constrained to depart without doing of any thinge for all his attempts were restrained by one comminatorie warring of the Romans so as he was fayne to relinquish that which he had gotten as Iosephus Antiq lib. 12. 6. How shall we then applie these things to Antiochus who was farre short of the successe of this King of the North. The Romane did enjoy this Kingdome yet not by stretching his hand upon Egypt as the Turk who overcame it by force and armes but by right of league and confederacie as all historians report Now to find out the true events we must not onely regard what was done but after what maner and sort also wherin the prophecie is as certaine as in fore shewinge the thinges themselves which are to be done Vers 43. Vers 43. And he shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver and over all the precious thinges of Egypt These wordes doe more fully shewe how Egypt should not escape that is to say it should be subject to his will in such sort as he may freely prey upon it make havock and spoile of it which we find this Zelimus did when he had taken Tomumbeius Mamatucus who had made himself King after Gaurius his death he tried him with a tedious and sharpe examination about his treasures before he would put him to death What hidden treasures will not he find out and carry away which constreineth the King himselfe by torments to bewray all how cruelly did he rage against the common people who had no regard of Majestie honour Of very good right did the Spirit make mention of the hidden treasure for the smellinge and finding out wherof such a deale of crueltie was vsed And when there was no more gold least anie thing should be wantinge which might further his desires he caried away more then five hundred families out of all Egypt specially out of the Citie Memphis of the most wealthie and noble ranke besides a great multitude of women and children of the Mamatukes whom he commaunded to be slaine every one A kinde of men indeed worthie to dye an evill death No suche thinge was ever done by Antiochus And allthough the Romans had power over the treasures of Egypt which they with greedines and crueltie extorted in all places by all the meanes they could yet this power was not of the fadinge but of the flourishinge estate of the empire whose time is now handled as we have seene in the beginning of the 40. vers Whatsoever thinges therfore are here mentioned as some waies agreeing to the Romanes wee shall fynde much differing in time so as the diligent and attentive reader cannot deceived As concerning the Lybians and Ethiopians who sayth hee shal bee at his steppes therby is signified that these nations also shal serve the King of the Northe whose stepps and goings they shal observe and should ioyne themselves as companions in his expeditions Lybia is a common name of the whole continent of the third part of the world which is now called Africa it is a speciall name of a certaine part of the countrie which againe is distinguished into two other Lybiaes so as in the whole it is three folde It hath not his name of Lybia the wife of Epaphus or anie such like as the Grecians would have it but of Lehabim by contraction Lubim as the native wordes are usually corrupted among forraine nations for the countrie is so called for the flame and scorching heate of the sunne wherwith it is alwaies schortched and burnt And those Lehabim tooke their originall of Mitzraim Gen. 10.33 Some referre Lubim to the root Lebab and the forme of the nowne doth admitte this notation as the more fitt neither is the signification disagreeing seing that the Lybiâ—â—â— goe before all other nations in craft and subtill pollicie But Daniel seemeth to use the word corrupted rather by the custome of nations then contracted after an usuall and accustomed maner The Ethiopians heere or Cushim whose father was that sonne of Cham Gen. 10.6 And although the Cushits did inhabite farre and wyde in Asia and Africa yet they seem by a common and generall name to be specially pointed at which inhabite from the South of Egypt to the seaward The Angel therfore saith that these nations shal folowe the turkish ensignes or at least the Turke with his steppes shall come unto them that is to say with his Emissaries Bassawes Begoes and Agoes and other messengers which he useth as steppes to overrunne farre distant places and to bring them under his subjection And wee know also that a great part of Africa beside Egypt is now possessed of the Turk at this day Arcademus Barbarossa the turkishe ambassadour did deprive Maleasses the King of Tunnis of his Kingdom whom the Emperour Charles the first restored againe in the yeare 1535. who six yeares after had occasion againe to saile to Argiers in Africa to keep the Turk busied in farre distant places to bridle and restreine the insolencie of his late victorie in Europe with some losses in Africa if it might bee But Caesar now arrived not with the like happie successe as he did before for the third day there arose such a tempest and violent fall of raine that he lost manie of his shippes gunnes and all other provision yea he wanted manie thousand of his soldiers wherby he was constrained to depart without doing anie thinge and to leave that whole province to the Turkes Yet not these alone are in his steppes but Ezechiel setting downe the armie of Gog whom in the Revelation we have manifestly proved to be the Turke doth conioyne together the Ethiopians and them of Phut the furthest westerne Lybians of the countrie Tingetana ch 38.5 Now if these thinges be applied to Antiochus we shal see a wonderfull difference He had no commaund over Egypt alone much lesseover the Lybians Ethiopians whom he never came neere unto either by himself or by his messengers in anie warlike expedition The Romanes were of old the Lordes of all this countrie but in their prime florish of their Kingdome not at the time of the end whither the Angel hath allready brought us as we said before veas 44. But tydings out of the East and out of the North shall trouble him Hitherto of the prosperous affaires of the King of the North now folow the adverse and first by tydings All the former passages have shewn us thinges past allready for since Antiochus the Romanes Saracens and Turkes have playd their parâ—es who with grievous calamities have wasted and at his time doe wast the Iewes partly while they reteyned the religion given them from God and partly whilst to this day they doe wickedly observe their ceremonies abrogated long agoe But those thinges which folow from hence unto the end doe shew us also of thinges to come as it will easily appeare by the particular exposition We have often times incountred that opinion which attributeth all
