“THE STORY OF DANIEL THE PROPHET.”
The Evening Standard, of New Bedford, Mass. STEPHEN N. HASKELL, the author of this paraphrase and explanation of the Prophet Daniel’s life-story, explains that this “book is the result of much prayerful study. It is sent forth with an earnest prayer that, in the hands of the parents, it may be the means of making the study of the Bible in the family a blessing to young and old; and that the teacher in the school-room may see precious rays of light flashing from its pages, pointing both teacher and pupil to the great divine Teacher.” The book is an exposition of the Scripture relating to Daniel, from the point of view of a man who believes that “we are living in the closing scenes of this world’s history,” and who takes the most serious, and to our mind, a somewhat disproportionate view of the importance of closely interpreting prophecy in its relation to human history. We find this tendency in the opening sentences of the first chapter, where the author writes:— “Although Daniel lived twenty-five hundred years ago, he is a latter-day prophet. His character should be studied, for its development reveals the secret of God’s preparation of those who will welcome Christ at His appearing. His prophecies should be understood, for in them is the key which unlocks history to the end of time. The Saviour himself bore witness to this. When the disciples asked, ‘What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?’ He said, ‘When ye . . . see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, . . . whoso readeth, let him understand.’ In this we have the divine permission to read and understand the prophecies of Daniel. Those prophecies are intended, therefore, to warn a people of the coming of Christ.” Students of literature of this sort readily recognize the basis of the argument, and the course and conclusion of the argument itself. There are minds to which it appeals strongly, and there are those to whom it appears a perversion of the highest uses of the Scripture record. Yet those who dwell on this phase of Biblical interpretation are always earnest men, of high character and undoubted piety, and having a sincere desire to promote the good of their fellow men. We can see this desire manifested throughout this book, and can but appreciate the devoted spirit which has diligently worked to frame the argument. The author has elaborated his theories in a forcible manner, which commands respect even if it does not win concurrence. We commend the book to students of Scriptural history. Published by the Review and Herald Pub. Co., at Battle Creek, Mich.