v 56 heaven carried away, and scattered over the ground, so that not a particle of it remained. Then the stone appeared gradually to increase in size, till it became a great mou and filled the whole earth. This was the dream, which Daniel now proceeded to explain to the king. The image represented four great monarchies, which were to exist upon the earth in after-times. The first was the Chaldean monarchy, which had lately commenced, or the succession of Babylonian kings, of whom Nebuchad mezzar was the greatest. The kings of Babylon reigned over most of the civilized countries in the world, and the splendour and wealth of their domin ions were aptly represented by the head of gold. Thịs empire would continue sooty-six years from the beginning of Nebuchadnezzar's reign. That part of thể image which was of silver was an emblem of the empire of the Medes and Persians, which would come after that of Babylon, and continue two hundred and nine years. The brass was emblematical of a third kinédom, which would destroy the empire of the 蠍 事 Medes and Persians, and become much larger than
