Commentary on Daniel, Appendix · Exercise 3
Exercise 3.
Wherein Graserus out of the 37. and 38. v. goeth about to prooue, this prophecie literally and historically to be vnderstood of the Romane Antichrist, and not of Antiochus.
Argum. 1. He shall not regard the God of his fathers. 1. This was not true of Antiochus, for he set vp the idols of Iuppiter Olympius, and Iuppiter Xenius, or Hospitalis, and caused them to be worshipped, which were the idols of the Grecians. p. 183. 2. But this is performed by the Pope, for he regardeth not Christ the God, whome the Apostles worshipped, whose successor he boasteth to be: he is not said to denie or abjure him, but not to regard him. Aben Ezra malitiously here vnderstandeth Constantine, who did for sake the idols which his fathers adored, when he embraced the Christian faith. But he is said here not absolutely to reiect the God of his fathers, he onelyonly shall not hauehave due respect vntounto him: And the Romanists can not wipe away this imputation from the Pope, though he often make mention of Christ in all his edicts and bulls: he may notwithstanding, and in truth doth, little regard him: not so much opposing himselfe to his person, as impugning his offices: both regall, in arrogating vntounto himselfe power ouer heauen, earth, and hell, p. 185. and priestly, in setting vp an other propitiatorie sacrifice of the Masse, in making other Mediators: his Propheticall, in detracting from the authoritie of the Scriptures, making them imperfect, and adding thereunto traditions, which they are not afraid to call (the word of God vnwritten,) and the Pope reserueth vntounto himselfe power to interpret Scripture, as he list. And thus he derogateth both from Christs kingdome, priesthood, prophecie, and so regardeth not his fathers God. p. 186. to 190.
Answ. 1. Antiochus did diuersely depart from his fathers Gods. 1. those idols of the Grecians, were new gods among the Syrians, whom he made to forsake their owne lawes and rites, to receiue his newe idoles, 1. Macchab. 1. 43. 2. Macchab. 2. 3. 2. he cared not in effect for the idols of the heathen, otherwise then they were for his profit and advantage: for he would hauehave robbed the Temple at Persepolis, 2. Macchab. 9. 2. 3. whereas some of his predecessors had great respect vntounto the Temple at Ierusalem, giuing vntounto it great gifts, as namely Seleucus and Antiochus the great, as it shewed, c. 11. quest. 44. he robbed, spoiled, defaced, and polluted it.
2. All these things are also typically verified in the Romane Antichrist, as further hath beene declared, c. 11. controu. 21. he many wayes is departed from the faith and doctrine of the Apostles, and auncient fathers of the Church: and in effect vseth the name of Christ but for his owne gaine and aduantage: but yet the historicall application of this prophesie belongeth vntounto Antiochus.
Argum. 2. An other note is, that he shall not regard the desires of women: the word chemedath, here signifieth the lawfull desire and louelove of women, which is in matrimonie: not that he should vtterly condemne mariage, but not giuegive it that reuerence, which is due vntounto it. This fitly ageeth vntounto the Bishop of Rome, who although he make matrimonie a Sacrament, yet he holdeth it a profanation of orders, and therefore forbiddeth any of his Clergie to marrie: And in that the naturall and lawfull desire and affection of women is not regarded, 2 way is giuen vntounto vnnaturall lust to that filthie sinne of Sodomitrie, and to other kinds of vnnaturall concupisence, as of adulterie, fornication, p. 196. 197. 2. But to Antiochus it cannot be referred, who was married and had children, whom he was carefull of, as appeareth 2. Machab. 9. what though he might be vnkind vntounto his wife or wiues, that was not a matter of such note, that it should be specially touched in this prophesie. Graser. p. 200.
Answ. 1. All this (we graunt typically and analogically) is fitly vrged against that Antichrist of Rome, who alloweth his Clergie rather to commit fornication, then to be lawfully married: as hath beene at large declared before, c. 11. controv. 22. 2. But properly Antiochus is here decyphered, who beeing an idolater, and so polluted with spirituall fornication, was also no doubt an vncleane person of life: and though he were married, yet he might be, and was carried away with vagrant, wandring, and inordinate lust: see more hereof, c. 11. quest. 45.
Argum. 3. 1. The next note is, he shall not care for any God: which Graserus thus expoundeth: that he shall acknowledge no power or maiestie in earth: and this word eloah he vnderstandeth of the Ciuill magistrate, for as before the Prophet shewed, how he should carrie himselfe in the Ecclesiastical, and Oeconomical estate, neither caring for the God of his fathers, nor for the desire of women: so now it followeth how he should vse the ciuill state; not regarding them, or giuing them due reuerence: he should not vtterly take away magistracie or gouernement, but he should make no great reckoning or account thereof: Thus hauehave the Popes done, both challenging vntounto themselues power to command Emperors, and kings, to translate the Empire, and accordingly they hauehave made kings to hold their stirrop, to lead their horse by the bridle: This great power, Augustine de Ancona, who liued vnderunder Pope Iohn the 22. ascribeth to the Pope, thus writing, Papa habet omnem Regalem, Imperialem, & Sacerdotalem potestatem in toto mundo, quia cosecratur quemadmodum sacerdos, coronatur vt Rex, &c. the Pope hath all Regall, Imperiall, and Priestly power in the whole world: for he is consecrated as a Priest, and crowned as a king, &c. 2. But Antiochus was so farre from depressing and despising Magistrates, and the Ciuill power, that one captaine of the Romans with a message from Rome terrified him, and made him giuegive way: yea, and the Macchabees, beeing of no great power, resisted him. Graser. p. 205.
Ans. 1. That the Pope is a despiser of the Ciuill gouernment, and hath despightfully and disdainfully vsed both Emperours, kings, and Princes, it is euident to all the world, wherein he doth manifestly detect himselfe to be Antichrist: according to S. Iudes description, v. 8. That they shall despise gouernment, and speake euill of them that are in authoritie. 2. Yet hereby is it not euicted, that this is the proper and literall meaning of this place: for though elohim in the plural, be in Scripture applied to Princes and rulers, yet eloah in the singular is seldome found in that sense; but is better interpreted (God.) 3. And so indeede Antiochus cared for no God, but was lift vp in pride beyond the condition of man, as though he could command the floods, and weigh the mountaines in a balance, 2. Macchab. 2. 9. And yet in the other sense it was also true, that Antiochus, though he were kept in awe by the Romanes, yet he made no account of the gouerners and Elders among the Iewes: (toward whome the greatest respect is had in this propheticall description of Antichrist) for he put them to the sword, as common and vile persons: as is touched, 1. Macch. 1. 27. The Princes and Elders mourned, &c.