Commentary on Prov Ecc SoS Isa Jer Lam Eze Dan, Daniel · Chapter 11
CHAP. XI.
Ver. 1. ALſo I] i. e. I Gabriel the Angel, glad of ſuch an office, for the good of Gods people, whereunto alſo I was ſent by Chriſt, ch. 10 9, 10.
In the firſt year of Darius the Mede] Who now began to think of ſending home the captive Jews, but had ſome heſitations and fluctuations of mind about it.
I ſtood to confirm and to ſtrengthen him] Angels cannot inlighten the mind, or powerfully incline the will of man (for ſo the Holy Ghoſt only doth:) but, as inſtruments of the Holy Ghoſt, they can ſtir up phantaſms of the Word read or heard; they can alſo propoſe truth and right to the mind, adviſe and perſwade to it as Counſellors, and inwardly inſtigate as it were by ſpeaking and doing after a ſpiritual manner, ſuggeſting good thoughts, as devils do evil: Yea they can ſtrangely wind themſelves into mens imaginations, ſo as to appear to them in their dreams, Matth. 1.
Ver. 2. And now I will ſhew thee the truth] The plain naked truth, in proper and downright terms, dealing with thee more like an Hiſtorian then a Prophet. Truth is, like our firſt Parents, moſt beautiful when naked.
Behold there ſhall ſtand up yet three Kings in Perſia] Three beſides Darius; viz. Cyrus, Cambyſes, and Darius Hyſtaſpis: for, as for Smerdis or the Magus, who took upon him to be the ſon of Cyrus, and uſurped the throne after Cambyſes, for ſix moneths,Herodot. in Thalia. the holy Angel holds him not worth naming.
And the fourth ſhall be far richer then they all] This was Xerxes, who was called the Hoarder of his Kingdom, like as his Father Darius had been called the Huckſter, Regni caupo.for his unmeaſurable riches gathered out of all the Eaſt, and prepared for the war againſt Greece.
And when he ſhall be ſtrengthned by his riches] Which were never true to thoſe that truſted them.
He ſhall ſtir up all] He ſhall bring into the field a million of men, and cover the ſeas with his ſhips, thinking to bear down all before him; but was ſhamefully defeated by the Grecians, and forced in a ſmall fiſher-boat, to get back into Aſia, where falling into inordinate luſt and cruelty, he was killed by Artabanus, and left this war hereditary to his ſucceſſors, until the ruine of the Perſian Kingdom by great Alexander, of whom in the next verſe.
Ver. 3. But a mighty King ſhall ſtand up] Alexander the Great, the founder of the Greek Monarchy; who with 30000 footmen and 5000 horſemen over-ran and ſubdued a great part of the habitable world. See chap. 8. The devil by his oracles foretold him of his victories, having ſtollen his skill out of this Prophecy of Daniel.
Ver. 4. And when he ſhall ſtand up] And ſeemeth to be beſt underlaid, ſet to live, as we ſay, when he ſtandeth on his beſt bottom, expecting Embaſſadours at Babylon from all the world, requiring divine honours from his Grecians, and enjoyning the Jews that their dates ſhould be taken from his raign, and that all the Prieſts ſons born that year ſhould be called Alexanders.
His Kingdom ſhall be broken] As brittle ware is apt to be.
And ſhall be divided toward the four winds] Sic tranſit gloria mundi, fitly compared to the wind, as chap. 2. to a dream, to a ſhadow, to a dream of a ſhadow. Great Alexander's Kingdom was firſt broken into many pieces by twelve of his Princes, until, eleven years after his death, it became quadripartite, &c. Here is foretold, being divided amongſt four of his Chieftains, Caſſander, Antigonus, Seleucus and Ptolomy: till at length, theſe two laſt ga… all into their hands, and yet were ever jarring and warring, as appeareth by what here followeth.
And not to his poſterity] For all his Kindred were killed up by Caſſander; with whom it chei…ed accordingly.
Nor according to his dominion] For although they were all ſoveraign Princes, yet they fell far ſhort of Alexander in command and warlike fame, chap. 8.22.
