Commentary on Daniel, Appendix · Exercise 2
The second Exercise.
In this second part Graserus taketh vponupon him to prooue, that in the 11. chapt. from v. 36. the historie of Antichrist is set downe, and not of Antiochus, whose acts and doings were treated of before: and this difference he maketh betweene the prophesie in the 8. chapt. and this in the 11. chap. that there the Prophet speaketh of Antiochus and Antichrist ioyntly together: confuso typo cum eius antitypo, the type beeing confounded with that which answereth to the type: but here se…r sim tractat, &c. he handleth asunder the historie of both: p. 107. His arguments are these:
Argum. 1. These generall reasons he enforceth, that this part of the 11. chap. from v. 36. can not be interpreted of Antiochus.
1. The Prophet vseth manifest words of digression from the former historie of Antiochus, v. 35. that… is yet an appointed time or period. p. 128.
2. The Prophet had absolued all the acts of Antiochus before, both against Egypt, and especially his attempts against the people of God, excepting onelyonly that clause concerning his death: when then, and at what time should these things be done by Antiochus, which are contained in those ten verses following?
3. There is a manifest difference in the phrase: the Prophet vseth certaine strange words and tearmes, which doe insinuate some deeper mysterie then of Antiochus. p. 131.
4. And if these exploits were done by Antiochus, they must fall out within the compasse of 2. yeares: which could not be, vnles we wil make an other Alexander of Antiochus. p. 131
5. If all these things were determined in Antiochus, and his doings against the Iewes, it may seeme strange, that the Prophet maketh no mention of the restitution of the Temple and religion. p. 132.
6. And if nothing were intended beside the historie of Antiochus, the Prophet would not hauehave counted them such great wonders, as he doth, c. 12. 6. p. 132.
Ans. 1. The like words of digression were vsed before, v. 27. chi ghod ketz lamoghed, because yet the ende (shall be) at the time appointed: Graserus would make some difference betweene this forme of speech vsed, v. 27. and the other, v. 35. but there is none at all, sauing that in the former the word ketz is vsed, which signifieth (the ende) which word must be supplied in the other.
2. The historie of Antiochus by his owne confession is not complete and absolued before the 36. verse, because the clause of his death followeth last cf all, v. 45. And these things expressed in the ten last verses, were done in such order, as is set downe, after he had begunne to tyrannize and rage against the Church of God.
3. It is no maruell, that the phrase is somewhat strange and changed, because he toucheth more strange acts and practises of Antiochus, then he had done before.
4. Neither are Antiochus exploits here set downe to be compared with Alexanders acts: for his chiefe attempts were against the pleasant land and Egypt, v. 40. 41. 43. which might easily be done in the compasse of two yeares.
5. This reason as well may exclude Antiochus altogether out of this prophecie, as from the latter part thereof: for it may be as well obiected against the former propheticall narration to v. 36. that no manifest mention is made of the restitution of the Temple, after the profanation thereof by Antiochus: And yet this also is insinuated, both v. 34. where it is said, they shall be h…lpen with a little helpe: and v. 35. that this persecution should be vntounto the appointed time: which was before shewed c. 7. 25. a time, two times, and a part or diuiding of time: which maketh 3. yeares and 10. daies: for so long the profanation of the Temple continued.
6. Though all this historie be determined in Antiochus, yet might it seeme a great wonder vntounto Daniel, that God would suffer such a wicked Tyrant so to preuaile, and to defile his Temple in such sort, as it was neuer profaned before.
Argum. 2. Graserus further taketh vponupon him to prooue, that the 36. v. is not vnderstood of Antiochus, but properly of the Romane Pope.
1. Hitherto the Prophet hauing spoken of the kings, Seleucians and Ptolomes, vsed the distinct tearmes of the kings of the South, and the kings of the North: but here he saith absolutely, the king shall doe what him list, without any addition: which name of king agreeth vntounto the Pope, to shew a difference betweene him and Christ, whose kingdome was not of this world: but the Pope taketh vponupon him to be a terrene king, nay to be the king of kings. p. 144. 145.
2. And this clause, shall do… what him listeth, agreeth not to Antiochus, who was curbed by the Romanes, and was circumscribed by Popilius, drawing a circle with his rodde, and made to returne out of Egypt: but it doth most fitly agree vntounto the Pope, who doth all things according to his owne will: he boasteth omnia se iura in scrinto pectoris habere, that he hath all lawes enclosed in his breast. Graser. p. 152. 153.
Ans. 1. Though in this place, the addition, king of the North, be not expressed, yet afterward it is supplied: he is called the king of the North, and the king of Egypt, the king of the South, v. 40. and though the Pope take vponupon him the Ciuill and temporall power, yet directly he nameth himselfe not a king: but he challengeth chiefly to be head in spirituall matters.
2. And though it be most true, that the Pope holdeth himselfe tied to no law, but doth what he list; yet it followeth not, that eueryevery king that doth what him list, should be here signified: for so did also Caligula and Nero, and other wicked Emperors. Though Antiochus were restrained from Egypt by the Romanes, yet this his vnlimited will he followed in his owne kingdomes, and specially in Iudea: where he preuailed for a certaine time according to his owne vntoward and wicked desire: for he abolished true religion, and brought in the rites of the heathen, abrogatee the lawes of God, and burnt the bookes of Scripture, and set vp an abominable idol in the Temple, and so he ruled all according to his owne will.
