DANIEL HIS CHALDIE VISIONS AND HIS EBREVV BOTH TRANSLATED AFTER THE Original and expounded both by reduction of heathen most famous stories vnto the exact proprietie of his wordes which is the surest certaintie what he must meane and by ioyning all the Bible and learned tongues to the frame of his worke Let him that readeth Daniel vnderstand Mat. 24. The vvise vvill vnderstand Dan. 12. AT LONDON Printed by Richard Field for William Young dwelling neare the great North doore of Paules where the other workes of the same author are to be sold 1596. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE THE LL. OF HER M. MOST HONORABLE PRIVIE COVNSEL THE Prophet Nathan right H. told Dauid of a sonne that should build a temple vnto God and sit vpon a throne for euer touching whom as Daniel penneth all his booke which I present vnto your Lordships I request your pacience to iudge by a short summe what vse my explicatiō may haue in our Church and state That speech of Nathans was commonly vnderstood of Salomon but indeede belōgeth more vnto his brother Nathan to whom Dauid gaue the Prophets name that by it the godly might see from what line he should come which alwayes sate on the right hand of the father And that the Elder sonne of Bathsheba for whom Dauid made the most heauenly Psalme of repētance should not want his dignitie God gaue him praerogatiues verie fit to allure the world vnto higher matters He built by Gods commaundement a temple of Masons worke sate after a sort in Gods speech vpon the throne of the Eternall Yet God spake vnto him for the people and he vnto God before the people wordes touching that his kingdome should not stand And in his whole booke that teacheth how all things vnder the sunne are vanitie the whole drift is to expoūd the truth of the promised throne VVhen his line should end in Ie-Choniah the Eternall Iah sweareth that if Choniah were a signet vpō his finger he would plucke him thence and pluckt his name from the kings and preacheth ô earth earth earth write him childlesse for none of his seede shall sit vpon Dauids throne Him Nebuchadnezar kept in prison 37. y and ouerthrew Salomons kingdome and temple with all the implements that Iudah should looke to the other house of Dauid for the true throne Then Ierusalem was to be taught a new in what sort they should see to peace For them the booke of Daniel is a Commētary handling principal points of their seuentie yeares thraldome seuen times that space vnto Christ his ascention to reigne in the house of Dauid for euer who destroyeth vtterly as with a floud Citie and tēple to shew that such outward things of mans worke could not be fit for to be meant in the most glorious promise vnto Dauid So Ierusalem surprised by the Chaldeā and razed by the Romane is the limites of his story For the middle space he hādled certaine principall heads touching Zorobabels people and the enemies Zorobabel was the onely of Nathan that bare rule and that to build a temple and to receaue the promise of Christ as in Ag. 2. Then his familie hath an expresse declaration what throne belongeth vnto them For they are termed the Sainctes of the high Trinitie who shall possesse a kingdome for euer yea for euer and euer And Daniel sheweth thrones set vp one like the sonne of man comming into the world and againe ascending vnto the king euerlasting and reigning aey ouer all nations And this much is the summe of their comfort Touching the kingdome he nameth the nations that should successiuely take it from thē with open iniurie to their Religion The Chaldeans had begun The Persians cōquering them should continue Next Great Alexander So interchangeably the Seleucidae and Lagidae vnto ten tyrannical kings But afterwardes they should be weakened that Daniels people might hold their own kingdome He nameth the Romanes but not as enemies here vnto their Religion yet toucheth their comming vp that all might know by what nation Christ should be kild when by his birth time the fourth kingdome should fall through the Romanes And they should be the second Babylon to Ierusalem But seeing they medled not with the Iewes vntill they called for their helpe that when the Machabees had vsurped long a kingdome against Iacobs will no lesse enemies to Zorobabels house then the others as their familie perished alike vtterly so the seueritie of God was not to prophecie a comfort against the Iewes calamities called for by their own prophanesse as it were open request For Caesar and Pompey were called into partaking by striuing Machabees and before had made league and friendship with Iudah Therefore comforts in such dealings might not be sent frō heauē The plainnesse of Daniel is great telling of matters that all the world would note Strabo knew Nebuchadnezars greatnes Berosus better Abydenus toucheth his propheticall traunce as hearing of that his Proclamation or Epistle sent vnto all the world Cyrus Conquest of Babel all nations knew Xerxes fall was more in speech Alexāders stories better knowen in most people then their owne his victories ambition of Godhead quick death and ruine of familie And againe his Captaines partitions of spoyles their falling to foure chiefe kingdomes and two of them principall Syria and Aegypt comming vnto perpetuall strife among them selues these heathē obserued who knew likewise the strāge successe of Ptolemie Lagidas the stranger of Seleucus Nicator their league in friendship their sonnes falling out their seeking atonement by that Mariage of Berenice their greater warres vpon her death the ouerrunning of Syria to win the syrname 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a further reuenge in Philopators victory Againe the other sides conquests to syrname Antiochus great his Cleopatras mariage with Ptolemie his inuading Grece his fall by Rome his Church robbing his two sonnes Church robbing their three extraordinarie deathes these matters be most famous amōg the heathē And Antiochus Epiphanes subtiltie in ouerreaching his brother and two nephewes his comming vp in Syria his three inuasiōs of Aegypt his endeuour and crueltie to haue extinguished Iudahs Religiō these matters are the most famous of any in heathen stories VVhen we adde vnto them the iest of Augustus how it was better to be Herods hog then his sonne because of his slaughter at our Lordes birth and Vergils harping at a child comming from heauen noysed doubtlesse by Iewes and the expectation of all the East of a king arising then to rule all the world and Tacitus for Christ Pilate and Christians lastly the manifold writers of Ierusalems fall the last part then we shal haue open all the humane points of Daniels booke VVhen we ioyne from Diuinitie storie Nathans prophecie for Nathan Salomons Eldership in a touch of throne and Temple the threefold charge to write Iechonias
introductions to his whole summe and Graces and ioyne the kings and Pictures for him pictures afore set in another booke which coming foorth greater with greater lendeth Daniel the former willingly To him they beloÌ„g The summe and graces of Daniel THe holy Prophet Daniel telleth what Kingdomes shall oppresse Dauids house from Iudahs captiuitie vnto the birth of our Lord and endeuour to controll their Religion Also of our Lord he sheweth his continuall protection and payment of his foes his coming into the world his making strong the Couenant for all nations his precious death his glorious ascention and his kingdome ouer all nations And lastly how he will destroy the Citie and Temple finishing the policie which he gaue by Moses that Iewes and Gentiles may be equally Gods people Those kingdomes which Daniel setteth forth are first the Chaldeans who destroyed the Citie Temple Kingdome and house of Salomon and meant in Babel to haue set vp idolatrie The next is a ioynt power of the Medes and Persians who ouerthrew them and would haue made their owne kings as Gods stayed the building of Gods Temple and sought to destroy the Iewes nation The third is compact of all the States of Greeke-land who put downe the former In Alexanders power which King in his pride earnestly laboured to be holden as a God and caused the Leuites to name their sonnes Alexanders and all the Iewes to take their dates from his reigne The fourth and last is of the same natioÌ„ for their Kings called Seleucidae and Lagidae by the first of their houses dwelling North and South from Iuda situated betwixt them both By these Iuda was most vexed and endeuour vsed to haue abrogated the holy Couenant At our Lords birth these nations were fully spoyled of all gouernement and another set vp to whom tribute was payd ouer all the world In plentifull varietie Daniel setteth them forth First in a huge image of foure mettals beaten to powder and he expoundeth the Image so that by a prophane king he is therefore highly aduaunced Long after he seeth them in a sort fit for a spirituall man to iudge of in foure sauage beasts cast into the fire ioyneth a most heauenly exposition and comfort of his nation how from his people an eternall kingdome shall fill all the earth Againe the kingdome of Babel is figured by a Tree touching in height the heauens in breadth the corners of the earth and to that also Daniel affordeth an exposition Likewise the other kingdomes are semblanced by a Ramme and Goat-bucke and both in sundrie hornes and now all the Nations are plainly named who be therein contained So sixe times euery one State is declared all ouer the later declarations adding clearenesse to the former Moreouer the seuenth Narration most plaine as teaching in proper language is not wanting for the coming vp idolatrie chastisement and ouerthrow of these kingdomes A skilfull Reader must fetch from others the dayly dealings which the wisedome of God knew at needlesse to foretell by Daniel and therefore he passeth them ouer in their due places the Reader shall find them marked in obseruations vpon the Prophet The comfort of the holy people is most sweete in this Booke Christ in prophane eyes is a base stone and heathen Kings goodly mettals but he beateth them to dust and becometh a great mountaine In Daniels eâ—en they are beasts cast into fire and the Sonne of man coming in the clouds into the world afterwards going vnto the Ancient of dayes he sitteth on an eternall throne Sundry other heauenly apparations Daniel hath as when the wonderfull Numberer called in Daniel Palmoni calleth an Angel Gabriel and biddeth him teach Daniel the verie dayes from the first of the rage against Moses lawes vnto the last of the Grecians dealing against the Temple And after that his senses had bene acquainted with so exact an accompt vnto the very day for a particular hinderance of the truth he seeth a hand writing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 MENE MENE and soone the former Angel numbreth most exactly the time vnto our Lords death And againe soone after he hath a vision like that of Christ in the Reuelation and of three Angels one silent another teaching him the summe of his booke in plain speeches another asking a question of times and taking an answer with the very particular dayes of two famous neare matters These two confirme the wonderfull accompt of Christ his owne set time for redemptioÌ„ Dan. 9.24 Farther then which the date of times might not go in the Prophets beyond the glorifying of the King but therein it was to rest By like reuolutions men might know that Christ would graunt them the like space to repentance that they losed not their land as he gaue in the wildernesse to prepare them that should enter into the land And so it fell out alike 40. yeares they spent in the wildernesse 40 after our Lords death in the land And so the whole warning that Daniel gaue the Iewes to beware of their Deluge is iust in space the same that Lamech gaue to the old world at Noahs birth 600 yeares afore the flood From Nebuchadnezers first yeare 70 of captiuitie thence 7 times that space in expressed wordes layd downe in Scripture and 40 afterwards not recorded nor to haue bene recorded in scripture but marked of heathen by the euent This is the compasse of Daniels times which they that cast not aright shal be disturbed The state of the world when he wrote and the tongues vvhich he vsed call vs to farther admiration His Prophecie was written in the most distressed times of the world to be such a iewell that being seene it might haue redressed the calamities of those dayes For when the kingdome of Iudah was to be plagued by the tust God all the world was plagued also with more alterations of kingdomes and warres then had bene afore And then God by Daniel writeth first in the heathens language the Syriaque or Chaldy tong which East South best knew In that he sheweth how the Image of the worldly poÌ„pe all the wicked are made as dust before the winde and prophane Empires are as beasts troubling the sea of life perishing at the last in a fierie lake froÌ„ the throne of a Iudge euerlasting with whom there is no shadow of change Also he telleth of the kingdome that cannot be corrupted set vp by one like the Sonne of man coming in the cloudes and going againe vnto the ancient of dayes to sit for euer in glory All this and other matters of the present Age Daniel penneth in the language most knowne of any one that the heathen might be benefited Notwithstanding the Iewes haue in this worke their prerogatiue For in the tongue vsed onely of them he penneth the selfe same matter naming plainly what people he afore spake off and that in sundrie sortes for exact certaintie And he limiteth the
Iuda that touch principally the booke of Daniell IN sundrie partes and sundrie maners spake God of Redemption to the fathers before the dayes of Dauid and to him he promised that his seed should sit vpon a throne for euer That speech was fit to allure all men vnto searching of the spirituall kingdome But the carnall still vnderstood that carnally The ten tribes despised it and went to Ohelehem and Elohehem to their owne tents and Gods Salomons house hoped to hold still that outward kingdome would not beleeue otherwise the most of them till the Chaldean tooke away and ouerthrew all their state When the visible kingdome fell all Iuda was to be resolued what should become of Dauids throne The whole booke of Daniel is a satisfaction for that perplexitie cleare being considered for that point how Salomons house being extinct in Iechoniah the house of Nathan from Salathiel Pedaiah and Zorobabel come to be heires of the kingdome But as the kingdome of Christ first suffers hath glorie after so they and their faithfull shall be conformed Babel the Medes with Elam and Greekes whole and parted shall rob them but they shall possesse a kingdome for euer and euer And when the seuentie yeares of Babels rage giue a tast of Gods defence and reuenge they are told of that celestiall speech how at seuen times that space the most holy will bring an eternall kingdome opened for all Thereupon the faithfull of the nation go from Babell vnto Ierusalem where the Lord should be king and restore the state and build the Temple Ezra and Nehemia declare their storie vnto Iaduah who and Sanballat saw great Alexander The troupes of them are starres for the storie vnder the Persians to checke heathen that with false regester of times as poeticall Heliades or Phaetontiades will disanull the prophecie of the due season And specially the kingly families of Zorobabel whose regester in the two Euangelistes is more worth then all heathē records Thus it standeth Zorobabel 1. Abiud 2. Eliakim 3. Azor. 4. Sadok 5. Achin 6. Eliud 7. Eleazar 8. Matthan 9. Iacob 10. Ioseph The succession of these ten heires to the Crowne must with our Lordes three and thirtie yeares make vp 490. They were afflicted to be about 45. yeares eache one before they tooke to build families Zorobabel 1. Rhesa 2. Iohanna 3. Iuda 4. Ioseph 5. Semei 6. Matthathie 7. Maath 8. Nagge 9. Hesli 10. Nahum 11. Amos. 12. Matthathie 13. Ioseph 14. Ianna 15. Melchi 16. Leuie 17. Matthat 18. Helie 19. Marie 20. Iesus Daniel CHAPTER 1. The beginning and the ende of the seauentie yeeres captiuitie IN the thirde yeere of the reigne of Iehoiakim king of Iudah came Nebuchadnezar king of Babel vnto Ierusalem and layde siedge agaynst it And the Lorde gaue into his handes Iehoiakim king of Iudah and part of the vessels of the house of God and he caried them into the lande of Shinar the house of his goddes and he caried the vesselles into the treasurie of his goddes And the king spake to Aspenaz lord Chamberlaine that he should bring certaine of the children of Israel of the kinges seede and of the noblest Springalles without any blemishe and goodly in fauour and skilful in al wisedome and wel seene in knowledge and witty of vnderstanding and of abilitie in them to stande in the kinges Palace and to teach them the learning tongue of the Caldeans And the king appoynted them a prouision day by day of a portion of the kinges meate and of the wine of his drinkes so to noorysh them three yeeres that at the ende thereof they myght stande before the kinge Now among these were certayne of the chyldren of Iudah Daniel Hananiah Mishael and Azariah On whom the Lord Chamberlayne set other names and he set on Daniel Belteshazar and on Hananiah Shadrach and on Mishael Meshach and on Azariah Abednego But Daniel set in his hart that he woulde not defile hymselfe with the portion of the kinges meate nor with the wine which he dranke Therefore he made request to the chiefe Chamberlayne that he shoulde not defile hym selfe Now God had caused the chiefe Chamberlaine to fauour and pittie Daniel And the chiefe Chamberlaine sayde vnto Daniel I feare my Lord the king who hath appoynted your meate and your drinke VVherefore should he see your faces worse lykeing then the other springalles which are of your sort then shall you make guylty my head vnto the king Then sayd Daniel to Melzar whom the chiefe Chamberlaine had set ouer Daniel Hananiah Mishael and Azariah O proue thy seruantes tenne dayes and let be geuen to vs some Pulse to eate and water to drinke Then let our countenances be looked vpon before thee and the countenances of the springalles that eate of the portion of the kinges meate and as thou seest deale with thy seruantes So he gaue eare to them in this matter and prooued them tenne dayes And at the ende of ten dayes their countenances appeared fayrer and fatter in flesh then all the chyldren which did eate the portion of the kings meate And Melzar tooke away the portion of their meate and the wine that they shoulde drinke and gaue them Pulse And to these springalles all foure to them God gaue knowledge and skill in all learnyng and wysedome also Daniel had vnderstanding in all visions and dreames At the ende of the dayes that the king had commaunded to bring them in then the chiefe Chamberlaine brought them before Nebuchadnezar And the king communed with them and none of them all was founde like Daniel Hananiah Mishael and Azariah and they stoode before the king And in all matters for wysedome of vnderstanding that the king inquired of them he found them tenne tymes better then all the enchaunters and astrologians that were in all his realme And Daniel continued vnto the first yeere of king Cyrus CHAP. 2. The state of the Hebrewes vntill the birth of our Lord vnder the Caldeans Medes-Persians and the Graecians The kingdome of Christe shall after that fill the whole earth Daniel is a new Ioseph IN the second yeere afterwardes in the raigne of Nebuchadnezar Nebuchadnezar dreamed dreames and his spirite was disquieted and his sleepe brake on him Then the king commanded to call the Enchanters Astrologians and the Sorcerers and the Caldeans for to declare to the king his dreames So they came and stoode before the king And the king sayd vnto them I haue dreamed a dreame and my spirite was troubled to knowe the dreame Then spake the Caldeans to the king in Syriaque O king lyue for euer Tell to thy seruauntes the dreame and we wyll shew the interpretation And the king answered and sayd to the Caldeans the thing is gone from me yf ye wyll not make me know my dreame with the interpretation thereof ye shalbe cut in peeces and your houses shalbe made a dunghill But yf