let us come to the matter it selfe which sets downe the time two waies both by a certain distributioÌ„ and by a full dispersion of the holie people The distribution is more generall and indefinite which may as well agree to anie age for what age is there wherin we maie not finde a time times and a halfe But the other member and when he shal have accomplished to scatter the power of the holie people All these thinges shal be accomplished doth revoke that generalitie vnto certaine boundes neither doth it permit a wandring into all ages but makes it proper to one certaine as if he should say All these things shal have an end not at every time times and half a time but at one certaine time when hee shal make an end of scattering the holie people which plaine and perspicuous sentence makes me think that those thinges can no waies agree to Antiochus For although we graunt the time of his afflicting the Church to fall fitly into this distribution wherof notwithstanding we shal see by and by Had this people also an end of their calamities with Antiochus Did that blessed resurrection and happie happen to the Iewes at his death What scattering from the first beginning of the nation is comparable to this wherof they have had now such miserable experience these manie ages since their crucifiing of Christ It was not more grievous to be afflicted in their owne countrie then to be scattered through the whole worlde to want their countrie goods estates liberties and to hold their lives at other mens pleasures whersover they live besides the distribution fitteth not The most learned Tremellius doth so render it After an appointed time appointed times and part of time The wordes are thus properly At or for an appointed time appointed times and a halfe For I thinke â—hesi is no where used but for an halfe or equall part of another But before where the same matter is handled it is Vphelag guiddan and the division of time c. 7.25 I confesse it but because the word phelag was doubtfull this prophecie being more plaine as the latter alwaies useth to be doth by name expresse what part hee meant and speaketh of before sure halfe Can we then after this fashion devide the time wherin Antiochus afflicted the Iewes Our writers doe referre these thinges unto that time wherin the dailie sacrifice was taken away by Antiochus and the abominable sacrifices of the wicked gentiles were substitute and put in liew therof But his time is farre from the accounte For this abomination lasted but three yeares and ten daies at the most The .15 daie of the moneth Chisleu in the 145. yeare this impietio began 1. Mac. 1.57 and in the yeare 148. the 25 daie of the same moneth the abomination was put awaie and the â—emple clensed 1. Mac. 4.52 therfore if one yeare be a time 2 yeares times ten daies are distant from the halfe 172. daies But Iosephus doth expresly confirme the assiduitie and continuance of the daily worshipp to have ben inhibited for three yeares and six moneths In bello Iudaico lib. 1.11 But the Macabean contrarie That day the heathen had defiled it in the same daie was it made new againe 1 Ma. 4.54 where are then the six moneths of Iosephus if it were restored the same day that it was defiled Therunto agreeth the second booke of Macab 10.5 That day the temple was polluted by strangers on the very same daie it was clensed againe Yea Iosephus himselfe a more faithfull wittnes elsewhere contradicted himselfe And they offred whole burne offrings saith he upon the new altar and that fell out upon the same daie wherin their holie things had beene prophaned three yeares before Antiq. lib. 12. 11. See how exquisitely he speaketh shewing it also to bee the same day of the yeare not of the weeke Therfore the true time of this abomination was precisely three yeares onely we made mention lately of ten dais more but by them was signified the beginning of that wicked enterprise revealed What then came into Iosephus minde to make an addition of six moneths more Surely as it seemeth from the misunderstanding of this ptophecie which hee thought to be referred to Antiochus he would have fitted the time against all truth of historie But you wil say though these thinges doe not fitly agree to that three yeares yet they agree well enough to the terme of two thousand three hundred daies which time of raging was appointed before to Antiochus by the Angel cha 8.14 for if we allow for a time 657 daies for times 1314. for halfe a time 328. the summe wil be made up wanting but one day Truly this conjecture coÌ„eth neerer to the truth then the former and sheweth what a neere conjunction there is betweene these two enemies who have the like time of the raging allowed unto yet it wandreth much from the meaning of this prophecie for this distribution is the very same with that of c. 7.25 and belongeth unto it But that litle horne of the 7. c. which is the same with this time is not the same with the litle horne of the 8 chap. which is certainly Antiochus Epiphanes and therfore wee shall not doe well to consound the times to give that to one which is proper to another Not to speak of the vision of the 7. c. which was at the sea but that of the â—ight at the river of Vlai those in the seventh were writteÌ„ in the comon tongue of the heathenish Kingdome that the comon prophecie might come abroad unto all These in the 8. in the proper and mother tongue of the holie people by both which the prophet would insinuate that first prophecie to be more generall This more particular and those which folow thence to the end of the book To let these thinges passe I saie It is most certaine that the litle horne of the eight ch is of the thirde great Monarchie wherof c. 7.17 for it is of the goate which is called a leopard chap. 7.6 with his 4 winges and 4 Heads therfore hee maketh one Kingdome with the goate and leopard For the hornes must not be pulled off froÌ„ the heads and anoâ—her maner of Kingdome appointed of those and of thâ—se wherfore all these doe belong unto the third Empire and Monarchie which is of the Macedonians But the litle horne of the 7. chap. is of the fourth great Monarchie except we will labour to make them but three onely which the Angel saith are foure c. 7.17 contrarie to the ancient histories which doe acknowledge no such diversitie in the hornes from the beast it selfe whose the hornes are nor observe anie such thing in Antiochus wherfore a new Kingdome should begin from him He reckoneth the yeares of his Kingdome from Alexander 1. Mac. 1.11 so constantly thorowe that whole narration Surely if a new government was to begin from thence the Spirit had directed his pen to bring the accounte
to passe as it followeth vers 40.41 In recording wherof all these Authors would not be faithfull and diligent which yet notwitstanding should escape the trust and diligence of all these Authours But thou wilt saie Though the Historie be silente yet divine Oracle without all exception makes the matter playne and manifest for so Daniel speaketh before vers 29. At the time appointed he shall againe invade the South but it shall not be as the first expedition or as the last but by the leave of learned men no such thing is here intended if we doe rightly expound or traÌ„slate the word which runneth thus But the set time shall returne and he shall com into the South and it shall not be as the former so also the later for there is nothing more frequent then for the later doubled Caph to answere the former and to be the reddition or answere therunto in which sense the particle Ita so doth answere the word Sicut or ut as And it shall be as the priest so the people c. Isa 24.2 And it shall as the righteous so the wicked Gen. 18.25 you shall heare as the smal so the great Deut. 1.17 and very manie of the like sort wherfore the translation of Tremelius is to be corrected But it shall not be as the first expedition or as â—he later for the Copulative particle rendred disiunctively and the note of the similitude being taken propositively and not responsively or redditively as it ought doth plainely shew of three voyages against the truth if I be not deceived of all histories and against the minde and meaninge of the prophet himselfe For is it anie waie likely that Antiochus for feare of the people of Rome had caried away his whole armie out of Egypte the Romanes after that should either leave off the care of that Kingdome or that he should dare againe to enterprise