hornes were pluckt away before it And loe eyes like the eyes of a man were in that horne and a mouth speaking presumptuous thinges I behelde till Thrones were set vp and the Ancient of dayes sate His garment was white as Snow the heare of his head like y e pure Wooll His throne was flames of fire the wheeles of it a burning fire A streame of fire issued came foorth from before him a thousand thousandes ministreâ— vnto him and a million of millions stoode before him Iudgement was seated and the bookes were opened I behelde then for the voyce of the presumptuous wordes which the horne spake I behelde vntyll the beast was slayne and his body destroyed and geuen to be brent in the fire Now the rest of the Beastes they had had their dominion taken away as space in lyfe was geuen them for a time and a season I behelde in the visionâ— by nyghâ— and loe in the cloudes of y e heauens came one like the SONNE OF MAN Afterwardes he went to the ancient of dayes and before him they brought him And to him was geuen power and glory and kingdome that all people nations and tongues should serue him His power is a power eternall which can not alter and his kingdome is that which shall neuer be corrupted I Daniel felt my spirite perted within my body and the visions of my head troubled me I approched vnto one of the wayters sought from him the trueth of all this and he spake vnto me and made me know the interpretation of the matters These great Beastes which are foure are foure Kinges arising from the earth But the Sainctes of the highest shall take the kingdome and holde a kingdome for euer yea for euer and euer Then I desired the trueth concerning the fourth beast which was vnlyke to them all exceeding fearefull whose teeth were of iron and his nayles of steele which did eate and brake to peeces stamped the residue vnder his feete Also concerning the ten hornes that were in his head and concerning the last which came vp before which three fell And that was the horne which had those eyes and the mouth speaking presumptuous thinges and his looke was stouter then his felowes I behelde and the horne made battayle against the Sainctes and preuayled ouer them Vntyll the ancient of dayes came and iudgement was geuen to the Sainctes of the most high and the time approched that the sainctes should holde the kingdome Thus he sayd The fourth beast shalbe the fourth kingdome in the lande which shalbe vnlyke to all the kingdomes and shall deuoute the whole lande and shall treade it downe and shall breake it in peeces And ten hornes from the kingdome are ten kinges that shall arise and the last shall arise in the ende of them and he shalbe vnlike the former and shall put downe three kinges And he shall speake wordes against the most High and consume the Sainctes of the most High and thinke to alter the tymes and Law and they shalbe geuen into his hand for a time and times and halfe a time And iudgement shalbe seated they shal take away his kingdome to wast to destroy it vnto the ende And the kingdome and the power and the greatnesse of the kingdomes vnder all the heauens shalbe geuen to the people of the sainctes of the most high His kingdome is an euerlasting kingdome and all dominions shall serue and obey him Hitherto reacheth y e ende of y e matter I Daniel was greatly troubled in my thoughtes my brightnes was changed in me I kept the matter in my hart Here ende the visions of Daniel which the Prophet penned in the tongue knowen ouer the East and South wherein the Iewes are not descried playnely to be the people for whom God plagueth the kingdomes and the Heathen might be drawen to thinke somewhat better of the God of heauen Of the Visions penned in the Iewes proper language HEnce vnto the end of Daniel the visions are penned in the language spoken onely in Daniels owne nation Moreouer the speaches be full of artificiall tearmes knowen onely to the Iewes and some neuer spoken afore yet by their composition easie This was needefull to be done For the Persians would hate the Iewes yf the prophecie of their fall by the Greekes had been published in the tongue knowen ouer the East Also the Greekes would haue raged much more yf their shame had been written in a common language And none could abide the Iewes to clayme onely to be the nation onely good or yet to be capable of heauenly matters to be so familiarly tolde as Daniel had taught them Therefore he was not to giue such pearles to Hogges but to write them in the holy tongue which the Heathen studied not Close phrases vsed in chap. 8. To saue the Iewes from hatred danger these close phrases Daniel vseth For the Sonne of God The Prince of princes Vers 25. And Palmony The wonderful numberer a tearme easie by composition and by the matter proper to God but neuer vsed saue verse 23. And Prince of the armie called Michael from chap. 10. and 12. So Aben Ezra calleth him Michael The Angels name is An holy one And a peculiar name Gabriel a man of the mightie meaning God FroÌ„ these