2. Sam. 7.14 1. Chron. 3.5 Luke 3.31 Psal 51. 1. Chr. 29.23 1. King 9.6 1. King 8.47 Eccl. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iah Choniah made the kings name 2. King 25.27 Chap. 1. 9. Chap. 7. Chap. 7. * AlexaÌ„ders iniurie was in that the Priests for one yeare should name their sonnes Alexanders all Iudah should take their dates from his raigne he their Emperour would be a God Daniels plainnesse * In Theoph. * Euseb 9. Diod lib. 18. and 19. Pausan in Attic. App. in Syri Polyb. 5. Appian Strabo Tacitus Macrob. 2. Aegl Suâ—tonius Tacitus Ben Arama vpon Exod. Ierem. 22. Dan. 7. * R. Akiba vpon Dan. 7 in Sanedrin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dan 9.24 Dan. 6. Extra 1. Few wordes containe the whole suÌ„me of Daniel for all his chiefe heads What kingdoms in Daniel oppresse the religion of Gods people * Romanes that medled not with religion How euerie kingdome is seuen times spoken of This vision should haue cut off all doubt for Daniels kingdomes This specially might end all controuersie The degrees of his visioÌ„s The times 2300 dayes Chap. 8. Chap. 5. Chap. 9. * Chap. 1.13 Chap. 12. Three yeres and half and dayes 1290 and dayes 1335 al these are the first from the polluting of the holy Temple vnto the recouerie the other two vnto seuerall comforts against Antiochus which the present Age should marke euen to the exact dayes The whole summe of Daniel is 600 yeares froÌ„ since the Chaldeans tooke Ierusalem vntill the Romans toke it The tongues of Daniel The Zohar noteth this truely and wonderfully A generall knowledg of Law Gospel is taught in Daniel by kingdomes many perishing one standing The phrase of 70 seuens being coÌ„pared with former times wil shew that God ruled al times of Iudah in an order easie to consider Chaldy Syriaque Aethiopian Arabique all foure vse Daniels Syriaque * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dan. 2.26 is in no Chaldy but in the Aethiopian Heb. 2. and 4. c. A wonderful recompence to the Chaldeans for vsing Daniel well Daniels Chaldy caused the Chaldy paraphrastes new honour in our age so perpetuall is the holy mans glorie Elias Leuita moued a question whether the Chaldy could bee brought to Art That GordiaÌ„ knot was cut by breaking all their vncerteinty with Daniels sword by our learned Christians Prophecies in the East tongues for matter recorded in the Westerne should stirre studie honor of studie for both 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The planets were their chiefe Gods termed of foretelling as Nabo or of kinghood as Ched is mat 26. in Arabike Mar Dan. 2. Rac. Gen. 42. in Onkelos Shed in Mat. 27. in Arab Sac Ier. 25 and Kimchi in ALN Nego Venus in Rabbines coÌ„monly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * The negligeÌ„t auncient giue Cyrus Cambyses Darius y. spent together before Babel sel the same distinct after and to Darius 46. who liued but 43 Codoman giueth Artax I. 59. fully Plâ—t to Art II. 62. to helpe out the 100 erronious The record of Euripid. 75. in Suid. of Timoth being in those his times in which Philip raigned this will ende the strife heatheÌ„ other liues infinite as Aristides daughters Dem. Phal Lais and Demost acquaintance Platoes Dionys and all commonly then of fame will cut about 40. y. off at a clap * Alexanders Epistle to Darius in Arrianus argueth that Ochus raigned but a litle afore Philips death Yet Olympikes giue him liberally a score of yeares * The ArabiaÌ„s in an Arabike commentarie vpon Gen. 10. haue Suidas iust number at our Lordes birth so belike agreeing here with Suidas * For Zorobabels house the onely then true and right princes of all the world Daniell hath his reuelations and his 490. yeares are to be compared with their liues in two families * The testimonie of Iosephus that Iaduah and Sanballat saw Greâ—â— AlexaÌ„der wherin both Iewes and Gentils hitherto agree that by Ezra and Nehemias personages vtterly coÌ„futes all heathen vsed chronicles * Here consider an easie accompt of Gods prouident gouernement since Moses tymes In the seuenth yeere the lande was parted Thence the first of Samuel falleth in the seuenth Iubilie thence vnto this yeere are seauen seauenties See verse 21. Y. W. 3402. * Esay tolde of this Ch. 39.7 * They had ben all named of God a iudge mercifull and strong That is Belkeepeth treasure but see Cha. 10. how he altereth it § A practise of Leuit. 11. ‡ The effect of Salamons prayer 1. king 8 50. * Or to the Melzar that is Stewarde a name of an office ‡ Therein his whole booke excelleth declaryng the commyng vp idolatry chastisement fall of the Babylonians Medes- -Persians Grekes whole parted and how Christ defendeth the holy Iewes vntyll the redemptioÌ„ § 3407.3471 * Then the 70. of Captiuity ended and the seauen seauenties are told for redemption out of Satans captiuity by our Lordes death erectyng a kingdome ouer al the earth * As Ioseph in the seconde after skil in dreames expoundeth Pharaohs so God disposeth these times alyke the enchanters alyke guydeth aduanceth Ioseph Daniel alike * While the visions are generall and cause the Iewes no danger so farr Daniel writeth in the Syriaque tongue general ouer the east al hence to the 8. chapter But when the oppressors be named Medes Persians and Greekes both whole and also parted about Iuda into Egypt and to the North and the Iewes ar plainly described the people whom god defendeth then the eyght chapter and al after he writeth in Ebrew hath a commandement to keepe close the playne exposition in ch 12.4 * Or in the end of dayes that is vnto Christ as Eb. 1.1 and so Gen. 49. Esa 2. Ezek. 38 * In holy Daniels eyes they are foure beastes which to prophane mens capacity god sheweth as goodly â—owers * Babel alone 70. yeeres not Assur § Medes and Persians two kingdoms here as one agaynst the Iewes 130. yeeres ‡ Great Alexander with the whole power of Greeke states which made him then king for the Persian warre Diod. book 16. syxe yeere †The Legs are in Cha. 11 the successours of Alexander in two the mightiest kingdoÌ„es Egypt and the North the one 294. yeres The errour of taking in hyther the RomaÌ„s is hurtful to al Daniels booke and to all christianity and other stories hath no colour of trueth from Daniel * The Stone is the power of Christ weake base in mens eyes vnles they looke on the fâ—â—â—e throne Dan. 7. ¶ Whom euen the Iewes nation but the wittie prophet hydeth that
and fiue Laodiceas after his mothers name nyne after his owne Seleucias foure after his wyues three Apameas and one Stratonicea Now the most famous of them were the Seleuciae the one vpon the Sea the myddle Sea and Seleucia vpon Tigâ—is and Laodiciea in Phoenice or the land of Isâ—ael and Antiochia vnder mount Libanus and Apamea of Syria Other cities he tearmed by Grecian or Macedonian cities or by his owne workes or king Alexanders Wherefore you shall finde in Syria and further many of Greeke many Macedonian cities names Berroea Edessa Perinthos Maronea Callipolis Achaia Pellâ— Oropus Amphipolis Arethusa Astacos Tegea Chalcis Larissa Herea Apolonia and in â—â—rthia Sâ—â—â—ra Calliope Charis Hecatompolis Achaia In the Indianâ— Alexandreschata Some are named by victories of Seleucus himselfe Nicephorion in Mesopotamia and Nicopolis in that Armenia which is next to Cappadocia This heathen catalogue of Townes built by one man is a condemnation of the Rabbineâ— that wil not take notice what king and kingdome must be meant by the Angel in this place Aben Ezra confesseth that the king Gog is here meant and it is their common graunt aâ— Kimchi sheweth in many of the Psalmes that when the house of Gog is ouerthrowen the Messias reigneth Then let vs examine Ezekiel with Daniel Ezekiel chap. 38. nameth Gog Magog Meshec Tubal Gomer Togarma the North quarters Paras Cush and Put shall ioyne with them The Greekes there rightly speake for Mosoch as they reade it Tubal and Thorgamâ— that the Nations about Pontus Cappadocians Galathians Iberes and Armenians are meant For in those quarters those sonnes of Iaphet left monumentes in the names of Nations Mountaines or Riuers which argue who left them with lesse change in consonantes and vowelles then Strabo often complaineth that he findeth in Greeke writers for Nations names So that the confession of Aben Ezra and the arguments of many our learned that Seleucidae are meant by Gog in Ezekiel may well be considered here touching the king of the North. And specially Gods goodnesse how by the state of the time all the world might know when Christ was to come into the world and be acquainted with one tongue wherein the Apostles might write Ezekiel telleth that when Gog the Seleucidae were ouerthroweÌ„ the Lord would be glorified ouer all the earth Now seeing the Seleucidae were Greekes and continued their strength by Greekes officers and armies as also the Ptolomies by this meanes the Greeke tongue spread long before ouer the west bare sway also ouer the East South And wheÌ„ Romans whose owne proper language was Latin had ouerrun all those dominions and spake in all their gouernmeÌ„t a strange language in Seleueus townes all might know that Christ was to be borne soone after And to this day the Iewes hold that vpon Gogs fall Christes comming ought to be as Kimchi named by me aboue very often and Rambam in More Nebuchim Christians who make Ezekiel in Gog speake of things to fall out after the comming of Christ vnto the end of the world haue been a great furtherance of many Iewes eternall destruction and entangâ—â—ng also much of this Chapter and their owne ruine a About 70. after AlexaÌ„ders death b The Lagidae and the Seleucidae c Bernice D. to Pt. Philadelphus d Antiochus Theos or the God who had already a wife called Laodice by whoÌ„ he was poysoned Berenice by her sonnes kilde with her child and all her traine Philadelphus soone after this mariage dyed e The states of Asia Iust 27. f Ptol. Euergetes * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a word not vsed afore g Seleucus Callinicus h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vnuowelled is either Idols or else high states That maketh Translaters differ And the allusion is pleasant how the Angell comforteth Iuda in that the Idolatrous are as the Idolles with God And extremely taunteth the superstition of Magog or Hierapolis i The name of Egypt in a storie of Alexanders successours must needes cut off all controuersie touching the king of the North and Magog that none but Seleucidae can be the men So that the verie name Egypt being vsed here in the storie which all Heathen would presently acknowledge to set forth Ptolemie surnamed Euergetes that is Gracious Lord for spoyling Syria and againe in the end of the Chapter vers 42. and 43. and in an history no lesse then a Prophecie of Antiochus Epiphanes king of Syria spoyling Egypt this one terme might haue kept both Iewes and Gentiles from bringing the Romans or Turkes to be meant here in these stories opening properly the Image and the Beast But as we bring the prophane Empire into those sayings which are spoken of Antiochus Epiphanes So the Iewes Raloag and Aben Ezra saw no reason why the continuers of the Empire Constantine and other Christians and the Turke might not be brought in If once men graunt that these matters fall out in the last dayes and not as reason required drawe vnto Christ his first comming And because it is euident that Christ was not to come vntill these matters fell out vpon a false supposit on borrowed from vs they continue a leprosie of the worlde A sufficient preseruatiue against which the Angell left one word euen Egypt vsing it once twise thrise So one word spoken in due forme is like Apples of gold and wittie workes of siluer Prou. 25.10 * Diodorus booke 17.18.19.20 Which falleth out after the death of Soter and not long before the death of Philadelphus * Brennus from Britanie and Fraunce then did warre into the East Deut. 32. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The not marking of this point hath postered all libraries with books giuing strength vnto Iewes and Turkes to make ChristiaÌ„s thought senslesse and condemning their owne selues in far the greatest part of our own writings The learned of late see it The vnlearned should not striue To the legs of the Image these matters belong a If by seditioÌ„ at home he had not bene called home he had easily won all the kingdome of Syria Iust 27 b Seleucus Ceraunus and Antiochus the Great Of them Appian Alexandreus wrot thus After Theos Seleucus the sonne of Theus and Laodice reigneth in Syria syrnamed Callinicus After Seleucus two sons of Seleucus either according to his age Seleucus and Antiochus Seleucus being weake and poore vnable to rule his armie was poysoned by his friends and reigned onely two yeares Antiochus was syrnamed Megas or the great and reigned 37. yeares These be the two kings which here be meant And an heatheÌ„ indiffereÌ„t eueÌ„ AppiaÌ„ sheweth vnto vs why the Angel â—hould name theÌ„ in the plural nuÌ„ber soone turne â—o the singular Polybius recordeth to the same effect Booke 4. in these words Antiochus was the yonger sonne of Seleucus Callinicus He vpon his fathers death wheÌ„ the kingdome came to his brother at the first led a priuate life in the higher part of the kingdome Soone after wheÌ„ his brother passed ouer the