warre against the good liking of the Senate Moreover That litle help spoken of verse 34. proceeded farre beyond the tyrannie of Antiochus whom Iudas Macabeus and his other brethren did over-live To what end therfore should the Prophet when he had farre passed those broyles come sayling back againe that waie he had formerly overpassed with a certaine inextricable confounding of thinges Finally shall we think or imagine that the Iewes calamities did so continue in Antiochus alone as that it should be altogether needles to speak a word of their consequent troubles afterward Neither doe these wordes anie better agree to his sonnes who never did atteine unto the greatnesse of their Father The Kingdome of Syria did more and more decaie until at length not long after it was utterly wasted This King therefore is not Antiochus but some other farre surmounting him one of those foure cheife ones spoken of before ch 7.17 and therfore the prefixed article hath his emphasis or expresse force of signification distinguishing him from Antiochus of whom he spoke in the wordes next and immediately going before who was but smal and meane in comparison of these foure cheife and this King is the last of these foure for the Lion the Kingdome of the Assyrians was abolished and gone before this vâ—sion was shewed to Daniel as before ch 10.1 Of the beare and leopard the Persians and the Grecians there hath bene enough spoken in the former part of this chap. The terrible beast then onely remaineth that variable wylde beast and of manie fashions which is this Kinge For it is necessarie that the exposition of which kinde this last prophesie is should bring no new matter as farre as it concerneth the generall heads nor anie whiâ—t depart from the generall type By which it is also manifest that the fourth beast ch 7. is not the Kingdome of the Seleucidans and Lagidans as some learned men have thought seing this Kinge that very beast neither is Antiochus nor anie part of the Grecian Monarchie which had no successour after Antiochus greater then hee But of this matter more heerafter So as by those necessarie arguments thus laid down we are ledde by the hand to the Romanes who tooke the lampe from the Grecians and whom the Iewes afterward found and felt the must cruel revengers of their wickednes For it is the intent of the spirit in a breife Synopsis or abridgement to our view to deliver what the estate of the Iewes should be not onely to the first coÌ„ming of Christ which yet notwithstandinge Antiochus never atteined to but also to all ages succeding till at lenght they shal bee gathered into one fould be made together with us Citizens of the same Kingdome Other prophecies have made this manifest unto us the singular agreemeÌ„t of this prophecie will marveilously confirme the same The Angel doth note or signifie the Romane Monarchie by the name of one kinge as if it were of some singular person after his manner and then he addeth certaine properties by which as in a glasse wee may behould his lively face First of all therfore where shall we finde a greater power to doe what hee list then in this empire especially from such time as Antiochus the great by their meanes was deprived of all commande beyond the mountaine Taurus and was commanded to conteine himself within the narrowe bonndes of Syria For a litle before having van quished Hanibal and triumphed over Perseus the Macedonian having slaine the Cymbrians or Danes and all feare laid aside farre and wyde round about what should restreine such an extreame licentiousnes of all things and such an unbridled appetite both of covetinge anie thinge and of obteininge anie thing he coveted according to his will The bridle of feare was cast upon all other Kinges onely the Romanes whose power exceeded did bite the bridle would not be curbed by those whom they had overcome in battell Ptolomie felt of their tyrannicall power whose Island Cyprus although he were a kinge and their fellow and confederate was proscribed and ransackt not for anie offence and injurie but onely for their desire to enjoye so great a wealth wherwith the Island was reported to abound And whereas no fitt nor feigned coulour could be pretended then Cato that great patrone of Iustice as he was called was made a publick robber of the wealth so ungodly coveted that so as I think the grosse dishonestie of the facte might in some sort be hid and concealed by the authoritie of the man The Egiptian could not brook the wronge but at the report of the matter poysoned himself Florus lib. 3. ch 9. The warre against Creete if we will take knowledge of the truth we also made saith the same Florus onely through a desire to vanquish that noble Island But this licentiousnes was nothing to the outragiousnes of the Emperours It would be over tedious to enter in the particulars neither is it needfull in a matter so well knowne to all Assuredly that which Daniel once spake of Nebucadnezar agreeth very fitly to this Kinge
and for the Majestie that God gave him all nations people and languages trembled feared before him he put to death whom hee would he smote whom he woulde whom he would he sett up whom he woulde hee put downe Dan. 5.19 These are the large boundes of an unlimited desire proper to supreme authority Let us not seek for them either in Antiochus or in anie other servile prince but onely in the highest empire This is therefore his first marke His unlimited power out of all controule His pride foloweth hee shall exalt himselfe magnifie himselfe above all that is called God Interpreters do use to carry these wordes to the impietie of this Kinge which indeed is noted in the next wordes And hee shall speak marveilous thinges and wordes against the God of Gods Those former wordes therefore doe belonge to men for pride is here sett out by a twofold subject about the which it is exercised partly men whom it contemneth and despiseth as their underlings partly God himself of whom it doth both think and speake unreverently We know that men placed in higher degrees of dignitie are in manie places in the Scripture called Gods especially such as have anie government and commaund of thinges this King should make no accounte of all these in comparison of himself as it is evident in the people of Rome For how should not hee lift up himself above all whom allmost through the whole worlde hee held as his vassals and coppy-holders who could obteine a Kingdome but by the helpe of his authoritie or who could keepe one but with his goodwill The Ptolemies Kings do flie to him as to the bestower of Kingedomes that Antiochus at his commaund might he made to lay downe his victorious weapons and depart out of Egypt which hee had subdued and so to let goe his sweet morsell out of his mouth againe And without delay commeth Popilins flying into Egypt and showed by his doings how litle a legate of Rome did esteem of anie kinge he scornfully refuseth the hand and embracements hee bids leave-off his complements and friendlie salutations and making a circle strictly enioynes him a speedie answere before he went out of that space Neither durst the great King mutter a word against it but remembring he had to doe with his Lord and Maister quietly suffred hee the prey to be taken from him and giving warning for the readines of al his carriage he departed out of Egypt This Epimanes did more wisely then Perseus the Macedonian who wageing battaile with the Romane learned at the leÌ„gth to his great daÌ„mage by folowing the triumphing chariot of Aemilius what a dangerous matter it was to contend or fight with