Antiq. lib. 1 2. cap. 1.Ver. 5. And the King of the South ſhall be ſtrong] Ptolomy King of Egypt together with his whole family, line, and race, the Lagidae, ſhall be eminently ſtrong; and a great enemy he was to the poor Jews, as Joſephus ſtorieth.
And one of his Princes] i. e. O… Alexanders Princes, meaning Seleucus Nicanor King of Syria, together with his houſe and line called the Seleucidae.
And he ſhall be ſtrong above him] i. e. Stronger then Ptolomy, and that the poor Church ſhall feel; for Judaea lay betwixt theſe two potent Princes, and was therefore beaten on both ſides: perinde ac Iſthmus inter duo maria interjacens, or as bread-corn ground betwixt two milſtones. This was here foretold, and much more, three hundred years before it fell out, that we may know that there is an Omnipotent and Omniſcient Majeſty, who decreeth and doth whatſoever himſelf pleaſeth.
His dominion ſhall be a great dominion] Viz. as long as it will hold. Beſides Syria and Babylon, Seleucus had more of Aſia then ever any had but only Alexander. So our Henry the ſixth, till depoſed, had been the moſt potent Monarch for dominions that ever England had: yet afterwards he was not the maſter of a mole-hill, nor owner of his own liberty, as hath been ſaid before.
Ver. 6. And in the end of years] In proceſſe of time, after that theſe two Kings had ſufficiently worried and wearied out one another, in bloody wars.
They ſhall joyn themſelves together] Heb. ſhall aſſociate themſelves, viz in a friendly amity: and ſhall make interchangeable marriages, but to little purpoſe, as it proved.Tu…k. Hiſt: 464. So Calo Joannes the Chriſtian Emperour of Trapezond gave his daughter Despina in marriage to Ʋſuncaſſanes King of Perſia, but with ill ſucceſſe: for he ſoon after loſt his Empire.
For the Kings daughter of the South] Bernice (or as others call her, Berenice or Beronice, i. e. the daughter of innocency or purity) the daughter Ptolomie Philadelph ſo called, for that he married his own ſiſter;Junius. and therefore his daughter Beronice was not right-named.
Shall come to the King of the North] to Antiochus Theus King of Syria (ſo the Mileſians firſt ſirnamed him,Pauſan. Appian. becauſe he had driven out their tyrant Timarch) and he took it upon him, to his utter undoing: for this god was afterwards poiſoned by his wife Laodice.
To make an agreement] Marriages made in policy, to ſerve diſhoneſt ends, are ever of ill ſucceſſe, 1 Sam. 18.21, 28.
But ſhe ſhall not retain the power of the arm] Her intereſt in her huſband, her Queendom, and her life were ſoon after loſt. She was not ſent home again (as Ann of Cleeve was here) but ſent out of the world, together with her ſon,In Syriac. and all her retinue, by Laodice, whom Appian maketh to be her own ſiſter: but that's not likely.
Neither ſhall he ſtand] i. e. Antiochus Theus, who was poiſoned by his jealous wife, a juſt puniſhment from a jealous God.
Nor his arm] His young ſon by Bernice.
And he that begat her] Her father Ptolomy Philadelph, who dyed ſoon after.
Ver. 7. But out of the branch of her roots] One of her ſtock, her own brother both by father and mother.
Shall one ſtand up in his eſtate] Ptolomy Euergetes ſhall ſucceed his father Philadelph: and making war againſt Seleucus Callinicus, ſon of Antiochus Theus by Laodice, in revenge of his ſiſter Bernices death ſhall prevaile and over-run the greateſt part of Callinicus his Kingdom.
Ver. 8, And ſhall alſo carry captives their gods] Goodly gods they were the while, and likely to defend their worſhippers. He brought back alſo the Egyptian mawmets, carried away by Cambyſes (rather in ſcorn of all religion, then hatred of idolatry) and was thereupon called by that ſuperſtitious people, Euergetes, that is, Benefactour.