you shew the dreame and the interpretation of it ye shall receiue of me guyftes and rewardes and great honour therefore shew me the dreame and the interpretation thereof They answered the seconde tyme and sayde let the king tell his seruantes the dreame and we wyll shew the interpretation thereof Then the king answered and sayd of a certaintie know I that ye woulde buy the time because you see the thing is gone from me But yf you wyl not make knowen to me the dreame there is but one decree ouer you For ye haue prepared lying corrupt wordes to speake before mee tyll the time be changed Therefore tell me the dreame that I may know if ye can shew me the interpretatiō therof Then the Caldeans answered before the king and sayd there is no man vpon earth that can shewe the thing that the king speaketh off Yea there is neyther King Prince nor Lord that asked such thinges at an Enchanter or Astrologian or Caldean Yea the thing which the king demaundeth is rare and there is none other that can shew it vnto the king except the Goddes whose dwelling is not with flesh Herevpon the king was in anger great furie and commanded to destroy all the Sages of Babel And a decree came foorth and the Sages were killed and they sought Daniel and his felowes that they might be killed Then Daniel stayed the counsell and edict through Arioch the kinges Prouost martial which came forth to kill the sages of Babel He spake and sayd to Arioch the kinges officer Why hasteneth the decree from the king Then Arioch made knowen the matter vnto Daniel So Daniel went and prayed the king that he would giue him time and he would shew the king the interpretation Then Daniel went to his house and made knowen the matter to Hananiah Mishael and Azariah his fellowes That they shoulde beseeche the God of heauen for grace in this secret that Daniel his felowes should not perish with the rest of the sages of Babel Then to Daniel in a vision by nyght was this secret reuealed Then Daniel blessed the God of heauen Daniel spake sayd The name of God be praysed for euer and euer For wisedome and courage are his And he changeth the times and seasons he taketh away kinges and setteth vp kinges he giueth wisedome to the wise and vnderstanding to those that haue vnderstanding He discouereth the deepe and the hid thinges he knoweth what is in the darknes and lyght dwelleth with him I thanke and prayse thee O God of my fathers that thou hast giuen me wysedome and courage and hast made knowen to me now the thing wherfore we prayed to thee making knowen vnto vs the kinges matter Hereupon Daniel went to Arioch whom the king had appoynted to destroy the sages of Babel he came and sayd thus vnto him Destroy not the sages of Babel but bring me before the king and I wyll shew the king the interpretation Then Arioch in all haste brought Daniel before the king and thus sayd vnto him I haue found a man of the captiues of Iudah that wyll make knowen to the king the interpretation Then answered the king and sayd vnto Daniel whose name was Belteshazar Art thou able to make knowen vnto me the dreame which I haue seene and the interpretation thereof Daniel answered before the king and sayd The secrete which the king hath demaunded no Sages Astrologians Enchanters entral-lookers are able to shew vnto the king But there is a God in heauen that reuealeth secretes and maketh knowen to the king Nebuchadnezar what shall be in the dayes folowing The dreame and the visions of thine head vpon thy bed are thus O king thy thoughtes on thy bed ascended what should come hereafter and he that reuealeth secretes maketh knowen to thee what shall come to passe As for me not for any wisedome that I haue more then any other liuing is this secret reuealed vnto me but that the king may knowe the interpretation and that thou mightest know the thoughtes of thine hart O king thou behewest and soe there was a huge Image this Image was great and his brightnesse was excellent it stoode before thee and was terrible to beholde The Kingdomes that ouerruled the holy Ebrewes Babylō .70 yeares Medes Persianes .150 Alexander state .6 Magog Egypt .294 y ◠Image reigned .500 y◠This Image had his Head of fine Golde his Brest and Armes of Siluer his Bellie and his Sides of Brasse His Legges of Iron and his Feete part of Iron and part of Clay Thou beheldest tyll a Stone was cut without handes which smote the Image vpon his feete of Iron and Clay and brake them in peeces Then was broken togeyther the Iron the Clay the Brasse the Siluer and the Golde and became like the chaffe of a sommer batne-floore and the winde caried them away and no place was founde for them and the Stone that smote the Image became a great Mountayne and filled the whole earth This is the dreame and the interpretation thereof wyll we tell before the king O King thou shalt be a King of Kinges For the God of heauen giueth thee a kingdome power and strength and glory And of all places where the chyldren of men dwell the beastes of the fielde the foules of the heauen giueth he into thy handes and maketh thee ruler ouer them all thou art the Head of Golde And after thee shall arise another Kingdome vnder thee of Siluer and another a thirde kingdome of Brasse which shall rule ouer all the earth And the fourth kingdome shall be hard lyke iron For as much as iron breaketh and beateth to powder all thinges Euen as iron bruseth all these shall it breake and bruse Whereas thou sawest the feete and tooes part of the Potters clay part of Iron it shalbe a deuided kingdome and there shalbe in it some of the rigour of Iron as thou sawest Iron mixed with earthy clay As the tooes of the feete were part of iron part of clay the kingdome shalbe partly hard and shalbe partly brittle Also whereas thou sawest iron mixed with earthy clay they shall mingle them selues in the seede of man but they shall not cleaue one to another euen as iron can not be mixed with clay And in the dayes of these kinges shall the God of heauen set vp a kingdome which shall neuer be corrupted and the kingdome shall not be giuen to an other people but it shall breake and finishe all these kingdomes and it shall stande for euer Whereas thou sawest that the Stone was cut out of the Mountaine without handes and that it brake in pecces the Iron the Brasse the Clay the Siluer and the Gold the great God maketh knowne to the king what shall come to passe hereafter Thus the dreame is true the interpretation therof is sure Then the king Nebuchadnezar fell vpon his face and worshypped Daniel
was turned in me into corruption I reteyned no strength Yet I heard the voyce of his wordes And when I heard the voyce of his wordes I fell in a slumber on my face and my face was towardes the ground Now beholde an hand touched me and set me vpon my knees and vpon the palmes of myne handes And he sayd vnto me O Daniel thou gracious man vnderstande my wordes which I speake vnto thee and stande vpright For now am I sent to thee And when he had spoken this speach to me I stoode trembling Then he sayd vnto me Feare not Daniel For from the first day that thou diddest set thine hart to vnderstande and to chasten thy selfe before thy God thy wordes were heard and I am come for thy wordes But the prince of the kingdome of Paras stoode against me And beholde Michael the first of the chiefe Princes came to helpe me and I remayned there by the king of Paras Now I am come to shew thee what shall befall thy people in the time hereafter For yet the vision is for those dayes And when he had spoken these wordes vnto me I set my face towardes the grounde and I became dum And beholde that resemblance in sight as a man touched my lyppes Then I opened my mouth and spake and sayd vnto him that stoode before me O my Lord by the vision my ioyntes are loosed in me and I retayne no strength And how can this seruant of my Lord talke with this my Lord thus am I since euen now no strength standeth in me nor breath is left in me Than againe he in sight as a man touched me and made me strong And sayd feare not gracious man peace be to thee be strong againe I say be strong And when he had spoken vnto me I was strengthened and sayd Let my Lord speake for thou hast strengthened me Than sayd he Knowest thou wherefore I am come vnto thee And now I will returne to fight with the Prince of Paras and when I am gone away the Prince of Iauan commeth But I will shew thee what is written in the Scripture of trueth And there is none that strengtheneth him selfe with me in these thinges but Michael your Prince CHAP. 11. Gabriel geueth now an exposition of the matters figured by the Image great goodly and tirrible by the beastes that came out of the Sea and by the other that battered at the riuer Vlai in more particuler sort then the former three expositions of those three visions shewed the matter so that this is the seauenth time that the same nations are spoken off thrife figured and as often expounded afore This speach teacheth of their particular dealinges in such playnnes as the Heathen afterwardes penned their doinges He reckoneth how many kinges of Persia shalbe soone cut off or ouerthrowen for hindering the worke of the Temple Thence he passeth ouer to great Alexander and geueth an abridgement of all his stories his arising his fall and his houses of his foure principall successours of the many others lesser then they of two the mightiest whose families should all their time both clayme the kingdome of Iudah And he geueth an historie aforehand of ten Kinges the ten hornes of the fourth Beast shewing in them the rigour of the iron legges and iron teeth how not only they deuoured Iudah in their taxes and other yeerely reuenues but trode it more downe by their continuall camping in it from both their chiefe kingdomes And in Antiochus Epiphanes the last instrument of wrath against the Holy couenant he continueth a long speach as he was chiefly to be looked vnto of his treacherous comming vp in Syria by poysoning his brother of his preparing against Egypt where by the way Iudah felt the beginning of the 2300. dayes oppression of his great successe in his first voyage into Egypt of the seconde with bad successe and his vehementer rage against the Temple by his returne through Iudea which rage helde three yeeres and an halfe of a thirde voyage wherein he spoyled Egypt exceedingly and returned through Iudea to Elymais and of his death by the hand of God All these thinges are handled of him so particularly that all the wyse of those dayes might be confirmed to stande to the trueth seeing aforehand what should be their euent and all of all ages marke in whom the last visions of Daniel ended that the prophecies might draw men vnto Christ and not beyonde him as the Iewes now adayes woulde peruert his sayinges and turne them in most senselesse wyse against Christianitie and to their owne eternall ruine For all this Heathen stories are for vs sure witnesses of the Angels meaning A repetition of Babels fall AND in the first yeere of Darius the Madaj I stoode a strength and a fortresse vnto him ¶ Of 4. Persian kinges plagued for the Temple And now I will tell thee the trueth Yet three kinges stande vp to Paras and the fourth shalbe farre richer then they all and through his strength by his riches he shall stirre vp all agaynst the kingdome of Iauan ⧠Of Alexander and his family Afterwardes a mightie king shall stande vp and beare a great dominion and do as he lyst And when he standeth vp his kingdome shalbe broken shalbe deuided toward the foure windes of the heauen and not to his posteritie nor according to his dominion which he bare For his kingdome shalbe pluckt vp and be for others beside those ¶ Of the two legges ioyned to the belly and sides cha 2. the two kingdomes which remayned of Alexanders Princes which make the fourth beast with ten hornes And the king of the South shalbe strong and an other of his Princes who shalbe stronger then he and beare dominion His dominion shalbe the greatest dominion Of the mixture of Iron and Clay how the two parted Kingdome the two legges Dan. 2. ioyned in mans seede and Mariages cleaueth together as Iron and Clay a daughter of the South king being giuen to the Northren And at the ende of certaine yeares they shalbe ioyned together and the kings daughter of the South shall come to the king of the North to make agreement But she shall not retaine the strength of the arme Neither shall he stand and his arme And she shall be giuen ouer and they that brought her and he that begat her and her strengthener in those dayes But an impe from her roots shall stand vp in his place and he shall come against the army shall come into the force of the king of the North and deale against them and win And their Goddes with their states with their precious vessels of siluer and gold shall he cary into captiuitie into Egypt And he shall stand yeares aboue the king of the North. How Heathen that neuer knew Daniel recorde the
borne in one yeere meant to haue been a God The Seleucidae meant to haue altered all Iudahs religion to deuoure y e whole wealth of the nation 1 The golden head and the great tree the power of Babel 2 Chaldy Shetar which terme is a gouernment styl and neuer as I finde for aside Madaj Paras 2. armes in one breast now set vp a ioynt gouernment § Three costes of the worlde from the east which afore it helde West North South as it is tolde chap. 8 4. ‡ or costes * Esay 21. Vp Elam ascende Madaj 3 Alexander the great and Graece for the first partition that was brought vnto foure Perdicas or Antigonus Ptolemy Seleucus and Lysimachus 4 The Seleucidae Lagidae the two legges ‡ Antiochus Epiphanes ‖ Kinges ¶ Antiochus Epiphanes was not right heire but as a priuate man as a friend to the kinges whom by much policie he defeated * One for God the other for Ben Dauid as R. Akibah confesseth in the Talmud Sanadrin in Dine Mammonoth page 38. b. ‡ As in the Images ruine he began with the legges first and not with the head that first perished â—o here first he speaketh of the last for y e safetie of his owne nation that the Chaldeans should pike no quarrel for this vision § The Iewes graunt Christ to be here so termed and yf we had not deceyued them by missing of reconcilyng S. Mathew S. Luke by forging a generall fourth Monarchie and by a false chronicle refusing the playnnes of Daniel chap. 9 â—4 by al lykelyhood they wold long ago haue come to the fayth * The incarnation of our Lord comming into the world in the yeere 3927. § When our Lord continually tearmeth him selfe the Sonne of Man in the foure Euangelistes he most graciously calleth vs to weigh this text ; Our Lord hâ—s ascentâ—oÌ„ at 490 after Daniels yeere of praying for returne Y.W. 3960. subduct thence three yeeres an halfe for our Lord his preachyng by Dan. 9 25. and full 29 yeeres for his age by the Law in Nâ—m 4.3 for 30. yeereâ— of age to do worke in the Tabernacle as S. Luke noteth his age and you may see how Daniel knew when our Lord should be borne After Babels fall yeeres 457. †The conclusion of our Lordes prayer most heauenly calleth into our myndes this speach and â—eacheth of the king of eternity the vncorruptible which ioyneth Iewes and Gentâ—les in one kingdome ¶ The proper meanyng a They are sauage beastes in consideratioÌ„ of theyr dealyng agaynst the familyes of our Lordes ancestours the house of Zorobabel the nation that shold haue their kinges from it b He speaketh y e terme kinges rather the kingdomes that the next verse short in the Chaldy shoulde not be mistaken and y e none should thinke of foure kings to hold a kingdome for euer yea for euer and euer He was to speake short as wyllyng to hyde his mynde from sauage heathen c Theyr arysing what it meaneth it may be gathered by the next verse arysing ouer the kingdomes of the sainctes and withholdyng it d The house of Zorobabel Abiud Rhesa and the godly of theyr nation e Highest is in the plurall number in the Chaldy for the singular as Aben Exra noteth We may be sure that it is spoken so to teach vs of the diuine persons as Abraham speaketh Gen. 20 13. and Dauid 2. Sam. 7 22. Here it was fit in a distinct vision of the sonne and the father as thrones are plurall vers 9. f The translation vsed in our Churches is singuler in this poynt and the Geneua can not stand with colour of diuinity reason or with the termes For euer euer g The house of Zorobabel who should haue inherited the kingdome of Iudah hath in lieu of that the cheefest glory that can be geuen to be pronounced saued for euer before they were many of them borne Theyr names haue notation fitted hyther Zoro-Babel fanne Babel that the Golden head as the rest of the Image became lyke chaâ—fe Dan. 2 35. So these names are agaynst the Persians Abi-hud My father oweth the glory Eliakim God is he that setleth c. All styll had relation vnto this text and so we may see what a stately Vlam or Porch the Genealogy maketh before the temple of the New Testament and a goodly commentary vpon this place h Partly vnlyke because two kinges Syria and Egypt both claymed ryght ouer Iudah since the dayes of Seleucus Nicator and Ptolemy Lagâ— and made continuall warres for it but vnlyke also in cruel spoylyng and hatred of relygion which Babel Madaj Alexander more fauoured i Of the kings Seleucidae Lagidae which greatly troubled the kingdoÌ„e wher the house of Zorobabel should haue reigned to the glory comfort of all the worlde a Iudah c Antiochus Epiphanes who defeated his brother Seleucus his brothers sonne the sonne of his sister Queene of Egypt d Daniel cha 8 11. enlargeth this of the vilenes of Antiochus EpiphaÌ„es further of his endeuour to haue abrogated y e Iewes religioÌ„ e Sabbathes Passeouer Pentecost ExpiatioÌ„ day the feast of Tabernacles new Moones y e seuenth yeres rest such f All Moses ceremonies g A tyme here is a yere tymes two yeere and halfe a tyme halfe a yeere h About 150. yere before our Lords birth are spent in this wastyng to the vttermost of Syria Egypt where warres among them selues the Machabâ—es most of all the Romans coÌ„sumed theÌ„ which long destructioÌ„s are handled in Ezekiel 38. 39. i Saluation commeth from the Iewes k Vpon this al the new Testament goeth Paul to Timothe speaketh when he checketh the Iewes not knowyng whereof they spake aduanced the Gospel and prayse of the king eternal vncorrupt vnuisible God only wyse Also the ReuelatioÌ„ after the destruction of Ierusalem is a heauenly commentarie vpon this part Perek 1. page 56. col 4. * vers 23. * And almost the fourth as Ralbag noteth a The Iewes coÌ„monly hold as in the Palnâ—ud in Megilah that this was the last Y. of Belshazar not long before the mâ—ttars of the fift chapter b In the first of Belshazar cha 7.1 c Not in a dreame on night but awaked in a vision The armes brest and the Beare are here now in y e 〈◊〉 vision that uâ—ah should be â—â—llâ—â—ll in this matter d Vbal in Dan. is not in the Bible but in this vision twyce Iubal in Ebrew is a Riuer The affinity of Eulai the flood sheweth that there it should be so takeÌ„ for a râ—uer e Madaj Paras were kingdomes of great fame before they conquered Babel Madaj of olde the stouter and Paras kinges Cyrus Cambyses Darius Histaspis had reygned all in seuerall authority some good yeeres before Babel fell as theyr yeeres by Greekes are reckoned a Al the Brasse and â—ron cha 2 Also the Leoparde and the fourth beast ar
