken and do do that for us which none else can do; and defer not. Here are severa pleas and arguments to enforce the petitions. Do it for the Lor Christ's sake; Christ is the Lord of all. And for his sake God cause his face to shine upon sinners when they repent, and turn to him. I all our prayers this must be our plea, we must make mention of his righteousness, even of his only. The humble, fervent, believin earnestness of this prayer should ever be followed by us.

Dan. 9:20-27 An answer was immediately sent to Daniel's prayer, and it is a very memorable one. We cannot now expect that God should sen answers to our prayers by angels, but if we pray with fervency for tha which God has promised, we may by faith take the promise as a immediate answer to the prayer; for He is faithful that has promised Daniel had a far greater and more glorious redemption discovered to him, which God would work out for his church in the latter days. Thos who would be acquainted with Christ and his grace, must be much in prayer. The evening offering was a type of the great sacrifice Chris was to offer in the evening of the world: in virtue of that sacrific Daniel's prayer was accepted; and for the sake of that, this glorious discovery of redeeming love was made to him. We have, in verses 24-27 one of the most remarkable prophecies of Christ, of his coming and his salvation. It shows that the Jews are guilty of most obstinat unbelief, in expecting another Messiah, so long after the tim expressly fixed for his coming. The seventy weeks mean a day for year, or 490 years. About the end of this period a sacrifice would be offered, making full atonement for sin, and bringing in everlastin righteousness for the complete justification of every believer. The the Jews, in the crucifixion of Jesus, would commit that crime by whic the measure of their guilt would be filled up, and troubles would com upon their nation. All blessings bestowed on sinful man come throug Christ's atoning sacrifice, who suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God. Here is our way of access to the throne of grace, and of our entrance to heaven. This seals the su of prophecy, and confirms the covenant with many; and while we rejoic in the blessings of salvation, we should remember what they cost the Redeemer. How can those escape who neglect so great salvation __________________________________________________________________

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