needs be vnderstood of the kingdome of Alexander the great who ruinated the Persian Monarchie be therefore succeeding next vnto them must needes make the third The Rabbins here very ignorantly instead of Alexander the great sonne of Philip whose kingdome they confound with the Persian and make them both but one doe supplie Alexander the sonne of Mammea Emperour of Rome because they would auoid so cleare a prophesie of the kingdome of the Messiah But herein they shew their great blindnes and ignorance for this Alexander was Emperour when the halfe part of the Prouinces almost were fallen from the Romane Empire and he had neuer any absolute gouernment but was as it were pupill vnto his mother and he had an ignominious death beeing slaine of his owne souldiers in his Tent. Calv. Prosper also whome Paulus Orosius followeth are deceiued who take this third Monarchie for Carthage for it succeeded not any of the other Monarchies 2. This third Monarchie is resembled to the bellie and the thighs 1. because as the bellie is the next to the breast so this Monarchie succeeded next vnto the Persian 2. like as the meate passeth through the bellie but there staieth not so Alexander got many kingdomes but he long enioyed them not they were quickly after his death diuided among his captaines 3. This resemblance also fitteth the intemperancie and incontinencie of the Greeke state which Alexander was not so much touched with as his captaines that succeeded him 4. And further the bellie signifieth gluttonie excesse and riot to the which Alexander was much giuen for his intemperate drinking of wine obscured all his other vertues he would drinke wine so excessiuely that he did lie sometime three daies till he had slept it out he also appointed games and prizes for the best drinkers one Protarchus for drinking vp foure great measures of wine called congij which euery one contained a gallon and a pint was rewarded of him with a talent but within three daies he died of drunkennes and so did 41. more In his drunken fit at the enticement of his harlot Thais he commanded the most famous citie of the East of the Persians called Persepolis to be set on fire And at an other time in his drunken moode he killed Clytus his faithfull counsellour which afterward so grieued him that his friends could hardly stay him from killing himselfe Hereupon this saying was taken vp of Alexander that he was more gentle toward his enemies in battell then toward his friends at bankers Some doe excuse this his immoderate drinking of wine by the hote and fierie constitution of his bodie which is thought to be the cause of the sweete smell that came from his bodie as in hote countries there are the sweetest smells and perfumes But the drinking of wine did more inflame him beeing hoat by nature as we see that for the same cause in hote and burning feuers Physitians forbid the vse of wine or any hote drinke therefore this doth nothing excuse his vnsatiable appetite that way 3. By the brasse 1. some vnderstand the eloquence of the Grecians quia as tinnit clarius because brasse maketh a better sound then other mettalls Lyran. 2. some interpret it of Alexanders great fame cuius sonus longe lateque diffusus est whose sound was spread farre and wide Hug. 3. some applie it to his warrelike disposition for they vsed brasen armour in times past and hereby is signified the troublesome and vnquiet state of that kingdome for in 12. yeares space he conquered all the East part of the world Polan 4. But this Monarchie is compared to brasse rather because it was more hard and troublesome not onely to other nations whome Alexander would neuer suffer to be in rest insomuch that the Macedonians reioyced when Alexander was dead as thereby gaining their rest and quietnes but also to the people of God for first he came against Ierusalem with an hostile and cruell minde if the Lord had not staied him by a vision in the night as he himselfe confessed when Iaddua the high Priest met him the next day and after that he gaue wicked Samballat leaue to build an other Temple in mount Garizim which enterprise Nehemiah by his faithfull endeauour had hindred before whereof he made Manasses the brother of Iaddua Priest and by this meanes both the state of the Church and Commonwealth was much weakned among the Iewes Ioseph lib. 11. c. 8. Alexander also was himselfe of a restles nature for when he had heard that his father Philip had conquered any citie he would say that his father left nothing for him and when he likewise had heard of the Philosopher Anaximander that there were many worlds he wept because he yet had not conquered one Thus this Monarchie was brasen-like to the rest because the state of the people of God more declined still and waxed worse and worse 48. Quest. Of the largenes of Alexanders Empire and of other memorable and notable things in him 1. This was admirable in Alexander that at 20. yeares of age after the death of his father Philip he enterprised to conquer the world vnto which yeares such constancie fortitude