childlesse the counsell of God in the kingdomes fall the blessed title of Nathans house the high Sainctes and kings for euer the thrones one for God and an other for the sonne of Dauid the setting vp of kingdomes to deale with Dauids throne to take notice of their Religion the time of a kingdome eternall prefixed in a most plaine speech long before and made famous by 120. nations paying Iuda a subsidie to returne and our Lordes mediation from the Gospell this being done Daniels matters wilbe all knowen vnto vs. The tongues which he vseth may somewhat trouble vs why he should write the greater part of his booke in Chaldie and the same matter againe in Ebrew and why his Ebrew hath affected peculiaritie of phrases yet reasons sensible may soone be rendred The Chaldie tongue was both knoweÌ„ to his natioÌ„ should soone be their vsuall wheÌ„ they had lost their owne in Babylon Besides the North East South Dialectes Syriaque Arabique Aethiopian were neare the Chaldie so that with a little paynes they might learne it Now it was fit for Dauids throne ruling all the world to be penned into the largest language of the world and then most florishing So he sheweth that God setteth vp kingdomes and putteth down kingdomes and how a kingdome froÌ„ heaueÌ„ staÌ„deth for euer This he teacheth in Chaldie as also the state of the world to come neuer shewed so clearely before He declareth how the faithles tyrants perish for euer and Iuda raigneth by Christ as by him also all nations do VVheÌ„ his visions name the oppressours and his nation the oppressed then he writeth in Ebrew and prophetique phrases knowen onely to his learned brethren The summe of him is this and his phrase is thus I thinke my commentations vpon him somewhat profitable to the good of our state Them I commend to your L L. to be regarded according to the sage honour of her M. gouernement Your Lordships to commaund HVGH BROVGHTON To the Christian Reader of Daniels plainnesse WHen this Prophet is cleared from the opinion of hardnesse which men do conceiue of him then with hope of perfecting labour desire to reade him wil increase And the holy man must be cleared For otherwise men would think Daniel a tormeÌ„ter of soules rather thâ—n a teacher if he wrote vnto all nations in their greatest perplexities matters vnfit for their capacitie Besides the duty of clearing him facilitie will be at hand For the matters which onely make him hard are soone taught Stale errours still hinder the negligent in the truth who runne vpon custome and will take no paines to examine the right But thus it doth stand When the promise of Nathan is considered touching the throne of Dauid to stand for euer and the case of Salomonâ— house weighed how in Iechâ—nias it fayled vtterly then the house of Nathan the next brother cometh in first Zorchabel then two families of him Abiud for the Kings right Rhesa father vnto our Lord then the hardest part is gone All must graunt that this hath bene long hid For scant any of the world marke our Lords right line from the text Yet a few words might open it fully Onely many vnpatient of the truth cause griefe and thereupon some more difficulty otherwise all here requisite might be soone knowne For the matter is the easiest standing vpon a plaine storie and the principles are so few that a child might write them They are often handled that such as care for theÌ„ may be instructed many wayes The next matter of darkenesse ariseth touching the nations oppressors and oppressed The doubt sprang for that Daniel in his Chaldy visions nameth neither The solution is easie In his Ebrew visions he nameth both the one and the other and they can containe no other matters then the Chaldy Therefore the nations in all are doubtlesse And seeing Cha. 8. in a vision vpon Babels fall Elam first next Iauan haue all the dealings vnto the ende of wrath the last dealer must be Iauan Also the afflicted in the last dealings are termed Daniels people and the holy people and they are afflicted for the holy couenant Where any may see of what times he was to speake For who knoweth not that the last afflictions that the holy Iewes had with loosing their lands reuenues was vnder Antiochus Epiphanes Now the nations being knowne the places wil be known And for vndoubted certenty the land Tzeby on the holy mountaine is named The soyle of the afflicted The middle sea and dead sea haue it betwixt them and Tzeby is in Ezekiel the attrihute of Iudaea And the places of the visions are the fittest for these poincts At Eular and Tigris the plaine sights were shewed Which should import dealings from Kings of those quarters All this while nothing bringeth in the Romanes They are reserued to greater harmes And such as bring them into Daniel where they are not blamed disturbe learning as much as they disturbe the world But Daniel is not to blame He giueth no cause why men should so deceiue themselues And thus these parcels the most in difficulty are made easie Another is no lesse vniustly blamed the time which he hath most cleare telleth plainly Yea onely he telleth when the first captiuitie began how he was of it The end is most famous in him And the phrases for our Lords death time would make a learned Varro amazed The seueÌ„ty Hebdomades We haue here greater matters theÌ„ how he at 84. had written seuenty Habdomades of books And neuer any could be plainer then he in that If we will not beleeue him but heathen forged studies we should try particulars So true heathen would beare record vnto Daniel Now heathen 2000. yeares haue filled all Libraries full of lyes with forged Olympiades forged Chaldeans forged Atchontes of Athens and forged Consuls that the vnstayed and vnlearned now adayes can triumph to see what store of leasings can be brought against Daniel But the same wil not see how all the millioÌ„s of Iudah of Christians vpon the other captiuitie writings checke the errour So againe Daniel is cleared One poinct remaineth his tongues where any may see that in the Chaldy he studied for plainnesse writing in the most generall tongue yet neare Arabique and so as most generall yet For his Hebrew the learned may not complaine for to them it is easie And all should be senslesse if in plaine matters and matters of daunger he might not haue leaue to hide his minde from the wicked Further difficulties we haue not in him after the consideration of Dauids throne and two families Salomons falling Nathans standing for euer of the nations oppressed long kept close for safetie in his later speeches named for certaintie of the oppressors likewise and of their countreys and last of his times and tongues The difficulties of which being softened none can tell what to imagine hard And to mollifie the readers labour I will contriue into matter following
and terme them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Darius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cyrus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Artaxashta Artaxasata or Artaxiasata as Strabo writeth townes named from the kings name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ahashueroth The fourth Daniel 11.2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Darius Artaxashta or Artaxasta thorough Ezra from Chap. 7. as the Massorites there note 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Darius These three are passed ouer in Nehemiah 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Artaxerxes These three are passed ouer in Nehemiah 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ochus These three are passed ouer in Nehemiah 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Darius Neh. 12. The Greekes whole Alexander the great the notable horne in the forehead of the Goate-bucke His posteritie Hercules and Alexander These with the principall parters of his kingdome make the bellie and the sides of brasse the Leopard with foure heads and the Goate-buckes notable horne and the foure that came vp for it The Greekes parted The Southerne all are in Strabo Geog. 17. Ptolemy Lagides 1. horne the king of the South Dan. 11.5 Ptolemy Philadelphus 3. horne v. 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bernice his daughter is married to the king of the North and killed Ptolemy Euergetes her brother 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 One that standeth vp from the Impe of her rootes 5. horne v. 7. Ptolemy Philopator 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 7. horne v. 11. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He in whose times the lawlesse Iewes will be stirring and perish Ptolemy Epiphanes He had with his wife Cleopatra Syria in dowrie v. 18. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â— horne The Northerne all are in Appians Syriac Seleucus Nicator 2. horne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 v. 5. Antiochus Soter who dealt in no special sort against the Iewes and therfore is omitted in Gabriels speech Antiochus Theos 4. horne v. 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Seleucus Callinicus soone killed Antiochus the great v. 10. 6. horne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hee that marrieth his daughter to the king of the South he shall also consume Iudaea Seleucus Philopater 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the taxer 9. horne v. 20. Antiochus Epimanes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the vile the 10. horne v. 21. These kings make the iron of the two legs and somewhat of the iron and clay thinking by mariages to make attonement for Syria and Iudaea but further falling out These also such as are noted with Hebrew make the ten hornes of the fourth beast and in these dayes the Iewes the high Saintes begin to recouer their kingdome In particularitie Daniel speaketh no further of them The clay weaknes of the Images legs Southerne Ptolemy Philometor and Ptolemy Physcon Ptolemy Lathurus Ptolemy Auletes the Piper Cleopatra Strab. 17. All after the third Ptolemy were corrupt in wantonnesse and ruled cruelly But the seuenth and eighth the Piper specially Northerne two at once Demetrius Soter Demetrius Nicator Antiochus brother to Demetrius he killed himselfe Cleopatra wife to Demetrius killed him she had maried her brother Antiochus and had children by Demetrius Seleucus and Ant. Grypus Seleucus was kild by his mother Cleopatra Grypus poisoned his mother Seleâ—cus he droue out Cyzicen was killed by Antiochus An. Cyzicenus he droue out Grypus Antiochus who maried his mother in lawe Selene Tigranes droue him out And Pompey refused to suffer his sonne to raignâ— Antiochus Eupator Alexander Diodotus who maried Ptolemies daughter Tryphon killed by Antiochus Trogus Pompeius noteth that thus by the discord of the brethren of consanguinitie the East became vnder the people of Rome And so all may see how iron and clay the mixture in mans seed not cleauing together giueth testimonie to Daniels vision Of the times and yeares which these kings raigned WHereas these prophane kings are compared with Scripture we must take heede lest we grant vnto them a longer time of raigne then the holy text hath for the same ages for so we disanull the authoritie of Gods word Yet former ages haue bene in that blame a long time This may be spoken of them in generall that the whole yeares of no kings out of Gods people haue or were to haue their whole summe in holy record Besides heathen are so vncertaine that they agree not for the yeares of any one king betwixt Nebucadnezar and Iulius Caesar Yet when heathen are throughly examined from age to age by particular testimonies and by the liues of most famous men they shall be found to agree very well so with that which Scripture testimonies liues require Though strong errors like hedges of thornes stop the passage of the truth The truth must be confirmed from them for better satisfaction of such as braue more in heathen studies then Diuinitie Of the Chaldeans time of raigne THe Iewes agree vniuersally that from the first of Nebuchadnezar vnto the death of Belshazar the time is seuentie yeares And if Christian Commenters had followed them in that agreement and truth it had bene better with vs. Whereas the second captiuitie by some the third by some others is made the beginning of the seuentie yeares so a great rent is made in the holy storie Of the Persians true times and erronious sleights that deceiued From Darius Hystaspeos age about 20. at Babels fal he liuing but 43. vnto Xerxes warre 6. yeares after his death are 30. yeres Then Artaxerxes raigned at home Herod and Ctes Artaxerxes in all 42. Clem. 1. Storm He died in the seuenth of the Peloponnesian warres Thuc. Ochus 8. cleare y. 16. with his father 11. with his son Artaxerxes 42. Clem. Ochus three Darius about fiue Summe 130. Of the Grecians times from Clemens but Epiphanius differeth in twelue yeares excesse and Maximus Monachus cometh shorter Alexander sixe yeares Ptolemie Lagides fortie Ptolemie Philadelphus seuen and thirtie Ptolemie Euergetes fiue and twentie Ptolomie Philopator seuenteene Ptolemie Epiphanes foure and twentie In this age Iuda recouereth their owne gouernement Ptolomie Philometor fiue and thirtie Physcon nine and twentie Lathurus sixe and thirtie Auletes nine and twentie Cleopatra two and twentie Summe 300. The Romans vnto our Lords death threescore years so arise 490. Thus we may see how they litle examined the heathen who could not see that some agreed most exactly with the Scripture Nowe Suidas hath for all the Greekes times about thirtie yeares lesse then Clemens They who thinke that true may pardon the Greekes thirtie in their fortie of excesse past from Lysanders vnwalling Athens or Phyle stirres in the life of them who sawe it and heard Dinarchus cite their testimony against Demosthenes after Alexanders death of which sort Aeschines and Demetrius Phalereus are cited by them selues and others Such as heard not of Greciaes most moÌ„strous lying may pay the one with the other In sound learning and religion that must stand in summe which best agreeth with scripture for the same times otherwise Greekes disagree for ech kings yeres The Nobles of
they and his wonders how mighty are they his kingdome is an euerlastyng kingdome and his power from generation to generation I Nebuchadnezar being at rest in mine house and floryshing in my palace Sawe a dreame which made me afrayde and the conceytes vpon my bed and the visions of myne head troubled me Then I made a decree to bring all the Sages of Babel before me that they myght make knowen vnto me the interpretation of the dreame Then came the Enchanters the Astrologians the Caldeans and the entral-lookers and I colde the dreame before them but they could not make knowen to me the interpretation thereof And at the last came before me Daniel whose name was Belteshasar according to the name of my God who hath the spirite of the holy goddes in him and before him I colde the dreame O Belteshasar Prouost of the Enchanters of whom I know that thou hast the spirite of the holy goddes and no secrete is hard to thee tell the visions of my dreame that I haue seene I meane the interpretation thereof Thus were the visions of my head vpon my bed I behelde and loe there was a Tree in the middes of the Earth and his height was great The Tree was great and strong and his height reached to the heauens and his shewe to the endes of all the earth His leaues were fayre and his fruite much and in it was meate for all vnder it were shadowed the beastes of the feelde and in his branches dwelt the foules of the heauen and from it was fed all flesh I behelde in the visions of my head vpon my bed and loe a watcher and an holy one came downe from heauen He cryed aloude and sayde thus Cut downe the Tree and croppe of his branches shake of his leaues and scatter his fruite Let the beastes flee from vnder it and the foules from his branches But leaue the stumpe of his rootes in the earth and that in a bande of Iron and Brasse in the tender grasse of the feelde and let it be wet with the deawe of heauen and let his portion be with the beastes in the grasse of the earth Let his hart be changed from mans let a beastes hart be geuen to him and let seauen seasons passe ouer him Babel is a tree Dan 4. as before Assur had bene Ezek. â—1 Nabucadnezâ—r driue from his Kingdome liueing with beastes 7. yeares restored to his honour da. 4 This dreame I king Nebuchadnezar haue seene therefore O Belteshasar tel the interpretation therof for as much as all the Sages in my kingdome are not able to shew me the interpretation But thou art able for the spirite of the holy Gods is in thee Then Daniel whose name was Belteshasar was astonied for an houre his thoughtes troubled hym The king spake and sayd Belteshasar Let neyther the dreame nor the interpretation therof trouble thee Belteshasar answered and sayd My Lord the dreame be to them that hate thee and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies The Tree that thou sawest which grew and got hardnesse whose height toâ—ched vnto the heauen and his shew through all the earth Whose leaues were fayre and his fruite mirch and in which was meate for all vnder which the beastes of the helde dwelt and 〈◊〉 branches of which the foules of the heauen kept Thou art it O King who art great and strongâ— for thy greatnes is growen and waâ—heth vnto heauen and thy power to the 〈◊〉 of the earth And whereas the king saw a Watcher an Holy one that came downe from heauen and sayde Cut downe the Tree destroy it yet leaue the stumpe of his rootes in the earth that in a bande of Iron and Brasse in the grasse of the fielde let it be wet with the death of heauen and let his portion be with the beastes of the fieldâ— tyll Hauen â—easons passe ouer it This is the interpretation O King and the decree of the most high which is come vpon my Lorde the king and they haue brought the vessels of his house before thee and thou and thy nobles thy wyues thy concubines haue drunke wine in them hast praysed Goddes of Silver and Golde Brasse Acon Wood and Stone which see not nor heare nor understande But thou diddest not honour God in whose hand thy breath standeth and whose are all thy wayes Then the peece of an hand was sent from before him and this Scripture written And this is the Scripture which is written MENE MENE TEKEL V-PARSIN This is the interpretation of the matter MENE God hath numbred thy kingdome and finished it TEKEL thou art weighed in the ballance and art founde wanting PERES thy kingdome is parted and geuen to Madaj and Paras Then commaunded Belshazar and they cleathed Daniel with Purple and a chaine of Golde about his necke and made a proclamation concerning him that he shoulde beare rule the thirde in the kingdome The same nyght was Belshazar king of the Chaldeans slayne And Darius ‡ In that there were Parsin partâ—â—s not of Madai onely but also of Elam we must know that Cyrus king of Paras or Elam was fâ—lâ—â— in Empire with Darius And of that we haue expresse warrant in 2. Chr. 36 20. where the Iewes are seruantes to the Chaldeans vntill Paras reigneth And there Cyrus telleth that the Eternall the God of heauen had giuen him all the kingdomes of the earth Which kingdomes if he had gotten them by inheritance quietly had not bin so in speciall sort sayd to be geuen him And this vniting was knowen to the heathen Greekes in whom the Persian armies are called Medes Aesch con Ctes and accordingly the 70. Translaters put for the Hebrew text Paras the terme Medes in this text 2. Chr. 36 20. applying themselues to the prophane Greekes kinde of phrase But Daniel here nameth Darius onely because matter touching him onely of the two Kinges foloweth in the next Chapter that the Reader shoulde not be troubled with any further questions touching Cyrus Whereas yet Arrianus noâ—eth that Cyrus was by Law-worshipped as a God No lesse then the decree folowing here geueth that honour to Darius in Cha. 6. Madai receiued the kingdome being about threescore and two yeeres olde CHAP. 6. The idolatrie of Madaj and Paras in making their Kinges Goddes with brutish penaltie vpon the contemners confuted by Daniel and iudged by the Lyons euen vnto a publique imperiall honour by decree for Daniels God The Chaldy wherein this Chapter is written by Daniel is mixt with Arabique which tongue the Persians here seeme to haue much vsed AND Darius thought it good to set ouer the Kingdome an hundreth and twentie Princes which should rule the whole Kingdome And ouer these three Stewardes of whom Daniel was principall to whom those Princes should giue accompt that the King should haue no damage Than this Daniel vsed authoritie touching the Stewardes and Princes as the