visions the Hebrewes note in Ierusalemy Ros hasana that their Fathers brought Angels names with them from Babel The Iewes are called the Armie of heauen the Starres the Armie and Holy people Their religion the Trueth their Temple the Sanctuarie and the Holy Antiochus dealyng against them the treading of the Sanctuarie and Armie vnder foote Iudea is called Tzeby as in Ezekiel chap. 20. an ornament or Roe of all landes and so in Dan. cha 11 16 41 4â— Therfore I holde it best to haue it a proper name to Iudea Some equiuocations touching Gods enemies were to be spoken in tearmes doubtfull to the vnâ—brâ—â—ed as when the Angel calleth the King whom the Machabees storie sheweth to be the worst that euer the earth had borne a King hard faced and minding hid thinges that is in deede impudent and practising most vnhumane dealinges against women and chyldren and prophannesse against God all religion Atheneus further setteth foorth Antiochus Epiphanes The vnheedy might take the wordes For fierce of countenance and vnderstanding darke sentences For in deede the wordes will abide both But the wittie Daniel woulde maruell that any should misse to giue to an enemie of Gods people the worst that coulde be those attributes which best agreed with his whole dealings spoken in ver 10 11 12 14. And thus for this Chapter and the other we are to weigh Gods counsell why they are vnlike the other visions in Ebrew spoken closely to the Iewes and also why God commaundeth to close some
Massoreth in Nu. 3.39 doeth shew which be they 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For Aethiop letters I take Greeke * Onely the finall formes which you see put alone in the margent argue that the same in the text must be meant for hundreds as they meane Here the reader must helpe the print where the text of the right colume should chaunge place with the left a When the worke of the Temple was hindered Ezra 4 14. b That is He brast out a fyre vpoÌ„ the enemy euen the Chaldean By displacing a dumme letter he maketh his name to meane so See what it was Cha. 1 7. c Ebr. Trueth expounding signes Eb. Zaba army by Aben ezra meanyng the wars told here Time it is by Ralbag Both fall out fitly therefore I thought good to ioyne both d Conteyned in cha 11 12. e Of this that he saw vpon Tigris f Because Iudahs enemies had preuailed to the hindrance of y e Temples buylding g He putteth a distinction for the seauens of yeeres tolde chap. 9 24. And for them the translation must be a lyke though Weekes be the ordinary fit tearme here h Called Tigris of Greekes in notation Sharp-swift The Persians chiefe glory was in those quarters and likwyse the Selâ—ucianes Throne And Seleucus Nicator buylt vpon Tigris Seleucia the most famous towne of all which he buylt a The person that next speaketh termed a resemblance in fight as a man is thought to be Gabriel named chapt 8 16. at whose coÌ„mying to hym Daniel was frighted fel in a slumber on his face to the ground and was touched by him set vppon his feete who also chap. 9 25. telleth of Christ as here agayne b That is Archangel Iude. 9. which terme is hence taken here Angels are the first princes in comparison with rulers on the earth and the captayne of their host is the first of this company a Or my sorrowes turned but the matter telleth whether is principally fit though both go togeather b Euen to shew what shal befal thy people as it was tolde vers 14. c A 120 yeeres after this visioÌ„ great Alexander set on Asia Now whereas Cyrus perished in the Scythian warres soone after the hinderance of the Temple and Cambysessone after by a wound in the thigh geuen by himself against his wyll and Darius Hystaspis lyued but 43. Y. in Ctesias aged about 20. Y. at Tomyris and Cyrus warre and for Esters sake had somewhat a longer reigne that Darius her sonne by the Iewes myght be of some good yeres to helpe Iudah wheÌ„ he reigned in Xerxes absence styl after and Xerxes great army perished to the astonishment of all the world we must in all those affayres looke vnto the Angels speach and consider the gouernment of God by the army of heauen for Iudah tearmed the Army of heauen And likewyse for the kings that reigned after Darius that buylt Ierusalem that they had somewhat better successe yf we enter into the sanctuary of this vision we may see what the counsell of God was touching them and vse heathen stories for a commentary vpon this place c A 120 yeeres after this visioÌ„ great Alexander set on Asia Now whereas Cyrus perished in the Scythian warres soone after the hinderance of the Temple and Cambysessone after by a wound in the thigh geuen by himself against his wyll and Darius Hystaspis lyued but 43. Y. in Ctesias aged about 20. Y. at Tomyris and Cyrus warre and for Esters sake had somewhat a longer reigne that Darius her sonne by the Iewes myght be of some good yeres to helpe Iudah wheÌ„ he reigned in Xerxes absence styl after and Xerxes great army perished to the astonishment of all the world we must