a superiour or one more then his match Foolishly also did Gentius King of Illiricum who would not submitt to this tyrannicall prince before he was sent prisoner to Rome together with his wife and children and kinsfolks by Ammius the Pretor O Romane thou wast indeed above every God all Kings did submitt their necks and yeeld under thy yoke Prusias therfore the King of Bythinia though not according to princelie dignitie yet very coÌ„modiously to make shew of the Romane eminencye commanded his sonne Nicomedes as an orphan or ward to the Senate and acknowledged himself a free man of the people of Rome But we are to obserue notwithstanding that this King should exalt and magnifie himselfe by wresting principalitie by force and armes and not by voluntarie subjection to him Prusias indeed willingly seemed to professe himself their servant but his profession was but a base flatterie which feare extorted but he did not ingenuously nor willingly desire it What should I make mention of Eumenes King of Pergamus of Ariarathes King of Cappadocia of Mithidathes King of Pontus of Diatarus King of Salatia who all of them and all others in all places submitted themselves to this King either of their owne accorde or of compulsion We see therfore that this agreeth to the Romane alone to whose will and pleasure all other did reforme Antiochus neither durst nor was able to arrogate anie such matter But if wee interprete these Gods to bee the celestiall and divine powers then is there lesse likelihood in it that hee should preferre himselfe before the heavenlie which knew so wel he had a maister on earth But these Gods heere spoken of are not heavenlie but earthlie ones That even as Antichrist who was afterward to succeed in this very seate should exalt himselfe above all that is called God or is worshipped 2. Thes 2.4 by assuming to himselfe a dominion over all the kings of the earth so this king here should goe before him in the same steppes to make to his heire the more easie path and passage to the top of his axecrable pride to be abhorred of all men such is his arrogant haughtinesse over men but hee will not be conteyned within these boundes hee wil use reproachfull wordes against the God of Gods saith the text But so did the Assyrian king also of olde Hath anie of the Gods of the nations delivered his Land out of the hands of the King of Ashur 2. King 18.33 And it is said of Antiochus also that hee slue manie men and spake very proudly 1. Maca. 1 25. This therfore seemeth to be a common note of great soveraigntie which usually breakes out into great blasphemie against God himselfe yet there is reason in this place wherfore it should be proper and peculiar to the Romane for the Assytian hath no part at all in this vision neither can it be referred to Antiochus whose horrible mischiefes are formerly recorded that he should pollute the holie place or sanctuarie and should take awaie the daily sacrâ—fice and set up the abominable desolation verse 31. He had now alreadie passed and proceeded beyond those wordes why should he now be reprooved for incoÌ„siderate end uncivill language after such heynous mischeifes we doe not use to accuse a maÌ„ whom we have prooved to have thrust his neighbour through wit a sword and after to laye to his charge that he prickt him with a pin or a needle also This therfore is not Antiochus his blasphemie but the Romanes who though they came behind him in wicked deedes against the God of Gods yet they refrained not themselves from wicked wordes Although it bee not necessarie that these wordes should bee of the mouth when as the foole hath said in his heart there is no God and it is certaine although they used no wordes and brake not out into termes yet the Romanes after they grewe into acquaintance with the nation of the Iewes did in their private thoughtes attribute more to their Iupiter of the capitoll then to the great creatour of the worlde But yet words are not wantinge which are as witnesses of notorious blasphemie Cicero with the applause and approbation of his nation doth not vouchsafe the true and sincere religion of God anie other name then a barbarous superstition
neither so contented his ungracious tongue goeth forward in determining those sacred things of divine institution to bee both unworthie of the noblenesse and splendor of the Romane Empire the gravitie and greatnes of their name the institutions of their ancestours and also to be odious and hatefull to the immortall Gods because the nation whose they were was vanquished remooved presecuted for so hee playeth and maketh a flourish and ostentation of his eloquence against the God of heaven in his oration for Flaccus That was but a light matter that Augustus commended his nephew Caius for contemning the religion of the Iewes Tiberius did persecute them with so greate hatred that hee compelled all their worshippers or Louers to burne all their holy garments with all their furniture who also appointed and distributed the Iewes youth by a kind of oath into the provinces of a corrupt ayre and hee banished the rest of that nation their followers under a penaltie of perpetuall slaverie servitude if they were not obedient as Suetonius in his Tiberius witnesseth ca 36. yet notwithstanding he would afterward have had Christ registred among the Gods if the authoritie of the Senate had not hindred it whoso auncient decree it was that no God should be cōsecrated by the Emperor unlesse it were approved by the Senate O the notorious blasphemie of this King with whom the divinitie is weighed and esteemed according to mans arbitrement and judgment except God doe please men hee shal not be God man must now be propitious and favourable to God as Tertullian speaketh in his Apologeticus Verie great prosperitie goeth with their intolerable pride which hath bene in no kingdome greater then heere With what prosperous enterprises from the first foundations hath every thing bene begunne continued and perfected One warre hath alwaies drawne on another and new occasions did incontinently followe ech other so commodious fit and seasonable as that the Romane armies might seeme not so much to have sought principalitie as to be called therunto Vpon juste cause did Servius Tullius one of the first Kinges seeme to have familiar compaine with Fortune which prosperitie was no whit lessened in succeeding ages and generations those especially after the subduing of Syria whence it came that Rome had so manie eminent renowmed and stately temples of fortune but none of wisdome temperance patience fortitude and magnanimitie doubtles the Romane people did more increase by fortune Cesars motto was Veni vidi vici then by prowesse Surely that title or motto of theire wordes which Ceasar in his pompous pageant bare before him in his triumph of Pontus I came I saw I overcame might have bene common to the whole empire Plutarch his litle book of the fortune of the Romanes may afoard an ample and large discourse of this their felicitie to him that desireth more But least anie weake minde should be too much discouraged with these their prosperous affaires there is added a comfort of an appointed and set time Till he hath accomplished his wrath saith he what wrath not his owne which cannot be satisfyed but Gods who was angrie for the sinnes of the people who ordeineth the tyrants for judgement establisheth the spoylers for correction Hab. 1.12 The reason which followeth is doubtfull for it maie be rendered bicause seueritie is to be exercised and so it belongeth unto the Iewes as if it were determined with God to