spirite was excellent in him so that the King thought to set him ouer the whole kingdome Than the Stewardes and Princes sought to finde occasion against Daniel concerning the Kingdome But they coulde not finde any occasion or fault Because he was faythfull that nothing amisse and faultie could be found in him Than those men sayd We can not finde against this Daniel any occasion vnlesse we finde it against him concerning the law of his God Than those Stewardes and Princes assembled with a stirre to the King and thus they sayd vnto him King Darius lyue for euer All the Stewardes of the kingdome Dukes and Princes Rulers and Lordes haue taken counsell to set a Statute imperiall and to confirme an Act that who so euer shall seeke a petition of any God or man for thirtie dayes saue of thee O King shalbe cast into the Lyons den Now O king set thou the Act and write a letter to be vnchangeable according as the law of Madaj and Paras is not to be altered Hereupon king Darius wrote the Letter and Act. And Daniel when he knew that the letter was written went into his house and his windowes being open in his chamber towarde Ierusalem three times a day he kneeled on his knees and prayed and gaue thankes before his God as he did afore-time Than those men bestirred them togeather and found Daniel making petition and crauing grace before his God Than they came and spake before the King concerning the Act imperiall Hast not thou written an Act that euery man that seeketh to any God or man for thirtie dayes saue to thee O king shalbe cast into the Lyons denne The King answered and sayd The thing is true According to the law of Madaj and Paras which is not to be altered Than they spake and said before the king Daniel of the children of the Captiuitie of Iehude nothing regardeth O king thy decree nor the Act which thou hast written For three times a day he maketh his petition Than the King when he heard the matter was much displeased with himselfe and for Daniel set his hart to saue him and till the Sunne went downe he labored to deliuer him Than those men kept a stirre with the King and sayd to the King Know king that it is the law of Madai and Paras that no Act or Statute which the King setteth may be changed Than the King gaue-sentence and they brought Daniel and cast him into the Lyons denne The king spake and sayd to Daniel Thy God whom thou seruest alway he will saue thee And a stone was brought sayde vpon the mouth of the denne and the King sealed it with his Seale with the Seale of his Nobles that the wil might not be changed concerning Daniel Than the King went vnto his Palace and conceaued-all-nyght fasting and would haue no musicke to come before him Also his sleepe fled from him Than the King arose in the dawning at day breake and went in all haste vnto the Lyons denne And when he approched vnto the denne he cryed vnto Daniel with a pitious voyce The king spake and sayd vnto Daniel O Daniel the seruant of the liuing God Thy God whom thou seruest alway hath he been able to saue thee from the Lyons Than Daniel talked with the King O King liue for euer My God sent his Angel and shut the mouth of the Lyons that they haue not hurt mee because before him clearenes was founde in mee and also before thee O king I had done no hurt Than the King was exceeding glad for him and commaunded to take-vp Daniel out of the Lyons denne And Daniel was taken-vp out of the denne and no hurt was found on him because he beleeued in his God Also by the Kinges commandement they brought those men which made the accusation against Daniel and into the denne of the Lyons did they cast them their children their wiues and or-euer they came at the ground of the denne the Lyons had the maisterie ouer them and brake-in peeces all their boones Then Darius the King wrote to all people nations and languages which dwell in all the earth Peace be multiplyed vnto you I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdome men tremble and feare before the God of Daniel For he is the lyuing God and continueth for euer And his kingdome is that which shall neuer be corrupted and his dominion shalbe vnto the ende He saueth and deliuereth and worketh signes and wonders in heauen and in earth who hath saued Daniel from the power of the Lyons So this Daniel prospered in the reigne of Darius and in the reigne of Cyrus the Persian CHAP. 7. The Kingdomes which were showed for the capacitie of Nebuchadnezar in a goodly Image are now agayne shewed aboue 60. yeeres after the other to the prophet Daniel him selfe in the formes of foure Beastes And whereas their worldly destruction was likened to chaffe caried away by the winde now their eternal punishment is expressed by fire And the Stone afore cut from the Mountayne is here the Sonne of Man honored with the throne of the eternall Father IN the first yeere of Bel-Eshe-zar king of Babel Daniel saw a dreame and visions of his head vpon his bed Then he wrote the dreame euen the head of the matters he declared Daniel spake and sayd I saw in my vision by night and lo the foure mindes of the heauen did striue vpon the great Sea The Jmages metalles in Daniels sight ar◠beastes * The Golden head is nou◠a Lion the armes and breast are a bear◠setting vp on Gouernment from ◠East to three costes * 〈◊〉 The Grekes are boeth these beastes first the state whole and son◠after come to foure chiefe thence they of Magōg and Egypt * And foure great Beastes came vp from the Sea one diuers from an other The first was like a Lyon had Eagles winges I behelde til his winges were pluckt off by which he mounted aboue y e earth and he was forced to stand on the feete as a man and a mans hart was geuen him And lo an other Beast the second was like a Beare which erected one gouernement and had three ribbes in his mouth betwixt his teeth and thus they sayd vnto it Arise and eate much flesh After this I behelde and loe there was an other like a Leoparde which had foure winges of a birde vpon his backe And that Beast had foure heades Also dominion was geuen vnto it After this I behelde in visions by nyght and loe the fourth Beast was exceeding fearefull terrible and hard as hauing great iron teeth It deuoured and brake in peeces and stamped the residue vnder his feete and it was vnlike all the beastes which were before it and it had ten hornes As I considered the hornes loe the last horne came vp a litle one amongst them three former
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
of them as here verse 26. A litle must be spoken of the euening morning 2300. at touching the story Thus Abraham Aben ezra expoundeth it I think this the plaine meaning of it that sixe yeeres and certaine monthes Israel continued in the dayes of Antiochus in great affliction And so it is written in the Greeke storie And beholde this number is of meere dayes and the sense Two thousand and three hundreth morninges or dayes And they make sixe yeeres of the Sunnes yeeres and three full monethes And they are dayes after the Moones yeere neare sixe yeeres and an halfe Therefore the Angel sayd And the vision of the euening the morning is true he meaneth that so it is properly This much Aben ezra confesseth which confession of his will châ—cke all the Iewes further errours for the fourth kingdome Likewise Ralbag holdeth the rest of the speach to be of Antiochus that tormented the Iewes This must be againe touched with the phrase the last ende of wrath vers 19. that the Romans thereby are none of Daniels foure kingdomes Here properly are they named that folow y e head aâ— lion Babel The Ramme iâ— the Kinges of Madai and paras The buck is the Kinge of Iauan the horne betwixt his eyes is the first King Alexander y e foure are the foure Christ Kingdomes one lyâ—le horne iâ— Antiochuâ— Epiphanâ—â— CHAP. 8. Daniel seeth now not in a dreame in the night as in Cha. 2. Cha. 7. oppressours of the Iewes vnnamed but in a vision awaked nations properly termed arising and cut off Madaj and Paras Iauan or Grece And what maner a Greeke shall practise the ende of Gods wrath against the Holy Daniels people This chapter expoundeth the second and the seuenth and telleth by implication the certaintie of Babels fall by the arising of the Persians Remember that in time this matter went afore that of the 5. chapter IN the thirde yeere of the reigne of king Belshazar a vision was seene to mee to mee Daniel after that which was seene to me afore And I saw in a vision and thus it was In the seeing I was then in Susan the palace Royal which is in the Prouince of Elaâ— Now I saw in a vision and when I saw it I was at the Riuer Vlaj Then I lyfted vp myne eyes and saw and beholde a Ramme stoode before the Riuer and he had two hornes and the two hornes weâ—â— high but the one was higher then the other and the highest came vp last I saw the Ramme pushyng VVestwarde and Northwarde and Southwarde and no beastes could stande before hym and none coulde delyuer out of his power but he did as he lysted and became great And as I minded this behold a Goate Bucke came ouer the face of the whole earth and touched not the ground and this Bucke had a notable horne betweene his eyes And he came vnto the Ramme that had the two hornes whom I saw standyng by the Riuer and ranne vnto him in the heate of his strength And I saw him come euen vnto the Ramme and he dealt fiercely with him and he smote the Ram. brake his two hornes And there was no strength in the Ramme to stande agaynst him but he cast him downe to the ground and stamped on him And none coulde delyuer the Ramme from his power And the Goate Bucke became exceeding great and when he was at the strongest that great horne was broken and foure the most notable grew for it towarde the foure windes of the heauens And from one of them came foorth a litle small horne but became great exceedingly towardes the South and towardes the East and towardes the Tzeby And it became great against the armie of heauen and it fell vnto the ground some of the armie and of the starres and stamped vpon them And he would be great agaynst the Prince of the armie and by him was taken away the continuall Sacrifice and the place of his Sanctuarie was cast downe And an armie was set against the continuall Sacrifice for sinne and it cast downe trueth vnto the ground and preuayled and prospered And I heard an holy one speake and an holy one sayde to PALMONI that was speaking How long shall endure the vision of the continuall Sacrifice and of sinne causing desolation to set the Holy and Armie to be stamped vpon And HE said vnto me vnto the euening-mornyng two thousand and three hundreth Then shal the Holy be clensed Now when I Daniel had seene the vision and sought for the meaning beholde there stoode before me like the similitude of a man And I heard the voyce of a man at the middle of Vlaâ— which called and sayd Gabriel make him there to vnderstand the vision So he came where I stoode And when he came I was frighted and fell vpon my face And he sayd vnto me Vnderstande O sonne of Man that for the time of the ende the vision is Now as he was speaking vnto me I fell in a slumber vpon my face to the grounde But he touched me and made me stande vp where I stoode And he sayd Beholde I will shew thee what shalbe in the last ende of wrath The Ramme which thou sawest hauing two hornes are the kinges of Madaj and Paras the hearie Bucke is the king of Iauan And the great horne betweene his eyes is the first king And that being broken the foure that stoode vp for it are foure kingdomes that shall stande vp stoutely from the nation But not in the strength of the other And in the ende of their kingdome when sinners shall come to the full there shall stande vp a King hard faced and mindyng hid thinges And his strength shalbe strong and not by his owne strength And wonderfully shall he destroy and prosper and preuayle and shall destroy the strong and the holy people For through craft he shall cause deceite to prosper in his handes And in his hart he shalbe great and in peace he shal destroy many and he wil stande vp against the Prince of princes But he shalbe broken-downe without hand And the vision of the euenyng and of the mornyng which was tolde is true Now shut thou vp the vision for it shalbe after many dayes And I Daniel was striken sicke certayne dayes and I arose and did the kinges busines and I was astonied at the vision But none could marke it CHAP. 9. At the ende of the 70. yeeres captiuitie Daniel praying for returne is tolde that the deliuerie to Ierusalem is presently graunted him and the eternall by our Lordes death is shewed that it shalbe at seuen times seuentie Y. from the houre of his prayer So long Ierusalem shall haue the prerogatiue to be the holy Citie But then the Heathen shalbe equal in the couenant and al Moses ceremonies must cease For
enforcement to beholde that Christ will destroy the Citie and Holy place in the age folowyng His prayer is penned with speciall regarde euen of the very Ebrew syllables to the prophets from whom the matter of his speach is taken Those places must be marked IN the first yeere of Darius the sonne of Achashuerosh of the seede of Madaj in which he was made king ouer the realme of the Chaldeans In the first yeere of his reigne I Daniel marked by bookes the number of the yeeres whereof the word of the Lord had been vnto Ieremie for accomplyshing in the ruines of Ierusalem seuentie yeeres And I turned my face vnto the Lord the God and sought by prayer and supplication and fasting and sackcloth and ashes And I prayed vnto the Lord my God saying Oh Lord the mightie God the great and fearefull who keepeth the couenant and the mercie toward them which loue him and towarde them which keepe his commandementes VVe haue sinned we haue transgressed we haue done wickedly we haue rebelled and we haue turned backe from thy commandementes and from thy iudgementes And we haue not obeyed thy seruantes the Prophets which spake in thy name to our Kinges to our Princes and to our Fathers and to all the people of the land Thou hast O Lord the righteousnesse and we open shame euen this day euery one of Iudah and the dwellers of Ierusalem and all Israel the neare and the farre off through al the countries whither thou hast dryuen them for their offence wherein they haue offended thee O Lord we haue open shame our Kinges our Princes and our Fathers as we haue sinned against thee The Lord our God hath the tender mercies and forgiuenesse albeit we haue rebelled against him And haue not obeyed the voyce of the Eternall our God to walke in his lawes which he hath layde before vs by the ministerie of his Seruantes the Prophetes Yea all Israel haue transgressed thy law and turned backe that they woulde not heare thy voyce Wherefore there is poured vpon vs the curse and the oth that is written in the law of Moses the seruant of God Because we haue sinned agaynst him And he hath confirmed his wordes which he spake against vs and against our iudges that iudged vs. For vnder the whole heauen hath not bene done the like as hath bene done vpon Ierusalem As it is written in the Law of Moses all this euil is come vpon vs. Yet haue not we besought the eternall our God that we might turne from our iniquities and vnderstand thy truth Therefore the Lord our God was watchfull concerning the euill and brought it vpon vs. For the Lord our God is righteous in all the works which he hath done seeing we obeyed not his voyce And now O Lord our God that hast brought forth thy people out of the land of Egypt by a mighty hand and hast gotten thy selfe a name as this day we haue done wickedly O Lord according to all thy righteousnesse let now thine anger and thy wrath be turned away from thy citie Ierusalem thine holy mountaine For because of our sinnes and for the iniquities of our fathers Ierusalem thy people are a reproch to all that are about vs. And now heare O my God the prayer of thy seruant and his supplication and make thy face to shine vpon thy sanctuarie that lyeth desolate for the Lordes sake Encline O my God thine eare and heare open thine eyes and see our desolations and the citie whereupon thy name is called