wisdome counsell experience as appeared to be in Alexander are very rarely incident 2. It was also wonderfull that Alexander with so small an armie hauing not aboue 40. thousand with so small prouision carrying but vittaile for 30. daies and but 70. talents should take in hand such a great enterprise 3. His successe in battell was admirable he neuer encountred any enemie but he ouercame him neuer besieged citie but he tooke it and in 3. battels one at the flood Granicus an other at Issus in Cilicia the third at Arbella he ouercame all the power of Asia Darius hauing in his armie 10. hundreth thousand men aboue one for tenne 4. As was his successe in battell so was as the Gentiles call it his good fortune for himselfe or rather his prosperous deliuerance from many daungers that oftentimes he had receiued deadly wounds and yet recouered was in a manner dead and yet reuiued insomuch that Curtius writeth of him cum plurimum virtuti debuerit plus eum fortunae debuisse c. as he did owe much vnto vertue so yet he owed more vnto fortune which of all men liuing he seemed onely to haue power of yet Plutarke in his two orations which he made of that argument sheweth that more is to be ascribed to Alexanders vertue then to his good fortune 5. The largenes of his Empire was wonderfull for he subdued the more noble part of Europe Syria and Egypt all Asia and India vnto the riuer Ganges yea Plinie writeth that in the vtmost boundes of the Sogdianes he built the citie Alexandria where Hercules Semiramis and Cyrus had set vp altars before him as boundes of the Empire Lysippus the painter hereupon made the picture of Alexander looking vp to heauen with this posie Iupiter asserui terram mihi tu assere coelum
the Romanes the king of Iudea Quest. 27. Who is signified by the little horne ver 8. The diuerse opinions here conceiued about the interpreâ—ation of these words are of fiue sorts 1. Some apply them to the Empire of the Turkes 2. Some vnderstand them of the Romane Empire 3. Some of both ioyned together 4. Some of Antichrist 5. Some of the Syrian kingdome and hold Antiochus Epiphanes that cruell enemie of the Iewes to be this little horne All these opinions shall now be examined in their order 1. That this little horne should be the Turke it is the opinion of Melancthon and Oâ—iander and of Vatablus and Pintus among the Romanists vnto whom they make all the properties of this little horne to agree for as this is called a little horne so Mahomet was of obscure beginning who vnder the Emperors Heraclius and Honorius about the yeare 600. by craft cousenage and sorcerie did drawe many after him he is said to haue the eyes of a man because he was most cunning to deceiue he spake proud things for Mahomet fayned that he had familiar conference with Angels and that he was a great Prophet and he said his lawe was better then Moses or Christs Melancthon to the same purpose sheweth how these fowre things doe fitly agree vnto the Turkish Empire the time of their rising vp their doctrine power and place of their dominion 1. For the time they sprang vp when the Romane Empire was decaying and vnder the Empâ—rours before named 2. for their doctrine they abolish the writings of the Prophets and Apostles they denie Christ to be the Sauiour of the world and many horrible blasphemies doe they vtter against the Son of God 3. their power exceedeth all other Monarchies they haue vnder their Empire the most part of Africa and a great part of Europe and Asia 4. For their place they came from the North from the mount Caucasus as Ezekiel prophesieth that Gog and Magog shall come from the North Ezeck 39. 2. But Pererius sheweth by these two arguments that the Turke is not here meant to be this little horne 1. because when Mahomet did rise there were not tenne kings in the Romane Empire it was not yet dissolued and deuided into tenne kingdomes but remayned whole vnder the obedience of the Emperor 2. This horne shall afflict the people of God a time two times and an halfe that is three yeares and an halfe but Mahomet and his followers haue persecuted the Church of God many hundred yeares 3. Burgensis addeth further this reason that the Turke doth not make the fourth beast which is the fourth Monarchie here described nor that set forth in the Image c. 2. because before the first comming of Christ which is there spoken of there was no mention at all of the Turkes and Saracenes and the fowre Monarchies were absolute in their times that no other kingdome was able to resist them So is not the Turke for he is encountred with other enemies equivalent vnto him 4. But this further may disprooue this opinion for the Turkes this fourth kingdome shall make warre with the Saints and the people of God which then were vnderstood to be the Iewes the knowne people of God But the Turkes are at this day great friends vnto the Iewes of whom they borrowe the greater part of their religion This little horne then vpon the reasons aforesaid is not the great Turke to whome by way of analogie many of the properties of