God man and the Pope did so thinke also he should not be damned and at the same time Henricus the master of the Palace said to the same Embassadors Papa potest mutare S. Evangelium potest S. Evangelio pro loco tempore alium sensum tribuere the Pope may change the holy Gospel and may giue an other sense to the Gospel according to time and place ex Polan Argum. 2. Antichrist shall care for no God at all But the Pope worshippeth God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost yea all the Saints in heauen images and reliques in earth if we will beleeue the Protestants saith Bellarmine he adoreth also Answ. In that the Pope inuocateth Saints praieth vnto images adoreth reliques and so setteth vp other gods it is an euident argument that he denieth the true God Argum. 3. Antichrist shall ouerthrow the policies and states of kingdomes so doth not the Pope Answ. The contrarie is euident for Gregorie the 2. forbad any obedience to be yeelded to Leo the 3. and Gregorie the 3. depriued him of his Empire Alexander the 3. so serued Frederike the 1. Frederike the 2. and Lewes the 4. were so likewise vsed Gregorie the 7. deposed Bolâ—slaus king of Polonia Iulius the 2. gaue away the kingdome of Navarre How then is not Bellarmine ashamed these things beeing so manifest to say that the Pope is not an enemie to politike states Argum. 4. Antichrist shall prosper but the Pope since the Protestants made him Antichrist hath much decreased he hath lost a good part of Germanie of Fraunce Helvetia Bohemia Pannonia Eagland and all Suetia Gothia Norway Denmarke but Luther hath prospered by his carnall preaching seducing many who of a silly Monke became as it were Pope ouer all Germanie he rather may be taken for Antichrist Answ. 1. The Protestants in these dayes are not the first that discouered Antichrist he was so called and counted many yeares since 2. the prospering here spoken of is not vnderstood of any spirituall successe by the preaching of the Gospell but of such prosperous euents as are compassed by violence and force of armes and cunning deuises 3. it is no carnall preaching to teach men not to be addicted superstitiously to carnall â—ites and ceremonies which was the scope of Luthers preaching 4. neither did Luther affect a papall preeminence ouer Germany though it be true that of late one Felix Peretus of a poore Monke came to be vniuersall Pope called Sixtus 5. 5. God be thanked that many good morsells are snatched out of the wolues mouth he speaketh but of a good part of England that is reuolted from the Pope But all England in generall and Scotland doe detest the Pope with his superstitious and treacherous practises except onely a fewe thaâ— are Popishly addicted whose number I trust daily will decrease 6. And though Antichrist doe not prosper as he hath done and I am sure neuer shall yet that followeth not but he is Antichrist still for he shall prosper onely for a time not alwaies 21. Controv. How Antichrist shall forsake his fathers God v. 37. v. 37. He shall not regard the god of his fathers 1. This is most true of the Pope who hath swarued and departed from the religion and faith taught by the holy Apostles and Apostolicall men in the purer ages of the Church 1. as S. Paul teacheth 2. Tim. 3. 17. that the Scriptures are able to make the man of God perfect to all good workes and so consequently are perfect and all-sufficient so Tertulliane aliunde suadere non poterunt de rebiâ—â— fidei quam ex literis fidei de praescript haeretic c. 15. they can not otherwise perswade of matters of faith then by the Scriptures of faith But the Pope teacheth that beside the word of God written there are traditions which he calleth the word of God not written which they make of equall authoritie to the Scriptures and so they bold that the Scriptures containe not all things necessarie to saluation 2. Their forefathers haue taught that the Scriptures are plaine and easie and therefore are to be heard and read of all as Iren. lib. 2. adv haeret c. 46. vniversae Scripturae c. apertae ab omnibus audiri possunt all the Scriptures are open and may be heard of all But the Pope holdeth them to be obscure and not safe to be read of the lay-people 3. Clemens teacheth ex ipsis Scripturis capere sensum veritatis oporâ—et we must take the sense of the truth out of the Scriptures distinct 37. c. relatum but the Pope will haue the sense of Scripture depend of his owne mouth 4. Their fathers haue taught that the translation of the Scriptures must be examined by the originall distinct 9. c. 6. veâ—erum librorum fides de Hebraeis voluminibus examinanda est the credit of the bookes of the old Testament must be examined by the Hebrew but now among the Romanists the vulgar Latine is made authenticall Trident. sess 4. and preferred before the originall Hebrew and Greeke 5. Their Elders haue taught that we are onely iustified by faith Basil. concion de humilitat this is perfect righteousnes c. when a man knoweth himselfe sola fide in Christum iustificatum to be iustified by faith onely in Christ so also Ambrose impius sola fide iustificatur apud Deum a wicked man is iustified onely by faith with God in 4. ad Roman But the Romanists hold that we are also iustified by the merit of our workes 6. The Fathers haue taught that there are no other mediators of our prayers but Christ as Chrysostome nihil tibi opus est patronis apud Deum c. you neede no patrons with God for God will not heare so easily if other pray for vs as if we pray our selues though we be full of euill c. And in many other points of doctrine it is euident that the Pope hath lost and forsaken the faith and the religion of the auncient Fathers and so consequently their God also But Bellarmine thus would wipe away this marke that this no way can be fastened vpon the Pope who confesseth the God of his fathers God the Sonne God the Father and God the holy Ghost lib. 3. de Roman Pontif. c. 21. Contra. In words indeede they confesse Christ to be their God but in fact they denie him 1. They doe not acknowledge him to be their onely Prophet seeing they detract from the Scriptures making them obscure and imperfect whereas Christ onely is to be heard in the Scriptures yea Boniface the Archbishop of Mentz vttered this blasphemous speach magis ab ore eius quam à sacris paginiâ— antiquam Christianae religionis institutionem expetant let them seeke and desire the auncient institution of Christian religion rather at his mouth then from the sacred booke c. which horrible blasphemie is inferted in their Canon law distinct 40. cap. Si Papa Bellarmines best answer here is to doubt
offended three waies 1. in the action it selfe in forcing his religion by torment of death 2. in the manner he did it in his rage 3. in respect of the persons persecuted they were innocent they suffered for keeping of the law of God But that generally religion is not to be forced by torment it may be thus perswaded 1. It is against the nature of faith to be forced vnto by violence doceri non cogi vult fides religion must be taught not enforced Polan 2. Idolaters heretikes and persecutors of the true faith by vnspeakable torments and cruell death did vrge their heresies idolatrie and superstitions to be kept As this was the engine wherewith the heathen Emperours assaulted the Christians persecuting them by fire and sword As Cornelius Tacitus writeth of Nero that he caused the Christians to be burned specially in the night in vsum nocturni luminis in stead of night lampes So the truth is not to be defended and maintained by the same weapons wherewith false religion fighteth for the fruits of the spirit are loue peace gentlenes Gal. 5. 22. 3. But it therefore followeth not because religion is not to be forced by punishment of death that therefore euery one is to be left vnto himselfe there are other forcible meanes by penall lawes to containe men in an vniforme profession of the true faith then by death Iosias put downe the Chemarims idolatrous Priests but he put them not to death 2. King 23. 5. 4. Yet such as are manifest blasphemers and heretikes are to be cut off by the sword as Servetus was at Geneva so that in the inflicting of the punishment of death for false religion a double difference is to be made 1. between those which do maintaine manifest heresie and blasphemie and such as hold other vnsound opinions and in the first sort betweene such as are obstinate and peruerse and those which are seduced of ignorance and simplicitie 23. Quest. Of the extraordinarie beating of the fornace v. 19. He charged that they should heate the fornace seuen times more 1. In the Apocryphall narration here inserted in the Greeke translation it is added further that the king commanded the fornace to be made hoat with pitch and towe and a kind of liquid brimstone called naptha and small twigges and spriggs of vines or such like called malleoli which some take for the small brush wood apt to be set on fire as Theodoret some for such stuffe besmeared with pitch as Pererius sheweth out of Nonius Marcellus 2. And concerning naptha whereof there are fountaines in Babylon which is an hoate countrey full of brimstone and in diuers places flaming out with fire and as Plutarke writeth the earth is so hoat that they are constrained to lie in water this naptha is of such force that whatsoeuer is besmeared therewith taketh fire in such sort as that it can not be quenched but with vineger and allume and such like as Sirabo writeth lib. 16. how Alexander to take triall of the nature thereof caused a boy beeing in the water to be annointed with naptha and so a candle put to him who so burned that if they had not with much water mire and such like quenched it he had beene consumed before them Plutarke also in the life of Alexander reporteth how the Barbarians to shew the operation of this naptha did cast certaine droppes vpon the way which in the night tooke the flame one from an other that all the way seemed to be of a light fire 3. But because in the originall historie there is no mention made of these things that the fire should be tempered with nor yet that the fornace should flame 49. cubits v. 46. in the Apocryphall addition we neede not busie our selues with searching out the nature of these things it sufficeth to know as it is in the text that the fornace was made hoat 7. times more then vsually it was 24. Quest. Of the exquisite crueltie and torments which these three were put vnto 1. Whereas in the punishing of offenders Tyrants haue satisfied themselues with simple death in the persecuting of the seruants of God they vsed exquisite torments as here the fornace is made seuen times more hoat if any malefactour had bin condemned to this punishment the ordinarie heat would haue sufficed Bulling 2. Then he commandeth the strongest men to binde them that they might vse no resistance and might be more strongly bound and God so disposed that the king should vse the ministerie of his most valiant men that both the miracle might be the greater in that the flame consumed these men exercitus cladem persentisceret he should be punished in the losse of his martiall men Lyran. and here appeareth the madnesse of persecutors who refuse not to be hangmen and tormentors themselues of Gods seruants which they would be ashamed to doe in the execution of ordinarie malefactors Osiander 3. They are bound in their apparell vt nihil ex illis reseruandum c. that nothing might remaine or be reserued of them and because they were in such hast 4. They are cast into the middes of the fornace that the fire might haue the greater power ouer them Bullinger 25. Quest. Of the apparell which they were cast into the fire with 1. The first garment is called sarbal which the Septuag interpreteth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sarabaris by the change of one letter Hierome readeth cum braccis with their breeches or hose for so he saith that saraballa in the Chalde language signifie the thighes so also Hesychius interpreteth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be the couerings of the thighes and in the Sclavonian tongue the wide slippers are called sarabarh Polan so also Pagnin But it seemeth rather to signifie the close coat which couered not onely the nether but the vpper parts as Tertullian in lib. de pallio writeth thus of Alexander triumphalem cataphractam amolitus in captiva sarabara incessit that laying aside his triumphant complete harnesse he went vp downe in a captiue garment called sarabara c. it seemeth then it was such a garment which couered those parts which vsed to be harnessed the breast and vpper parts as well as the neather Ab. Ezra and R. Levi take it for the vpper garment but that is rather the last here named it is more fitly taken for the coate Genevens or the short cloake and inward garment as Iunius and Vatablus expresse it by the word chlamys which signifieth a short cloake 2. The next garment is taken by some for their breeches femâ—ralia Mont. tibialia the hose Vatab. Genevens subligacula their slops but the word petaschon their bonets commeth neere the word petasus which signifieth an hat or bonet and so the Septuagint and Hierome expresse it by the word tiara a bonet Polan Lyran. and Hugo Card. thinke that tiara signifieth both pileum and palliolum an hat or Persian cloake but it rather here signifieth the couering of the