for we present not our supplications before thee for our righteousnesse but for thy great tender mercies O Lord heare ô Lord forgiue ô Lord giue eare do defer not for thine own sake ô my God For thy name is called vpon thy citie vpon thy people And as I was yet speaking and praying and confessing my sinne and the sinne of my people Israel and presenting my supplications before the Eternall my God for the holie mountaine of my God Euen as I was yet speaking the man Gabriel whom I had seene afore in a vision came vnto me flying with vehemencie vntill he touched me at the time of the euening oblation And he gaue vnderstanding and talked with me said Daniel I am come forth to giue thee skill of vnderstanding At the beginning of thy prayers came forth the word which I am come to tell because thou art greatly beloued Therefore conceiue the word g and perceiue the cleare vision The cleare vision for the certaine time of redemption vvherein the Iewes through all the Gospell agreed and also all the East as Iosephus recordeth and Tacitus and Suetonius do both touch it Seuentie seuens of yeares is pared out for thy people and for thy holy citie to consume wickednesse and to abolish sinnes and to make reconciliation for iniquitie and to bring righteousnesse euer-lasting and to seale vision and prophet and to shew-Messias the Holy of Holiest Of the 70. seuens SEuentie seuens make 490. in ordinary speach But that Daniel might conceaue how at the beginning of his prayer vpon considering of Ieremy for that 70. yeares of captiuitie ended God tooke notice of his meditation the Angel toucheth that seuentie shewing how exactly seuen times that space is declared afore hand for the Iewes prerogatiue continuance of Ceremonies and meditation how reconciliation of sinne is truly made That euery Sabbath in the meane vvhile they might learne to enter into the rest of Christ How the 70. seuens end the holy Chronicle FIue as it were chaines of time are in Scripture all drawen through so many seuerall matters The first is cōtinued through the Ages of the Fathers vnto the death of Terah who falling into Idolatrie gaue occasion to end that honour of making the Fathers to draw the worldes age in theirs After the death of Terah Abraham hath the promise of Christ and is called vnto Chanaan For that promise one tenour of certaintie is linked vnto the Lambe Temple and Salomons death after his Idolatrie and held on while Abrahams tribes held the faith of Christ Thēce a new state measure of it as a third chaine cōmeth in Iudah holdeth a kingdome vnto Sedekiahs captiuitie and Ieroboam draweth Israel to sinne vvhich time is termed Israels sinne by God to Ezekiel chap. 4. vvhen he sheweth vnto him the fall of Ierusalem with which fall also famous 40. yeares of Iudahs vvarning must end Which 40. are complete from Ieremies prophecying in the 13. of Iosias at the beginning of the 19. of Nebuchadnezer when the citie vvas brent And that continuance of Iudahs kingdome is in one summe giuen by God 390. y. Ezek. 4. The particulars vvherof are cast by the kings of Iudah Israel iust into that summe by sundry learned And Abraham Ben Dauid in Cabala sheweth that the Iewes vniuersally but that they hid
euent of this matter THe HeatheÌ„ for this story as in my former of Greeks must be my warraÌ„t Thus it dependeth vpoÌ„ the friendship vvhich vvas betwixt Ptolemie Lagides and Seleucus Nicator vvho ioyned helpe continually to make them selues strong Magas sonne to Ptolemie Lagides brother by mother also vnto Pt. Philadelphus maried the daughter of Antiochus Soter sonne to Seleucus He vndertaking warres against his brother Philadelphus caused his father in law to breake the league vvhich Seleucus and Lagides their two fathers made Therupon Philadelphus sendeth forces into Antiochus countries to busie him at home This much Pausanias recordeth in Atticis This breach wearying both sides might wel force them to seeke a new attonement which here the Angell telleth and Appiane the prophane writer doth recorde for good diuinitie vse in these wordes in Syriac After Seleucus the first successour vvas Antiochus surnamed Soter that is a Sauiour because he droue the French out of Asia He married his stepmother Stratonice like to dye for loue of her the Phisitian Erasistratus told the father Which matter is most famous in many Heathen vvriters and among them infamous And 2. Cor. 5. the H. Gh. seemeth to call his storie into minde Next vnto him vvas Antiochus begotten by that mariage called of the Milesians Theos the God because he did put downe their Tyrant Timark This God vvas poysoned by his wife two he had Laodice and Berenice the DD. of Ptolemie Philadelphus Laodice kild him and after him Berenice and an infant of Berenices In reuenge of that Ptolemie her brother being then king killeth Laodice marcheth vnto Syria and vnto Babylon and now first the Parthians rebell vpon the stirres in the kingdome of the Seleucidae Thou all might see vvho is the true God wheÌ„ the very enemies are sufficient iudges Foretel euents vvithout helpe none but God can Here an Angell from God foretelleth matter most fit for the Iron Clay shewed to Nebuchadnezar 68. yeares ago and â—n heathen is an indefferent recorder of the euent And vve see then vvho be the persons vvhich the Angell speaketh off what daughter of a father king of Egypt is maried and to what king of Syria vvhat successe it had and vvho being an impe from her rootes reuengeth her death and inuadeth the others kingdome how they seeke by mariages to make agreement vvhich cleaueth together no better then Iron and Clay but that the marier and marieâ— dye for it and the killers vvith the killed pay for their doings These be most noble examples to shew the iustice of the Iudge sitting vpon a fierie Throne He that maried his fathers vvife vvhich verie mariage is most famous and infamous among the Heathen first is troubled vvith warres for his owne daughter that his incestuous sonne is driuen for peace to mary vnto the disturbance of all his kingdome and admitting a title of God dyeth not a men but by poysoning from his owne vvife Of Seleucus Callinicus Iustine vvriteth and bestoweth his â—7 Bâ—oke to be a verie fit Commentarie for the storie of this Prophecie and for the iustice of Gods iudgement There Seleucus through Laodices pricking forward beginneth his reigne vvith the death of his stepmother Bernice and her child Ptolemy her brother warreth the Cities in Asia reuâ—â—â— Seleucus fleate vvraâ—â— he scant saued his naked bodie◠〈◊〉 brother Antiochus banked for his kingdome tell robbers kild him Eumenes was much from him Ptolemy and the French spoyled him He dyed by a fall off an house so paying for his murther This the Heathen noteth So the king of the South shall come into the kingdome and returne into his owne land Of Antiochus surnamed the Great .6 horne But his sonnes shall warre and gather a multitude of great forces And the one shall continue voyages and ouerflow and ouer-run shalbe restored and shall warre at the others fortresse Of the great Armies of Antiochus and Ptolemy Philopator Polybius recordeth how Antiochus was put in hazard for all his kingdome beyond Taurus by Molon Alexander two brethren who despising his young yeares meant to haue hold all ChristiaÌ„s must marke that God wil haue his word true besides mans hope His elder brother Sel. Cerannus was soone dispatched But that Gods word may be cleare the other finding his owne mightiest seruants rebels God beside his hope doth bring them to horrible killing of themselues hath his enemies as Theodotus aboue named mightiest traytors for him he represseth being a child his home enemies and also beside hope preuaileth by his forraine so farre as God had foretold But wheÌ„ so much is accomplished then as farre againe beyond mans expectation God peyseth the ballaunce to the other side Ptolemy Philopator fled to Memphis his chief strength Agathocles and Sosibius his chiefe gouernors and counsellers had no better hope of safetie then to seeke delay by sending Ambassadors for peace and stirred the Rhodians Byzantians Cyzicens and Actolos to do the same WheÌ„ce wheÌ„ they came to both kings they found oportunity for Ptolemy to prepare all things needfull for warres Captaines of Greekes of best fame and of all sorâ—â—â— are obtained Souldiers from other bandes called vnto this seruice are dayly practised for all cheualrie and the Ambassadors from Antiochus vnto Ptolemy are â—n Memphis most gently entertained but see not what preparation he maketh in Alexandria Antiochus hauing obtained the most part of Syria and Phoenice had no great care to practise his Armie but thought that he should without warre haue the rest to yeeld and that Ptolemy durst neuer now hazard his whole estate In this hope he thought to match Ptolemies Ambassadours who came to him vnto Seleucia as much by pretence of iustice as by strength Antiochus sayd that his surprizing of Seleucia was no iniurie vnto Ptolemie because those quarters were won from Antigonus Monophthalmus by Ptolemies helpe for Seleucus not for him selfe and that then also Coele Syria by agreement was graunted vnto Seleucus that Ptolemy warred for Seleucus and not for him selfe and that this was the common graunt of all the Kings When Cassander Lysimachus Seleucus ouercame Antigonus they sware that Coele Syria should belong to Seleucus The Ambassadour from Ptolemy spake for their side of great Leage-breach of Theodotus treason of Antiochus inuasion of Ptolemy Lagides possessions saying that Lagides helpt Seleucus vpon this condition that Seleucus should haue Asia and he should hold Coele Syria and Phoenice to himselfe but after long debuting nothing was concluded and thereupon Antiochus prepared to winne the rest of Syria But Gaza is fortified by Ptolemy Sundrie townes Polybius reckeneth that he conquered Through he commeth to Berytos recouering Botrys and Theou Prosopon He burnt Trieris and Calamus by the way Of Sidon he missed but wanne Philoteria set vpon Iordan Thence he commeth to Atabyrion Tabor on a Mountaine fifteene furlongs high and surpriseth it There Hippolochus a Thessalian falleth vnto him from
Eusebius and other Christians vvould draw the Romanes in but vvould also haue heathen Christians to be afflicted here So the Angell is made to speake in the cloudes and all gracious Daniel sealed vp as vnexplicable and the stories drawen beyond Christ afore they reach neare vnto him and Iewes hardened and Christianitie vveakened and all Libraries pestered vvith errours of infinite confusion And vnlesse vve be content to rouoke our erroneous notes for the Romanes in Daniel chap. 2.7 and here 11. and likewise for Ezek. 38. and a little vpon Zacharie 6. for the foure Monarchies vve shall do our selues great iniurie and breake the law which forbiddeth to lay a stumbling blocke afore the blind and I feare be counted of small conscience in Religion He that vvould vvillingly continue an errour to disturbance of the Bible is no better affected then those foure beastes that goe into the riuer of burning fire Herein Printers should specially shew conscience that their actions continue not errour for gaine after blame iust and profitable Of Antiochus Parthian war and breaking without hand chap. 8. and casting into the fier chap. 7. But tydings shall trouble him from the East and from the North and he shall go forth with great heate to destroy and sacke many And he shall plante the tents of his court betweene seas at holy mount Tzeby and he shall come to his end and none shall helpe him CHAP. 12. A further explication of the afflictions vnder Antiochus Epiphanes and notes vpon the vvhole oration ANd at that time shall stand vp Michael the great Prince which standeth for the children of thy people and there shalbe a time of trouble such as hath not bene since there began a nation vnto that time and at that time thy people shalbe saued all that shalbe found written in the booke The better resurrection and the worse Eb. 11. to life and to Iudgement Iohn 5. For the many of them that sleepe in the earth of dust shall awake some to life euerlasting and some to all shame to lothsomnesse euerlasting And the wise shall shine like the brightnesse of the firmamēt they that turne the many to righteousnesse like the starres for euer and euer Of keeping close these Prophecies And thou Daniel shut vp the words and seale the booke till the ende of the time Many will search through and this knowledge shall encrease The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and hiding of the minde which Daniel vsed ANd here I thinke it not amisse to shew Daniels owne practise in style of sealing vp his sense euen where he vvriteth in the common language the Chalde tongue folowing the order of his Chapters And first of all though he onely handle the first captiuitie yet he vvould not date it from the first of Nebuchadnezar as lothing to haue a prophane king ouer Gods people to beare a date of their thraldome taking vnto himselfe being of Iudahs kings that honour of measuring the captiuitie So vers 1. and last of chap. 1. he must be vnderstood as setting the limites of the 70. yeares In chap. 2.1 he vvonderfully telleth the date from his owne standing afore the king closly comparing himself with Ioseph for the like time and Nebuchadnezar vvith Pharaoh In expounding the Image vvhen he began vvith telling how the feete perish and commeth last vnto the head that perished first this pleased Nebuchadnezar as though he should not soone fall In the same speach vvhen he ioyneth iron brasse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chaspa and Caspa clay and siluer he sheweth his care to please the cruell tyrant and his own readynesse of wit in the allusion besides the depth of the natures that siluer termed Caspa of desire is but Chaspa mere dust And through the whole matter his silence touching Iuda and leauing the oppressed by the iron as though all nations had felt the iron of the legges this holpe his people and the ignorance of his closenesse made 1500. yeares errour in vs. The third and fourth and fift Chapters neither needed nor suffred hiding therein he fully setteth forth the Babylonian shame and Gods glorie So in the sixt he dealt vvith the Persians The seuenth bears his vvit in Belesh-zar shewing that Bel becommeth a fire of sorow from the fierie throne Likewise in speaking first of the last beastes ruine and returning to speake of the former and vsing termes of equiuocation as vve yet mistake them that the Chaldeans could picke no quarell For thus the vvordes might seeme to meane vers 12. Concerning the others beastes they had taken away their dominion yet their liues vvere prolonged for a certaine time and season What the argument calleth for and how the vvordes will abide another sense all may see Like vers 18. Vau signifying And or vvhich the taking one for the other vvould keepe Daniels people from blame and they might see an exposition in the Chapter Therein also his terming of the Iewes the Sainctes of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 them the holy Trinitie that conteined no danger yet great vvisedome While the kings of Iudah liued Iakim Iackin Zedekias prophane as heathen God vvould shew kingdomes ouer them in no vvorse sort then they vvould vvish to appeare as in the Image and then he gaue his own people no name a bad he might not a good vnder those kings he could not But vvhen Salomons house vvas extinct and our Lordes ancestours right commeth in then it was fit that a name should be giuen them of the highest approbation And all this vvhile he durst aduenture to vvrite in the commonest language of East and South to helpe many and danger none But chap. 8. vvhere Babels fall is gathered by Elam arising and Elam fell by Iauans arising the nations be named Iudah surely described to any Iew and he is commaunded to close it vp then he not onely dissembled his griefe for his people that should fall from being starres but vvriteth in Ebrew and vseth termes that amaze the vnbeedy vnto this day Palmonie Tzeby amazed the vvicked Iewes continually In the ninth he is vvonderfull vvhere while he penneth his own words he plainly teacheth by his stile how ready he was in Moses and the Prophetes When he penneth the Angels he maketh a cloude white towards Israel blacke towards Aegypt Thence a true Israel may looke to our Lordes death forward and turne vnto Moses euen by Sabbates iourneys and thence may see heathen confusion of stories In the tenth he hid his minde not telling vvherefore he fasted because in Persia he might not blame the kings hinderance of the Temple vvhen his griefe is relieued by shewing how foure kings Xerxes campe shall soone fade he knew that Tigris swift vvaters vvere a fit resemsemblance of the speede and knew that they should be punished for the Temple By keeping close his minde he saued his from danger And any that