correcte and punish the refractarie by giving to this Kinge the people of Rome a great sovereigntie as the Apostle interpreteth a like place in Isaie for that which the Prophet saith The consumption decreed shal flow with righteousnes for the Lord God of hoasts shal make the consumption decision in the midst of the Land ch 10.22 Paul rendreth it For he wil make his account gather it into a short summe with righteousnes for the Lord will make a short worde and count in the earth Rom. 8.29 by which testimonie he prooveth that the Iewes are to be rejected and but a few of that nation to be saved which severitie be afterward calleth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 11.22 by a word answering to the hebrewe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 decision The Grecians turne this place of Isaie It is brought to an end and perfection with hast in the very same with Paul His short work for the thinge determined doth come to his end with a kinde of hastening The other interpretation concerneth the Romanes themselves because the determination is made that is to say the boundes are set fixed beyond which the madnesse of the wicked King shal not passe whom the bridle of divine providence shall moderate even in the least and smallest mattrers for that doth decision or determination signifie which doth not consider the matter in summe and generall but severally by every member distributed into his parts a matter of singular comfort against distrust as though God did not by his providence reach over particular matters both meanings are very good but which is the more apt and fit in this place let the reader judge 37. Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers Now he informeth us what maner of one this King◠should be towards his owne wherunto he propoundeth a threefold proprietie The contempt of his fathers Gods No regard to the desire of women and the magnifying of himselfe above all what is therfore that contēpte of the Goddes Interpreters doe referre it to the disregard of all Religiō which yet notwithstanding the Romans we knowe have too superstitiously observed as is evidēt to bee seene by manie examples in Valerius Maximus lib. 1.1 Neither shall we fynde their posteritie anie whit to relinquish the institutions of their Auncestours in this matter Their Children after the Grecian Monarchie went on in the same Course of superstition wherin their auncient fathers had gone before them These things therfore doe rather belong to Civill policie which this new King should innovate and bring in altogether differinge from that which his auncestours had observed For the civill Magistrate is called God as we shewed before and therfore his not regardinge the Gods of his fathers is nothing else but his light esteme of the Magistrates which his fathers used in times past and not long after the Romanes had subdued Iudea the government of this people became a Monarchie which was before an Aristocratie or at least mixt of the people and the nobles Their first government of olde in former ages was by Kinges but they were at length expelled and the name grew so odions as that Tarquinius the Consull could no longer be tolerated because be affected the name of a King And from thence forward the same hatred was derived to all their posteritie as manie examples doe make manifest and that decree of the Senate wherin there was order taken that no Kinges should enter into the Citie But it was fatall and ominous at that time to be so basie about excluding
of Kinges when by and by after a king was to rise up amongst themselves In the time of Cicero the soothsayer or interpreter of the Sibills earnestly contended in the Senate that he whom they accounted as a Kinge should be also called a Kinge if they would liue in safetie But this was taken in very ill part in so much that the Oratour adviseth them to deale first with their great ones that they would bring forth anie thing out of the Sibils prophecies rather then a Kinge whom neither Gods nor men would suffer anie longer at Rome But thy prognostication fayled thee O thou wittie Oratour Thou sawest with thine eies a litle after a King at Rome which thou didst prophecie should never come to passe This contempt therfore of their fathers Gods is a new ordination of Emperous violating the law of their fathers and bringing those Magistrates into subjection who were wont in their old Fathers time to have the cheife commaund This chaunge of government was a remarkeable note for all men easily to distinguish between this King and others And so doth Daniel admirably consent with Iohns revelation what time as Iohn did write these thinges he telleth us five Kinges were fallen and the sixt did then flourish Daniel in these wordes doth as it were foretel the funerall of the fift Kinge Rev. 17.10 and the birth or nativitie of the sixt which should aspire to the top and highest commaund by the contempte of the auncient Gods the old Magistrats to whom their fathers yeelded all obedience As concerning the desire of women there is no lesse difficultie about the righte meaninge The interpreters take it passively for that desire which men beare towards women wherby it commeth to passe that some referre it to lust others to humanitie and couresie but the like construction is active elswhere as the desire of all nations that is to say which all nations doe desire Hag. 2.8 So the desire of women is that which women doe desire which were very unequall and unfitte to referre unto lust What is it then that women doe most of all desire and affect To have their children most honourable Bathsheba seemeth heerupon to request an oath of David that her Sonne if she had one by him should succeed him in the Kingdome which happily she wrested from him before shee did yeelde unto his lust Assuredly The desire of women brought the mother of Zebedeus children to shewe her outragious ambition in asking the cheife seates in Christs kingdome for her two sonnes Wherfore this kinge should have no regard to this desire because he would be nothinge carefull for his naturall succession otherwise then in all other kingdomes For if we cast our eves vpon anie other government what doe the fathers more earnestly being kings affect then to leave their children a quiet stable and stedfast kingdome But this care nothinge troubleth this kinge Octavius therfore succeedeth I. Ceasar Tiberius his sonne in lawe Octavius Caligula Tyberius and so afterward yea for the most part in degrees much further of the successour no way allyed vnto him that weÌ„t before especially when as the highest empire was at the pleasure or at the bestowing of fierce and Cruel soldiers not of the Senate gathered together of lawfull assemblies Sometimes indeed in succeeding ages one or two sonnes now and theÌ„ have enioyed their fathers kingdome by inheritaunce but that was rather by the choice and affectioÌ„ of soldiers theÌ„ by the advice of their fathers who perceyving how greatly force and violence had prevayled did not mind the care of succession which they saw to be in other mens power Such therfore should the government bee as should more respect the honouring of all estates with great authoritie then the desire of women to inrich or ennoble their Sonnes with anie singular preheminence above the rest and it were indeed a marveilous matter if the wisedome of God had not forewarned us of it longe before that the emperours having the cheife commaund of all matters there should be so few found in so great a number to have their lawfull issue to succeed them This is