Commentary on Daniel, Chapter 7 · Doctrines 2
4. Places of doctrine.
1. Doctr. Of the authoritie of Scripture.
v. 2. Daniel spake and said. Daniels writing is here called his speaking, whereby we are giuen to vnderstand, that the writings of the Prophets and Apostles ought to be receiued with no lesse reuerence, then if we had heard them speake with their owne mouthes: So S. Paul saith to Timothie, that the holy scriptures were able to make him wise vntounto saluation: and they were able to make the man of God absolute and perfect to eueryevery good worke, 2. Tim. 3. 15. 17. Polan.
2. Doctr. The Church in this world subiect to affliction.
Because all these Monarchies and kingdomes are described by these foure beasts, which deuoure and destroy, beeing therefore resembled to cruell and sauage beasts, the lyon, beare, leopard, hence it is euident, that the portion of the Church of God in this world is, to be subiect for the most part to the violence and rage of oppressors: to the end, that they should not looke for their kingdome or inheritance in this world, but seeke for their peace and true comfort in Christ: Ioh. 16. 33. In the world ye shall hauehave affliction, but be of good comfort, I hauehave ouercome the world. Bulling.
3. Doctr. The Sonne of God equall vntounto his Father.
v. 13. He approched vntounto the Auncient of daies. By this kind of speach is signified, that Christ the Sonne of man according to his humanitie, is equall vntounto the Father, touching his Godhead, as sitting together in the throne with him: as Apoc. 5. 6. The Lambe stood in the middes of the throne. And whereas the kingdome is here said to be giuen vntounto the Sonne, that is to be referred to the time of his dispensation, and comming in the flesh, which glorie and kingdome he receiued as man, but it was his owne as God from the beginning: as Ioh. 17. 5. our blessed Sauiour thus praieth, Glorifie me, thou Father, with the glorie which I had with thee, before the world was. Bulling.
4. Doctr. Of the vocation of the Gentiles.
v. 14. That all people, nations, and languages should serue him. This is an euident testimonie, that the Gentiles should be conuerted vntounto the faith and knowledge of Christ, and so be subiect and obedient vntounto him: as Tertullian by this inuincible argument sheweth that Christ is the true Mossiah, in quem enim alium vniuerse gentes crediderunt, quam in Christum? vponupon whome els hauehave all the nations beleeued, then in Christ? and he reckoneth vp the Parthians, Medes, Egyptians, Germanes, Britaines, Scythians, and many other nations in the remotest parts of the world toward the North and South, and East countries, which hauehave receiued the faith: whereas all other kingdomes and dominions hauehave beene confined. The kings of Babylon and Persia raigned from India to Aethiopia, yet had limits and borders of their kingdome: neither did Alexander conquer all Asia: the Romane Empire was defended in their borders with garrisons: But the kingdome of Christ is not limited or confined to any place, according to that prophesie in the Psalm. 2. 8. Aske of me, and I shall giuegive thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the ends of the earth for thy possession: to this purpose Tertull. l. 7. cont. Iudaeos.
5. Doctr. Of whome the kingdome of Christ consisteth.
v. 18. The high saints, or the saints of the most high shall take the kingdome. The Church of God then consisteth of the Saints and elect, which are ordained to euerlasting saluation. So our Sauiour calleth them his flocke for whome his Father had prepared a kingdome, Luk. 12. 32. And againe he saith, I pray not for the world, but for those whome thou hast giuen me. Ioh. 17. 9. they then which are of the world, are not of the Church of Christ: Hypocrites then, heretikes, misbeleeuers, carnall liuers, way well be in the Church, but they are not of it: as S. Iohn saith, They went out from vsus, but they were not of vsus: for if they had beene of vsus, they would hauehave continued with vsus, 1. Ioh. 2. 19.