things most deare and precious but this is a forced and wrested sense for the text speaketh euidently of the deliuering of the persons of men not of any other pretious things 2. it is sufficient saith he to vnderstand some of these onely to haue had sonnes and daughters though not all c. But Daniel by this text can be no more denied to haue had sonnes and daughters then either Noah or Iob yet I confesse that this beeing but a supposition and conditionall speach that if these three Noah Iob Daniel were in the middest of it they should deliuer neither sonne nor daughter doth not necessarily conclude that Daniel had sonnes and daughters yet he might haue both 3. Now howsoeuer it was for his virginitiâ— certaine it is he was no Eunuch as Lyranus and Carthusianus and Pintus inferre vpon these words ver 4. they must be children without blemish which collection though Peâ—â—â—â—us mislike yet it may be warranted Leuit. 21. 20. where this verie kind of defect in the secret parts is counted among other blemishes And whereas Perer saith that they were onely to respect the outward comlinesse and beautie which he saith is held longer to continue in Eunuchs I rather thinke with Lyranus taliter castrati sunt male gratiosi etiam in facis that such as are depriued of their vitilitie haue for the most part lesse grace in their countenance Quest. 21. Who are vnderstood here by the Princes 1. The word is partemim which R. Ioseph Kimhi would deriue of the word Perath which was the name of the great riuer Euphrates and that thereby are signified the Princes of the region about Euphrates but this agreeth not to this place as Caluin noteth for these princes were of Iudah whose children were taken they inhabited not neere Euphrates 2. Some deriue the word of Pharah to fructifie and encrease noting such as were truely noble and excelling others some of Parath which signifieth to deuide because the Magistrates and Iudges which decided controuersies were of the nobler sort 3. Some rather thinke that it was a strange word taken vp in the Chalde tongue Mercer Iunius coniecture in that parthani may come of the Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so it generally signifieth the first chiefe or principall men 4. The Latine interpreter it expresseth by the word tyrannorum the seede of the tyrants but that word howsoeuer at the first in the Greeke tongue it was vsed in the better part to signifie great and excellent men yet now it is applied vnto such which are cruell gouernours and are vsually called tyrants thereforre it is no fit word to expresse the sense here 5. The Septuagint retaine it as a proper name and title of dignitie Pharthammin but that is not like for the Princes among the Persians were so called Ester 1. 3. there were not the like titles of honour among the Iewes which were among the Persians I therefore preferre before the rest the opinion of Mercerus and Iun. Quest. 22. VVhy the children of the Princes and Nobles were taken captiues The reasons hereof may be these 1. the king herein shewed his triumph and victorie in carying away the more principall mens sonnes 2. And because such hauing had noble education and not trayned vp as the vulgar sort were meetest to attend vpon the king to the which ende he sorted them out from the rest 3. And this might be his policie also herein that these principall mens sonnes beeing brought vp with the king of Babel and so instructed in the manners and religion of the Chaldeans might thereby haue their hearts and affections enstranged and alienated from their countrie 4. And he might haue further this purpose therein to kepe them as pledges and hostages the better to containe the Iewes in obedience and subiection Caluin Quest. 23. How the Lord performed his promise to Dauid that his kingdome should be established for euer 2. Sam. 16. seeing Iehoiakim was giuen into Nebuchadnezzers hand 1. We must consider that the promise in respect of Dauids temporall seede was conditionall that the Lord would make sure the kingdome so long as they continued in obedience but if they brake the condition the Lord was not tied to make good his promise 2. Yet the spirituall kingdome in the Messiah which was of the seede of Dauid according to the flesh shall remaine for euer without any condition or exception 3. And although Iehoiakim were giuen into Nebuchadnezzars hand yet the kingdome well nigh continued after this 20. yeares in Dauids posteritie and the Lord by degrees did proceede to take away the scepter from Iudah which for Dauids sake he would haue continued still if they would haue taken any warning 4. But it must not be thought that Gods purpose and promise to Dauid was changed and ouerturned by any superior power and euen Nebuchadnezzar herein was the minister of God to execute his iudgements for it is saide that the Lord gaue Iehoiakim into his hand v. 2. Polan Quest. 24. Whether it were lawfull for Daniel to be taught the learning of the Chaldeans v. 4. And whome they might teach the learning c. Though among the Chaldeans there were curious and superstitious artes for both iudiciarie Astrologie and Genethlialogie the casting of mens natiuities and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 diuination by the dead are held to haue beene inuented by the Chaldeans yet they had other profitable sciences as Astronomie Geometrie and other liberall arts which Daniel might safely learne as Moses was brought vp in the knowledge of the Egyptians whose superstitious inuentions notwithstanding he abhorred and if Daniel refused to be defiled with their meats which were but for the bodie much more did he take heede not to haue his soule defiled with superstitious inuentions Calvin Quest. 25. Of the Chalde language and the difference betweene it and the Hebrew 1. The Chaldeans called in Hebrew Chasdim had their originall from Arphachsad the sonne of Sem the Chaldeans at the first comprehended the Hebrewes also for Heber the sonne of Selah the sonne of Arphacsad was the father of the Hebrewes and Abraham the Hebrew was borne in Vr of the Chaldees 2. At the first the knowledge of God did flourish among the Chaldeans till idolatrie and superstition encreasing it pleased God to single out Abraham in whome the true religion should be preserued 3. The most auncient tongue was the Hebrew which was preserued in Hebers familie and so descended to Abraham who also because he liued among the Chaldeans could speake the language of that nation 4. But seeing Daniel here beeing an Hebrew borne was to be taught the Chalde language then Philo is deceiued who thinketh the Chalde and Hebrew to be all one 5. Neither was the Chalde and Syrian tongue the same which is the opinion of Mercerus so thinketh also Hugo Cardinal following the ordinarie Glosse some thinke that the Syrian tongue differed not much from the Chalde but was the more eloquent
That these three seruants of God were not deliuered from the fire for their virginitie or abstinencie Vers. 25. VValking in the middes of the fire and they haue no hurt Damascene thinketh that they were not hurt of the fire because they kept their virginitie lib. 4. but no such thing appeareth in this storie that they liued vnmaried Basil in a certaine homilie of the praise of fasting doth ascribe this their deliuerance vnto their fasting But the Apostle putteth vs out of doubt that they were preserued by their faith Heb. 11. 33. through faith they stopped the mouthes of lyons quenched the violence of fire As Pintus well obserueth 11. Controv. Against the Vbiquitares They which maintaine the omnipresence of Christs flesh and that the bodie of Christ may be in the Eucharist without the essentiall properties thereof as circumscription quantitie visibilitie and such like doe thus reason out of this place the burning heat is an essentiall propertie of the fire but this was separated from the fire and yet the essence of the fire remained therefore the essentiall properties of a thing may be separated from it the nature still remaining Contra. 1. The burning facultie of the fire is not an essentiall propertie but an effect of the heat which is an essentiall qualitie of the fire 2. the heat was not separated from the fire for then it should haue beene no longer fire but the heat thereof was onely restrained and hindred from working and that not generally but onely where the seruants of God were for without the fornace the flames killed the kings ministers and if the fire had lost the heat the miracle had not beene so great for a thing not beeing hoat not to be burnt Polan 3. If all this were admitted it serueth not their turne for here the Scripture testifieth that there was fire and yet it burned not they must then shewe the like warrant for their miracle in the Eucharist that a bodie should be there without the due properties it followeth not because it pleased God at this time to shewe a miracle to set forth his glorie that he should doe so continually 12. Controv. That miracles are not alwaies a note and sure marke of the Church 1. The true notes and markes of the Church are such as are alwaies seene in it but the Church of God alwaies hath not the power of miracles neither is it alwaies necessarie Againe the true markes of the Church cannot be found els where but miracles may be wrought by those which are not of the Church as by the forcerers of Egypt and Antichrist shall worke wonders 2. Thes. 2. and false Prophets may giue signes which may come to passe Deut. 13. 1. 2. But it will be thus further obiected that whereby God is acknowledged is a note of the Church but God is here confessed and acknowledged by Nebuchadnezzar by this miracle therefore it was a note of the Church Ans. 1. That whereby God alwaies and onely is acknowledged is a note of the Church but such are not signes and miracles for sometime they may seduce and drawe away from God 2. God is in some sort knowne by miracles but onely in respect of his power he is not sufficiently knowne but by his word and therefore by this reason the word of God is the proper note of the Church whereby the Lord is most absolutely knowne and yet this is denied by the Romanists Polan 3. This must be vnderstood of true miracles which are wrought by the spirit of God and are applyed to a right ende this reason holdeth not for false miracles 4. true miracles then doe for that time demonstrate the Church while that gift and power remaineth but a perpetuall note it cannot be of the Church because that power alwaies remaineth not See more hereof Synops. Centur. 1. err 22. 13. Controv. Whether a contrarie religion may be tolerated in a commonwealth 1. Nebuchadnezzar here maketh a decree that whosoeuer spake any blasphemie against the God whom these three worshipped should be punished hereupon this question is mooued by Polanus whether the prince is onely to suffer the true religion to be professed in his kingdome wherein these three considerations are to be had 1. If the kingdome is such as hath an absolute gouernement and the true religion is alreadie setled and established in this case no mixture of contrarie religion is to be admitted As diuerse good kings of Iudah are reprooued because they remoued not the high places But Iosias for his faithfulnesse is commended who put down the Chemarims and abolished all monuments of superstition 2. If the kingdome be such as professeth corrupt religion which cannot be remooued all at once then the godly prince intending reformation must content himselfe to doe what he may and to followe Nebuchadnezzars president who although idolatrie were not then abolished yet prouideth that no iuiurie should be offred vnto true religion nor blasphemie vttered against the true God So where true religion cannot be drawne in altogether it must set in foote as it may as now is seene in the kingdome of Fraunce 3. Sometime where true religion is professed in a state not of absolute gouernement for peace sake and to auoide sedition the magistrates are constrained to tolerate some errors as wise pilates for the time giuing way vnto the tempest Polan as the Israelites suffered the Cananites to dwell among them whom they could not expell at once 14. Controv. That the conuersion of Nebuchadnezzar here doth not signifie the conuersion of the deuill in the ende of the world Lyranus here noteth the opinion of some which thinke that Nebuchadnezzar this proud king was herein a type of the deuill who in the end and consummation of the world should receiue and embrace the true knowledge of God But this heresie is opposite to the Scriptures which calleth it euerlasting fire which is prepared for the Deuill and his Angels Matth 24. 41. and S. Iude saith that the Angels which fell are reserued in euerlasting chaines vnder darkenesse Iude 6. And the Deuills cannot be conuerted or saued but by a Mediator Christ is no Mediator for them for he in no sort tooke the Angels that is their nature Heb. 2. 16. 6. Morall obseruations 1. Obseruat The mutable state of religion in kingdomes Vers. 1. Nebuchadnezzar c. made an image Not onely the fauour of the king was mutable for whom he lately extolled he now adiudgeth to the fire but his minde was variable concerning religion he which before confessed the God of Israel now setteth vp idolatrie in despight of God Thus in the time of the kings of Iudah religion often altered and changed sometime the true worship of God flourished as vnder Hezekiah and Iosias but their wicked sonnes after them set vp idolatrie Bulling Thus was it in England King Edward maintained the Gospel Queene Marie brought in the Masse againe Thus there is no certaintie of any thing in this world the Church