which woulde cause them to be more hated of the heathen * In comparisoÌ„ of Iuda and in dealing against them vnto Antiochus Epiphanes or somwhat further § In mariages which are handled in cha 11.6 17. †When the kingdomes of the Selucides and the Ptolomies are fallen ‡ Iohn the Baptist looked to this and our Lord also saying the kingdome of heaueÌ„ is come and so did S. Paul 1. Tim. 1.17 ¶ witty Daniel telleth first how the last shalbe destroyed not how Nebuchadnezars house first should fall So he dealeth in Chap. 7. verse 11. 12. * This was about two yeres afore the captiuity of Iechonias an encoragement for the faythful to go willingly to Babylon their owne nobles being so aduaunced there * Y.W. 3408 * Chaldy officers must be tearmed of vs after ours next theirs in vse notation Seeing onely the captiued with Daniel are accused we may know that this was afore Iechonias captiuitie some yeere or two about Nebucadnezars seauenth yeere * The vnperfect speach argueth his heate * The doubtful wordes in the Heathens spech haue been wel taken of the ancient as they best myght meane * Yet wicked Ioakim would not ceasse to deale amysse in Iudah vntyl he was buried as an Asse and had his carcase made as dung being cast away vnburied Ier. 22. 36. * The common distinction of the chapter here agreed not with the argument wherfore I left it The chastisement of the Idolatrous king ‡ Y.W. 3443. * He had not conquered Egypt vntil after 27. of Iechonias or his owne 34 Ezek 30. Wherefore this vision should be about his 36. Y. And this proclamation about an yeere or two before his death at 45. Y. reigne 8. yeeres after the vision § Y.W. 3435. ‡ This place argueth that he forsooke not wholy his Idolatry * As Salomons Temple that seuen yeeres workâ— of many thousandes was by him destroyed That is He hath numbred he hath weighed and they deuide * We may see many reasons why the Chaldeans coulde not reade this Scripture They knew not God to be one and to rule mens affayres Besides they knew not their owne impietie but sayd in their hart There is no God Wherefore they knew not who should be weighed specially in the Ballance And touching the Medes and Persians now their besiegers they litle thought that they could surprise the strong Babel and bragged how they were victualled for 20 yeeres siege as Xenophon recordeth Thus the matter was hard for them The wisedome of Daniel is rare in his commentaries in telling first the storie of the true God in whom we liue mooue and haue our beeing after of Nebuchadnezars greatnesse and iust fall of worse dealing in Belshazar and therevpon how God numbred the yeeres of his kingdome and how the twise telling imported a numbring with a witnesse and full ending of it and whom specially God weighed and how he maketh the partition by Madaj and Paras who are the Parsin partners he departeth somewhat from the wordes to cleare the matter the better And we are to marke the liuely prouidence touching the families of Scripture Babel the oldest wicked monument which was buylt to the great ruine of all the godly Families by Nimrod the Nephew of cursed Cham to the great griefe of Sem and Iapheth wherevpon Adams one tongue was made 70. which Babel ended the Iewes language the first tongue that it was common in no Kingdome after that This kingdome is ouerthrowen by Madaj of Iapheth and Elam of Sem that all should here remember Noahs time and his speach touching Iapheth and Sem. The kinges of which two Patriarkes are presently called to the fayth ioyned in Conquest and Empire and proclayming of Gods trueth ouer all the worlde and both are taught in the heauenly Oration of Gabriel the cleare summe of both Testamentes from Dan. 9 24. And touching the syllables of Paras Peres as Gods eye regarded the allusion So Madai a Meater or Measurer is more euident and to be as well noted but lesse needed wanting being the playner that we might looke euen vnto Iapheths tongue how God ruled it in the geuing of a name to his thirde sonne Madaj * In MENE MENE †Xenophon had heard how Cyrus entred Babel on a nyght when the Chaldeans kept a great Feast and brake into the Palace when the Courtiers were banqueting kild the King § Darius being â—2 at the fall of Babel which reigned 70. yeeres falleth to be borne at the eight yeere of Nebuchadnezar when he caried the king Iechoniah captiue and all the Nobles and ten thousande valiant men and all Ierusalem and all sauing the base of the land and had caried away all the treasure of the house of the Lord and brake all the vessels of the Temple which king Salomon made Then Madai who with Elam must reuenge the cause of Iudah had a Prince borne Doubtlesse the wyse Iewes woulde tell the Medes of their expectation and the King would better affect Iudah I can not see to what better purpose Daniel should tel the kinges age then how God prouided a remedâ—â— when he strake * Darius Madaj a searcher out and a requiter Ezra the learned Scribe cha 10 16. vseth the worde Darios beside all ordinarie forme of grammer for to search iust in the letters of Darius in searching out impietie alluding vnto the kings name office Psal 10 15. * Y.W. 1471. A wonderfull yere for Babels fal Lionshumblenes the Angels oratioÌ„ two Emperours christian Proclamations a generall subsidy ouer 120 nations for Iudahs returne a Chaldy one but in ver 3 it is playne that principall is meant b When the originall is also our language as 15 tymes y-then or by theÌ„ in this chap. in Daniels tonge it is an ouersight not to marke it § The Chaldy terme of Daniel is also Ebrew from psal 2. in Wherefore did the heatheÌ„ RAGE or keepe a stir And doubtles Daniels spirite thought of Dauid his fathers terme * Chap. 5 13. § Chap. 2 12. a That the wyl of none should seeke further meanes to destroy Daniel b So Bath the Arabique here in Mat. 21 17. is taken Tenath fasting Dacheuâ—n musicque Cauâ—n windowes Bal an hart be Arabique in Daniels termes as Aben Ezra noteth c With a voyce not distressed as that of the king was Chap. 4 1. Chap. 4 6. Chap. 2 44. * Daniel transposeth y e dome-letter Aleph in y e kinges name geuing him closely a notation fit for the vision Bel-she-Azar is Bel is he that storeth ryches But this name is Bel on fire by the enemy God as I touched it afore The Massorites note the diuersitie of the writing vpoÌ„ Dan. 5 and translaters shold not omit that * For Babel destroyed Iudahs kingdome Paras meant once to haue destroyed the whole natioÌ„ in one day Alexander required Iudah to take the date from his conquestes to name the Priestes sonnes Alexanders all
yeeres So about 30. yeeres after Cyrus voyage this story of the Persians fell out and like the waters of sharpe swift Tigris the other kinges dayes fled away What times of the Persians Gabriel passeth ouer Soone after Xerxes voyage Darius a young king at home furthereth the Temples worke and acknowledgeth the hand of God to haue payde Kings and people for their hinderance Seeing his 20. toucheth the 49. for buyldyng Ierusalem as it was shewed els where his second falleth at 32. from the returne That Iewes and Gentiles may be founde to agree for one purpose by seuerall occasions The Temple and religion had no further hinderance by the Persians Wherefore the Angel passeth ouer all their tymes vnto Alexander yeeres neare 100. Ester Ezra Nehemiah Aggai and Zachari shew the further dealinges of those yeeres b The belly of brasse the body of the Leopard and the notable horne Alexander the great with all speede he conquered Asia and would needes be made a God vpon the successe that he did what he listed Of Iudea he required that their dates should be taken from his reigne and all the Sacrificers sonnes borne that yeere should be called Alexanders Into Graecia he sent to be helden a God of them And Callisthenes the Philosopher that disswaded him from seeking that honour was caried about in a cage in a most opprobrious sort That made him to be cut off quickly his family to be rooted out as the Angel foretelleth c Arideus his brother Philips sonne was made king in Macedonia Olympias Alexanders mother killed him Cassander killed her and poysoned Alexanders two sonnes Hercules and Alexander Paus in Boeot So Alexanders family was rooted out He that wil see further streames of fyre issuing from Gods throne vpon all these families how Cassander and his house fell and how all the rest shall finde this most plentifully marked in Greekes euen to euery one of his Macedonian Captaynes how all their families perysh sauyng two as God ordeyned afflicters of Iudah Diodorus Siculus recordeth much of this in his bookes 18.19.20 Appian Pausanias and Polybius parcels Thus it was After Alexanders death his principal Captaynes agreed that Alexanders brother Arridaeus should be King vntyll his sonnes came to be elder And Perdiccas should be Regent and Seleucus in his office Maister of the Horse an office next the hyghest And by counsayle the Prouinces were thus appoynted Ptolemy should haue Egypt Laomedon Syria Phylotas Lycia Pithon Media Eumenes Paphlagonia Antigonus Pamphylia Lycia and great Phrygia Cassander Caria Meleager Lydia Leonnatus Phrygia vpon Hellespontus Lysimachus Thrace Antipater Macedonia other prouinces should continue with such as Alexander had placed in them Hereupon riuers of fire flamed from the Throne Dan 7. and the spoylers spoyle them selues Perdiccas quickly killeth Meleager Ptolemy setled in Egâ—pt killed the former incumbent Cleomenes a friende to Perdiccas Perdiccas commeth agaynst hym with all his power is soone killed beyonde all mans expectation Antipater is then Regent and the partition altered and Antigonus made Byshop Episcopos of Asia and Seleucus Duke of Babylon After this Ptolemy also remoueth Laomedon from Syria and Iudea and holdeth it Philotas kilde Pithon he and Eumenes are kylde by Antigonus Antipater dyed by olde age thereupon styrres in Macedonia roote out Alexanders house when Olympias kilde Arrideus and Cassander sonne to Antipater kilde both Alexanders chyldren Antigonus he grew myghty and dryueth Seleucus to flight from Babylon to Egypt and becommeth so great that in Persia he was holden voyde of all controuersie the Lord of Asia he had robbed Seleucus of Babylon and wan Syria from Ptolemy and subdued vnto hym selfe all from Media to Hellespontus But Ptolemy recouered much of Syria agayne He Cassander rulyng Macedonia in his fathers roome and Ptolemy and Seleucus make now the foure heades of the Leopard and the foure notable HORNES Lysimachus onely of the small Dukes was least he also ioyneth agaynst Antigonus Antigonus the principal of the foure prepareth agaynst them and dryueth Ptolemies Garrisons from Syria and Phoenice or Iudea Ptolemy sendeth Seleucus to Babylon who recouereth his owne Countrey and Antigonus ouercame Ptolemy by sea at Cyprus where Demetrius his sonne is named a King by the souldiers Thereupon the rest also are of their souldiers crowned At the last Antigonus is kylde and his Countries parted among the foure Conquerours Seleucus obteyned Syria from Euphratres vnto the sea and hygh Phrygia And soone all thence to the ryuer Indus Here Iudea becommeth litigious in that Ptolemy had it lost it wan it and lost it agayne and at â—he last it falleth by a kinde of agreement for the most part to Seleucus Lysimachus after this was killed by Seleucus App. in Syr. And Cassanders chyldren were all kylde Paus So exactly and properly two houses onely remayne of all Macedonians that were souldiers with Alexander to be myghty in the worlde the one in Babylon and the North partes the other in Egypt Further matters of these two houses we may pursue vpon occasion offered from the textes folowyng a Ptolemy Lagides the fyrst HORNE b Egypt named vers 8. 42. 43. where Edom Moab and Ammon ioyned togeather helpe very much to keepe the speach certayne of what men it was to be vnderstoode The countries of Ptolemy Lagides are reckoned by the Poet Theocritus thus Eidyl 17. Egypt Pheoenice the Arabias Syria Lybia Ethiopia Pamphylia Cylicia Lycia Caria the Cyclades the knowledge of this wyl helpe vs for some speaches folowyng in this prophet and for Ezekiels 38. chapter c Daniel should regard his strength principally how it toucheth Iudah And so it fell out For Ptolemy soone after he helde Egypt inuaded Iudea and tooke Ierusalem on a Sabbath pretending frendshyp and not hostilitie Agatharchides Chius and Ioseph Antiquit. 12. d Seleucus Nicator or Conquerer the seconde HORNE e Alexanders not Ptolemyes though some take it so the whole tenour of the speach wyll haue it meant of a seuerall kingdome and not of Pto. Philadelphus The Angel speaking to Daniel knew that he would helpe hym selfe by the matter in all doubtfull tearmes And as I touched it afore he was to speake somewhat darkely for tht Iewes safety f Euen touching Iudea For though Ptolemy wan it from Laomedon and often recouered it froÌ„ Antigonus yet in the last conquest ouer Antigonus it was agreed vpon that Seleucus should hold Syria as his house pleadeth in Polyb. book 5. g Seleucus had kingdomes vnderneath hym 72. and was the greatest of all Alexanders successours He was so strong that when vpon a tyme a Bull going to be sacrificed of Alexander brake loose he alone set vpon hym and killed hym with his handes and no other weapon Whereupon he bare in his armes Hornes App. in Syriac This heathens obseruation is not vnfit to draw men further to consider how from his house hornes aryse in an other respect He buylt cities through his whole kingdome Sixteene Antiochias after his fathers name
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
Polybius will serue to shew his spoiling nature here touched How he came by his kingdom and was able to ouerflow Appian aboue shewed that euen by two wealthie kings helpes His pretence of right was the society made with his brother who I thinke is here named the Prince of the couenant or agreement To meane it of Ptolemy Philometor who reigned first sixe yeares after him it may be thought somewhat harder The spoiling and robbing of his owne countrey may well be vnderstood to be for Attalus and Eumenes armies that made him king against the states will who denied him the honor of the kingdomes He began to reigne in 137 of the Greeks 1. Mach. Which account must be taken from Alexanders death and not begin 14 yeares later where men imagine that because then Alexanders family was vtterly rooted out the Captaines were called first kings they fixed their date For if Claudius Ptolemie say true that from the first of Nabonassar 424. Alexander dyed the seuenth of Philometor is thence 574. The first of Philometor being at 142. after Alexanders death his seuenth should be at Antiochus his first and so he could not be set vpon by Antiochus This sheweth what vncertaintie heathen haue in their supposed exquisite particulars And herein Codoman deserueth prayses for amending the common errour from Greekes as we expounde them Likewise the Romanes recordes for Paulus Aemilius go hard whose triumph falleth after Antiochus death by the former recknings My partener Beroaldus herein twise followed the common errour which by the way I was to amend * 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 h With Antiochus dealings against Aegypt his doings against Iudaea fall out it he was to take still in his way His inuasiō of Aegypt is hādled in Liuie booke 45. How he pretended to helpe there one brother against the other two Ptolemies they were and wan all Aegypt but Alexandria and left it to th'elder brother But he had a great garrison still at Pelusium That made the elder brother suspect him and thanke him but onely for a fashion for all his helpe here it is told The brethren agreed Antiochus returned with a fleet by sea and campe by land into Aegypt and requireth Cyprus to be graunted him with Pelusium and the soyle about it Ptolemie craueth the Romanes ayde who then had their fleet neare Popilius is sent with letters from the Romane state commanding Antiochus to depart from Aegypt the king taking the letters said he would consult vpon an answer Then Popilius draweth a circle about him with his staffe and biddeth him consult within that He was fayne to yeeld though it greeued him to the hart Ptolemie thanketh the Romanes as hauing his kingdome by their fauour and Antiochus likewese sendeth to Rome word that they shall in all things commaunde him So we see how these legges draw now to be clay like and how the little horne hath broken once three hornes his brother his sonne Demetrius and his sisters sonne king of Aegypt whereby the mariages make iron to be clay * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vsed Daniel 1. only and here * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 24 6.5 Is a most oratorious expositiō of the phrase †2. Thess 2 4. Translateth this better then mans wit would * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. Pet. 2. * The Angel to Daniel or Iere. in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is plain which terme is for God not an Idol Iere. 16.19 He of purpose vseth all hard terms What could be hard vnto a learned Hebrew and who would let enemies know his minde * as chap. 8. ◠Ezek. 20. * The Romanes can not be holdē any of Daniels foure kingdomes * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Moses phrase Num. 24. vsed here made Daniel know by like reuolutiōs that the Romanes here arising shold afflict as these four kingdomes and hold on vnto the end and he knew that they should be the killers of Christ * The blasphemer of Christians Cornelius Tacitus commending this Antiochus saith that if he had not bene hindered by the Parthian warres he had drawen the Iewes from their as the blasphemer spake barbarous superstition As the testimonie of Sathan is cited in the Gospell so may his be hither for this Florus in Liuies abridgement LIX doth touch the warre of Anthiochus king of Syria and Phraates the Parthian But Tacitus commeth neare the wordes To destroy and sacke many Who the many be the next verse doth shew they that dwell betweene seas at holy mount Tzeby Now Tzeby vsed vers 16. and chap. 8.9 in Daniels owne phrase from Ezek. 20. was a plaine designatiō of Iudaea Moreouer the Babyloniā terme of a court Aphadno should argue a Babylonian king The terme hard to Greekes and plainest to Iewes and fittest for the matter to teach and saue them from harme that here beareth a sweet grace in it Moreouer the phrase planting of the tentes of his court is most fit for Antiochus who chasing at Iudas Machabaeus prosperities stayed halfe his army and his sonne with Lysias ruler of all from Euphrates vnto Aegypt to haue destroyed Ierusalem and the Iewes memorie vtterly Now the comming to his end is plaine that of one man not of a Romane Aristocratie all must be vnderstood and the breaking without hand touched in chap. 8. is in effect the same here where all mans helpe is remoued and sicknesse from Gods hand is closly meant 1. Mach. 3. and 6.
