Daniel 12:3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament… I. THE WORK. 1. The subject we must exercise our skill on are men, tempered of the same mould, having a soul inspired from the breath of the same God, as dear to Him as ourselves, bought with no worse blood than His Son's, guarded with angels, protected by the same Providence, and compassed about with the same mercies that we are. This subject is set down indefinitely, "many." The power of God is here perspicuous, that designs a few to convert many. 2. The predicate we work; men, is righteousness. Righteousness is so fair an object that a man would think there needs no great solicitation to it. The end of the ministry is to bring men to righteousness. It is the cunning of all cunning to govern souls. It is no easy work to make men righteous. 3. The copulatives. The persons whom God hath deputed to atone these two contrary natures, sinful men and righteousness, are the ministers. II. THE REWARD. Our bliss, our heaven. Ministers are said to be stars in five respects. 1. In name. 2. In substance. A star-like and substantial light, not a flash of lightning. 3. In situation. The stars are placed in their orb, and finish their course in a determined space of time. 4. The motion is four-fold — circular, incessant, swift, and orderly. Orderly. 5. The last similitude consists in the effects. Our influence, our light, our delight. Then despise not, afflict not, impoverish not your stars. (T. Adams.) Parallel Verses KJV: And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. |
    |