him the tuition of him and his realme but vnder that colour his meaning was to hold the kingdome of Egypt to himselfe Then the Egyptians craued helpe of the Romanes who sent Câ—ius Popilius who discharged Antiochus out of Egypt making a circle with his rod at his feete requiring Antiochus present answer before he went any further 2. He raged also against the people of God the Iewes whose countrey is called the pleasant land because of the knowledge and worship of God as it is in that sense called the ioy of the whole earth Psal. 48. 2. In two expeditions which he made against Egypt in both of his returnes from thence he inuaded Ierusalem and put the Iewes to the sword At the first time he was receiued by Iason the high Priest and in his second returne by wicked Menelaus Thus he raged against the host of heauen the people of God who are as the Lords host militant here in earth and he cast down some of the starres to the ground which some vnderstand generally to be the people of the Iewes Hugo some the chiefe and famous men Cal. Polan But rather by starres are vnderstood the excellent professors of the Church whom he caused some to forsake their faith some to be tormented as the mother with her 7. sonnes 2. Macc. 2. 7. thus the casting down of the stars is vnderstood Apoc. 12. 4. Bulling 3. Then followeth the third effect his prophanesse and irreligion against God who is called the prince of the host of his Church hereof there are fowre wicked and vile fruites 1. the daily sacrifices should be taken away with other ceremonies of religion the Sabbaths violated Gods seruice and worship intermitted 2. The Sanctuarie was defiled and the abhominable Idol of Iupiter Olympus set vp in the place of the worship of God 3. many of the Iewes reuolted from the faith and so the armie that is the Church militant was betrayed into the hands of Antiochus v. 12. 4. he cast downe the truth that is destroyed the lawe defacing and burning the bookes of the law 1. Macchab. 1. 59. Bulling Quest. 21. Of the meaning of these words v. 12. the armie was giuen vp with the daylie sacrifice by iniquitie There are diuerse readings of this verse 1. Some translate the word tzeba time thus reading a time shall be giuen ouer the daylie sacrifice for the iniquitie Calv. Mercer in Iob. 7. v. 1. Genev. But seeing the same word tzeba is taken for an host or armie v. 10. it is not conuenient to alter the signification here 2. Some other reade robur ei datum est c. power was giuen him against the dayly sacrifice c. so the Latine and Perer. Pint. Pap. Osiand but this reading likewise is refused vpon the former reason because the same word is otherwise taken before 3. It remaineth then that this is the true sense and reading the host was giuen vp with the dayly sacrifice Bul. Vat. or against the daily sacrifice I. Pol. by iniquitie or treachery 4. This defection treacherie or iniquity some vnderstand generally of the Iewes iniquitie of the people for the which they were punished and depriued of the daily sacrifice Cal. Genev. some referre it more specially to the sinnes of the Priests and people in corrupting and defiling of the seruice and worship of God committed against the daily sacrifice for the which they were worthily deliuered vp Vatab. But here seemeth to be speciall relation to the treacherie of the Priests by whome the citie and temple was betraied as first by Iason afterward by Menelaus who buying the high Priests place for money neglected the Temple and the seruice thereof transgressed the lawes and preferred the games and plaies of the Gentiles as is more at large declared 2. Macch. 4. 22. Quest. Of the meaning of the word Palmoni v. 13. 1. Some reteine the Hebrew word Palmoni as the Septuag but it was not a proper name of this great Angel to whome the other Angel spake it was a title rather or epithete giuen him that admirable or excellent Angel as Vatab. 2. Some doe take this word as deriued of these two words peloni almoni which signifieth a certaine one vnknowne as Ruth 4. 1. peloni almoni ho such an one come hither But this Angel beeing spoken vnto as the superiour and the other Angel which asked the question beeing set forth by the title of holy one it is not like that this great Angel the reuealer of secrets should be expressed by such a meane tearme 3. Therefore this palmoni is vnderstoode of Christ who is the reuealer of secrets and it signifieth one which hath things secret in number or account Iun. some deriue it of pala wonderfull and almoni a certaine one so it should signifie one admirable or wonderfull Oecolampad some of pala and ghalam which signifieth to hide he that hideth things secret Polan but the best deriuation is of pala wonderfull or secret and manah to number so Palmoni is he which hath all â—ecrets in number and account Pap. and so interpreteth Iunius Quest. 23. What Angel that was vnto whom one of the Angels spake 1. This whom Daniel calleth one of the Saints was no doubt one of the Angels and most like to be the Angel Gabriel because he is bidden afterward by name to cause Daniel to vnderstand the vision Bulling 2. But concerning the other who is called Palmoni vnto whom the Angel spake some questioÌ„ is who it should be Perer. and Pintus do suppose it was some superiour Angel and thereupon Pererius would ground his speculatiue conceit of the Hierarchie of Angels that some are inferiour and ministring spirits some are superiour and giue direction vnto the other 3. But this great Angel called Palmoni was no doubt Christ himselfe the Prince of the Angels for so he is called Isay. 9. 7. peleh wonderfull whence this name Palmoni is deriued Cal. Bulling 4. Now this Angel that asked the question did it not of any curiositie as the disciples enquired of Christ Act. 1. and therefore are reprooued but the Angel for the instruction of Daniel for the common good of the Church desireth to knowe this secret Quest. 24. Of the time prescribed v. 14. of 2300. dayes how it is to be taken 1. R. Leuâ— by so many dayes would haue vnderstood so many yeares beginning from the time of Saul which he calleth the morning because then the kingdome of Israel flourished and by the euening he vnderstandeth the taking away of the kingdome from thence to the third reparation of the Sanctuarie he would haue counted 2300. yeares when he saith the Temple should be built the third time againe and after that neuer to be destroyed But this Rabbine herein is a false Prophet for from Sauls raigne there haue runne 2600. yeares and yet this their third Temple which they dreamed of is not raised 2. R Saadia by these 2300. dayes would vnderstand so many moneths for so he
Eupator Demetrius Soter Alexander Epiphanes Demetrius Nicanor Antiochus Sedetes Antiochus Gryphus Antiochus Cyzicenus Seleucus the sonne of Gryphus Antiochus Pius whom Tigranes expelled Antiochus Asiaticus whom Pompey depriued And further whereas the kingdome of the Seleucians continued 270. yeares as Appianus and Antiochus beganne to raigne in the 137. yeare and died in the 149. yeare 1. Macchab. 6. 16. there remained yet after Antiochus death an 120. yeares of the raigne of the Seleucians Antiochus Epiphanes then could not come in the ende of that kingdome 3. Lyranus making Antiochus a type of Antichrist vnderstandeth the finall end and dissolution of the Greeke Empire when the fourth Monarchie of the Romanes beganne for the kingdome of Antichrist quodam modo pertinet ad regnum Romanum belongeth after a sort to the kingdome of the Romanes But seeing it is confessed of all that historically this vision and prophesie was first fulfilled in Antiochus Epiphanes though typically it be referred vnto Antichrist then first this must historically be applyed to the time of the rising vp of Antiochus 4. Bullinger here vnderstandeth the ende of the Macedonian kingdome for so Antiochus Epiphanes beganne to raigne in the 4. yeare of Perses the last king who raigned a 11. yeares in the last whereof he was ouercome and taken by P. Aemilius and Macedonia was brought to be a Prouince But this interpretation agreeth not with the text which saith that in the ende of their kingdome c. a king of fierce countenance shall stand vp it is euident then that he meaneth that kingdome out of which this fierce king should come which was the kingdome of the Seleucians 5. Calvin thus interpreteth in the ende of their kingdome that is vbi ad summum peruenerint when they are come to the height and begin to decline for after Antiochus Epiphanes the glorie and power of that kingdome begunne to decay But that is not said properly to be the end of a kingdome when the power thereof is somewhat altered onely the regall authoritie still remayning 6. Therefore the best reading is posteris temporibus in the latter times of this kingdom so is the word acharith taken Gen. 49. 1. c. 2. 28. see before c. 2. quest 31. cum regna illa aliquantum temporis constiterint when those kingdomes haue continued some while and the better part of the time of their continuance was past for Antiochus came in the 137. yeare which was toward both the latter and the decaying times of that kingdome for there remayned an 120. yeares of that kingdome not so much time as was alreadie fulfilled Iun. commentar Quest. 32. The description of Antiochus and of his doings He is described 1. by the time of his rising vp 2 his qualities 3. condition and state 4. his acts and exploits 5. by his ende 1. The time is expressed when the iniquities or defection or falling away is perfited which some vnderstand generally when the iniquities of the people were encreased Lyran. Hugo then God would raise vp one to punish them Some referre it to the professed enemies of the Church of God when they should be multiplied But there is speciall reference had to the generall defection and falling away from religion vnto gentilisme as is declared 1. Macchab. 1. v. 12. v. 43. and c. 2. v. 15. And the ringleaders of this apostasie were Iason who bought the high Priests place of Antiochus for money and Menelaus who by the like briberie obtayned it Iason beeing expelled which wicked men procured the Greeke playes to be set vp in Ierusalem and sent money to Tyrus for a sacrifice to Hercules and followed the abhominable fashion of the heathen as it is more at large shewed 2. Macchab. 4. 2. He is set forth by his adiuncts 1. he shall be of an hard countenance that is of an impudent face a shamelesse man 2. he shall vnderstand darke sentences which some expound thus he shall cause by his doings this darke vision to be vnderstood as beeing fulfilled in him Hugo But hereby rather is signified his craft and cunning he should be most subtile and politike to contriue his purpose 3. His state is set forth his power shall be mightie but not in his strength which some expound 1. his strength shall not be like Alexanders Genevens 2. or astutior erit quam potentior he shall be more craftie then powerfull grassabitur per fraudes he shall proceede by craft not by strength Calvin so also Iun. annot 3. Hugo following the interlin gloss giueth this sense not in his owne strength but of Gods for he could not so haue prospered vnlesse Gods will had beene so for the punishment of his people 4. not in his owne strength sed Satanae virtute but by the power of Satan gloss ordinar ex Gregor 5. But the meaning rather is this he seduced others quorum viribus abuteretur whose power he should abuse to helpe himselfe for both he was helped by the treacherie of the high Priests Iason and Menelaus Bulling and he had also the helpe of forren kings Eumenes and Attalus as Appian in Syriacis Polan 4. His acts and exploits are of two sorts either against men or against God himselfe Against men 1. he shall destroy wonderfully which Hugo referreth to Antiochus obscure beginning that he suddenly should rise to so great power Oecolampadins vnderstandeth it of his wonderfull crueltie who in three dayes slue 80. thousand in Ierusalem 40. thousand were put in bands and as many sold But it may more fitly be vnderstood of his deceit and craft whereby he wonderfully prospered for he procured the death of his father Antiochus and then of his elder brother Seleucus and then defeated also Seleucus sonne of the kingdom 2. he shall destroy the mightie and holy people Gregorie vnderstandeth here mente inuictos those which were strong and inuincible in minde whom he corporally ouercame as the mother with the seuen children and other of the Saints Lyran. Hugo vnderstandeth the Iewes which were strong and mightie auxilio dei by the strength of God before this sheweth rather that he should not onely prosper against the people of God but subdue other strong nations also as the Egyptians with other people Calv. Polan 3. A third effect is that he should so by his policie and craft preuaile winning some by flatterie and bribes others by fraud and deceit that he should thereby wax wonderfull insolent and proud aboue measure in so much as that he should thinke to command the floods and to weigh the mountaines in a ballance 4. He shall in peace destroy many 1. some reade in copia rerum in the abundance of things which Hugo vnderstandeth of his gifts Lyran of his power giuen him of God 2. but the word shalvah signifieth peace Calvin expoundeth that he shall per quietem quasi per ludum by peace and at his ease and as in sport without any difficultie preuayle some giue this sense that he shall set vpon men