Ver. 9. So the King of the South ſhall come into his Kingdom] Called out of Syria by a commotion at home, the Parthians invading Egypt: but he ſoon quelled them, and quieted his own country. Joſephus writeth,Lib. 2. cont. Appian. that this Ptolomy Euergetes in his return out of Syria went to Jeruſalem; and in thankfulneſs to the God of the Jews, offered his oblations at the Temple there.Antiq. l. 12. c. 2▪ Of his father Philadelphus alſo he reporteth, that he redeemed one hundred and twenty thouſand Jews that were ſlaves in Egypt, and ſent them home, and beſtowed many rich gifts upon the Temple at Jeruſalem.
Ver. 10. But his ſons] Callinicus his ſons; viz. Seleucus Ceraunus, and Antiochus Magnus—quaſi duo fulmina belli.
Shall be stirred up] At not enduring that Ptolomy Philepator ſon of Euergetes ſhould poſſeſſe any part of Syria under their noſes.
Lib 5.Shall aſſemble a multitude of great forces] Seventy thouſand footmen, and fifty thouſand horſemen, ſaith Polybius.
Ceraunius id eſt fulminem: quod audaci & veloci ingenio praeditus. Juſtin.And one ſhall certainly come] One, not both; becauſe Ceraunus (who ſeemed to be as ſwift and as irreſiſtible as Lightning, and therehence had his name) was ſlain by Nicanor: ſo that Antiochus Magnus was King alone.
And ſhall overflow and paſſe thorough] To wit, againſt the Captains of Ptolomy in Syriae, Attalus and Theodatus.
And he ſhall be ſtirred up even to his fortreſſe] To Ptolomies fortreſs, or fortified City Raphia, which lyeth in the entrances of Egypt, ſaith Hierom.
Ver. 11. And the King of the South] Ptolomaeus Philopator, ſo called ſay ſome per Antiphraſin, becauſe he killed his father; he ſlew alſo his both ſiſter and wife Eurydice: and was otherwiſe very vicious, and yet victorious.
Even with the King of the North] i. e. With Antiochus Magnus, who was ſo called perhaps, ſaith one, for undertaking much, and performing little.
Pauſan. lib. 5. Spoliaviſſet regno Antiochum, ſi fortunam virtute juviſſet. Juſtin.And he ſhall ſet forth a great multitude] Sixty two thouſand footmen, and ſix thouſand horſemen.
And the multitude] Antiochus his army: himſelf hardly eſcaping with life through the deſerts.
Ver. 12. His heart ſhall be lifted up] So that he ſhall flight his enemy, and not purſue his victory, but give himſelf up to a luxurious life. Vincere ſcis Annibal, victoriauti neſcis, ſaid that Roman General.
Ver. 13. For the King of the North] Antiochus Magnus.
Shall return] After Philopators death, to fight againſt his yong ſon and ſucceſſor Epiphanos.
Hierom.And ſhall ſet forth a multitude greater then the former] Gathered out of the upper parts of Babylon: He called in the help alſo of Philip King of Macedon, and other Princes. His army is ſaid to have conſiſted of three hundred thouſand footmen, beſides horſe and Elephants.
And ſhall certainly come] Heb. by coming he ſhall come, i. e. ſurely, ſwiftly, ſuddenly: but to ſmall purpoſe.
Lib. 2. c. 8. Lib. 5. c. 5.And with much riches] Gold, ſilver, purple, ſilkes, ivory, at Florus and G…llius teſtifie:
Ver. 14. And in thoſe times there ſhall many ſtand up againſt the King of the South] Many of the Jews who ſupplyed Antiochus, in this expedition of his againſt Egypt, Effractores, Praevaricato…es.both with men and other warlike proviſion. Howbeit ſundry Jews (called here robbers or refractories, fierce, furious and deſperate fellows) adhered to Ptolomy Epiphanes, who gave them leave to build a Temple in Egypt: which was accordingly alſo done by Onias, not far from Memphis, upon pretence of fulfilling that prophecy, Iſa. 19.19. called here eſtabliſhing the viſion.