this horne may agree but historically it is not meant of him 2. Of the second sort that here vnderstand the Romane Empire is R. Leui who sometime maketh the next after the tenth Caesar which was Traiane to be this horne sometime Constantine But both of these were commendable Emperours Traiane is renowned euen among the Gentiles and Constantine was a vertuous and religious Emperour as all our histories doe write of him 3. Calvin would haue this little horne to be Iulius Caesar Augustus and the other which succeeded him But seeing that the tenne hornes are expounded to be tenne kings the little horne beeing the last of the tenne cannot be the first nor the second or the rest in order Iulius Caesar was the first Emperour next to him was Augustus and so the rest that follow 4. Oecolampadius doth indifferently vnderstand this little horne to be both the Pope in the West and the Turke in the East which he expoundeth to be the beast with two hornes Apocal. 13. 11. the one pushing in Europe by â—ypocrisie and deceite the other in Asia and Africa by tyrannie and violence so also Pap. But v. 24. the Angel expoundeth the tenne hornes to be tenne kings of one kingdome the Pope and Turke make not one kingdome therefore they cannot both be this horne 5. Some apply this prophesie vnto Antichrist whom they suppose shall come in the end of the world after the Romane Empire is destroyed and deuided among tenne kings Hier. Lyran. Hugo who out of Andrâ—as reporteth that this Antichrist shall drawe the Iewes vnto him and reedifie the Temple at Ierusalem But this is an olde dreame that such an Antichrist shall come toward the ende of the world this phansie is receiued both of Turkes who in their Alcaron speake of Antichrist that shall come whom Christ shall destroy and the Papists expect the like Antichrist to come three yeare and an halfe before the second comming of Christ Both of them are grossely deceiued for the little horne here described should make warre with the Saints that then were the Iewes whose commonwealth long since was dissolued and they through the world dispersed 6. Bullinger vnderstandeth this little horne to be the Pope shewing how from small beginnings that Sea did growe vp at the first as a little horne partly by the graunt of the Emperours as Boniface the 3. obtained of the Emperour Phocas to be called the Vniuersall Bishop partly by their pride and ambition But still this principle must be held that Daniel describeth here by this horne a great enemie and persecutor of the Iewish nation the people of God then therefore this vision although analogically it may be referred to the Pope the verie Antichrist of whom Antiochus Epiphanâ—s might well be a type and figure yet literally and historically it is not so intended 7. But the Hebrewes of all other are the most malicious and absurd who most blasphemously make Iesus Christ our Blessed Lord and Sauiour this little horne for so they say his beginning was small and base he came out of the fourth beast he ioyned with the Romane Empire as appeared in Constantine he spake presumptuous things in making himselfe equall vnto God and changed times in abrogating the ceremonies of Moses lawe ex Paul Burgensi But all this is malitiously and ignorantly deuised of the Iewes 1. because this horne is little at the first it followeth not that whosoeuer is little and smal at the first should be this horne 2. neither is the
iudgement 2. The execution followeth which is of two sorts in iustice in condemning the beasts v. 11 12. and in mercie in setting vp the kingdome of his sonne Christ and his Church v. 13 14. 31. Quest. Whether the finall iudgement in the ende of the world be here described 1. Some thinke that the forme of the finall iudgement of the world is here set forth as they which either by the little horne vnderstand Antichrist who as they imagine shall come in the ende of the world as Lyran. Hug. and likewise they which by the fourth beast vnderstand the Romane Empire or the Turks as Bullin Oecol Osian But seeing this vision and that of the Image c. 2. in effect is all one as there the stone cut out without hands that dashed the image in pieces signifieth Christ in his first not in his second comming for that stone grew into a mountaine and filled the earth but after Christ commeth to iudgement his kingdome shall be at the full it shall not afterward encrease see this confirmed by other reasons c. 2. qu. 55. So this iudgement here described must be referred vnto Christs first comming And if the fourth beast be the kingdome of the Seleucians as is before prooued at large then these thrones must be set when that beast was destroied 2. Burgensis is of opinion that the first vision concerneth the first comming of Christ when he dashed the image in pieces in that all idolatrie of the Gentiles was abolished at his comming but this he referreth to the finall iudgement when all the kingdomes and Monarchies of the earth shall be destroied and Christ onely shall raigne But Thoring taketh exception here to Burgensis that all idolatrie was not abolished at Christs comming seeing in many nations it continued long after Christs comming into the world and yet in Asia Africa and some places of Europe is practised This rather maketh against Burgensis that seeing in this vision there is a description of the foure Monarchies which were represented in that image c. 2. that the same manner of iudgement by the comming of Christ for the destruction of those Monarchies is in both places signified 3. Calvin misliketh that this place should be vnderstood of the second comming of Christ and yet he holdeth this fourth beast to be the Romane Empire both these can not stand together for the Romane Empire was not iudged nor dissolued at the first comming of Christ. 