therfore the second cleare famous and domâ—sticall note wherby this empire should be knowne The third is his magnifiing himselfe above all where there commeth againe a new contempte of the Gods nor Regard anie God saith he To what purpose is this was not this impietie sufficiently reprooved before in the former verse He wil magnifie himselfe above all Gods and now also in the beginning of this and he shall not regard the God of his fathers This repetition is not in vayne but a new degree of the like pride The contempt of the Gods in the former verse was of all forreine Magistrates amonge all nations whatsoever The contempt of the Gods in the beginning of this verse was of their owne domesticall but auncient and instituted of old The contempt of the Gods in this place is of the present Consuls Pretours and Tribunes and the rest now in being whose names as yet remayned but all the power and authoritie was invested in this cheife Magistrate alone Tacitus in the first entraunce of his historie shewing how Augustus by litle and litle drew the right of all offices to himself alone First he set vpon the Consulship like an enemie by force as Suetonius declareth in Augustus cap. 27. the rest were offred him at his pleasure he was perpetuall Tribune or protectour of the Commons and had perpetuall government also of lawes and manners Therfore the other Magistrates were but titular onely and a vaine shew and semblaunce of authoritie appointed onely to ease the Prince of trouble in their Kingdomes and not to exercise anie absolute authoritie No marvell therefore if he exalt himselfe above all these whom he vsed as his vassals and base flatterers All Kinges in their territories have cheife commaund neither doe they respect anie other inferiour God or Magistrate whom themselves created of their owne subjects but on the contrary side are honoured of all men But this especially should bee remarkable in this empire because the beginning of innovations are most of all observed we finde therfore this third note most conspicuous and manifest in this Kinge which is not at all observed in others by reason of long custome 38. But in his place shall he honour the God of forces Hitherto have bene more common notes now he setteth vpon more speciall ones and more proper to certaine places and first of all how he should behave himselfe towards the true God For the better vnderstanding wherof the wordes are first to be discussed which are diversly rendred by interpreters The learned Tremelius and Iunius doe translate them absolutely And as concerning the God of great strength he shall honour him in his place I say He shal honour the God which his fathers knew not c. but this constructioÌ„ doth require a nominative case this God of forces c. as Ps 11.4 18.31
all nations shall come unto it yea whatsoever the second house in the building begun was wanting of in splendour and magnificent structure God promiseth to supplie whose is all the gold and silver which accordingly he plentifully poureth out for the furnishing and ornaments of the house And now at this time they did religiosly and earnestly endevour to bewtifie the Temple to prepare it for our Lords comminge who was shortly to come unto his owne house For soone after the temple was finished our Lord Iesus Christ was borne who was greater then Salomons temple for whom the house was worthily prepared being so sumptuosly bewtified and adorned as in token of that most glorious temple which himselfe was soone after to finish and make perfect which was also shewed in some sort to be cheifly amongst the gentiles seing they were now the cheife authours of the typicall ones restoringe for this seemeth to be no sleight presage of the spirituall buildinge into the which they were shortly after to be brought and chosen by that high and absolute workman Thus shall he doe in the most stronge holdes with a strange God vers 39 He doth further proceed to make this king better knowne by other of his doinges for these wordes are an answere to a secret objection wherby those thinges formerly of the temples building may seeme litle to agree with and to the Romanes for we know that Herod bestowed all that cost of his owne The Angel therfore meeteth with it as if he should say I would not have you to think me to avouch that the Romanes did or would undertake anie thing with their owne handes cost or meanes but whatsoever he did in the holdes of the strong God be did it all at the charge and trauel of a strange God that is to saie of a certaine inferiour magistrate which held his place rather by force and tyrannie then by anie lawfull authoritie whence he shall worthily be iudged a stranger or strange God And who can be ignorant that Herod was such a one an Edomite by birth and a stranger who had no right at all of lawfull authoritie over the Iewes Wherfore the Romanes should doe all by his meanes which they conferred on the houldes of the strong God that is to say which they bestowed upon the restoring of the Temple for these are the holdes of the God of forces whence hee privily sendeth succour to his owne people and yeeldeth help unto them in adversitie as the frequent and fervent prayers of the saincts doe manifest wherby they labour all they can that God would heart and helpe out of his temple Ps 18.7 to which purpose also is that of the Prophet Amos 1.2 The Lord roareth out of Sion and uttereth his voice from Ierusalem And it is manifest whatsoever was done in the building of the Temple it was done by the authoritie of the Romane Emperour but yet by the cost and travel of Herod a strange God that doth Herod himself acknowledge in an oration to the people concerning that matter Amongst other opportunities and meanes of finishing so great a work which was a terrour to manie mens mindes he rekoneth the friendship of the Romans by the benefit wherof he specially trusteth he shal be able and fitting to bring all the perfection which he had purposed and propounded to himself Now saith he seing by Gods providence I obteine a Kingdome and have leisure ready monie and great revenues comming in that which is most of all the friendship of the Romans the Lords of the world I will doe my endevour c. Iosep Antiq. li. 15.14 See how he attributeth the greatest part of his meanes to the friendship of the Romanes wherof hee made more accounte then of his leasure or ready monie at will which yet he more evidently declareth when as after the work finished he did dedicate a golden eagle of great waight upon the great dore of the temple the armes of that King by whose favour and authoritie that strange God had shewed himself so bountifull upon the holdes of the Almightie God And hitherto of his works towards God Now in speciall what manner of one he should be towards men Whom saith he he shal aknowledge he shal increase with glory for all authoritie was in the handes of the Romanes from the first touch at that province He by his legate Scaurus did preferre Aristobulus the younger brother both to the preiesthood and the Kingdome He also by Pompey restored Hâ—rcanus againe he made Antipater the Edomite the governour of all Iudea and appointed his sonnes Phasaelus and Herod to raigne who but he confirmed Herods will and testament and declared not Archilaus his sonne for king but graunting him a moytie of Herods jurisdiction made him a ruler of the people That which of late belonged to one now by the appointment of this King who might doe whatsoever him listed was divided amonge fowre Philip and Antipas and Salome doe enioy equall portions with Archilaus Ioseph