forces among the Indians vnder pretence of embracing them to his religion but they practised most horrible butcherie and crueltie among them they hewed them in peices rosted them at the fire worried them with dogges â—ipped their bellies and drewe out their bowels opened the wombes of women with child hung them vp and burned them set them on stackes of strawe and set fire to them and thus in 40. yeares space they destroyed 15. millions of men that is 150. hundreth thousand and left wast and vnpeopled fiue times so much ground as all Spaine containeth They put them to vnspeakeable torments some they shodde with yron shoes nayling them to their feete some they fleaed and cast in salt to put them to more paine they cut off their lippes noses eares their fingers and toes and with fire and sword they consumed an infinite number as is before rehearsed Polan ex Bartholom Casa As Apollonius sent by Antiochus against Ierusalem made faire promises vntill he was receiued into the citie but then he fell vpon them on a sudden and put them to the sâ—ord and fell vpon the Iewes on the Sabbath while they kept the feast and vsed all outragious crueltie against theÌ„ So within these few yeares perdinandus Mendoza with his crue of Spaniards a champion for the Pope-catholik faith practised most horrible sauage cruelty in Westphalia sparing neither age nor sex no not them which submitted themselues and were of their owne religion the women great with child they stretching out their hands nailed to bourds and ripped their bellies tooke out the infants cut them in peices and hung them about their mothers neckes they compelled the men with long famine to eate their own children and some they hung vp by the priâ—ie members and the womens bellies they opened and thrust in children of two yeares old and strangled them in their mothers blood Neuer did any Turkes or infidels shew such examples of crueltie as those the Popes armes and champions Palanus 7. As Antiohus by his captaine Apollonius caused the daily sacrifice to cease set vp abominable idols burnt the bookes of the lawe So the Antichrist of â—ome hath abolished the right vse of the Eucharist which is a continuall commemoration of Christs death yea the sacrifice of Christs death and the vertue thereof is by them obscured if not abolished while he bringeth in other satisfactorie and propitiatorie sacrifices in their ordinarie masses the Pope setteth vp in Church idols and imagerie which are things abominable in the seruice of God the bookes of Scripture beeing in the vulgar tongue he commandeth to be burned and hererein he treadeth in the steppes of his forerunner Antiochus 8. Antiochus beside his forren power vsed the seruice of the Apostatate Priests and Iewes as Iason Menelaus So the Pope beside the secular power hath his runnagaâ—e and fugitiue Priests Iesuites Seminaries which doe by their subtill perswasions seduce many Gregorie setting forth Antichrist sheweth that he shall vse two kind of ministers conatur ad se cordâ— hominum missis praedicatoribus trahere commotis potestatibus inclinare he shall endeauour both to drawe mens hearts vnto him by sending of preachers and to bend them by the moouing of Potentates in Iob lib. 33. c. 23. This also he sheweth further by that place Apocal. 9. 19. their power is in their mouth and in their taile in ore doctorum scientia in cauda secularium potentia significatur c. in the mouth the knowledge of the learned is signified and in the taile the power of secular men Thus the Romane Antichrist bestirreth himselfe vsing both the sword of cruell potentates and the penne and tongue of corrupt teachers whom he enticeth with rewards and promise of dignities to vphold by their subtile wittes the kingdome of darkenesse and so in euery point he imitateth the example of wicked Antiochus his liuely image that both these wayes practised against the people of God Controv. 14. How the Antichrist of Rome hath persecuted Emperours Kings Princes learned men whole Churches for religion 9. As in this great persecution vnder Antiochus there were many faithfull that did not forsake the lawe but did cleaue vnto the Lord and instructed others so to doe likewise who were most cruelly persecuted for their faith so in the times of persecution vnder the Romane Antichrist many of all sorts that haue opposed themselues to his vngodly proceedings haue beene euill entreated and cruelly handled 1. both Emperours 2. Kings 3. Princes 4. Learned confessors of the truth 5. whole Churches as now shall be briefly shewed in order 1. Of the Emperours First Philippicus Bardanius because he commanded all images to be remooued out of Churches by the consent of Iohn Patriarke of Constantinople was declared to be an heretike together with the said Patriarke and publikely excommunicated in a certaine Synod by Pope Constantine who inhibited that the image of the said Emperour should be stamped in any siluer or gold or any mention to be made of him in the common prayers Vrspergens Leo the 3. Isauricus called Iconomachus a fighter against images caused images in Italie and Sicilie to be cast out of the Churches and by his publike edict commaunded all images to be remooued for the which fact he was excommunicated of Gregorie the 2. and Gregorie the 3. and the Venetians with others were stirred vp to rebellion and the Eparch or viceroy with his sonne slaine by which occasion the Pope stripped the Emperour of his Exarchateship or gouernement of Italie which the Emperours of Constantinople had held an 164. yeares Constantine the 5. in a synode at Constantinople of 330. Bishops decreed that images should be cast downe and burned and no more be worshipped nor the Virgin Marie prayed vnto that Saints reliques should not be kept that it should be lawfull for Monkes and Nunnes to marry for the which Stephanus the 2. translated the Empire of Constantinople into Fraunce and his bodie was taken vp 23. yeares after it was buried by the Empresse Irene to please Pope Adrian and burnt to ashes Constantine the 6. for remoouing images which his mother Irene had set vp was by her depriued of his kingdome sight and life also No better dealt the Popes with their owne Emperours of the West Henrie the 4. who had encountred with his enemies 62. times in open battell was by Gregorie the 7. Vrbane the 2. Paschal the 2. excommunicate his Empire was first giuen to Rodolphus the Duke of Suevia then his sonnes were set against him vnder colour of religon first Conrodus afterward Henricus the 5. his sonne who depriued him of his Empire and caused his bodie to be digged vp after it was buried and cast forth as a carion into the fields where it lay vnburied fiue yeares vntill it was brought to Spire and there buried Friderike the 1. called Barbarossa was most hardly vsed by the Popes Adrian the 4. and Alexander the 3. Philip
controversie 19. Contr. Why the Lord suffereth Antichrist to rage against his Church That is no reason which Bellarmine pretendeth that the Romane Church is by their outward prosperitie knowne to be the true Church and therefore it is giuen vnto them to prosper but these rather are the causes 1. That herein Gods mercie may appeare who for a long time tied vp and bound Saâ—han though for a while he be let loose yet in that vntill the reuealing of Antichrist he was bridled and not suffered hetherto to powre out all his malice against the Church of God it must be ascribed to his mercie 2. The Lord by this persecution vnder Antichrist will trie out the faithfulnes of his seruants that they may be discerned from the hypocrites as it is shewed here in the former verse that diuers were suffered to fall into affliction to trie and purge them both that they might be scuered and purged from hypocrites as the wheat is from the chaffe and drosse and that the Lord also might haue experience of the faithfulnes and constancie of his seruants Hereupon Hyppolitus thinketh that the Martyrs vnder the tyrannie of Antichrist shall be the most glorious Martyrs that euer were in any persecution before which verily may be affirmed of our holy Martyrs that suffered in the daies of Queene Marie in England and then and since in other places for beside that their torments and cruell manner of death were equivalent the cause for the which they suffered was more hard to be iudged of and their enemies more subtle for the Martyrs of the Primitiue Church died for not yeilding vnto most grosse idolatrie of the heathen which was most manifest impietie and their aduersaries were professed enemies to all Christianitie But these latter Martyrs suffered for matters of religion euen controuerted among Christians and their persecutors themselues pretending to be Christians 3. A third reason is that God by the hypocrisie and tyrannie of Antichrist punisheth the sinnes of the world which abounded at the reuealing of Antichrist Hyppolitus thus well setteth forth the iniquitie of those times wherein Antichrist shall come omnes suo arbitratu vivent silij manus inijcient in parentes c. all shall liue as they list the sonnes shall lay violent hands vpon their parents the wife shall deliuer the husband to death the husband the wife masters shall be cruell toward their seruants and seruants shall be stubborne against their masters no man shall reuerence the aged nor haue pitie on the poore then shall enchanters and sorcerie be in force Pastours shall become wolues and Monks shall couet and desire the things of the world c. All these vices and corruptions abounded in the world when Antichrist beganne to shew himselfe and these things are yet practised vnder the Romane tyrannie Wiues doe accuse their husbands and husbands their wiues children the parents and parents the children one brother riseth against an other to put them to death for religion So that for these and other sinnes the hard yoke of Antichristian bondage yet lieth vpon the world And S. Paul sheweth the reason thereof 2. Thess. 2. 11 12. God shall send them strong delusions to beleeue lies that all they might be damned which beleeue not the truth but had pleasure in vnrighteousnes And so those nations which are yet in bondage vnder Antichrist because they desire not to leaue their superstition and vnrighteous liuing but still continue enemies to the truth therefore they are by the iust iudgement of God kept still in ignorance and misbeleefe 20. Controv. That out of this text v. 36. it can not be prooued that the Pope is not Antichrist as Bellarmine intendeth Bellarm. lib. 3. de Rom. Pontiâ— c. 21. goeth about to prooue by diuers arguments out of this text that the Pope can not be Antichrist Argum. 1. Antichrist here described shall doe what he list and exalt himselfe against God as not holding himselfe tied vnto any law nor acknowledging any superiour so doth not the Pope who taketh himselfe to be bound vnto the law and confesseth Christ to be his Iudge and superiour Ans. The Pope confesseth thus much in words but in effect he abrogateth the law of God and so consequently denieth Christ to be his superiour 1. The Pope dispenseth against the law of God which sheweth his superioritie ouer the law Pope Martin the 5. with the aduise of his Popish diuines dispensed with one to marrie his owne sister germane this is committed to writing by Antoninus Florentin summ 3. p. tit 1. c. 11. § quod Papa whome Necolaus Boerius followeth consil 20. vtrum papa numer 26. such were the incestuous mariages of Egypt for Ptolome Philadelphus maried his owne sister Berenice and so did Ptolome Philopator his sister Eurydice whome he killed Ptolome Physcon married Cleopatra his brother Philometors wife in which very case the Pope dispensed with Henrie the 8. to marrie his brother Prince Arthurs wife Likewise the law of God forbiddeth the setting vp of all images to be worshipped Levit 18. 9. which the Pope commandeth euery where to be done The holy Apostle saith that concupiscence is against the law and consequently sinne Rom. 7. 7. But the Pope in his Councell of Trent decreed the contrarie that concupiscence is not vere proprie peccatum verily and properly sinne 2. As the Pope alloweth that which Gods law forbiddeth and condemneth so likewise he forbiddeth that which Gods word alloweth and commandeth As Gods word commandeth obedience to parents but the Pope set Conradus and Henrie against their father Henrie the 4. who warred against him and Henrie depriued him of his Empire and of Christian sepulture Our Sauiour biddeth to giue vnto Cesar the things which are Cesars as homage tribute obedience but Gregorie the 2. forbad tribute to be paied to Leo the 3. for pulling downe of images or any obedience to be yeilded vnto him The Scripture alloweth that they which haue not the gift of continencie should marrie but Calisthus the 3. refused to dispense with the marriage of a certaine Deacon that alledged he had not the gift of continencie for whome also Cardinal Senensis entreated who was afterward Pope called Pius the 2. who writ hereof vnto his friend in these words alterum Papam expectandum qui melior sit that an other Pope must be expected who should be better Boerius loc citat num 20. The Scripture counteth mariage honourable and maketh it free for all men Hebt 13. 4. yet the Pope forbiddeth mariage to his Clergie as a disgrace to their orders 3. And that it yet may more euidently appeare how the Pope extolleth himselfe aboue Christ In the yeare 1447. when Felix was Bishop of Rome who succeeded Eugenâ—us this answer was made by the Cardinal of S. Angel to the Embassadors of Bohemia Siquis non crederet Christum esse verum Deum hominem idem sentiret Papa eum non damnatum â—ri if any did not beleeue Christ to be
