Commentary on Daniel, Chapter 12 · Moral observations
6. Morall obseruations.
1. Observ. Michael the great Prince standeth for his people.
v. 1. At that time shall Michael stand vp, &c. This is the comfort of Gods Church, though Turke and Pope, and other aduersaties doe stand vp against them, yet they hauehave Michael the great Prince to fight for them, who shall deliuer his Church from their cruell rage, and not suffer them further to preuaile, then it shall be for his glorie, and the triall of their faith: and this is that, which our Sauiour hath promised, Behold, I am with you alwaies to the ende of the world, Matth 28. 20.
2. Observ. The hope of the resurrection doth arme vsus against all afflictions, yea death it selfe.
v. 3. Many of them that sleepe in the dust of the earth, shall awake, &c. This ought to be our comfort, that although the members of Christ are persecuted in this world, vexed and tormented, giuen to the fire, slaine with the sword, cast into the Sea, yet God shall restore vntounto them all their parts againe: this was Iobs comfort in his greatest extremitie, c. 19. 25. 26. I knowe my Redeemer liueth, &c. and I shall see him in my flesh.
3. Observ. It is not sufficient to knowe the will of God, but we must teach it others, and doe it our selues.
v. 3. They that turne many to righteousnes: Christ requireth of his disciples both to teach, and themselues to obserue his commandements, Matth. 5. 19. for like as the ostrich hath wings, but flieth not with them: and as the stomake which receiueth meate, and keepeth it, neuer digesteth well, vnlesse it transmit it ouer vntounto other parts: so are they which hauehave knowledge and other gifts, and seeke not to benefit others thereby.
4. Observ. The glorie of the next life, should teach men temperance and sobrietie.
v. 3. They shall shine as the starres: The bodies of the Saints shall be so glorified in the resurrection, that they shall shine as the starres, yea as the Sunne, in the kingdome of God, Matth. 13. 42. If men doe hope to hauehave their bodies vessels of so great glorie, they must take heede that they defile them not with surfetting, drunkennesse, vncleanesse: Such filthy and polluted vessels, are no fit temples for the spirit of God: Thus S. Peter exhorteth, 2. epist. 3. 14. Beloued, seeing yee looke for such things, be diligent, that yee may be found of him without spot and blamelesse.
5. Observ. Against curiositie.
v. 9. Goe thy way Daniel, for the words are cloased vp: In that Daniel obtaineth not altogether his desire for the knowledge of these hid mysteries, it teacheth vsus that we should not curiously presse to knowe such things, which it hath pleased God to keepe secret: So the Apostle aduiseth, that no man presume to vnderstand, aboue that which is meete to vnderstand but that he vnderstand according to sobrietie, Rom. 12. 3.
6. Observ. Of the vse and ende of affliction.
v. 10. Many shall be purisied, made white, and tried. Here are three effects of affliction expressed. 1. as the wheate is purified from the chaffe, so by affliction the fathfull are discerned from the hypocrites: as the Apostle saith, in an other case, 1. Cor. 11. 19. there must be heresies, that they which are approoued may be knowne. 2. as the cloath by often washing is whited, so by affliction men are purified from their corruptions: as the Prophet Dauid saith, Psal. 119. 67. before I was afflicted I went astray. 3. as the gold and siluer is tried in the fire, so the Lord taketh triall of the faith and patience of his seruants by affliction: as S. Peter saith, 1. epist. 4. 12. Dearely beloued, thinke it not strange concerning the sierie triall, which is among you to prooue you, &c.
7. Observ. Of the fruitfull meditation of death.
v. 13. Goe thy way, for thou shalt rest, and stand vp in thy lot: After that the Lord had reuealed to Daniel by his Angel, the comming of the Messiah, that should finish sinne, and reconcile sinners, c. 9. 24. and beside he had heard what should be the ende of the iust, they should awake vntounto euerlasting life: now he is called to prepare himselfe to his ende: so after we hauehave attained to the knowledge of Christ, we should desire nothing more, then with S. Paul to be dissolued and to be with Christ: and to sing with old Simeon, Lord now lettest thou thy seruant depart in peace according to thy word, for mine eyes hauehave seene thy saluation. And now blessed be the Lord, who hath suffered me to liue with Simeon to see this great mysterie of saluation reuealed in this booke, who I trust will yet strengthen me in other bookes and parts of holy Scripture, to embrace Christ as it were in mine armes, and to shew him vntounto others: that when the course of my poore ministrie is fulfilled, I may sing nunc dimittis with Simeon: and so we the seruants of Iesus Christ may comfort our selues with this gracious promise made to Daniel, to rest in peace, and stand vp in our lottes in the day of the Lord: to whom be praise for euer.
FINIS.
❧AN APPENDIX vntounto this Commentarie, wherein are examined the reasons and Arguments vrged by GRASERVS, against IVNIVS exposition of the Image which Nabuchadnezzer saw in a dreame, c. 2. and of the visions set forth, c. 7. c. 8. and of the 11. chap. from v. 36. to the ende.
AFter I had by the Lords gratious assistance finished this Commentarie, there came vntounto mine hand a …reatise set forth this last yeare 1608. by Graserus. intituled historia Antichristi illius magni, the historie of that great Antichrist: wherein he taketh vponupon him to infringe and impugne the interpretation of Iunius throughout this booke. This his Censure and animadversion he diuideth into tenne exercises, as he calleth them: I thinke it not amisse speedily to runne through all of them, and to weigh his principall reasons and obiections, wherein he seemeth to be so confident: whose learned trauaile in this argument in applying Daniels propheticall visions against Antichrist, as it deserueth commendation, so yet some of his reasons are not so pithily set downe, but that they may be revewed and examined.