Sermon VIII. The labouring saint’s dismission to rest.
“But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.” — Dan. xii. 13.
The words of my text having no dependence (as to their sense and meaning, but only as to the occasion of them) on the verses foregoing, I shall not at all look backward into the chapter, but fall immediately upon them, that I be not hindered from my principal intendment; — being unwilling to detain you long, though willing to speak a word from the Lord to such a congregation, gathered together by such an eminent act of the providence of God.
The words are the Lord’s dismission given to a most eminent servant, from a most eminent employment, wherein these four things are observable:—
First, The dismission itself in the first words: “Go thou thy ways.”
Secondly, The term allotted for his continuance under that dismission: “Until the end be.”
Thirdly, His state and condition under that dismission: “For thou shalt rest.”
Fourthly, The utmost issue of all this dispensation, both as to his foregoing labour, his dismission, and rest following: “Stand in thy lot at the end of the days.”
I. In the first I shall consider two things:— 1. The person dismissed: “Thou;” 2. The dismission itself: “Go thou thy ways.”
1. The person dismissed is Daniel, the writer of this prophecy, who received all the great visions of God mentioned therein; and I desire to observe concerning him, as to our purpose in hand, two things:— (1.) His qualifications; (2.) His employment.
(1.) For the first, I shall only name some of them that were most eminent in him, and they are three:— [1.] Wisdom; [2.] Love to his people; [3.] Uprightness and righteousness in the discharge of that high place whereunto he was advanced.
[1.] For the first, the Holy Ghost beareth ample testimony thereunto, Dan. i. 17, 20, “As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.” In all matters of wisdom and understanding, none in the whole Babylonian empire, full of wise men and artists, were to be compared unto Daniel and his companions; and Ezekiel chap. xxviii. 3, rebuking the pride and arrogancy of Tyrus, with a bitter scorn he says, “Behold, thou art wiser than Daniel,” or thou thinkest thyself so, — intimating that none in wisdom was to be compared unto him.
[2.] Love to his people. On this account was his most diligent inquiry into the time of their deliverance, and his earnest contending with God, upon the discovery of the season when it was to be accomplished, chap. ix. 1–4. Hence he is reckoned amongst them who in their generation stood in the gap in the behalf of others, — “Noah, Daniel, and Job.” Hence God calls the people of the Jews, his people, chap. ix. 24, “Seventy weeks are determined on thy people;” — the people of thy affections and desires, the people of whom thou art, and who are so dear unto thee.
[3.] For his righteousness in discharging of his trust and office, you have the joint testimony of God and man:— his high place and preferment you have, chap. vi. 2. He was the first of the three presidents who were set over the hundred and twenty other princes of the provinces; and the Holy Ghost tells you, that, in the discharge of this high trust and great employment, he was faithful to the utmost, verse 4, “Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.” Which also his enemies confessed, verse 5, “Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”
These qualifications, I say, amongst others, were most eminent in this person who here received his dismission from his employment.
(2.) There is his employment itself, from which he is dismissed; and herein I shall observe these two things:— [1.] The nature of the employment itself; [2.] Some considerable circumstances of it.
[1.] For the first, it consisted in receiving from God, and holding out to others, clear and express visions concerning God’s wonderful providential alterations in kingdoms and nations, which were to be accomplished from the days wherein he lived to the end of the world. All the prophets together had not so many clear discoveries as this one Daniel concerning these things.