in all those affayres looke vnto the Angels speach and consider the gouernment of God by the army of heauen for Iudah tearmed the Army of heauen And likewyse for the kings that reigned after Darius that buylt Ierusalem that they had somewhat better successe yf we enter into the sanctuary of this vision we may see what the counsell of God was touching them and vse heathen stories for a commentary vpon this place d This attribute sheweth who Michael must needes be holden not a created angel but the only Archangel the captayne of the host of the Lord the sonne of God who thought it no robbery to be equal with God And so much y e name signifieth Only Christ standeth for his church which al the world seeketh to oppresse a So that by the Angel the golden head was broken to powder by the petition of the watcher the axe was layde to the roote of the tree the Lion pluckt and Balshazar slaine that the Stons power might be knowen and the highest myght be seene to sit vpon the fiery throne with bookes open and the hand wryting might be perceiued to come from God and Michael to stand vp We are lykewyse to regard Christ a gouerner through al these kinges that shal reigne before the buyldyng vp of the Temple So this angelique oration may be vnto vs as a booke of the warres of God euen to call prophane writers to the vse of holy stories and profe of the Gospel which after these so many particulers was in the set time to be shewed b That is propriety of the visions of the Image Beastes which we may not expound but according to the Angels commentary which standeth in matters so famous that men out of the Church wyl bring vs stories most exactly agreeyng with the Angels wordes that our enemies may be good iudges c After Darius named afore Cyrus Artaxasta or Artaxerxes called of the Grekes Cambyses and Achashuerosh that maryed Ester called Darius sonne of Hystaspis To these three the Persians gaue these attributes Cyrus was a father Cambyses a maister Darius a whorder vp Herodot in Thalia d Xerxes that receyued from Darius great store besides the yeerely reuenues Aeschylus the Greeke poet in Persis a tragedy made vpon Xerxes flight bringeth in Atossa that is Adassa talking of this great wealth how God brought the Persian pride into a net to spoyle all their riches So famous God would haue euery part of the Angels oration that the stages in Graecia myght heare how for some angring of God that huge campe and that cloude of men as Themistocles speaketh in Heredot was sâ—attered beside al hope of men a Daniel knew without any further telling what would be the successe for hinderyng the Temples buyldyng from the firy throne Chap. 7. and from the flamyng eyes Chap. 10. euen that they shold feele the discomfiture of all their strength for that and haue their former kinges soone cut off How soone they were cut off Herodotus and Ctesias will conclude that to vs. For Herodotus maketh Darius Hystaspis to be aged about 20. yeeres when Cyrus prepared warres against Tamyris and to die 6. yeeres before Xerxes entring into Graecia and by Ctesias he lyued but 43.
named To whom the famous warrior Scipio Africanus the first is ioyned an assistant Now Annibal 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his aduersarie the Carthaginian was with Antiochus yet that Gods counsel might stand he could not rule Antiochus with his best counsels to haue inuaded Italie and haue wasted it as Annibal had done But in Graecia he fought and vpon small losses he fled voyd of all counsell leauing strong holds full of treasure armour and victuals whole for the enemie still complaining that God was against him and dealing as one from whom God had taken away all iudgement He sought after this peace with great offers but liked not of refusall and fought againe and was put to extreme shame as the Angel here doth terme it These were the conditions That he should relinquish all Europe and all Asia vnto the Mount 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 called so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the greatnes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Which name sheweth the East tongues much alike through the East it reached He might not come further West besides he should yeeld vp all his Elephants and so many ships as he should be commaunded should giue twenty hostages such as the Generall should prescribe and for the charges of the warres forthwith 500. Euboica Talents and in 12. yeares twelue hundreth by equall yearely portions and restore all captiues These conditions of shame he was faine to take And among the pledges Antiochus his sonne was one who being of as bad disposition as an Antichrist starteth hereafter from Rome to be ouer the people of God that we should lesse maruell when the like should arise there againe Appian recordeth these matters for Greekes Liuie more at large for the countreys of Latine studies and Iustine for children that if we had applyed these stories of Cleopatras mariage in