But they ſhall fall] As they did afterwards by the Romans, who deſtroyed the Jews there in great multitudes, and burnt their mock Temple.
Ver. 15. So the King of the North ſhall come] i. e. Not the Romans (as ſome would have it) but Antiochus Magnus ſtill. He had been foiled at Raphia, now he greatly prevaileth againſt the Egyptians. If we Princes (ſaid our Henry the ſeventh) ſhall take every occaſion that is offered, the world ſhall never be quiet, but wearied with continual wars.
And the armes of the South ſhall not withſtand] Scopas the Egyptian General, though very skilful and valiant, ſhall be beaten by Antiochus into Sidon, beſiged there, and forced to yeild: all the power of Egypt being not able to raiſe the ſiege, and relieve Scopas. The battle is not alwayes to the ſtrong, Eccleſ. 9.11.
Ver. 16. And he ſhall ſtand in the glorious land] Heb. the land of ornaments, that is Judaea, which lying betwixt theſe two potent Princes, was perpetually afflicted, as corn is ground aſunder lying betwixt two heavy milſtones. Now Judaea is called the glorious or beautiful land, Ezek. 20.6, 15. it is called the comelineſs of all countries,not ſo much for the fertility thereof (Babylon was much more fertile) nor for the miracles done therein (many great works had been likewiſe done in Egypt) as for the ſincere ſervice of God there ſet up. This is the beauty and bulwark of any Nation. Forrain writers have termed England The fortunate Iſland, the Terraflorida, the Kingdom of God, the Paradiſe of pleaſure, &c, Plato commendeth the Attick Country for this, that the Inhabitants were foreign, the right Natives that grew out of it at firſt:foreign. Thucyd. foreign. Plato. but eſpecially for this, that it was foreign a place that loved God and was interchangeably beloved of God. May that be evermore Englands commendation!
Which by his hand ſhall be conſumed] Gods Church goes to wrack both by South and North. All she comfort is that whether North or South-wind blow on Gods garden, they ſhall blow good to it at length, Cant. 4.16.
Ver. 17. He ſhall alſo ſet his face] Antiochus longed ſore to be Lord of Egypt, and therefore undertook a third expedition againſt Epiphanes: but that not ſucceeding to his mind, he ſeweth the Foxes skin to the Lyons hide, and ſeeketh to get that by treachery, which by open hoſtility he could not.
And upright ones with him] Or equal conditions with him: he ſhall palliate his treachery with very fair pretences: he ſhall ſeem to do righteous things, drawing a fair glove over a foul hand: Thus ſhall he do.
And he ſhall give him the daughter of women] The fair Cleopatra, his beautiful daughter: like as Saul gave Michal to David, to be a ſnare to him.Filiam è mulieribus ſelectam…
Munera pulchrae quidem mittis, ſed mittis in hamo.Martial.
Corrupting her] Suborning her to make away her husband Ptolomaeus Epiphanes. This was deviliſh policy; Simulata neceſſitudo duplex ſimultas: but it took not.
But ſhe ſhall not ſtand on his ſide, neither be for him] As became a good wife, ſhe …lave to her husband: ſo did the above-mentioned Michal, in whom though we find no great ſtore of religion (for both ſhe had an image in the houſe, and afterwards mocked David for his devotion) yet nature had taught her to prefer an husband to a father.
Ver. 18. After this he ſhall turn his face unto the Iſles] Miſſing of his deſign for Egypt, and loſing alſo much in Aſia Minor, which Epiphanes got of him, by means of his Queen Cleopatra, Antiochus, as an inraged Lyon, falleth upon forrain countries, as Helleſpont, Cherſoneſus, Eubaea, Rhodes, Cyprus, Samos, Colophon, &c. He marched alſo with his army into Greece, being ſtirred up thereunto by Hannibal, who being vanquiſhed in Africa by Scipio, had fled to Antiochus into Aſia, and there hatched what miſchief he could againſt the Romans.
But a Prince for his own behalf] i. e. Scipio the Roman Conſul, or as ſome will, M. Acilius their General.