Argum. 3. An other note is set forth of Antichrist, that he shall magnifie himselfe against all that is called God: which is most fitly applied to the Popes, who onelyonly by a certaine inherent ambition, hauehave aspired vntounto such degree of pride, nec divino aut humano iure, by neither diuine or humane right: although they pretend, but without all shew of ground, the prerogatiue of Peter giuen him by Christ, and the donation of Constantine: which allegations, if they were true, both S. Peter might be condemned of great simplicitie, and all the Bishops of Rome for a 1000. yeares, vntil the time of Gregorie the 7. and Boniface the 8. who neuer tooke vponupon them this princely prerogatiue. Graser. p. 155, 156. But Antiochus succeeded in the kingdome by descent from his father, and so held the kingdome by right of succession.
Ans. 1. We denie not but that Antiochus was herein an euident type of Antichrist, as S. Paul prophesieth of him, that he shall exalt himselfe aboue all that is called God, 2. Thess. 2. 4. but literally this is vnderstood of Antiochus: as is euident by comparing this place with c. 8. 11. where he which thus extolleth himselfe against the Prince of the host, that is, God, is saide also to take away the daily sacrifice, and to cast downe the Sanctuarie, which things were so fulfilled and came to passe vnderunder Antiochus. 2. Though Antiochus was rightly descended of Antiochus the great, and so vnderunder that title possessed the kingdome; yet to that height of pride, in exalting himselfe against God, his Temple, sacrifices, and lawes, and so trampling vnderunder feete all diuine things, he had no shew neither of diuine nor humane right: as neither hath that Romane Antichrist. See c. 11. qu. 43.
Argum. 4. Further, he shall speake maruelous things against the God of gods: which most properly fitteth the Romane Antichrist, both in respect of his maruelous and strange doctrine, which he hath brought in, full of curious questions, and schoole diuinitie: in which sense he is said to vnderstand darke sentences, c. 8. 23. p. 163. and beside his sophisticate doctrine, this may be applied also to that counterfeit seruice which he hath brought into the Church, onelyonly feeding the eye and eare, bewitching the senses, with superstitious obiects of images, and such like: p. 165. adde hereunto his sophisticate and cousening miracles, p. 166. and the snaring and entangling of mens consciences, with auricular confession, his penall iniunctions, workes of satisfaction, and such other: All these things most truly are verified in the Pope: But to Antiochus they agree not, who either had no knowledge at all of this great God, or he spake rather open blasphemie, then maruelous things against him: p. 167.
Answ. 1. We denie not, but that all these things giuen in instance, are most liuely and euidently verified in the Pope: but yet this prophesie is rather thus typically accommodated to him, then literally spoken of him. 2. And this prophesie was verily accomplished in Antiochus, who in respect of his subtiltie and cunning, his fetches and deuises, in compassing his purposes, is saide to vnderstand darke sentences: though he had no true knowledge of God, he might blaspheme him so much the more: for if he had knowne him, he would not hauehave blasphemed him: and what els are blasphemies, but wonderfull and strange things vttered: the same which are here called niplaoth, maruelous, wonderfull things, are said to be rabhreban, presumptuous things, c. 7. 8. in a Chalde word. 3. But Graserus would hauehave that place vnderstood of Mahomet, this of the Pope: p. 168. whereas it appeareth, by the description of the little horne, both c. 7. and 8. and the properties, that in both places the same enemie is discouered by the Prophet.
Argum. 5. 1. It followeth, it shall prosper, till the wrath be accomplished, &c. The long prosperitie, which here the Prophet speaketh of, better agreeth vntounto the Pope of Rome, then vntounto Antiochus: he vseth here the word tzalach, to prosper, which thrice before is inserted in the prophesie, c. 8. 12. 24, 25. In setting downe the prosperous successe of Alexander, the Prophet vseth not this word: so that he speaketh of a longer prosperitie then Alexander had, which is not seene in Antiochus. p. 173. 2. Neither neede this limitation be added, the determination is made, if Antiochus onelyonly were here meant: for his prosperous successe must needes determine with his life. p. 180. 3. Therefore it is most fitly referred vntounto the perpetuall prosperous successe of the Popes, who for sixe hundred yeares together hauehave so wonderfully preuailed and prospered, that they onelyonly hauehave not deluded the world, to receiue their pretended title of their supreame Vicarship in earth; but hauehave by the ayde and helpe of temporall Princes enlarged their kingdome, and triumphed ouer those that set themselues against them. p. 176. to 178.
Ans. 1. In that this very word of prospering is vsed in the former vision, c. 8. where euident mention is made of taking away the daily sacrifice, and casting downe the Sanctuarie, it is manifest, that these things were fulfilled, the Iewes Temple and Sanctuarie yet standing. And the reason why Alexander is not saide so to prosper, is, because he attempted no such things against the Iewes, neither so prospered in any deuise against them. 2. Though Antiochus prosperous preuailing in these his enterprises could not exceede the tearme of his life, yet it was requisite, that the Church of God should be comforted, vnderstanding that this successe against the Church of God should be but for a time. And indeede this his prosperitie ceased before his death, at the appointed time: before likewise v. 35. which Graserus confesseth to be vnderstood of Antiochus, the like phrase is vsed: there is an appointed time, that it neede not seeme strange, the like clause to be added here.