4. Therefore by the iudgement of God here shewed in this manner to the Prophet is better vnderstood the processe of the diuine iustice against these Monarchies which were all dissolued before the first comming of Christ. In like manner is the iudgement of God described in the ouerthrow of Senacherib which came against Ierusalem Psal. 76â— 9 10. Thou didst cause thy iudgement to be heard from heauen c. when thou O Lord arose to iudgement to helpe all the meeke of the earth Iun. Polan 5. But yet we so vnderstand here the iudgement of God vpon these kingdomes at the first comming of Christ as that it is also a type and figure of the finall iudgement this iudgement beginneth at the first comming of Christ Genevens and shall be perfected at his second comming when all the enemies of Christ and his Church vniuersally shall be destroied 32. Quest. v. 9. Who is said to be the Auncient of daies and how 1. Some vnderstand here the person of the Father because mention is made v. 13. of the sonne of man which approached vnto the Auncient of daies Polan so also the ordinarie glosse taketh it But Christ is there called the Sonne of man in respect of his humane nature as he is God he is the Auncient of daies from all eternitie as God the Father is as he is called the euerlasting father Isa. 9. 6. 2. Some by the Auncient of daies vnderstand Christ the Mediatour Christus antiquus dierum introducitur Christ is brought in as the auncient of daies who is the lambe that was slaine from the beginning of the world Oecolampad But Christ as the Mediator God and man is described afterward v. 13. where he is called the Sonne of man and approacheth to the auncient of daies the Sonne of man then and that Auncient of daies are not all one 3. Wherefore by the Auncient of daies the euerlasting God is signified Iun. the Father Sonne and holy Ghost who were from all eternitie for concerning the person of the Father our Sauiour saith My Father iudgeth no man but hath committed all iudgement to the Sonne Iob. 5. 22. So Hugo Deus aeternus iudicabit the euerlasting God shall iudge not God the Father onely by his sonne as Osiand but although the person of the Sonne onely shall appeare non deerit pater spiritus sanctus yet there shall not be wanting both the father and the holy Ghost Vatab. 4. God is said to be the Auncient of daies both in respect of his eternitie who was from the beginning before all time and shall continue for euer Iob. 36. 26. The number of his yeares can not be searched out And of his wisdome it is said Iob. 12. 12. Among the auncient is wisdome and in the length of daies is vnderstanding 33. Quest. How God was seene of Daniel who is inuisible 1. God in his inuisible nature such as he is in his diuine essence was neuer seene of any The Apostle calleth God the King euerlasting immortall inuisible 1. Tim. 1. 17. who dwelleth in light that none can attaine vnto whome neuer any man saw neither can see 1. Tim. 6. 16. 2. And yet if God would not be seene at all the Apostle would not haue said of Moses that he saw him which is inuisible Heb. 11. 27. God then did shew some visible signes of his presence vnto his seruants not beeing in deede any such thing as he appeared as fire or any such thing but he reuealed himselfe induit varias formas pro captu hominum c. and put on diuers shapes according to mens capacitie as it was fit for them to see God and they were able to beare Calv. Polan 34. Quest. How iudgement is said to be set seeing God is Iudge from euerlasting 1. The Lord applieth himselfe to our weaknes and imbecillitie for although the Lord be Iudge for euer yet he doth not alwaies exercise iudgement So then while the Lord suffereth the wicked to preuaile in the world and deferreth their punishment he seemeth vnto men not to sit in iudgement whereupon the seruants of God doe vtter these speaches Psal. 10. 1. Why standest thou so farre off and hidest thee Psal. 13. 1. How long wilt thou forget me O Lord 2. But when the Lord sheweth himselfe and sendeth forth his iudgements then he seemeth to vs to sit in his throne as Psal. 7. 6. the Prophet saith Arise O Lord in thy wrath and list vp thy selfe against the rage of mine enemies we doe not so effectually acknowledge God to be