of the truth of this speech but if it be not true why standeth it in the Canon after so often reuising and perusing of the Canons 2. They denie Christ to be our onely Priest in making other Mediators and intercessors beside him contrarie to the Apostle 1. Tim. 2. 5. There is one Mediatour of God and man the man Iesus Christ. 3. Neither doe they acknowledge Christ to be the onely king of his Church making the Pope his Vicar and head of the Church and they say that vnto the Pope is giuen all authoritie in heauen and earth lib. 1. Ceremoniar cur Roman Bellarmine answereth that the Pope no more denieth Christ to be king then a Viceroy in a countrey denieth the king of the land Ans. 1. The reason is not alike for a king can not be present in euery part of his kingdome and therefore committeth many things to his deputie which he can not doe himselfe but Christ is for euer present with his Church 2. the Viceroy taketh not vpon him to be the king and head as the Pope doth So then it is euident that the Pope in effect renounceth the God and religion of his fathers see further in the Appendix exercis 3. argum 1. 22. Controv. How the Romane Antichrist regardeth not the desire of women Though the Antichrist of Rome doth publikely pretend chastitie yet all fornication and vncleannes both naturall and vnnaturall is practised and suffered vnder that licentious gouernment And herein the Pope regardeth not the desires of women in that he is an enemie vnto lawfull marriage forbidding his Clergie to marrie which is made lawfull to all men 1. Cor. 7. 1. Hebr. 13. 4. And while marriage is restrained there is a way open to all other kind of vncleannes euen that filthie Sodomitrie which is against nature in commendation whereof a great Bishop of Italie did write publikely and that without any checke Papp This sinne some scoffingly haue called mutum peccatum a dumme sinne but they shall finde that it is peccatum clamans a crying sinne which called for fire and brimstone from heauen vpon the Sodomites Bulling But Bellarmine to cleare his great Master the Pope of this suspition also he alleadgeth that in the originall the words stand thus and he shall be in the desires of women though that in the Greeke translation it be read negatiuely he shall not c. And he giueth two coniectures why it should be read rather affirmatiuely then negatiuely both because Antiochus as Hierome writeth who is here historically meant was giuen vnto the desire and lust of women neither is it probable that Antichrist should command or commend single life but the Iewes rather doe expect that Antichrist shall suffer them to haue many wiues which they count a part of their terrene happines Contra. 1. That it is more agreeable to the originall to read here negatiuely he shall not haue respect to the desires of women then affirmatiuely is shewed before qu. 45. whether I referre the Reader 2. Though Antiochus were one way giuen vnto the desire of women in respect of his carnall lust yet an other way he was not in not regarding the request and desire of his wife for to spare Ierusalem as is shewed likewise before qu. 45. 3. It is most probable nay rather that Antichrist shall enioyne single life and restraine marriage because he shall maintaine the doctrine of deuills whereof this is one 4. And though the Iewes expect such carnall libertie when their Messiah commeth that is nothing to the purpose for such a Messiah as they expect shall neuer come But we know certenly that the Antichrist should come into the world and is indeede alreadie come 5. And that Antichrist shall outwardly seeme to maintaine single life it is the opinion of their owne writers exterius finget castitatem vt facilius decipiat he shall outwardly faine chastitie that he may the more easily deceiue Lyran. so also Pererius Intimis animi sensibus erit super omnes libidiâ—osus c. in his inward disposition he shall of all men be most licentious and lustfull though he shall outwardly dissemble chastitie 23. Controv. That Antichrist shallnot care indeede for any God nor haue any sense of religion That the Antichrist of Rome herein also was well resembled by Antiochus may be prooued first by particular induction that many of their Popes haue beene found in a manner to be very Atheists hauing â—o sense of religion Iohn the 12. whome Platina maketh Iohn the 13. nec Deum nec hominem prae oculis habuisse had neither God nor man before his eyes so testifieth Theodoric à Niem lib. 3. c. 9. Innocentius the 8. was seene for the most part to sleepe in the time of diuine seruice of Alexander the 6. saith Guicciardine that he had nullum religionis sensum no feeling of religion his holy-daies exercise was to see Plautus comedies plaied of Leo the 10. it is reported that he should thus say quantum nobis profuit fabula ista de Christo how much hath this fable or tale of Christ profited vs Secondly this may be shewed how the Pope doth magnifie himselfe against God by those blasphemous titles and prerogatiues which he suffreth to be giuen vnto him by his Canonists as Osiander doth exemplifie these the Pope is the vniuersall father of all the faithfull and of all the sheepe of Christ Ioannes de tur cremat the Pope hath the same consistorie with God and the same tribunall with Christ the Pope is a certaine diuine power representing a visible God in earth Gomesius All power is giuen vnto the Pope in heauen and earth from the Pope appeale is not to be made no not vnto God the Pope can make something of nothing the Pope can doe all that God doth Decius the Pope is God Felinus the Pope is greater then any other creature and his power extendeth it selfe to celestiall things terrestriall and infernall Antonin Florentin the Pope may change the forme of the Sacraments deliuered from the Apostles Archiadiacon the Pope is the foundation of faith as the canons speake God hath subiected all lawes to the Pope and no lawe can be imposed vpon his highnesse 〈◊〉 Gratian. the Pope may decree against the epistles of S. Paul Carolus Râ—â—nus God hath brought all things in subiection vnder the Popes feete Barbazia none is equall to the Pope but God August Beroius the Pope is the husband of the whole Church Ioan. de tur cremat These and such like blasphemies are vttered by the Popes claw-backes and â—e accepteth them for if he misliked them why doth he not prohibite them to vse such grosse and blaspemous seatteries By this it is euidently manifest that the Pope as here it is said of Antiochus seeketh onely to magnifie himselfe and in effect careth not for any God 24. Controv. How Antichrist shall bring in a strange God which his fathers neuer knewe v. 38. As Antiochus brought in his newe
vnto Antiochus Theos first his daughter Laodice and then afterward his other daughter Berenice they 〈◊〉 two sisters as Appian in Syriac whome Polanus followeth But whether they were sisters or not Antiochus did repudiate his lawfull wife Laodic by whome he had two sonnes Seleucus Callinicus and Hierax but this mariage prospered not for Berenice was slaine by Callinicus which sheweth what is the ende of such vnlawfull marriages and that all leagues and confederacies combined by such meanes can not hold So Ferdinand gaue vnto Sigismund king of Polonia first one of his daughters and after her death an other by the Popes dispensation And in this age the Pope hath dispensed with the like incestuous mariages for the vniting and maintaining of some great houses Polan 5. Observ. Princes that are enemies to the Church shall not long prosper v. 12. But he shall not preuaile Ptolomeus Philopator hauing obtained an exceeding great victorie against Antiochus Megas because he was listed vp in minde and afflicted the people of God profaned the Temple and cast many of them before the Elephants in open shewes he was giuen ouer to a reprobate sense spending his daies in most filthie pleasure and liued not long after such is the ende of those which are enemies to the people of God according to the prayer of the Prophet Dauid Vp Lord disappoint them cast them downe Psal. 17. 13. 6. Observ. There can be no firme peace among the wicked v. 27. They shall talke of deceit at one table Antiochus Epiphanes and Ptolome Philometor made semblance and shew of friendship but it was not in truth such are the truces betweene Princes that professe not true religion as betweene the kings of France Spaine in times past as Sleidan and Gnicciardine note in their stories so the Prophet Isai saith c. 57. 21. There is no peace to the wicked 7. Observ. Peace betweene Princes enemies to the Church dangerous v. 28. His heart shall be against the holy couenant As this peace betweene Antiochus Epiphanes and Ptolome Philometor redounded much to the hurt of Gods people such are the leagues made in these daies betweene the Princes of the Popes faction which tende to the ruine of the Church as Herod and Pilate were made friends by persecuting of Christ. But God shall breake the bonds of all such carnall deuices and not suffer his Church to be troden downe 8. Observ. That we be not dismaied when religion is hindred v. 31. They shall pollute the Sanctuarie As Antiochus Epiphanes caused an idol to be set vp in the Temple and the daily sacrifice to be intermitted so for a while God may suffer his Church to be tried and his seruice to cease as here in England in the daies of Queene Marie when the Churches were defiled with idols but as Antiochus tyrannie continued not much aboue sixe yeares so God shortned those wicked daies which were vnder that time not full out sixe yeares 9. Observ. The ende of the wicked shall be sudden and fearefull v. 45. He shall come to his ende and none shall helpe him As Antiochus was plagued of God for his wickednes and so he died the like ende wicked tyrants shall haue as Psal. 37. 37. Marke the vpright man for the end of that man is peace but the transgressors shall be destroied together c. CHAP. XII 1. The Argument and Method THis Chapter which conteineth the comforts and consolations ministred vnto Daniel is deuided into three parts 1. the conference of the Angel with Daniel to v. 5. 2. of one of the Angels with Christ v. 5. to v. 8. 3. of Christ himselfe with Daniel thence to the ende of the chapter 1. In the first part there are 4. comforts giuen vnto Daniel 1. one is taken from the efficient cause and author of their deliuerance Michael shall stand vp for his people v. 1. 2. in the second place of comfort first the time of trouble is set forth by way of comparison then the comfort is taken from the issue of their trouble they which are found written in the booke of life shall be deliuered v. 1. 3. the third comfort is from the hope of the resurrection they which are not temporally deliuered shall rise vp in the ende vnto life euerlasting Here the resurrection is set forth 1. in generall many that is all shall awake out of the dust 2. in particular there shall be two sorts some shall rise to life some to shame v. 2. 3. of those which rise to life some shall shine among the rest as the brightnesse of the firmament and as the starres v. 3. 4. The fourth comfort is that notwithstanding those troublesome times yet the Church of God shall continue and many shall seeke for the vnderstanding of this booke which to that ende Daniel is bid to seale vp v. 4. 2. In the second part is described 1. the vision that Daniel sawe both the number he sawe two and the site or place of them v. 5. 2. their speach 1. the question mooued vnto whom namely to Christ and what concerning the ende 2. the answer 1. by whom by him that stood vpon the waters 2. in what manner by an oath with the lifting vp of both his hands 3. what he answereth both for the cōtinuance of the time for the end v. 7. 3. In the third part there is 1. Daniels question with the occasion thereof his not vnderstanding v. 8. 2. the answer of Christ partly denying Daniels request the things were secret and sealed vp v. 9. partly giuing him satisfaction 1. concerning the Church wherein is shewed the ende and fruit of their afflictions set forth by the contrarie the frowardnes of the wicked v. 10. and the tearme first 1290. daies then a 1335. v. 11. 12. 2. concerning Daniel himselfe that he should be content with a double promise made vnto him that he should presently after his death rest from all his labours and afterward stand vp in his lot in the resurrection 2. The text with the diuers readings 1. And at that time shall stand vp Michael the great Prince which standeth for the children of thy people and there shall be a time of trouble such as neuer was since there began to be a nation vnto this time and at that time the people shall be deliuered euery one that is found written in that booke in the booke B. G. but the article is prefixed which noteth some speciall booke 2 And many of them which sleepe in the dustie earth V. I. earth of dust H. not dust of the earth B. G. shall awake some to euerlasting life and some to shame and perpetuall contempt not to contempt that they may see alwaies 3 And they which instruct cause to vnderstand H. are teachers V. are wise G. B. are taught or learned L. but the word is in the active shall shine as the brightnes of the firmament and they which bring many turne many B. G. to righteousnes iustifie many H. as the