Antiq. lib. 17. c. 13. so he devided the land for money and the historie makes it manifest that this King made more account of talents then of reason and honestie justice and equitie whosoever brought the greatest weight of gold did speed best in his suite But that buying and selling is of all other the most memorable when after the overthrow of Ierusalem VespasiaÌ„ Titus emperours had famously triumphed Caesar writes from Rome to Liberius Maximus appointed governour to make sale of all the land of the Iewes Iosep of the Iewes warre lib. 7. c. 26. Hiher without doubt had the angel respect giving us this for an infallible mark of this kinge that no place may be left anie more to doubt of his person And at the time of the end shall the King of the south push at him vers 40. Hitherto have we spoken of the first of the three oppressours as wee did distinguish them in the Analysis or Resolution The second and third doe folowe the prophecie is but short in the second very large in the third because it did more concerne the Saincts to be very well fortified against his tyrannie as we shall see in the exposition Our learned Broughton doth seperate those wordes from the former with a prefixed title for the argument in a differing character to this purpose The third expedition of Antiochus into Egypt against Ptolomeus Philometor But we shewed in the 36. verse before that there was no such third expedition which is grounded upon a wrong interpretation of the 29 verse of this chapter neither is it confirmed by the consent of anie historie also these wordes are flatte against it for the King of the South shal provoke this Kinge and fall upon him with his spightfull hornes but the King of Eygpt attempted nothing at all against Antiochus from the time of his departure out of his country at the commaundement of the Romane legate The Ptolomies thought themsâ—lves happie men to be
happily heere in this place the wordes are this very prophecye froÌ„ the beginning of the tenth chapter the book all his visions in generall which he is commaunded to hide in a profound stile hard to be knowne and to put them together in a book after God had last spoken to him in this kynde of visions but the former visions were alreadie written before so as it is better to referre words and booke to the same thinge yet so as the thinges should be kept close and not be hid for ever but onely to the time of the end of what end Of a perfect end or soone after to be perfected nigh at hand as it seemeth and a litle before the end when thinges lately buried in obscure darknes shal be brought forth into open light Daniel might have objected that so the elect should be deprived of the fruite of a most holie and divine revelation The angel meets with it as if he should saie Let not that trouble thee for manie shal come to and fro and knowledge shal be increased that is to saie although these thinges be hard and difficult yet some wil take great paines in searching out the truth and by wise discourse gather one thing of another wil level very neere yea and hit the mark it selfe and will much increase knowledge which thing indeed wee have seene come to passe both in the Iewes and in our owne men who by diligent search have found out manie remnants of this gold scattering heere and there and therby have brought much profit both to themselves and to the Church But for what cause would God have these thinges shutt up for a time First that the wicked by seing should not see and by hearing should not heare wherfore Christ spake in parables to the vnbeleeving Iewes and Iohn was commaunded to seale up those things which the thunders uttered Apoc. 10.4 Secondly That securitie should not growe upon the Saincts by the expectation of a long time to whom the opinion of an end alwaies approaching should bee profitable whereby they may have their Lampes alwayes in a readines Thirdly that there might be a testimony of Gods truth in those auncient times when the wicked at length shall know that those things were foretold many ages before which themselves doe finde most true after it is too late 4. Lastly because this obscuritie shall not take away all understanding of the Saincts but shall whet only their diligence in searching to whom the Angell promiseth a further profiting and proceeding seing by their godly labour and diligence God doth make over to the godly all his mysteries secrets in Christ And J Daniel looked behold two standing Vers 5. So is the seating now followeth the first designing of the time the preparation whereof doth propound unto as two other Angels and thâ— place where they stood The number seemeth to be added for the confirmation of the whole matter In mens Courts God hath appointed every matter should be established by the mouth of two or three witnesses Deut. 19 15. After the same manner the more are sent that the matter might be more confirmed and humane infirmity regarded provided for Now might the Prophet try his right by Law with the Angell if he had deceived or the thing foretold him should not com to passe The place where they stood was at the bank of the river one at one side of the bank and the other on the other side and the river was Hiddikel as we learne by the 10. chap. verse 4. the third river of Paradise Gen. 2.14 It is not certainly knowne whether the Prophet were bodily present by this river or the sight thereof were afoarded him after a prophetical manner If it be this there is some great matter in it why this alone should be offered to his very viewe above all the rest but if he were bodily present which I rather thinke Daniels company flying away for feare chap. 10.7 neither can it be without cause that he maketh mention rather of the river then of the region and country And we shall see assuredly that of the fowre visions which were shewed to Daniel three of them were at the waters And not without good cause when as visions doe foreshew the affaires of nations and people to be done in ages to come and waters do both lively resemble the troublesome tempests of worldly businesses with the variable and inconstant condition of people and also thereunto are frequently used in scripture as in Ezech. 26.19 When I shall make thee a desolate cittie by bringing up the deepe upon thee and great waters shall cover thee But waters doe dâ—ffer according to the diversity of the things thereby signified In the first vision the fowre Windes of heaven strove upon the great sea and fowre great beasts came up from the sea chap. 7.2.3 because as the Sea is the collection gathering together of waters so there was intreated of the matters of all people which should all be disturbed with these fowre Kingdoms The second vision was at Vlai no sea but only a river unknowne not famous not sett out with any note at all of any excellencie so in that vision the Empire of the whole world was not intreated off but some particular nations the Medes Persians and Grecians in which the prophecy stoppeth his narration as it were in some creek of a great sea and a river drawne and derived out of the deep chap. 8.2 The last vision was at Hiddikel a particular River also but such a one as flowed out of Paradise eveÌ„ as the matters therin handled doe specially respect a particular people but holy elect whose spring originall doth come out of Paradise the infinite grace of a mercifull God which runneth thence along thorow the stock of the holie Patriarchs in all ages as it were thorough a channell The former visions were also shewed for the Churches sake onely but they declared flourishing nations First the fowre great Monarches afterward the Medes Persians Grecians This alone sheweth the full deliverance of the holy people and therefore they were given at the sea and unknowne waters like to people of no account with God but this was given at the holie River that he might more lively set before our eyes the condition of that auncient holy people by the election of grace Such a River therfore is it Now the Angels doe not stand both on one side but are severally placed and keep both the bankes because God defends this people on every side by his Angels to whom he hath given in charge not onely to be carefull of some of their matters and careles of the rest but to perfect all things which doe concerne the safetie of his elect This is a great comfort in time of so long a divorce when they understand that their God careth for theÌ„ and that there remaineth a seed of election amongst them though the blind world seeth
