Commentary on Daniel, Appendix · Exercise 10
The tenth Exercise.
Wherein the 45. verse is explained.
This verse also Graserus interpreteth of the Romane Antichrist, and not properly of Antiochus.
Argum. 1. Whereas there is great difference among interpreters concerning the meaning of this word apadno: 1. it cannot be a proper name as the Septuag. and vulgar Latine reade, as appeareth by the affix which is annexed thereunto. 2. Neither is it deriued of the Chalde word padan, as some thinke: for to what purpose should the Prophet writing in Hebrew, vse a Chalde and strange word here? and beside, padan in the Chalde, signifieth a yoke of oxen, in which sense it hath no agreement with this place. 3. Graserus therefore taketh it to be an Hebrewe word, and to be deriued of the roote aphad, which signifieth to put on: and hence commeth the word eephod, which was a speciall garment, and ornament of the Priests: vponupon this reason, Graserus interpreteth apadno, his Clergie, he shall plant the tabernacle of his Clergie, which he applyeth to the Tridentine Synode: which is fitly said to be planted, as a plant, that was set onelyonly but tooke no roote, neither came to any perfection: for it was scarce finished in the space of 18. yeares: And the intendment of this Synode was to destroy many, euen to extirpate and roote out all which professed the Gospel.
2. Hereof Antiochus made some shewe and shadow, when by his captaines Lysias, Ptolome, Nicanor, Gorgias, he pitched his tents in Emmaus with an intent to destroy Iudea, 1. Mac. 3. 38. 39. But the style of the Prophet aimeth at a greater aduersarie then Antiochus, which was Antichrist. Graser. p. 434. to p, 448.
Answ. 1. It beeing admitted, that the word apadon is best deriued of aphad, which signifieth to put on, or close in, or compasse about: it may as well signifie, a robe of honour, for so Dauid also had his linen Ephod, as a priestly garment: but it is better translated, a palace, a place of honour and estate: as Hierome thinketh it signifieth a throne: see more hereof before c. 11. quest. 49. 3. 2. If this were fulfilled in Antiochus, as he confesseth, we will easily grant further, that typically it may be applyed vntounto the Romane Antichrist: so that Antiochus be not excluded.
Argum. 2. Whereas against this exposition two speciall obiections may be made out of the text: 1. that these tents are pitched and planted betweene the Seas, as Trent is not, where this Councel was held. 2. and beside vponupon the glorious mountaine: Graserus frameth this answer:
1. That by the Seas, or waters we must vnderstand much people, as it is interpreted, Apocal▪ 17. 15. the waters vponupon the which the woman fitteth, are people and multitudes, &c. And this especially is meant of Europe, which is inuironed and distinguished into diuerse parts by the boughtes and turnings of the Ocean sea, more then any part of the world is.
2. And by the glorious mountaine we vnderstand the Church of God, which in regard of the excellencie thereof, and of the flocking of all nations thereunto, is compared to a mountaine, as Isay. 2. 2. the mountaine of the house of the Lord shall be prepared in the toppe of the mountaines: this glorious mountaine then is the Church of God, which most flourished in Europe.
3. These two Seas cannot be the Mediterranean, and dead Sea, as Iunius: for both the Prophet should hauehave spoken darkely and obscurely, of an euident matter: and beside the lake Asphaltes, called the dead Sea, compared with the Mediterranean, is not worthie the name of a Sea, p. 448. to p. 459.
Answ. 1. There is great difference to say betweene the Seas, and vponupon the Seas or waters: here he pitcheth his tent and palace, not vponupon them, but betweene them: and seeing here there is euident description of a place, the words are to be taken literally, not in allegoricall sense: as Nahum, 3. 9. art thou better then No, full of people, which lay vponupon the waters, whose ditch was the Sea, &c.
2. True it is, that the Church of God is in diuerse prophesies resembled to a mountaine, by allusion vntounto the mountaine, whereupon the Temple was built: but to appropriate this to any particular place, as namely to the citie of Trent in that sense is not safe: for so the title of the true Church of Christ, should be giuen to that Antichristian assemblie: This may more fitly be applied vntounto that Laterane Councel vnderunder Leo the 10. which was held at Rome, which is situate indeede betweene two Seas. Tyrrhenum and Adriaticum.
