Westminster Annotations, Daniel · Argument
THE ARGUMENT.
THE book of Daniel is partly Historicall, and partly Propheticall. In the History of things done we have singular monuments of the rare pietie of Daniel, and his three Companions of the same Nation, about the same age, and in the same condition: who all in their youth were carried captives to Babylon, in the first captivitie (which was in the fourth yeare of Iehoiakim King of Iudah:) where, at the first Daniel and his fellows, being instructed and trained up in learning for three yeares together, without intermission, were afterwards for their skill and dex eritie advanced to honourable imployments in that Empire. God so took them into his particular care and charge, that their humane instructions and learning became usefull to them, being made subordinate, and subserving to divine gifts and graces, which he further bestowed on them. For they had the spirit of sanctification, zeale for Gods glory, firm faith, and invincible, though tryed by fiery afflictions, and cruell decrees, inflicted on Daniels three Companions in their youth, and upon Daniel himself in his old age. Moreover, Daniel had the gift of Prophecie. The dreame which the King had forgotten, and which none of his Wisemen could tell him; Daniel recals to memory, and giveth the true interpretation thereof. Whereupon being promoted to high dignitie, he prefers his faithfull companions; Providence so ordering affaires that the Church in her sufferings and captivitie in Babylon, should not want noble Patrons, for their comfort, countenance, and maintenance. He was skilfull to reade unknown writings, and so singular for wisdome that by a common Proverb he was set as a pattern thereof in Babylon, where Ezekiel also then prophecied, who taunts the King of …yrus, (who thought himself so wise above others) with … nipping mock, saying, Ezek. 28. 3. Behold▪ thou art wiser then Daniel. In the Propheticall part of this booke, Daniels wisdome doth clearl… shine forth▪ in shewing when the mystery of mans redemption should be wrought, and ceremonies, and legall sacrifices should cease, and be abolished, to give way to the service of God in spirit and truth; namely, when Messiah was slaine. Now to worke sure confidence in the expectation of this singular good; Daniel hath incomparable visions concerning the foure great Monarchies of the world untill the coming of Christs kingdome, which was to be erected upon the ruine of the former foure, and to rule afterwards to the worlds end: by which visions the Prophet sheweth, that the Iewish Church must be in a suffering condition, especially under the feet of the Image, the divided kingdome of the Greeks, into North and South, Syria and …gypt, under the Seleucidae and …agidae, successours to Alexander the Great, who exercised many outrages against the Iews: but above all before him Antiochus Epiphanes was the most cruell, subtill, and p…stilent persecutour that ever the Jewish Church had. He hated pietie, and was voyd of humanitie, being malaciously set against Iudahs religion, chiefly ayming to root out the worship of the true God, and to blot every impression and motion of pietie out of mens hearts. Against those former enemies, and this last, but worst of all; Daniel comforts and quickeneth the languishing Saints, by foretelling the singular history of things to be done in the Church, even till the coming of Christ the Messiah, and not onelyonly by praedictions, and praemonitions would he make th…se heavy afflictions, which were to come, more tolerable: but also he tels the time precisely when Messiah, by his death, should purchase for his Church spirituall deliverance, and set up his spirituall and everlasting …ingdome: foretelling likewise that Christs kingdome should be exercised in the iust punishing of the Iewish nation, for denying the holy One of Israel, and betraying the Lord of life to be killed by the Rom…ne power, and in causing salvation, and eternall happinesse to all, both Jews and Gentiles, which were of the election of grace. Wherefore Daniels booke containeth the history of six hundred yeares, beginning with Babels first, and reaching thence to Ierusalems fall by the Romanes. Seventie yeares Babels captivitie l…sted: Thence seven seventies to the death of the Messiah: Thence fortie, to the destruction of Ierusalem by the abomination of desolation, or abomi…able army of Romane infidels, working (by the iust iudgement of God) the desolation of the Iews, Citie, and Countrey. These three sums; First, seventie in Babylon: Secondly, seven seventies, that is, foure hundred and ninetie till Christ his death: Lastly, fortie thence to Ierusa…ems destruction, make up six hundred years, the whole time and limits of Daniels book.