But they did much seruile worke vpon this day as in carrying the crosse pitching of it into the ground raising of it vp nayling Christ vnto it And indeede they themselues also resolued not to put Christ to death vpon the feast day Mark 14. 2. Ioseph Scaliger here answereth that the day wherein Christ suffered was the first day of vnleauened bread but not of the paschal solemnitie But this distinction is contrarie to the place before alleadged out of Exodus where the 15. day which was the first of vnleauened bread as likewise the seauenth and last are named to be daies of solemne assemblies wherein no seruile worke should be done sauing about that which they did eate 3. The day wherein Christ suffered is called the preparation of the Passeouer Ioh. 19. 14. it was not then the day of the Passeouer it selfe Ioseph Scaliger answereth that the preparation was not the whole day but onely after the ninth houre as he alleadgeth out of a certaine Edict of Augustus But 1. it appeareth that the preparation was the whole day at the least from the sixt houre as in the same place the Euangelist saith it was the preparation of the Passeouer and about the sixt houre 2. If then it were the preparation of the Passeouer then was not that day the first of the Passeouer 4. Paulus Burgens somewhat to helpe out this tradition of the Iewes his countreymen who deferred the Pasch if it fell out vpon the 6. day of the weeke to auoid the concurrence of two festiuall daies saith there was a double account of the 14. day of the Moone vna vera legitima secundum veram computationem Christi c. one was the true and lawfull day according to the true computation of Christ who knew all the mysteries of the law the other was legitima secundum communem assuetam computationem aliorum lawfull also according to the common and accustomed computation of others c. M. Lydyat also sheweth that the difference betweene the obseruation of the Pasch betweene our blessed Sauiour and the Iewes did arise hereupon because Christ reckoned the daies according to the computation of the naturall years but the Iewes followed the Syro-Grecian account found out by Callippus beginning the moneths not as the Hebrewes at the new Moone but as the Grecians beganne their moneths so that the Iewes began their moneth Nisan as the Grecians did their moneth Xanthicus which that yere beganne one day after the new Moone Lyd. de emend temp p. 179. Both these might very well concurre together that the Iewes did keepe another day of the Passeouer then Christ and his disciples both vpon a blind tradition to auoide the concurrence of two Sabbaths and because they followed a strange computation But it is euident hereby that they did not eate the Passeouer the same day with Christ and that they did breake the law of Moses in receiuing a forren computation of their moneths which was not lawfull howsoeuer Burgensis in fauour of his countreymen excuse it by the vsuall custome 74. Quest. Who are meant by the people of the Prince to come v. 26. There are diuerse expositions of these words 1. Some doe put the people in the accusatiue case he shall destroy the citie and Sanctuarie the people of the Prince to come 2. Some doe make it the nominatiue the people of the Prince to come shall destroy the citie and of either of these interpretations there are diuerse kinds Of the first 1. Some read thus he shall destroy the citie with the captaine to come Sept. but the word with is not in the originall 2. Iunius thus interpreteth he that is the Messiah the Prince shall destroy the people of the Prince his owne people which shall come that is which shall be then So also M. Br. he shall destroy the people of the Prince in the next generation But 1. it should seeme not to be so proper a speach he that is the Messiah the Prince should destroy the people of the Prince that is his owne people 2. and in the original there is no coniunction to couple them together the words standing thus and the citie and the Sanctuarie shall destroy the people c. but in this sense a coniunction must be supplied and the people c. 3. and though the word nagid prince were before ioyned with Messiah yet here beeing put alone it is not necessarie so to vnderstand it of the Messiah 4. neither were the Iewes then the people of the Messiah whom they had reiected and crucified 2. Of the second sort are these interpretations 1. Polanus giueth this sense the people of the Prince to come that is the Gentiles who should become the people of Christ beeing conuerted to the Gospell shall destroy the citie But the Romanes were not at that time when they sacked Ierusalem conuerted to the faith of Christ and so not his people 2. M. Liuely by this word to come vnderstandeth the strangers and commers which are opposite to inhabitants as the word is vsed Gen. 42. 