3. If the Prophet had in direct tearmes expressed the Seas by their names, it had beene an historie, rather then a prophesie: and it is euident, that in Scripture that salt lake is called by the name of the Sea, as Numb. 34. v. 6. the Mediterranean is called the great Sea, and the other the salt Sea, v. 3. wherefore seeing we can find this prophesie to hauehave beene literally and historically fulfilled, when Antiochus captaines pitched in Em…aus in the beginning of the mountaines; as hath beene shewed at large, cap. 11. quest. 50. it is in vaine to runne to allegories.
Argum. 3. The words following also, he shall come to his end…, and none shall helpe him: Graserus proceedeth to applie vntounto the Romane Antichrist, and sheweth the fatall end of his Antichristian kingdome to be at hand: which 1. he doth gather by two arguments: the great insolencie of the Papall Sea, for pride goeth before a fall: and the most desperate means which the Romanists vse to maintaine their kingdome: their sophisticate doctrine, and their perfidious and treacherous practises: which beeing the chiefe meanes, which are left vntounto them, it is euident that their disease is dangerous and deadly, the meanes beeing so desperate, pag. 462.
2. And further it is said, none shall helpe him: herein Antiochus in his miserable end was a type of the ruine of Antichrist, who was striken with such a loathsome disease, that his own friends did forsake him, and could minister no helpe vntounto him: Such was the fal of Babylon, as the Prophet describeth it, Ierem. 51. 8. howle for Babel, bring balme for her sore…f she may be healed: So the sickenesse of Antichrist, when God striketh him, shall be incurable and remedilesse.
By two speciall meanes is Antichrists kingdome vpheld, by the Iesuites corrupt seducing, and by the se…ular arme, afflicting the Church, especially by the Spaniards: But neither of these can restore vntounto Antichrist the former glorie of his kingdome: The first may be likened vntounto the Ass…ssines among the Turkes, whose founder was one Alohadinus, who inuented this deuise to encrease his sect: he caused to be planted in a most fruitful valley pleasant orchards and gardens, which all kind of carnall delight,ex Cael…i Augustin. Curion. histor. Sarac…a. 2. lib. 3. varietie of delicate ments, with beautifull damsels to attend vponupon them. This beeing done, this Alohadinus fained himselfe to be Mahomets companion, and to hauehave receiued power of him, to conferre Paradise vponupon whom he would: Hereupon he would make choice of the best witted and most goodly young men, whom he with a certaine drinke would cause to be cast asleepe, and then conuay them to that valley, where awaking they should enioy al terrene pleasure: then he would cast them into a sleepe againe, and conuey them thence: so they made report that they had beene in Paradise: and by this deuise he drewe vntounto him 60000. to be of his sect: the like sleights doe the Iesuites vse, to promise heauen, and releasing out of purgatotie, to those that will set afoote their wicked deuises: But they notwithstanding labour in vaine.
So likewise the secular powers hauehave laboured to aduance the papall kingdome, as Henrie the 3. in Fraunce; the king of Spaine in the lowe countreys, which warres the Prince of Parma confessed had cost the king of Spaine vntounto the yeare 1585. sixe hundred tunne of gold; The like attempt he made against England in the yeare 88. which he assaulted with that great nauie and armie, the maintenance whereof stood him in 30000. ducates euerie day: yet they …aue missed of their purpose. Thus Christ the king of his Church, sheweth his power in abating the pride of Antichrist: but he at once thinketh it not good to dissolue his kingdome, to trie the fidelitie of his seruants, and to take away securitie: to this purpose Graserus p. 465. to p. 467.
Answ. All this we willingly confesse may typically be applyed, and that verie fi…ly, to the Romane Antichrist: so that the historicall ground be first layd in Antiochus, which Graserus seemeth to acknowledge; whose singular industry, and iudicious application of this prophesie deserueth much commendation, though he faile in the historicall sense. And this shall suffice briefely to hauehave beene touched out of Graserus.
God be praised.