starres for euer and euer 4 But thou O Daniel shut vp the words and seale the booke vntil the time determined I. L. vntill the last time V. time of the ende H. B. not end of time G. many shall runne to and fro or here and there B. not passe through L. or wander vp and downe V. and knowledge shal be encreased see qu. 15. 5 ¶ Then I Daniel looked and beheld other two standing the one on this side of the brinke of the riuer and the other on that side of the brinke of the riuer 6 And one said not I said L. to the man clothed in linen which was vpon the waters of the riuer aboue at the waters of the riuer V. How long vnto the ende of these wonders not when shall be the ende of these wonders 7 And I heard the man cloathed in linen which was vpon the waters of the riuer when he held vp his right hand and his left hand vnto heauen the heauens and sware by him that liueth for euer that at the appointed time times and a part I. or halfe caeter for cheizi signifieth both I. not vnto the appointed time whether long or short V. he expresseth not the words and when he hath accomplished to disperse the power hand H. of the holy people all these things shall be finished 8. And I heard but vnderstood not and I said Lord what shall be the ende of these things not what shall be in the ende of these things A. P. or what shall be after this L. acarith here signifieth the last ende 9. And he said goe thy way Daniel for the words are cloased vp and sealed vnto the time determined L. I. time of the ende H. S. B. not ende of time G 10. Many shall be purged chosen L. S. barar signifieth both but the first here and made white and tried as fire L. S. ad but the wicked shall doe wickedly neither shall any of the wicked vnderstand but they which instruct I. V. cause to vnderstand H. the wise B. G. shall vnderstand obserue marke I. 11. And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away and the abhomination bringing desolation making desolate H. not the abhomination for desolation L. or abhominable desolation B. G. for shamem making desolate is here a Participle set vp there shall be a thousand two hundreth and ninetie dayes 12. Blessed is he that waiteth and commeth shall come H. to the thousand three hundreth and fiue and thirtie dayes 13. But goe thou thy way to the ende not thou Daniel to the appointed or defined time L. for thou shalt rest and stand vp in thy lot at the ende of dayes the Septuag here adde many words there are yetdayes and houres to the fulfilling of perfection 3. The questions and doubts discussed Quest. 1. What time is here meant and in that time shall Michael stand vp ver 1. 1. Some referre it vnto the last time of world after that great Antichrist shall haue raged against the Church of Christ which shall continue three yeares and an halfe Lyran. Perer. Pintus with other writers of that side But we hold that to be a dreame that any such singular Antichrist shall come in the ende of the world see more c. 11. controv 2. 2. Bullinger vnderstandeth it of the comming of Christ to iudgement when there shall be such great tribulation as neuer was in the world before and this may seeme as an argument hereof because afterward v. 2. mention is made of the resurrection But that is added as a consolation they which were not temporally deliuered in those troublesome times yet should be sure to rife vnto life euerlasting 3. Some doe expound this prophesie of the persecution in the last times vnder the Turke Melancth and the Romane Antichrist as Osiand Pappus 4. M. Calvin referreth it to the time of Christs comming in the flesh 5. M. Iunius in his commentarie interpreteth it of all the time of the gospell the beginning whereof is in his first comming and the end in his second 6. But it is most properly referred to that time when Antiochus left halfe his armie with Lysias while he went vnto Elymais in Persia for about the same time did Iudas Macchabeus by the asistance of the great Prince of the Church Michael which is Christ Iesus recouer Ierusalem and purge the Temple which had beene defiled 2. Macchab. 10. Iun. in his annot the reasons why this place is thus to be vnderstood are these 1. because the time here spoken of hath relation to the former storie in that time that is the same time wherein the former things should be done non post multa annorum millia not after so many thousand of yeares Pellican 2. the Angel saith thy people the people of the Iewes must be vnderstood who and not the Christians among the Gentiles should be persecuted for religion H. Br. 3. the euent also confirmeth this exposition for if Michael the great Prince had not then indeed stood vp for his Church it had perished But thus it is obiected against this interpretation 1. that Porphyrius in hatred to Christian religion to obscure the truth hath deuised this sense Perer. 2. the rest Porphyrius cannot make to hang together how in Antiochus time some should awake out of the dust which Porphyrius vnderstandeth of those which were shut vp in caues and rockes and afterward came out againe Hierome Ans. 1. Though Porphyrie were an enemie to the Christian faith yet he might in some particular hit vpon the truth neither herein is the light obscured but rather more manifested and though his hatred were great against the Christian religion yet this is no impediment to faith though euerie point of faith be not prooued out of euerie place of Scripture the article of the comming of Christ to iudgement is sufficiently prooued out of other places of Scripture though it be not directly concluded here Pellican here thus writeth I giue thankes to Hierome qui tam diligenter adnotauit Phorphyrij expositionem who hath so diligently noted Porphyrie his exposition which he holdeth to be most reasonable 2. though he faile in some one point in his exposition yet it followeth not but that he may come neere the truth in the rest Quest. 2. Who is vnderstood here to be Michael the great Prince 1. Some take Michael here for a created Angel who as he had the protection before of the Iewes vnder the lawe shall afterward protect the people of God vnder the Gospel Anchrist by him shall be destroyed executiue in execution by Christ imperatiue by his commandement and authoritie Lyran. Perer. Pintus 2. Bullinger taketh this Michael to be that Arkeangel which S. Paul speaketh of 1. Thess. 4. 16. that the Lord shall descend from heauen with a shoot and with the voice of the Arkeangel 3. Osiander thinketh that Christ is here called Michael the Arkeangel in respect of his office as in the prophesie of Ezekiel
seasons which the father hath kept in his owne power Perer. and so he saith in effect Goe thy way nihil amplius dicturus sum I will say no more at this time vnto thee Vatab. Pintus But it appeareth by the explanation which followeth that Daniel was not altogether repelled 2. Wherefore in part Daniel hath his request pleniorem explicationem Christus exhibuit Christ doth more fully explane the former prophecie of the time of the persecution M. Br. partly he faileth in his desire for he obtaineth not singularem minutam istarum rerum cognitionem a particular and seuerall knowledge of these things which are sealed vp vntill the time come when they should be fulfilled Iun. in commentar for if all these things had beene particularly expounded aforehand the faith and patience of Gods seruants had not beene so fully tried if euery thing had beene manifest as in their sight before for as the Apostle saith 2. Cor. 5. 7. We walke by faith and not by sight 23. Quest. Of those words v. 10. The wicked shall doe wickedly and none shall haue vnderstanding what wicked he speaketh of 1. Some expound this place by that place 2. Pet. 3. 3. that in the last daies there shall be mockers which shall say Where is the promise of his comming that although some shall profit by the Lords chastisments and thereby be purged and made white yet others shall be secure passing their time in pleasure and carnall delight Oecolampad euen as it was in the daies of Noe and Lot Bulling But the vnderstanding or not vnderstanding here spoken of is concerning the prophesie of this booke as Lyranus obserueth which concerneth not the afflictions of the last times otherwiâ—e then by way of analogie 2. Pererius and Pintus thinke that the wicked may attaine vnto some knowledge but it shall be infructuosa cognitio an vnfruitfull and vnprofitable knowledge But this rather is giuen as a reason why they shall doe wickedly because nihil intelligent quia excaecati sunt they shall vnderstand nothing because they are blinded Calv. the knowledge of these secrets and mysteries shall be kept from their eyes 3. Here then is speciall relation had vnto the false brethren that should be in those daies of persecution which â—hould giue way vnto Antiochus wicked proceedings and labour to seduce and betray their brethren Iun. annot which should not haue any care to obserue the accomplishment of this prophesie nor compare the euent therewith of these the Angel foretold before c. 11. 34. Many shall cleaue vnto them fainedly And as it was in those daies of persecution so should it be afterward as S. Paul saith 2. Tim. 3. 12. All that will liue godly in Christ Iesus shall suffer persecution but the euill men and deceiuers shall waxe worse deceiuing and beeing deceiued of such also speaketh S. Iohn Apoc. 22. 11. He that is vniust let him be vniust still he that is filthie let him be filthie still c. 24. Quest. What the abomination of desolation is mentioned v. 11. 1. Hierome and Theodoret vnderstand hereby the discontinuing of the true seruice of God by Antichrist at his comming he shall bring in an horrible desolation and abolish the true seruice of God he shall Dei cultum interdicere forbid the seruice and worship of God But neither doth this prophecie concerne the ende of the world nor yet shall there be any such singular Antichrist 2. Pererius and Pintus with other Romanists vnderstand this of the abrogating of the sacrifice of the Masse and in stead thereof Antichrist shall command himselfe to be worshipped so also Hug. Card. Antichristus se exhibebit ad adorandum Antichrist shall cause himselfe to be worshipped But 1. that idolatrous sacrifice of the Masse is rather the abomination of desolation it selfe whereby the true seruice of Christ and the right vse of the Eucharist according to Christs institution is abolished 2. neither shall this abomination be Antichrist himselfe but he shall set vp this abomination as it is saide before c. 11. 31. They shall set vp the abomination c. that is wicked Antiochus with his captaines he that setteth vp and that which is set vp is not the same 3. Bullinger thinketh it is abominanda gentis vrbis vastatio the abominable laying wast of the nation and citie of the Iewes at the destruction of Ierusalem by the Romans but this prophesie was rather fulfilled in Antiochus time as afterward shall be shewed 4. M. Calvin vnderstandeth the sacrifices of the Iewes which were abominable after the sacrifice of Christs death performed vpon the crosse so also Pëllic but the daily sacrifice of the Temple was not taken away presently after Christs death 5. Osiander thinketh this abominable desolation to be the idolatrous seruice brought into the Church by the Romane Antichrist but then can not the time here described by daies agree for more then so many daies or moneths hath the true seruice of God beene corrupted by them and so many yeares as here are named daies God forbid that Antichrists corrupt religion should continue 6. Wherefore this abomination which shall be set vp was no other but the profanation of the Temple by Antiochus when he caused that abominable idol of Iuppiter Olympius to be brought into the Temple and the daily sacrifice to cease 1. Macchab. 1. 57. 2. Macchab. 6. 2. And hereof mention is made before c. 8. 13. and 11. 31. likewise c. 9. 27. but there the abomination of desolation is spoken of which should be set vp in the finall destruction of the citie and Temple by the Romanes as is shewed c. 9. quest 88. Quest. 25. The 1290. dayes mentioned v. 11. how to be taken 1. Lyranus taketh this to be the tearme of Antichrists tyrannicall raigne in the ende of the world euen 3. yeares 6. moneths and 12. dayes so also Pererius but he counteth onely 10. odde dayes so also Pintus with other Romanists thinke that Antichrist shall raigne 3. yeares and an halfe but as Bullinger saith it is not like that Antichrists kingdome should continue ad tempus vsque adeo breue for so verie a short time 2. Bullinger sheweth how the Iewes warre before the finall destruction of the citie begunne by Vespasian in the 14. yeare of Nero his raigne and ending the second yeare of Vespasian continued about a 1290. dayes that is 3. yeare and an halfe but the text is that these dayes must beginne from the time of that abhominable desolation and continue onely during that time but after these warres which held 3. yeares and an halfe that desolation of the citie and Temple beganne which then ended not but continueth vnto this day 3. Some by so many dayes vnderstand so many yeares a 1290. yeares so long Osiander thinketh that the profanation of religion should continue vnder the Romane Antichrist from the first beginning thereof vnto the vtter ruine of Antichrist But we trust that God will not suffer that man of