5. the sonnes of Iacob came to buy food among those that came so his meaning is that the citie and Sanctuarie should be surprised by strangers and commers but the word haba to come seemeth rather to be referred vnto the time following then to the condition of the people though it be true that Ierusalem was spoiled by forreners and strangers 3. Some reade the principall people of the Prince or captaine to come Vatab. and he thinketh the destruction of the citie to be imputed vnto the people rather then their captaine because Titus would haue defended the Sanctuarie from the spoile of the souldiers but the word is nagid which signifieth a Prince not principall and the other obseruation seemeth to be somewhat too neere and curious 4. Oecolampadius by this captaine vnderstandeth Pompey the great who tooke Ierusalem and slew 12000. Iewes and afterward Crassus robbed the Temple and then Herod and Sosius made hauocke of the citie But this captaine with his people were to come after the Messiah was slaine which was spoken of immediately before 5. Wherefore by the Prince and people to come are signified Vespasian and Titus his sonne with the Romane armie which should besiege the citie and destroy both it and the Temple as Bulling Calv. Osiander doe well vnderstand it so also Lyranus and this is agreeable to that prediction of our Blessed Sauiour Luk. 19. 43. The dayes shall come vpon thee when thine enemies shal cast a trench about thee c. and shall make thee euen with the ground c. here the destruction of the citie is ascribed to the enemies not to the Messiah their Prince 6. Hugo thinketh it may be applyed also to that destruction of the citie which was after this by the Emperour Elius Adrianus But our Sauiour appointeth the time when all this should be fulfilled Matth. 24. 34. This generation shall not passe till all these things be done
make but 70. persons to descend into Egypt with Iaakob to answer vnto the 70. languages which they thinke to haue beene spread ouer the earth Gen. 10. Hierome thinketh that the speciall principles of our faith they either omitted in their translation or interpreted after an other manner to the intent to conceale the secrets of their faith 2. Ireneus Iustinus Chrysostome Hilarie Augustine doe ascribe verie much vnto this translation and thinke that the interpreters were put into so many seuerall celles and yet agreed together except only in some certaine places But Hierome praefat in pentateâ—â— thinketh that to be a fable of their 70. celles at Alexandria 3. But there is great vncertaintie beside 1. Hierome writeth that it is the generall opinion of the Iewes that the Septuag onely translated the 5. bookes of Moses in 5. cap. Ezech. 2. And there were diuerse copies of the Septuagint Alexandria and all Egypt followed Hesychius copie Constantinople and all vnto Antioch vsed Lucianus edition And the middle Prouinces betweene them preferred the translation amended by Origen and set forth by Pamphilus Hierome praefat in Paralip 4. And beside the translation of the Septuag whereof there were so many editions there were other translations of the Scriptures into the Greeke tongue as by Aquila Symmachus Theodotian wherefore in so great varietie and vncertaintie of translations the most sure way is to haue recourse vnto the originall as Hierome and Augustine doe well aduise ex Bulling Quest. 23. Who was the bud of her rootes v. 7. and of his exploits 1. Theodoret giueth this interpretation here these warres here prophecied of he vnderstandeth of the warres betweene Ptolomeus Philopator and Antiochus the great by one of his captaines before spoken of v. 6. he would haue vnderstood Scopas generall of Philopators armie who wunne diuerse places out of Antiochus iurisdiction and ioyned them to his kingdome After this Ptolome gaue his daughter in mariage vnto Antiochus but she was returned home againe yet there came a bud of her she had a sonne that became an enemie vnto her father Contra. This exposition cannot stand 1. the warres betweene Antiochus the great and Philopator are afterward spoken of in this chapter 2. It is vnlike that one of his captaines should be said to be greater then the king himselfe seeing all his endeauour was to aduance the honour and dominion of the king 3. neither did the king of Egypt giue his daughter to Antiochus the great but he gaue his daughter Cleopatra in mariage to Ptolome Epiphanes 4. beside this bud here spoken of inuadeth the kingdome of the North whereas Theodoret vnderstandeth this bud to rise vp an enemie to the king of the South 2. This then is the true interpretation 1. This bud of her that is Berenices rootes was Ptolome surnamed Euergetes her naturall and Germane brother who rose vp to reuenge his sisters death 2. He came with an armie and invaded Syria and wunne the strong holds many cities abhorring the cruell fact and parricide of Callinicus reuolted and submitted themselues to Ptolome who tooke possession of the countrey and caused himselfe to be crowned king 3. but hearing of some commotion in Egypt he returned and carried away with him many nobles captiues and a verie great spoile beside 40. thousand talents of gold and many pretious vessels and 2500. images of their gods and among them those which Cambyses before had carried out of Egypt whereupon the superstitious Egyptians called him Euergetes benefactor Hierome 3. After Ptolome was returned Seleucus prepared a great nauie which was ouerwhelmed in the Sea and he himselfe hardly escaped with a fewe of his companie hauing nothing left of all that great preparation in so much that his case was pitied of those which before had reuolted from him Then he craued aid of Antiochus Hierax his brother which Ptolome perceiuing made peace with Seleucus for 10. yeares Oecol Melanct. ex Iustin. 