from his first beginninge after the maner of other Kingdoms Furthermore the litle horne of the eigth chapt doth come out of one of the foure hornes of the goate but the litle horne of the 7. cha came up amonge the other ten hornes Besides this horne reigneth till the hornes bee cast downe and the ancient of dais did sit ch 7.9 that is to saie till all the Kingdomes of the world be overthrowne and all principalitie come to Christ as it will soone comâ— to passe after this blasphemous horne be cutt off But presently after Antiochus had not the Kingdome at least that most ample one of full glorie whom all nations should serve as it is there in verse 14. It were tedious to gather all those thinges which shew a difference These few maie be sufficient to the understanding and lovers of the truth Seing therfore these thinges cannot agree unto Antiochus we must seek out some other Kingdome which we shal finde to be no other then the Turkish whither the prophecie hath brought us allreadye as we have shewed This is that litle horne amonge the ten coming out of the fourth great Kingdome to witt the Romane most famous in the Apocalypse with the ten hornes chap. 12.3 c. with whose iron teeth and nailes of brasse all the rest were devoured and broken in peeces The time of this litle horne was limited before cha 7.25 and is heere repeated againe as the but bound of that matter which the Angels demaÌ„ded For the man clothed in linnen answereth Then shal bee the end of these wonders when the blaspemous Kingdome of the Turkes shal come to an end then God should make an end of scattering the holie people and of powring out his wrath anie further upon them But what should be the time of this tyrannie is more plainely understood by the revelation where is given him an howre and daie and a moneth and a yeare ch 9.15 which summe commeth to 395 yeares every daye being taken for a yeare as we have there shewed By which entire number graunted we may now vnderstand the reason of the division for a time is one hundred yeares times 200. yeares halfe a time 50. which whole space if we number from the beginning of the Turkish power anno 1300. it wil end at lenght at the yeare 1650. but 45. remaine still You will saie The reason is because the Apocal. setteth downe the last time of the Turkish name but the Angel heere doth set downe the beginning of his ruine and alteration which destruction we shal presently see to be set downe in his expresse numbers at v. 11. 12. folowing as we have formerly heard First the tydings out of the East shal trouble him then some yeares after his utter ruine shal folow in the land of Tsebi 11. 44. 45. But the dâ—stribution usâ—d in this place reacheth to the tydings and no farther Therfore so is the end of the wonders when all these thinges shal be fullfilled that is to saie when the resurrection shal bee the glorie of the saincts shal shine the glorie of the teachers shal bee chieffest and all other thinges brought to perfection wherby Christs Kingdome shal have the preheminence over all Which thinges if anie man judge to bee meant of the internall kingdome allready obteined he destroieth the prophecie which is specially conversant in foretelling thinges which shal be accomplished being proper to certaine places and times and not alike comon to all alike whereof what observation or prâ—diction or admiration can there be as is of these thinges which in the former verse are called wonders It is to be observed that the same distribution here in this place used in Apoc. 12.14 are not of the same continuance for that of the Apoca is of 42 moneths this of Daniel is onely of 13. and certaine dayes Vers 8. Vers 8. And I heard but understood not Hitherto the conference of the Angels and the instruction belonging unto them Now he commeth to Daniel The occasion is his ignorance and a question the holy man heard but he understood not A young beginner is not capable of that which the Schollers of the upperforme doe easily quickly conceive A notable proofe of difference betwixt the heavenly earthly Schoole An obscure declaratâ—on sufficeth them which our dulnes no more perceiveth then the blind man doth the sunne beames although it be of the most acute and wittiest for who is more acute then Daniel But how is Daniel now ignorant of that which he understood before Had he forgotten it It was the same division of the same Kingdom in cha 7. and a certaine angell being asked of the whole matter made knowne unto him the interpretation of the wordes ch 7.16 There the continuance of the tyrannie onely was signified by that distribution which was sufficient to understand that vision But now another thing is demaunded when the end should bee Now continuance of a certaine part of any thing unlesse we know where the count is to begin doth leave the minde in doubt floting or wavering with a confused notion onely This is therfore that which he desired to know with the expectation whereof he might comfort the tediousnes of his present greife But happily he is not without all blame in that he so curiously enquireth into the times Indeed Christ gave his Disciples a check for asking such things It is not for you saith he to know the times and seasons which the Father hath putt in his owne power Acts 1.7 and how was it that Daniel thought not thus Surely if it concerned me to know these things the angell would have spoken plainely and have fitted his speech to my capacity but it seemeth he would have me rest in the certaine expectation of things to com to passe one day whereupon he did use such a solemne oath would have me to search no further when they shall be accomplished Surely the angell by not graunting his request doth seeme secretly to reprove it yet not so but some should at length understand those things else he would not have added such expresse bounds of the matter and that saying of Christ is not simply and absolutely to be understood but in part and in some sense For Paul doth define certaine times all things are most accurately delivered to Iohn in the revelation Therefore he would not have his Apostles too carefull of the times which did so little concerne their callings but above all things to be diligent in preaching of the Gospell wherein consisteth the very life of salvation Vers 9. And he said Go thy waye Daniel for thy words are closed up The Angell answereth first by refusing to impart that which he demaunded Go thy way saith he and be contented with those many secrets which have been already revealed unto thee there is a certaine measure of knowledge for every one beyond which we may not passe Every man ought to conteine himself within his