Egypt and Berenices into Syria Assyria or Babylonia we might see the legges of Daniels Image expounded and when we marked such sedition springing hence that ouerthrew both kingdomes and the chiefest here handled and all written euen of heathen we might see how sure Daniels words are who saw that as iron could not be mixed with clay so these affinities of one Macedonian kindred should neuer hold sure atonement * Heb. hand †So in Gen. 10. the countreys of Graecia all about Hellespont are termed as Daniel knew heathen should not know f Iustin b. 32. sheweth that Antiochus being prest by the Romanes with an heauie tribute either for couetousnesse or for necessitie as he went to spoyle a temple Dindymei Iouis he was killed Strabo an ancienter speaketh more likely that going about to rob a temple of Bel in Elam the nation did set vpon him and killed him The Angel telleth that his ruine should be in his own land Now the Angels speech He shalbe no more found that toucheth the maner of his death as he was killed by a tumult Barbarian in sacriledge and left voyd of all glorie Thus the sixt horne was broken as the seuenth Ptolemie Philopator by Cleomenes Polyb. 5. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lieu or steed the Angels terme new but plaine in forme * Seleueus Philopater loued his fathers steps of Church-robbing Iason of Cyren abridged by him which wrote the second of the Machabees sheweth how Seleucus would haue robbed the Temple of Ierusalem Although that booke is full of Rabbique trickes and hath some openly Talmudicall as making Nehemias to be all one with Zorobabel the builder of Altar and Temple as the Babylonian Talmud doth in Sanedrin hath many childish flourishes yet as we vse heathen euen fables for substance of a narration though couered with light stuffe we may cite that author for so much hearing from God by heathen what Seleucus would be His poysoning is here described a breaking not by face to face not by warres So close guile as poysoning must be the third kind Appian in Syriaques sheweth all thus When Antiochus the Great was dead Seleucus his sonne succeeded And he did set free his brother Antiochus from the Romanes hostage yeelding his sonne Demetrius in lieu of him Now when Antiochus returned from hostage and was about Athens Seleucus dyeth by the trecherie of one Heliodorus that was about him That Heliodorus vsurped the reigne but Eumenes and Attalus remoue him and settle Antiochus in it winning that mans fauour being now vpon offences in suspition of the Romanes And so Antiochus the sonne of Antiochus the great obteined the reigne of Syria He had his syrname Epiphanes because the kingdome being catched at by others he cometh to be seene their king Mark how the Angel touched all these matters and moe g Here sixe yeares storie is comprised how Antiochus was vile as an hostage prisoner but viler for his manners called therefore Epimanes witlesse of Polybius in Athenaeus in whom his maners are noted to be strange part of them shall be here layd downe He would saith Polybius sometimes steale out of the Court from his seruants into any part of the citie and be a second or a third in any companie often found in golddsmithes shops and a companion with the cōmon sort and the basest strangers that came to towne when he should perceiue any youths minding a drinking together he would steale vpon them with his pot and Musique that the most part would for the strangenesse leaue the company Also oftentimes casting off his royall robes he would walke in a gowne in the courtes crauing an office and taking one by the hand embracing another he would desire them to giue him a voyce sometimes that he might be Steward of the market sometimes Shiriffe and obtaining his office he would sit in an iuorie chaire after the Romanes maner and heare the market bargains with great sadnesse wherby the better sort could not tell what to thinke of him some thought him verie simple some others starke mad Likewise in his gifts he was no wiser He would giue some dise some dates some gold meeting some whom he neuer saw afore he would bestow vpon them vnhoped rewards in sacrifices and honouring the God he passed all that haue reigned The Olympeion of Athens and the huge image at Delos altar shew that He vsed to wash him in the common bathes full of the basest sortes and had tankards of the dearest ointments caried in for him Where when a certaine man sayd Happy are you Kings which vse such sweete sentes he sayd nothing then but on the morow as the other was bathing him selfe he came vpon him and caused a verie great pot of the dearest ointment stacte to be powred on his head that all standing by tombled in ointment some falling downe for the slipperinesse caused laughter as did the King him selfe What infinite thousandes of poundes he bestowed on a Triumph hauing heard of Paulus Aemylius the Romane Generall it would be too long to tell That fell out when he had spoyled Aegypt in his last voyage And this of