The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1905-12-28
Review OF The Fourth Quarter.

y
est in this epoch of two hundred
years just covered, which fairly
fascinates the reader. There is
life and continuity in the narrative.
Each event and person seems trib-
utary to the whole. 1t is the pic
ture Of a nation at school. The
term IS seventy years. The dis
cipline is severe, the training rig
Orous. The end is the correction
of faith and conduct. The training
Of the exile results IN a higher
pricing of religion, temple, ritual,
and Scripture. One plainly sees
who helped and who hindered in
this Divine evolution. The events
are the exile, COS B. c.; the de
struction of the temple, $50 B. c.;
the first return, $50 B. c.; the
temple rebuilt, $40 B. c. The
biography of the period is peculiar
ly rich. It makes a galaxy in
which Daniel, Isaiah, Haggai,
Zechariah, Malachi, Zerrubabel,
Ezra, Esther, and Nehemiah APP
pear.
There is not in literature a more
vivid word-picture than that which
describes the last night in Babylon.
Cyrus is at the gate, but the Incl
dent of a siege does not interfere
with banquet Belshazzar has
planned. The jewellers are sobered
by sight of hand writing some
mystic legend on the wall, which
Daniel interprets as being the last
page in Babylonian history. dan.
1880
The palace and the den-what a
contrast. In that building "the
marvel of mankind" the monarch
of the world, was restless and I'M
happy. An upbraiding conscience
and consciousness of unkingly
weakness were his companions. In
the den Daniel had the indescrib-
able JOY Of an approvingconscience.
His security was complete, his com
partnership angelic, The steadfast-
ness Of Daniel and his consequent
miraculous deliverance was the fin
ishing touch in the providentia1
process of preparing the Hebrews
for their exit from bondage. dan.
vi, 1929
This page is a mirror of Provi-
dence. God wanted His people
exiled. They were to learn les
sons in adversely, prosperity could
never teach them; and not for their
own sakes only, but that through
them, in hovel and palace alike,
the true God might be made
known among the heather. After
seventy years God wanted His
people emancipated. Nebuchad-
nezzar and Cyrus were the merest
instruments of a woodworking
Providence. "The kings heart is
in the hand of the Lord, as brooks
of water, and He inclines it whith-
er He will" prov. xxi, I; Ezra
i, I-II.)
The vision bears a spiritual sig
niicance upon its face. TheChurch
is the candlestick set forth in the
moral darkness of the world.
Above the candlestick of the vision
was 4 reservoir; from the reservoir
there were seven pipes to each
lamp-seven, the number of per
lection, indicating the abundant
supply. On either side of the can
dlestick stood an olive tree that
poured its oil into the reservoir.
The trees represent the kingshir
and priesthood of Jesus, who sup
plies the reservoir with the HO1v
Spirit 1t is not the lamp that
burns. The lamp is only the We.
hicle of the oil. 1t is not the
Church that Eliminates, but the
Holy Spirit through the Church
The Church is all gold. 1t is very
precious, purchased with a great
price The Church has many
branches, but it is one candlestick
Czech. iv, Io.)
The fate of a race ofexiles trem.
bles in the balance held in the
hand of capricious despot. How
the irreversible decree shall be re-