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- Daniel, as Bp. Newton observes, was now very far advanced in years; for the third year of Cyrus was the 73rd of his captivity; and being a youth when carried captive, he cannot be supposed to have been less than ninety. Old as he was, "he set his heart to understand," the former revelations which had been made to him, and particularly the vision of the ram and he-goat, as may be collected from the sequel; and for this purpose he prayed and fasted three weeks. His fasting and prayers had the desired effect, for and angel was sent to unfold to him those mysteries; and whoever would excel in divine knowledge, must imitate Daniel, and habituate himself to study, temperance, and devotion. "In those¹ daysª I¹ Danielª was¹ mourningª° threeª fullª weeks.ª ... I ateª° no¹ pleasant²¹ bread,ª neither¹ cameª° fleshª nor wineª in¹ my mouth,ª neither¹ did I anoint²° myself at all,ª° till¹ threeª wholeª weeksª were fulfilled.ª°" {Dan 10:2-3} + "And I setª°¹ my faceª unto¹ the Lordª God,ª to seekª° by prayerª and supplications,ª with fasting,ª and sackcloth,ª and ashes:ª ... And I prayedª° unto the LORDª my God,ª and made my confession,ª° and said,ª° Oª Lord,ª the greatª and dreadfulª° God,ª keepingª° the covenantª and mercyª to them that loveª° him, and to them that keepª° his commandments;ª" {Dan 9:3-4} + "And whiles¹ I¹ [was] speaking,ª° and praying,ª° and confessingª° my sinª and the sinª of my peopleª Israel,ª and presentingª° my supplicationª beforeª the LORDª my Godª for¹ the holyª mountainª of my God;ª ... At the beginningª of thy supplicationsª the commandmentª came forth,ª° and I¹ am comeª° to shewª° [thee]; for¹ thou¹ [art] greatly beloved:²¹ therefore understandª° the matter,ª and considerª° the vision.²¹" {Dan 9:20-23} + "Then¹ shalt thou call,ª° and the LORDª shall answer;ª° thou shalt cry,ª° and he shall say,ª° Here¹ I [am]. If¹ thou take awayª° from the midstª¹ of thee the yoke,ª the putting forthª° of the finger,ª and speakingª° vanity;ª" {Isa 58:9} + "And it shall come to pass,¹ that before¹ they call,ª° I¹ will answer;ª° and while they¹ are yet¹ speaking,ª° I¹ will hear.ª°" {Isa 65:24} + "Andª when he¹ lookedª° on him,ª he¹ wasª° afraid,ª and² said,ª° Whatª is¹ it,²° Lord?ª Andª he saidª° unto him,ª Thyª prayersª andª thineª almsª are come upª° forª a memorialª beforeª God.ª" {Act 10:4} + "Andª Corneliusª said,ª° Fourª daysª agoª I wasª° fastingª° untilª thisª hour;ª andª at the¹ ninthª hourª I prayedª° inª myª house,ª and,ª behold,ª° a manª stoodª° beforeª meª inª brightª clothing,ª ... Andª said,ª° Cornelius,ª thyª prayerª is heard,ª° andª thineª almsª are had in remembranceª° in the sightª of God.ª" {Act 10:30-31}
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