Commentary on Daniel, Chapter 7 · Doctrines 1 · Question 43
Quest. 43. That this kingdome is the kingdome of Christ our Blessed Lord and Sauiour.
1. The Iewes seeke by their cauils and shiftes to obscure this cleare prophesie, and first obiect, that Christs kingdome is not here vnderstood: Secondly, they argue, that Christ is that little home, which came out of the fourth beast.
1. The first they would thus prooue. 1. the fifth kingdome must destroy the fourth beast, but Christ at his comming did not dissolue the Romane Empire, it then most of al flourished vnderunder Augustus and Tiberius. 2. the fifth kingdome must be distinct from the fourth: but the kingdome of Christ flourished vnderunder the Romane Empire, beeing aduanced by Constantine, and other Christian Emperours. 3. this fift kingdome shall be of all other the most mightie: but there are other kingdomes mightier then the Christans, as the Turkish power. 4. this fift kingdome must continue for euer: but the kingdome of Christianitie decreaseth, and is more and more empayred.
2. That Christ is that little horne, out of the fourth beast, and so consequently not this fifth kingdome, thus they obiect. 1. this horne was little in respect of the obscure beginning, so was Christs rising vp obscure. 2. this horne speaketh proud things: so Christ said he was without sinne, that he was the sonne of God. 3. this horne changeth times and lawes: so Christ violated the Sabbath, and abolished the ceremonies of Moses. 4. and as this horne was to continue a time, two times, and an halfe, that is, three yeares and an halfe: so Christ preached iust so many yeares.
Contra. 1. Their reasons vponupon the first point are easily answered. 1. It is denied that the Romane Empire is the fourth beast, but rather the kingdome of the Seleucians in Syria, which was destroyed before the comming of the Messiah. 2. And so Christs kingdome was distinct from the fourth, and from all other terrene kingdomes and dominions: they are earthly and temporall: Christs is spirituall and eternall: the Christian faith is maintained vnderunder the Romane Empire: yet it is farre differing from it: the Iewes here imagine, that this fift kingdome should be a temporall and externall kingdome in the world, such as they dreame of their Messiah, but therein they are deceiued: for our blessed Sauiour himsefe saith, that he came not to be ministred vntounto, but to minister, Matth. 21. and he said to Pilate, that his kingdome was not of this world: yea the thiefe who was conuerted vponupon the crosse vnderstood as much, saying to Christ, remember me when thou commest into thy kingdome: therefore Christ had no temporall kingdome in this world, but spirituall, in which respect it was diuerse and distinct from all other earthly kingdomes: See more hereof cap. 2. que. 58. 3. And though this kingdome of the Messiah doth not alwaies shewe it selfe mightier in this world, in externall power, then other kingdomes: yet the spirituall power thereof farre exceedeth all temporall dominion; seeing euen those terrene powers, which persecuted the gospel of Christ, were by the power thereof subdued vntounto the faith, as Constantine the Empecour, and other Christian Emperours and Kings, which maintained the Christian faith: according to the prophesie of Isay, 49. 23. Kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and Queenes thy nursing mothers. 4. though the terrene bounds and limits of those kingdomes, which prof…sse the gospel of Christ, may sometime be enlarged, sometime empayred: yet the spirituall kingdome of Christ is not conquered, which triumpheth in the middes of the greatest trialls and afflictions of his seruants: and it is most certaine, though the Church of Christ may be translated from one kingdome to another, yet it shall remayne as long as the earth endureth, and after shall raigne in heauen for euer.
2. Concerning the other obiection, that Christ should be this little horne. 1. The most of these arguments are answered before, quest. 27. 7. to the which place I referre the Reader. 2. Christ violated not the Sabbath, but taught the right vse of the Sabbath against the superstitious obseruations of the Iewes. 3. though this little horne was to rage against the Saints, 3. yeares and a halfe, it followeth not because Christ preached no longer, that he should be this little horne: euerie meane Logician knoweth, what an inartificiall kind of reasoning it is to conclude affirmatiuely in the second figure: as thus: this little horne shall rage 3. yeares and an halfe, Christ preached 3. yeares and halfe, Ergo, he is this little horne: Beside there is great difference betweene raging and tyrannizing against the Saints, and preaching to the Saints: so that beside the fayling in the forme of the argument, they assume not right. 4. But that Christ no wayes can be this little horne, it is euident: for these hornes must be kings, and kings of the fourth kingdome or Monarchie, and it must plucke away three kings before it, but Christ was no king neither of the Syrian, nor Romane kingdome: neither can it be shewed how he remooued 3. kings before him. 2. and after this horne is taken away, it is said the Saints should hauehave the kingdome: but after Christ was put to death, the people of the Iewes were more afflicted, then they were before: and within fewe yeares their citie and Temple were destroyed by the Romanes: Therefore this their assertion, is most blaspemous and absurd, that Christ should be this little horne. 3. Those Rabbines are more reasonable, which doe vnderstand this kingdome of the Messiah, as R. Iesua, Ab. Ezra, R. Saadia: though herein they fayle in dreaming of a temporall kingdome, which should be raised by their Messiah.