4. Hierax seeing this then turneth his force against his brother Seleucus which warre tended to the ruine and destruction of them both for Hierax was slaine of certaine robbers and theeues and Seleucus died of a fall from his horse 5. All this beeing thus reported by forren writers Iustin. lib. 27. Polybius lib. 5. agreeth with this prophesie of Daniel both of the preparation and expedition of Ptolome Euergetes against Callinicus v. 7. his successe in carrying away much spoile and captiues v. 8. and his returne into his countrey v. 9. 6. But where it is said v. 8. he shall continue more yeares then the king of the North some referre it to the time of their raigne Calvin saith whom the Genevens followe that Euergetes raigned 46. yeares Oecolamp 26. whereas Callinicus raigned but 20. yeares but it is better vnderstood that Euergetes continued diuerse yeares in this victorious estate hauing the chiefe dominion in Syria Iun. Polan for this best agreeth with the former words wherein his victorie and prosperous successe is described And Polybius writeth that Euergegetes and Callinicus died much about the same time lib. 5. 7. Iâ— his returne which is mentioned v. 9. Iosephus writeth that Euergetes comming to Ierusalem did offer sacrifices vnto God for his great victorie and bestowed great gifts vpon the Temple lib. post aduers. Appion yet afterward he demaunded the ordinarie tribute 20. talents of siluer which was detained by the couetousnesse of Onias the high Priest Euergetes sent vnto him threatening that if the tribute were not paid he would diuide their countrey among his souldiers Then Iosephus Onias sisters sonne went in the name of the Iewes in embassage vnto Ptolome and pacified him and grewe in great fauour with him Ioseph lib. 12. antiquit c. 3. Quest. 24. Of the third battell betweene the king of the South and the king of the North v. 10. 11. 12. This battell is described in three parts 1. the preparation made by the king of the North and their diuerse attempts v. 10. 2. the resistance made by the king of the South with his good successe v. 11. 3. the euents that followed vpon this victorie v. 12. 1. The attempts made are either ioyntly by the two sonnes of Seleucus Callinicus namely Seleucus Ceraunus and Antiochus surnamed Megas the great in these words his sonnes shall be stirred vp and shall assemble a mightie great armie or seuerally by Antiochus Megas onely in the latter part of the verse First Ceraunus and Megas ioyning together partly to reuenge their father Callinicus and their grandmother Laodices death partly in hope to recouer Syria out of Ptolome Philopators hand who succeeded Euergetes whom some thinke he killed and therefore was called Philopator that is a louer of his father by the contrarie they first set vpon Ptolomies captaines which held Syria for Philopator But Cerannus passing ouer the mount Taurus to goe against Attalus who possessed the countrey beyond Taurus was slaine by the treason of Apaturius and Nicanor in the 2. or 3. yeare of
vnto Antiochus Theos first his daughter Laodice and then afterward his other daughter Berenice they 〈◊〉 two sisters as Appian in Syriac whome Polanus followeth But whether they were sisters or not Antiochus did repudiate his lawfull wife Laodic by whome he had two sonnes Seleucus Callinicus and Hierax but this mariage prospered not for Berenice was slaine by Callinicus which sheweth what is the ende of such vnlawfull marriages and that all leagues and confederacies combined by such meanes can not hold So Ferdinand gaue vnto Sigismund king of Polonia first one of his daughters and after her death an other by the Popes dispensation And in this age the Pope hath dispensed with the like incestuous mariages for the vniting and maintaining of some great houses Polan 5. Observ. Princes that are enemies to the Church shall not long prosper v. 12. But he shall not preuaile Ptolomeus Philopator hauing obtained an exceeding great victorie against Antiochus Megas because he was listed vp in minde and afflicted the people of God profaned the Temple and cast many of them before the Elephants in open shewes he was giuen ouer to a reprobate sense spending his daies in most filthie pleasure and liued not long after such is the ende of those which are enemies to the people of God according to the prayer of the Prophet Dauid Vp Lord disappoint them cast them downe Psal. 17. 13. 