superioritie from Senear and Nemrod thence they and two more come against Abraham and fall And as Aegypt in Pharaoh after Babel troubled the Church so in these dealings they do that by admonition of place all might be better wayed Full many be the like reuolutions for places and times in the Ebrew stories which obseruation will helpe much The Angels demaund is like Iohn Baptistes of Christ for his Disciples surenesse not for his owne doubt The matter was shewed to Daniel Chapter 7. There commeth vp in the fourth beast one little horne which brake three hornes had eyes like a humane man but a mouth speaking great matters vntill thrones of iudgement were set vp and for the great words which the horne spake the beast was kâ—ld and the body cast into the fier There that horne made warre with the iholy vntill the auncient of dayes came and Iudgement was giuen to the Sainctes of the holy Trinitie and the Sainctes held their kingdome There the Angel expoundeth it of one king that should abase three which Antioch did first to Seleucus next to Demetrius thirdly to Ptol. Philometor The same should speake wordes against the highest and consume the Sainctes of the high Trinitie and thinke to alter times and law and touching that point they should be giuen into his hand for a time and two times and halfe a time Now the terme time put for a yeare was seene chap 4. in Neb. the Angel could not be ignorant of that But whereas all Antiochus dealings against Moses were 2300. dayes afore the 25 of Casleu to distinguish the whole rage from the remouing of the sacrifice that was to be noted And those dealings are termed wonders Seing the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 continuall sacrifice was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Christes death was the counsell of Christ in giuing that into a Tyrants controlment and the Sabbath which had bene since Adams time and his holy seruants to be tormented this was indeede a great wonder The reason was rendred chap. 11.35 and here vers 10. Christ telleth it in the same termes that the Angel vsed onely he altereth their order as I will shew when I come vnto the verse The answere foloweth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a speech of difficultie to the vnebrewed but plaine by the matter * The attire here the whole persons description chap. 10.5.10.5 sheweth a sacrificer holy and higher then the heauens Moreouer the gesture of standing vpon the waters importeth that of the Psalme how as God calmeth the waters so he calmeth the waues of nations And this vision answereth vnto Iobs speach that God walketh vpon the high waues of the seas The metaphors and visions of the Scripture haue a cleare resemblance of that which is taught for mens affaires Besides the gesture and oth calleth into minde Deut. 32. a comfort euen for these times I kill and make aliue I strike and I make whole and none can take away from my hand When I lift mine hand vnto heauen and say as I liue for euer if I whet the blade of my sword and my hand lay hold on iudgement I will requite vengeance vnto my aduersaries pay my foes I wil make drunke my arrowes with bloud and my sword shall eate flesh from bloud of slaine and captiue from the head of vengeance vpon the enemy Reioyce ô heathen with his people For he will reuenge the bloud of his seruants and pay vengeance vnto his aduersaries and be reconciled vnto his people The wordes of Moses begin their execution in this place and hold on vnto the full calling of the heathen So the gesture of lifting vp the hand and swearing calleth all this vnto Daniels minde The summe of the matter here conteineth two things the rage of Gods enemies and the punishment The rage is for three yeares and an halfe So the terme Time by synecdoche in Dan. 4. as I told was taken and Greekes commonly at this day call an yeare a Time and three yeares three 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 times This time was noted by Iosephus in Bell. Iud. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is Antiochus syrnamed Epiphanes surprised Ierusalem by force and held it three yeares and six monethes is cast out of the countrey by the sonnes of Chashmonai that is the Machabees He presently hindred the continual offring when his Idolatrous garrisons being abominations through Idolatry and desolaters by trade held the holy temple Iosephus also here handleth the brusing of the hand set vpon the holy people vnder the casting of Antiochus out of all the countrey The Rabbines commonly note the same euen in the Babylonian Talmud Rambam writeth a common place 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iohn 10. vpon the recouerie of the temple There also the driuing out of Antiochus is handled The Iewes testimonie should be strong against them selues good for our surenesse for fame of matter here told Thus RaÌ„bam writeth in his first Tome in Megilah Chanucha Perek 3. Tremellius nameth his worke Talmud In the time of the secoÌ„d temple Iauan gaue decrees ouer Israel and abrogated their Policie and suffred them not to studie the law and commaundementes and layd hold vpon their substance and their daughters and they went into the temple and made breaches and polluted the cleane And Israel was in great distresse through them which oppressed greatly vntill the God of our fathers pitied them and saued them out of the others hand and deliuered them and the Chashmonaim The Machabees the high Priests kild them and saued Israel from their hand set vp a king of the Prists more then 200. yeares afore the secoÌ„d desolation And when Israel preuailed against their enemies and destroyed them it was the 25. of Chasleu and they entred into the temple c. and for this cause the wise men of that generation ordeined that eight dayes beginning from the 25. of Chasleu should be celebrated with gladnesse and songes and they kindled candels in the euening at their houses doores euery night of the eight And these dayes are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dedication and they admit no mourning nor fasting as the dayes of Purim Thus the goodnesse of God forced them to keepe a famous memorie of their deliuerance from their persecution Vpon which storie they should looke into the Prophecie which none can denie to be for a vehement persecution and common reason would tell them that the first which fell out in the vehemency here told must needes be meant by this The consideration of this storie with the Prophecie would haue taught them of the person the teller of the time the high sacrificer who would himselfe suffer in like sort three yeares an halfe all gaine saying of sinners teaching that which these visions declared They held their owne kingdome about 150. yeares in reasonable quietnesse but they to whom Christ gaue victories disdisdained the office of white linen and continuall sacrifice and
hand vnto heauen and sware by him that liueth for euer that it shalbe for a time times an halfe at the finishing of brusing the hand that is vpō the holy people all these things shalbe finished Daniels demaundes concerning the time when the Iewes should begin to recouer their state from the Greekes with speeches of Christ touching the darknesse of all the oration and counsel for the afflictions of the godly And I heard but vnderstood not then said I ô my Lord when shalbe the end of these things And he said go thy way Daniel For the words are closed vp and sealed till the end of the time Many shalbe purified whited and tryed But the the wicked will do wickedly and none of the wicked will vnderstand but the wise will vnderstand And from the time of taking away the continuall sacrifice and of setting vp the lothsome of desolation dayes shalbe a thousand two hundreth and ninetie Happie is he that is patient and commeth vnto dayes a thousand three hundreth thirty and fiue And thou go to the end and rest and stand in thy lot vnto the end of the dayes The Conclusion Thus Daniel had a sufficient Cathechisme for all the world bringing the heauens downe vnto the earth that the earth might be exalted vnto heauen Daniel would teach heathen to season their humane stories with diuinitie Strabo knew that Nebuchadnezar was an Hercules reached vnto Spaine and brought a Colonie vnto Pontus But Daniel was to tell him who gaue the Lion such wings Diodorus thought the Chaldeās great Philosophers but Daniel telleth what deceiuers they were recordeth their own kings censure and how yong Ebrewes were found ten times better then they how corruptiō leasing was their practise how whē the king had forgotten his dreame they promise an exposition when he forgot it not but told them they could say nothing how a matter written from heauen on the wall chap. 5. passed their skill Hence Diodorus might haue bene wised Likewise Abydenus who recordeth Nauocodrosors traūce might by Daniel haue seene it clearer And so Herodotus might haue gottē more hearers in Olympia if to Cyrus surprising of Babel he could haue ioyned Daniels 5. chap. The same text would haue made Xenophōs Muses more Attique shewing how in bāquetting the Chaldeā king was kild Athenaeus with his Berosus and Ctesias for the same feast might see God serue with sauce So for Cyrus death Herodotus might haue learned the cause with learning Daniels fasting And the writers of Susan the Citie of Darius Hystaspis made the glory of Persia might see in Daniels visions chap. 8. Susans honours confirme his booke Aeschylus Herodotus might haue penned the one his Tragoedy the other his story more plentifully then they did of Gods stroke in Xerxes fall if they had looked into Daniel much they marked but might more Diodorus again with Arrianus for Alexander might haue seene all told in Daniel And Diodorus might haue marked frō what curse Alexanders Captaines made such a slaughter among thē selues Here he might haue seene why he should say that Ptolemy Lagides came vp by helpe frō heauē why Seleucus became soone greatest and haue brought true Prophecies for that Pausanias might behold to what vse he noted the affinitie and league betwixt Lagidas and Seleucidas and how Philadelphus name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 made famous the mariage beginning betwixt the two legges Appian and Iustin might haue made not Polybius Trogus but Daniel their author Polybius in the pleading for Syria might haue beheld Iudah cast as a bone betwixt two dogs Here Liuy had for him by whō it fell out that Antiochus came into the West with a camp of nations scant heard of in Italy Medes Cadusians such many names strange in West eares by whō Antiochus wanted counsell that he was soone brought to losse of almost all his death in Strabo Iustin should haue bin referred to Gods counsell in Daniel Iason of Syren that noted Church robbing in Seleucus should haue noted the text in Daniel And in Antiochus Epiphanes his comming vp into Syria his 3. voyages into Aegypt his crossing of Ebrewes lawes his death his vile nature Polybius Liuie Athenaeus Florus Appian all might know these dealings foretold Also Tully that termed Iudahs Religion a Barbarous superstition and the people a nation borne to bondage might guesse by Daniel that the iudge on the fierie throne the stander vp for Daniels people would haue his tongue pricked for those speeches And the same orator might haue guessed by skill in Daniel why the Romanes feared to helpe Aegypt the clay legs by their faigned Sybilles was heard by some Iewes counsell who would tell that when the legges were broken from God all assisters of them should be as resisters of God So Brennus of our nation with his great campe was plagued as a resister while the legges were iron and Antiochus that droue his company out of Asia was syrnamed Soteria Sauiour And therein Pausanias might haue seene the counsell of God Again where Vergil bringeth in Augustus triumph ouer Cleopatra and Antonie euen vltima Bactra frō East hence Extremos hominum Morino◠he might haue seene how God called nations from the rising of the sunne vnto the going downe to behold the breaking of Daniels image to thinke of a child comming from heauen as Vergil peruersly heard By Daniel not Venus Neptune Minerua nor Actius Apollo should haue bene the giuer of victorie but the God of heauen Daniel must needes be holden a stately authour that hath all these so much belonging to him and the goodliest part of all Vergils wit that in Augustus triumph licking the dust of the toes of Daniels image Yea former Romane affaires of Pompey and Iulius Caesar the one kild in Aegypt for helping the king the Piper out of the dust the other for Cleopatra those duly looked vnto would iustifie the firie throne of Daniel Yea all the stories of the Romanes comming vp being here yet not as enemies to Gods holy couenant but men rewarded for plaguing the legges all commenteth vpon Daniel Besides Augustus iest in Macrobius how it was better to be Herodes hog then his sonne that iustifieth the storie of persecution at our Lordes comming from the cloudes to make a tabernacle among vs. Ouer and besides all this the speech of wicked Tacitus against Christ crucified vnder Pontius Pilate and of Christian Religion these haue a good vse for Daniel and all the declaration of the Iewes calamities in the last destructiō of Ierusalem or euer since written by prophane heathen all serue Daniel alike And the matters are so plaine that if men would but grope they might haue found Christ in Daniel where the pompous of this world be fanned as chaf the wicked as beastes burne in fire vnquenched and the humble may finde iustice Eternal to shine like the sunne in the kingdome of the Father Psal 119.96 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
would be heathen-like kings and brought in Saducisme Yet our Lord called them much vnto consideration of this text For his disputations that he raised vp the dead at the later day his present miracles of the raising Talitha his being at the Dedication feast his speech there that he was the sonne of God his phrase of Lazarus sleeping taken hence from vers 2. his speech with Martha that he is the resurrection his perswasion that she acknowledged him to be the sonne of God which was to come into the world that is by Daniels phrase the Prince of the people which honour no created Michael might vsurpe and as I touched his suffring vnder the Pharisies a time two times and halfe a time from the 15. of Tiberius beginning vnto halfe his eighteenth all these dealings still called vnto these matters And this matter being twise told should haue bene easie vnto them specially hauing so many antecedents that nine hornes rushed afore Antiochus Epiphanes he was a long dealer not onely against Syria but also against Iudaea before this time of placing his garrison in Ierusalem commeth to be in recorde And seeing thrise here times neare halfe a seuen should fall out in straunge euentes they should looke diligently vnto our Lordes halfe seuen †Daniel hauing heard of affliction for three yeares and an halfe in generall termes hauing no note from what speciall marke the time should begin was to confesse that he vnderstood not He knew in chap. 8. that by dayes 2309. from Antiochus first checking of Moses law the temple should be recouered But knew not whence this account here should begin Moreouer by reason that the brusing of the hand plaguing the holy Ebrewes was here ioyned and he might well thinke that it should not fall out presently with the recouerie of the temple he was to require a further explication The Lord doth answere and first acquainteth him further with the whole matter shewing that as the Angel bad him close vp and seale the words that pearles should not be cast before hogs nor holie things before dogges so these matters were to be spoken in such sort that vntil the age of their execution the particulars should not be euident The triall of the faithfull required that whose practise in martyrdome had not bin so great if the season of their deliuerance had bene clearely told For they would haue for a time withdrawen theÌ„ selues Here the repeating of vers 35. from chap. 11. of the Angels speech though there the order went tried purified whited this sheweth one and the same persecution to be meant And seeing we expound that of Antiochus times and not of the Romanes this also being spokeÌ„ a confirmation of that must be equally of Antiochus wherein I maruell how antiquitie could euer misse The remouing of the continuall sacrifice 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 must be takeÌ„ for the first remouing that could fall The terme Tamyd or daily sacrifice must stand in his propre sense For a trope may not be vsed but where the hearer may easily discerne it from proprietie otherwise the speaker may be charged of vntruth Also the holy people and Daniels people should argue that the Iewes were meant here and so they hold vniuersally by reason that we cary these stories beyond Christ they do the like As Aben Ezra maketh the litle horne to be the Turke and locketh for speciall affliction three yeares and an halfe vnder him So men make the word of God flexible And we should haue taken heede of the warning here None of the wicked will vnderstand But men of skill will vnderstand Now seeing the very prophane heathen speake that of Antiochus Epiphanes which agreeth exactly with the ende of the last the 11. chap. and these points are but a commoration vpon them and no new states matters the prophane would tell vs that we entangle our selfe wilfully wilfully disturbe all the Bible mistaking whole nations for the Images legs peruerting the markes of mariages in it mistaking the fourth beast what kingdomes it conteineth disgracing the speech of the Buck openly shewing therein the end of wrath disgracing extremely all this last oration drawing likewise Ezekiel for Gog and Magog out of place confounding Daniel with the reuelation and confounding the tenour of narrations for nations through all the Bible Moses layd downe what nation should be the holy people vntill Christ came and how all the other families should striue against that The Prophets were to be but commenters vpon him to lead vnto Christ not beyond him and they might terme no one nation holy but Israel and were to shew how all the auncient nations of Babels dispersion would be busie with Israel While we confound this distinction we confound with it all narrations of Scripture The wise will vnderstand it to be so Now as he that seeketh doth find and he that asketh receaueth he that knocketh obteineth opening alwayes so to Daniel this now falleth out By mentioning one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or marke and adding two neare matters touching brusing of the hand set vpon the holy people he is fully contented and satisfied in these wordes †Infidel garrisoÌ„s destroying the temple as in Rambam aboue was shewed †Daniel knew the end of those wonders mentioned by the Angel when it should be from chap. 8. euen with the clensing of the teÌ„ple But knew not the speciall note of their beginning In answering coÌ„cerning two points for the brusing Seleuciâ—n the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or mark of the other is taken a marke of sacrifice Men count the dates of kings reigne stately But God holdeth other matters of greater account as the promise vnto Abraham Gene. 12.430 afore the law the persecution and Ieroboams idolatrie 390. afore the Temples flames Daniels prayer 490. afore the passion and chap. 8. a marke backward the Temples clensing after 2300. dayes dealing against Religion in some sort So here the taking away of the continuall sacrifice is made a date for a day of payment for a double payment from God Antiochus was inforced to confirme Religion restored by Iudas in the 148. yeare of Seleucidâ—Ì„n which in the 145. he hindered Three yeares seuen moneths some 13. dayes might be in this while Another coÌ„fort is added for the patieÌ„t in these persecutioÌ„s eueÌ„ the death of the persecutour As the martyrs told him that God would pay him The closse blessing of the patient imported what kind of comfort was meant in that summe fortie fiue dayes after the other the death of Antiochus should fall out in 149. Seleucidâ—n 1. Mach. 6.16 Though mans obseruation reacheth not commonly vnto dayes yet when for the yeares they speake well by Gods authoritie added we may gather the iust dayes And these were the points which were fit for to be reuealed in particulars the restoring of the sacrifice the tyrants death Now further matters how the clay of the legges should be broken how the fourth beast should do when his hornes hence are broken and the Buckes vnhorned fading body euen how Demetrius and Antiochus sonne fall out Antiochus race should end Demetrius house should be deuided they should match with Aegypt and perish like dogges these matters might be marked by humane skill and they touched not matter worthy particular prophecie nor the Iewes great care And Daniel knew in what yeare from his talke he would come into the world by which time an euident token should be ouer all the world that the house of-Seleucidâ—Ì„n or Gog perished by the Latin natioÌ„ and tongue reigning in those quarters and he knew the very nation that should reigne euen the next ofspring of Cittim vnto the Macedonians the Cetij which was the first name of Italians in Sudas in Latine And therefore the maner of brusing the Greekes and particular dealings were to be sealed vp as needing no long warning And so the Lord concludeth that Daniel should looke for no mo reuelatioÌ„s all his life time but rest in these continue contented with his rare lot if any thing was sealed touching the Persian kings payment thirtie yeares hence Ezra should see it for the temples hinderers Agge and Zacharie should reueale it Now the visions of Zacharie for our Lordes comming and Ierusalems fall they touched not this argument of sorow fasting of Daniel some points were to be reserued vnto the Temples ornaments