practised among the Romanists for all the strength of the Romane Church consisteth in the defense of this idol of the Masse their Churches Monasteries Abbeyes so many orders of religions are sounded vpon this idol p. 272 273. And those whom he findeth pliable to his purpose and maintainers of this idol he aduanceth he maketh them Cardinals Abbots and such like So the Pope magnifieth his Clergie enlargeth and encreaseth them in so much that in some countreys beyond the Alpes the Clergie taketh vp the third part in some the halfe part of the whole multitude p. 280. 2. But of Antiochus Graserus thinketh this prophesie is not vttered how he should set vp his strange god in the fortes and strong places and fauour those which receiued his idol and played the Apostataes but the faithfull he persecuted for Antiochus persecution was so notorious and euident that if the spirit of God should in such obscure tearmes haue spoken thereof magnam prophetia suae iniuriam facturus fuisset he should haue offred great wrong to his prophesie pag. 282. Answ. 1. We answer here as before that typically all this may be well applied to the Romane prelate and Antichrist as is also shewed c. 11. contr 26. but the historicall application of this prophesie concerneth Antiochus who fenced his newe idol with strong holds and garrisons as is euident 1. Macchab. 1. 35. 36. and hath beene further declared cap. 11. quest 47. 2. Graserus readeth not right for he both leaueth the preposition lamed vntranslated reading he shall make munitions whereas the word is lemibtzere for munitons and beside he addeth God of the temples or basilikes which first word God is not in the originall he iustly misliketh Iunius translation he shall commit the munitions of the God of strength to a strange God that is shall make his strange idol the protector of Iudea which is vnderstood by the munitions of God for the word Mauzzim as hath been shewed c. 11. quest 46. 9. is not vnderstood of the true God As Iunius fayleth one way so Graserus misseth another way in his translation the meaning is this then that he shall make for strong holds places of munition So Antiochus caused the tower of Silo to be fortified and set garrisons there to annoy those which went vp into the Temple as is before shewed 3. And though Antiochus persecution were notoriously euident after it came to passe yet it beeing prophetically described was after the manner of other prophesies to be set down somewhat obscurely that both it might be kept from the notice of the prophane sort and yet be euident to the faithfull that would search for the meaning thereof Argum. 2. Whereas it followeth in this verse he shall cause them to rule ouer many 1. this is euidently fulfilled by the Romane Antichrist who giueth dominon and authoritie vnto his followers and fauourites creating them Cardinals Prelates Abbots making them Princes Counties Barons in their dioceses and seignories 2. But to Antiochus it cannot well agree for he brought not in newe titles of dignities into the commonwealth And if he bestowed honours vpon those which fauoured his wicked proceedings that was no strange thing for kings and Princes vsually doe so Graser p. 286. 287. Answ. 1. All this is granted that the Pope of Rome doth wage his pharisaicall clawebacks with great honours and dignities to maintaine his crowne and supremacie which is vpheld with a newe kind of idolatrie and herein Antichrist is typically described vnder Antiochus as is at large shewed c. 11. contr 26. 2. But yet the literall and historicall sense will direct vs to Antiochus who gaue honours and dignities as namely the Priesthoode to Iason and Menelaus which were Apostataes from the faith and furthered his wicked and vngodly attempts 2. Macchab. 4. 3. What though it be vsuall with kings to reward their fauourites yet this was a rare thing and neuer attempted before that one should by gifts and rewards peruert the faith of an whole nation as Antiochus did see further c. 11. quest 47. in the ende Argum. 3. Further he shall diuide the land as with a cord or line and that for a reward or exchange 1. The Popes iurisdiction extendeth it selfe to the whole earth it is not limitted yea by his instruments the Spaniards he hath also subdued the Indians and remote parts of the world vnder his iurisdiction And it is memorable that Alexander the 6. drawing a line in the terrene globe from pole to pole made this diuision betweene the Castilians and Portugals that they should possesse all that part of the newe found world which was on the West and the other the parts on the East which diuision a certaine Castilian obiected vnto a certaine petty king of America who answered sibi non boni Dei sed diaboli vicarium videri c. that he seemed vnto him not to be the vicar of the good God but of the deuill which gaue vnto another that which he had no right vnto himselfe p. 290. 291. 2. Neither doth the Pope distribute his honours and preferrements for nothing but conditionally and vpon a composition that they which receiue any dignities at his hand shall be bound by oath vnto him to maintaine his supremacie and other Papall priuiledges and for the more euidence hereof it shall not be amisse to set downe the oath which euerie popish Bishop taketh at his consecration Ego N. electus Episcopus N. c. I such an one beeing elected Bishop of such a place from this houre as before shall be faithfull to S. Peter and to the holy Apostolike Romane Church and to our Lord the Pope and to his successors entring canonically I shall not be in counsell consent or fact that they shall loose their life or member or be taken or violent hands laid vpon them vnder any pretended colour whatsoeuer the counsell which they shall credit me withall by themselues or their messengers wittingly to their hurt I shall not open to any the papacie of Rome and regâ—lities of S. Peter I will helpe them to maintaine and defend against all men euen though it be the king the Legate of the Sea Apostolike going and returning I will honourably entreate and helpe him with necessaries the rights honours priuiledges authorities of the Church of Rome and of our Lord the Pope and of his successors I will endeauour to preserue defend encrease and promote neither will I be of counsell practise or treatie where any sinister thing or preiudiciall to their persons rights honours state power is attempted against our Lord the Pope or the Romane Church And if I knowe such things to be treated of or procured by any I will hinder them as much as I can and as soone as I can I will signifie the same to the same our Lord Pope or to some other by whom it may come to his notice The rules of the holy father the decrees sentences dispositions reseruations prouisions the Apostolike
be supplied the word eeretz earth before vsed in the beginning of the verse is most fit to be vnderstood here and so the meaning is that many nations and lands sauing those few here excepted of the Moabites Edomites Ammonites should feele Antiochus hand Argum. 3. By the Edomites Moabites and the chiefe of the Ammonites Graserus vnderstandeth the Church of the Grecians Ethiopians and the Elect which all escape the tyrannie of Antichrist which he would shew in this manner 1. Like as the pleasant land generally betokeneth the Catholike visible Church which shall be surprised by Antichrist so by the other three which were allied vnto the people of God the Edomites which came of Esau the brother of Iaakob the Moabites and Ammonites which issued from Lot Abrahams brothers sonne by these three are vnderstood three sorts of people which haue some affinitie with the Church of God The Edomites may signifie the Grecians which came nearest in iudgement of religion vnto the Church of God in these West parts as the Edomites were next in affinitie vnto the Israelites 2. The Moabites doe shadow forth the Ethiopians that as they were also of affinitie vnto Israel but somewhat further off and differed more in religion from the Israelites then the Edomites did so the Ethiopian Christians differ much from the Christianitie of the Westerne Churches yet among them there are to be found some seedes and remainder of the Christian faith for euen from the Apostles times they had the Scriptures as is euident in the historie of the Eunuch who did read vpon the Prophet Isai as he sat in his charret Act. 8. These two Churches of Grecia and Ethiopia the Romane Antichrist hath attempted to subdue vnto his iurisdiction but he hath not preuailed and so the Edomites and Moabites haue escaped his hand 3. The chiefe of the children of Ammon which signifieth my people are the elect of God who also shall escape in the persecution of Antichrist he shall haue no power to peruert them thus it it is said Apoc. 18. 4. Come out of her my people and here c. 12. 1. the Angel saith at that time thy people that is Ammon shall escape to this purpose Graser from pag. 365. to pag. 378. this allegoricall interpretation he fathereth vpon Theodoret. pag. 377. Ans. 1. As by Egypt here is vnderstood literally the region and countrey so called so must the rest of the nations here named of Edom Moab Ammon be so taken likewise and seeing that when the Prophet speaketh of the Grecians he describeth them by the name of Iavan c. 8. 21. c. 10. 20. who came of Iapheth by the Edomites of Esau of Isaak who came of Sem the Grecians can not properly be vnderstood 2. And seeing expresse mention is made afterward of the Lybians and Ethiopians by them rather the Church of the Ethiopians should be signified then by the Moabites 3. And as vnfitly by the Ammonites are the elect people of God shadowed forth seeing that the Ammonites in Scripture are vsually taken to be enemies vnto the people of God as Psal. 83. 5. They haue consulted together in heart and made a league against thee c. as Gebal Ammon Amalek 4. Wherefore these nations are literally to be taken for the Edomites Moabites Ammonites whome Antiochus spared as beeing aduersaries and enemies vnto the Iewes and therefore Iudas Macchabeus did fight against them namely the children in Idumea and against Timotheus the captaine of the Ammonites 1. Macchab. 5. 3. 6. There we see sensibly and euidently performed this prophesie see further hereof before chap. 11. qu. 48. 4. The eight Exercise Wherein Graserus laboureth in the explanation of the 42. and 43. verses to remooue the receiued interpretation which is of Antiochus exploits against Egypt and other countries and to applie this prophesie vnto the Romane Antichrist and his attempts against forren nations Argum. 1. As before by the pleasant land he would haue vnderstood generally the whole visible Church so by Egypt he insinuateth all those barbarous nations in the vnknowne parts of the world in India America whether the Romane Antichrist hath also extended his hand 1. In all the prophesie before concerning Antiochus the name of Egypt is not vsed but it is described by the name of the South which sheweth that an other kind of Egypt is here signified 2. Neither is here any mention made of the king of the South it was then such an Egypt as the king of the South did not meddle with which was not Egypt for that was vnder Ptolome the king of the South 3. If the land of Egypt were here properly signified then a tautologie or vaine repetition of the same thing should be admitted seeing in that sense mention is made of Egypt in the next verse p. 382. 383. Ans. 1. Though this land be not in the prophesie concerning Antiochus expressely named Egypt it sufficed to be so called once before in this chapter v. 8. that it may be knowne in the rest of the prophesie following what is meant by the king of the South 2. Though here the king of the South be not named yet Egypt is vnderstood to be his kingdome by the former parts of this vision as v. 8. Egypt is expressely mentioned and then it followeth v. 9. the king of the South shall come into his kingdome 3. The contrarie followeth because the same name of Egypt is againe repeated in the next verse that it is not to be taken in an other sense but rather the same word is to be vnderstood after one and the same manner where the circumstances of the place otherwise inferre not neither is it therefore a vaine repetition for the same word is repeated both by way of explanation and for greater emphasis sake that speciall note should be taken of this surprising euen of Egypt Argum. 2. By the Libyans and Cushites or Aethiopians Graserus also would haue vnderstood the Americans in the West and by the Cushites the Indian countries in the East His coniectures are these 1. The words Lubbim and Cushim are not here fully expressed with van as els where but onely with kibbutz in stead of vau schurech which may signifie that not the Aethiopians which inhabited beyond Egypt toward the South eastward nor the Lybians which dwelt in the nearer parts of Africa toward Europe but such nations are rather to be vnderstood as came of them such are the Indians and Mores of the West and East India p. 389. 2. The phrase here vsed of extending or stretching forth the hand signifieth that he should vnprouoked set vpon these countries and without any great labour take them as by the putting forth of his hand and beside the distance of these places is hereby noted that he should stretch out his hand vnto them as beeing not otherwise within his reach or vnder his command p. 391. 3. He shall haue power ouer the treasure of gold and siluer and ouer all the precious things of Egypt