6. Observ. There can be no firme peace among the wicked v. 27. They shall talke of deceit at one table Antiochus Epiphanes and Ptolome Philometor made semblance and shew of friendship but it was not in truth such are the truces betweene Princes that professe not true religion as betweene the kings of France Spaine in times past as Sleidan and Gnicciardine note in their stories so the Prophet Isai saith c. 57. 21. There is no peace to the wicked 7. Observ. Peace betweene Princes enemies to the Church dangerous v. 28. His heart shall be against the holy couenant As this peace betweene Antiochus Epiphanes and Ptolome Philometor redounded much to the hurt of Gods people such are the leagues made in these daies betweene the Princes of the Popes faction which tende to the ruine of the Church as Herod and Pilate were made friends by persecuting of Christ. But God shall breake the bonds of all such carnall deuices and not suffer his Church to be troden downe 8. Observ. That we be not dismaied when religion is hindred v. 31. They shall pollute the Sanctuarie As Antiochus Epiphanes caused an idol to be set vp in the Temple and the daily sacrifice to be intermitted so for a while God may suffer his Church to be tried and his seruice to cease as here in England in the daies of Queene Marie when the Churches were defiled with idols but as Antiochus tyrannie continued not much aboue sixe yeares so God shortned those wicked daies which were vnder that time not full out sixe yeares 9. Observ. The ende of the wicked shall be sudden and fearefull v. 45. He shall come to his ende and none shall helpe him As Antiochus was plagued of God for his wickednes and so he died the like ende wicked tyrants shall haue as Psal. 37. 37. Marke the vpright man for the end of that man is peace but the transgressors shall be destroied together c. CHAP. XII 1. The Argument and Method THis Chapter which conteineth the comforts and consolations ministred vnto Daniel is deuided into three parts 1. the conference of the Angel with Daniel to v. 5. 2. of one of the Angels with Christ v. 5. to v. 8. 3. of Christ himselfe with Daniel thence to the ende of the chapter 1. In the first part there are 4. comforts giuen vnto Daniel 1. one is taken from the efficient cause and author of their deliuerance Michael shall stand vp for his people v. 1. 2. in the second place of comfort first the time of trouble is set forth by way of comparison then the comfort is taken from the issue of their trouble they which are found written in the booke of life shall be deliuered v. 1. 3. the third comfort is from the hope of the resurrection they which are not temporally deliuered shall rise vp in the ende vnto life euerlasting Here the resurrection is set forth 1. in generall many that is all shall awake out of the dust 2. in particular there shall be two sorts some shall rise to life some to shame v. 2. 3. of those which rise to life some shall shine among the rest as the brightnesse of the firmament and as the starres v. 3. 4. The fourth comfort is that notwithstanding those troublesome times yet the Church of God shall continue and many shall seeke for the vnderstanding of this booke which to that ende Daniel is bid to seale vp v. 4. 2. In the second part is described 1. the vision that Daniel sawe both the number he sawe two and the site or place of them v. 5. 2. their speach 1. the question mooued vnto whom namely to Christ and what concerning the ende 2. the answer 1. by whom by him that stood vpon the waters 2. in what manner by an oath with the lifting vp of both his hands 3. what he answereth both for the cōtinuance of the time for the end v. 7. 3. In the third part there is 1. Daniels question with the occasion thereof his not vnderstanding v. 8. 2. the answer of Christ partly denying Daniels request the things were secret and sealed vp v. 9. partly giuing him satisfaction 1. concerning the Church wherein is shewed the ende and fruit of their afflictions set forth by the contrarie the frowardnes of the wicked v. 10. and the tearme first 1290. daies then a 1335. v. 11. 12. 2. concerning Daniel himselfe that he should be content with a double promise made vnto him that he should presently after his death rest from all his labours and afterward stand vp in his lot in the resurrection 2. The text with the diuers readings 1. And at that time shall stand vp Michael the great Prince which standeth for the children of thy people and there shall be a time of trouble such as neuer was since there began to be a nation vnto this time and at that time the people shall be deliuered euery one that is found written in that booke in the booke B. G. but the article is prefixed which noteth some speciall booke 2 And many of them which sleepe in the dustie earth V. I. earth of dust H. not dust of the earth B. G. shall awake some to euerlasting life and some to shame and perpetuall contempt not to contempt that they may see alwaies 3 And they which instruct cause to vnderstand H. are teachers V. are wise G. B. are taught or learned L. but the word is in the active shall shine as the brightnes of the firmament and they which bring many turne many B. G. to righteousnes iustifie many H. as the