28. qu. Of Antiochus expedition against forren countries v. 18. 29. qu. Of the death of Antiochus the great ver 19. 30. qu. Of the acts and end of Seleucus Philopator the sonne of Antiochus the great ver 20. 31. qu. whether the rest of this chapter be properly vnderstood of Antiochus Epiphanes or of Antichrist 32. qu. Of the first entrance of Antiochus Epiphanes to the kingdome 33. qu. Of the first expedition of Antiochus Epiphanes against Egypt v. 22. 23. 24. 34. qu. Of the second expedition of Epiphanes against Egypt vers 25. 26. 27. 28. 35. qu. Of the third expedition of Antiochus Epiphanes against Egypt v. 29. 30. 36. qu. Of the meaning of the word Chittim v. 30. 37. qu. Of the persecution of the people of God by Antiochus and the manner thereof v. 31. 38. qu. What is vnderstood by the armes v. 31. 39. qu. Of the defiling of the Sanctuarie and the manner thereof 40. qu. How Antiochus vsed as his instruments certaine wicked persons that forsook the lawe 41. qu. Of such things as the faithfull people should doe and suffer in this persecution 42. qu. Of the consolation of the afflicted church of the Iewes 43. qu. Of the pride of Antiochus and the exalting of himselfe against God 44. qu. Antiochus impietie and inhumanitie further described out of the 37. v. 45. qu. How Antiochus is said not to haue respect to the desires of women 46. qu. Of the strange God that Antiochus shall set vp v. 38. 47. qu. Of Antiochus politike deuises to maintaine the idolatrous seruice of his new god v. 39. 48. qu. Of the last expedition of Antiochus against Egypt Iudea and other nations v. 40. 41. 42. 43. 49. qu. Where the Lybians and Aethiopians inhabited 50. qu. Of the ende of Antiochus and such things as immediately went before 51. qu. Of the sudden and fearefull ende of Antiochus Questions vpon the 12. chapter of Daniel 1. qu. What time is here meant and in that time shall Michael stand vp v. 1. 2. qu. who is vnderstood here to be Michael the great Prince 3. qu. What time of trouble the Angel here speaketh of 4. qu. What deliuerance the Angel speaketh of and of whom 5. qu. Whether all the Iewes shall be saued before the comming of Christ. 6. qu. what kind of booke Daniel here speaketh of 7. qu. Why this mysterie of resurrection is here plainly reuealed to Daniel 8. qu. Of the coherence of this comfortable mention made of the resurrection with the former prophesie 9. qu. why it is said many of them which sleepe shall awake and not all 10. qu. A descriptioÌ„ of the resurrection both of good and bad 11. qu. Of the great glorie which shall be giuen vnto those which instruct others to saluation v. 3. 12. qu. How the faithfull teachers are said to iustifie others 13. qu. why Daniel is commanded to seale the booke and what is the meaning thereof 14. qu. Vntill the time defined or appointed v. 4. what time this was here limited 15. qu. Of these words many shall runne thorough and knowledge shall be encreased 6. qu. what two they were which Daniel sawe by the brinke of the riuer v. 5. 17. qu. who it was that enquired of the man cloathed in linnen v. 6. 18. qu. who the man was cloathed in linen of whom the question was asked 19. qu. what is meant by a time two times and an halfe v. 7. 20. qu. Of the meaning of these words v. 7. when he hath made an ende to disperse the hand of the holy people 21. qu. what it was that Daniel vnderstood v. 8. 22. qu. whether Daniel had altogether a repulse in his demaund 23. qu. Of those words v. 10. the wicked shall doe wickedly and none shall haue vnderstanding what wicked he speaketh of 24. qu. what the abhomination of desolation is mentioned v. 11. 25. qu. The 1290. mentioned v. 11. how to be taken 26. qu. The tearme of 1335. dayes expounded 27. qu. Of the last words spoken to Daniels goe thy way vnto the ende v. 13. 28. qu. If thou shalt rest and stand vp in thy lâ—t The summe of these questions amounteth to 593. or thereabout A Table of the Controversies Places of Controversie 1. Contr. THe vulgar Latin translation not the best 2. contr The historie of Susanna the song of the three children and of Bel and the dragon are no parts of Daniel nor of the Canonicall Scripture Controversies vpon the 1. chapter of Daniel 1. Contr. Whether the changing of the Popes name be grouÌ„ded vpon the example of Peter 2. contr That fasting is not meritorious nor satisfactorie 3. contr That the prescript of fasting daies for abstinence and for forbearing of certen kinds of meates is noâ— warranted here by Daniels abstinence 4. contr v. 20. What the wise men of the Chaldeans were and whether the wise men which came to Christ were kings 5. contr v. 20. Of the Magicians among the Chaldeans and how that such were alwaies opposite to the true Church of God as diuers of the Popes were such Controversies vpon the 2. chapter of Daniel 1. Contr. That the Scriptures should be extant in the vulgar and knowne tongue 2. contr That prayer must onely be made vnto God 3. contr That praier is not meritorious but grounded onely vpon Gods mercie 4. contr That Matrimonie is no Sacrament 5. contr That the Saints merit not 6. contr v. 21. That the Pope hath no power committed vnto him to put downe kings 7. contr That the Pope can not be Christs Vicar generall in earth 8. contr That the time of Christs comming to iudgement can not be gathered from Daniels prophesie v. 44. 9. contr v. 45. Whether the virgin Marie be the mountaine out of the which the stone was cut 10. contr Whether Christ verely encreased in the gifts and graces of the soule 11. contr That the Pope is not to be reuerenced honoured and worshipped through the world 12. contr That it can not be prooued out of Daniels prophesie that the Pope is not Antichrist 13. contr Of the lawfulnes of Magistracie against the Anabaptists Controversies vpon the 3. chapter of Daniel 1. Contr. That an image vsed for any religious vse and an idol are all one 2. contr Against the adoration of images 3. contr Whither images in Churches may be tolerated though they be not adored 4. contr Of the wayes and meanes whereby idolatrie is promoted 5. contr Of the vse of Church musicke and musicall instruments 6. contr The multitude of professors doth not argue the truth of the profession 7. contr Of superstitious dedications 8. contr That counsels and generall assemblies may erre 9. contr The fire and sword and other cruelties the weapons of idolators and superstitious men 10. contr That these three seruants of God were not deliuered for their virginitie or abstinencie 11. contr Against the Vbiquitaries 12. contr That miracles are not alwaies a note and sure marke of the Church 13. contr Whether
a contrarie religion may be tolerated in a Commonwealth 14. contr That the conuersion of Nebuchadnezzer doth not signifie the conuersion of the Deuill in the ende of the world Controversies vpon the 4. chapter of Daniel 1. Contr. That the virgin Marie was not without sinne 2. Contr. Against free will 3. Contr. Against the inuocation of Saints 4. Contr. That the Pope is not the distributer of kingdomes 5. contr Against satisfaction by workes 6. contr Of the certaintie of remission of sinnes 7. contr Which be the good works of Christians 8. contr That Gods prouidence is not onely a bare prescience or permission 9. contr Against the Pope who would be without check or controlment Controversies vpon the 5. chapter of Daniel 1. Contr. That idolaters and worshippers of images make them their gods 2. contr Whether images in Churches may be retained though they be not worshipped 3. contr That not Protestants but Papists are the profaners of holy things 4. contr That there are no certen periods of kingdomes Controversies vpon the 6. chapter of Daniel 1. Contr. Against canonicall and stinted houres of praier 2. contr That it is no Apostolicall tradition to pray toward the East 3. contr That the publike profession of our faith is necessarie and it is not sufficient to haue it inwardly in the heart 4. contr That it is not lawfull worshipping God to looke toward an image 5. contr Against the Papists and Vbiquitaries that hold a carnall presence in the sacrament 6. contr Of the false suggestions of the Papists against the Protestants 7. contr Of the vniust proceeding of the Romanists in their cruell inquisition condemning the Protestants their cause not beeing heard 8. contr Of the practising of Popes against Princes 9. contr Whether one is iust before God by an inherent iustice 10. contr Whether Daniels innocencie were the meritorious cause of his deliuerance 11. contr That a generall faith called salus implicita an implicit faith is not sufficient Controversies vpon the 7. chapter of Daniel 1. Contr. The Church is not discerned by the greatnes and largenes thereof 2. contr Whether the Saints shall iudge the world 3. contr The vulgar Latine translation not authenticall 4. contr Of the diuers orders of Angels 5. contr The glorious persons of the Trinitie are not to be represented by any image 6. contr Against the Vbiquitaries which hold an omnipresence of Christs humanitie 7. contr That diuturnitie and long continuance without interruption is no infallible note of the Church 8. contr That the dominion of the Pope is temporall rather then spirituall 9. contr That Antichrist is alreadie come Controversies vpon the 8. chapter of Daniel 1. Contr. Prosperitie and externall felicitie is no perpetuall note of the Church 2. contr That the abomination of desolation spoken of v. 13. is not the abolishing of the sacrifice of the Masse 3. contr The authoritie of the Scripture dependeth not vpon the testimonie of the Church 4. contr The description of Antiochus agreeeth to the Pope and Antichrist Controversies vpon the 9. chapter of Daniel 1. Contr. That praier and fasting is not meritorious 2. cont God only is to be inuocated not Saints or Angels 3. contr That Christ is the onely Mediator 4. contr Against praier or inuocation of the dead 5. contr Of the name of the Catholike Church that it is but vsurped by the Romanists 6. contr That no man is perfect in this life 7. contr That the prayers of the faithfull are not meritorious 8. contr That we are not iustified by any inherent righteousnes but imputed onely by faith 9. contr Whether sinne any way after forgiuenes may be said to remaine in the faithfull 10. contr That charitie is not more principal in the matter of iustification then faith 11. contr That the Pope doth blasphemously vsurpe the title of Christ to be called most holy 12. contr Whether the Sacrament of the Altar be most holy 13. contr That Christ is Mediatour both as God and man 14. contr Against the sacrifice of the Masse 15. contr Against the Iewes that the Messiah who was expected of the Fathers is alreadie come into the world Controversies vpon the 10. chapter of Daniel 1. Contr. Against superstitious fasting 2. contr That Paradise was a terrestriall place 3. contr Against the curious distinction of the orders of Angels Controversies vpon the 11. chapter of Daniel 1. Contr. Of the birth and offspring of Antichrist 2. contr That Antichrist shall not be one particular man 3. contr That Nero the Emperor shall not be the great Antichrist 4. contr That Antichrist shall be a deceiuer rather then a victorious conquerer 5. contr Of Antichrists miracles 6. contr That Antichrists comming shall not be deferred to the ende of the world 7. contr That Antichrists seate shall not be at Ierusalem 8. contr That the citie of Rome shall not be vtterly destroied before Antichrist shall come 9. contr That the Papists Antichrist and the Iewes Messiah shall come together 10. contr Of the true marks whereby Antichrist may be discerned 11. contr How the description of Antiochus historically doth typically decyphre the Pope and Antichrist 12. contr That S. Paul speaketh of an apostasie and departure from the faith 2. Thes. 2. 3. 13. contr Of other notes and marks wherein Antiochus and Antichrist agree 14. contr How the Antichrist of Rome hath persecuted Emperours Kings Princes and learned men for religion 15. contr Of the pride and blasphemies of Antichrist against God 16. contr How Antichrist is said to sit in the Temple of God 17. contr Of the prosperitie and outward successe of Antichrist 18. contr That externall happinesse is not a sure note of the Church 19. contr why the Lord suffereth Antichrist to rage against his church 20. contr That out of this text v. 36. it cannot be prooued that the Pope is not Antichrist as Bellarmine intendeth 21. contr How Antichrist shall forsake his fathers god v. 31. 22. contr How the Romane Antichrist regardeth not the desire of women 23. contr That the Antichrist shall not care in deede for any god nor haue any sense of religion 24. contr How Antichrist shall bring in a strange god which his fathers neuer knew v. 38. 25. contr Of the theatricall and pompous seruice with siluer and gold which Antichrist hath found out for his newe idol 26. contr How Antichrist shall distribute honours and possessions vnto his fauourites and that for money 27. contr Of Antichrists insatiable ambition crueltie and couetousnesse 28. contr Of the rage and furie of Antichrist 29. contr How Antichrists palace is planted betweene two seas 30. contr Of the fearefull ende of diuerse Popes Controversies vpon the 12. chapter 1. Contr. Against blasphemous Servetus that made himselfe Michael 2. contr Whether Henoch and Elias shall stand vp with Michael in the last times 3. contr What manner of persecution shall be vnder Antichrist 4. contr Of the certaintie of Election that none of the elect can finally fall