Shall cauſe the reproach offered by him to ceaſe] i. e. Shall recover the countries that he had taken from the Roman State, and ſhall alſo drive back again, down his throat, thoſe contumelies and opprobrious ſpeeches that he had thrown out againſt the Romans; who afterwards overcame him thrice by ſea and land, forced him to accept of very hard conditions, ſhred him of a great part of his Kingdom,Liv. Dec. 4. l. 8; Appian. in Syriac. and called him in contempt Antiochus ſometime the Great.
Ver. 19. Then he ſhall turn his face] Not accepting the aforeſaid hard conditions, till beaten again by the Romans, he was forced ſo to do; he fled into the utmoſt parts of his Kingdom of Syria, and there kept him in forts, not daring to wage war any more.
But he ſhall ſtumble and fall and not be found] He and his Army ſhall be hewn in pieces by the rude rabble in the Elymeans Country,Strabo. lib. 16. whilſt he went about to rob the Temple of their Jupiter Belus.
Ver. 20. Then ſhall ſtand up in his eſtate a raiſer of taxes] Heb. one that cauſeth an exactour to paſſe over, who ſhall gather no leſs ſums of curſes then of coyn. This was Seleucus Philopator, ſon to Antiochus the great, and his fathers darling (whence alſo he had his ſirname) but not the peoples darling, as Scipio was at Rome, whom they called Corculum or ſweet heart. For this Seleucus King of Syria being the Romans tribute-gatherer (to whom he was to pay according to his fathers agreement a thouſand talents by the year) he was hated of the people, and poyſoned by Heliodorus a great man about him, in favour of Antiochus Epiphanes his brother, and ſucceſſour in the Kingdom.
Ver. 21. And in his eſtate ſhall ſtand up a vile perſon] This was his true title (as Wicked was Hamans, Illuſtrious.Eſth. 7.6.) though he affected to be called Epiphanes or Famous: and Joſephus reporteth that the Samaritans (to curry favour with him when he tormented the Jews) ſtiled him Antiochus the mighty god. O deteſtable! ſurely that which is highly eſteemed amongſt men, is abomination in the ſight of God, Luk. 16.15. But the bramble thinketh it a goodly thing to raign: ſo doth not the Vine and Figtree, Judg. 9. A good man honoureth them that fear the Lord: but contemneth a vile perſon, Pſal. 15 4. Mr. Fox, when one asked him, ſaying, Do ye not remember ſuch an honeſt poor man for whom you did ſomething? yes, ſaid he, I forget Lords and Ladyes to remember ſuch. And again when a great Lord and wicked met him in the ſtreets, and asked him How do you Mr. Fox? he ſaid little: do you not know me? ſaid the great Lord: No, not I, ſaid Mr. Fox. I am ſuch a one, ſaid he. Sir, I deſire, ſaid Mr. Fox, to know none but Chriſt and him crucified.
To whom they ſhall not give the honour of the Kingdom] But he ſhall take it whether the Nobles will or not: and ſo might well have been called as his father ſometimes was, Antiochus Hierax, the Hawk or Puttock, for his ſwooping and ravaging.
But he ſhall come in peaceably] Under pretence of a Protector to his nephew Demetrius, as did our Richard the third.
And ſhall obtain the Kingdom by flatteries[ Winning mens hearts by preſents, curteſies, and ſecret practiſes.
Ver. 22. And with the armes of a flood ſhall they be over flown] The Egyptians ſhall by the forces of Antiochus Epiphanes, who in the minority of his ſiſter Cleopatra's ſon Ptolomy Philometor, invaded Egypt, and overthrew his two Captains Euleus and Leneus, as with a ſtorm or flood.
Yea alſo the Prince of the Covenant] Tryphon the chief contriver of a Covenant betwixt the two Kings, after the former overthrow. He was made away by Antiochus, that himſelf might do what he lifted in Egypt, during the non-age of his nephew Philometor.
Ver. 23. He ſhall work deceitfully] Outwitting the wiſeſt among the Egyptians, who yet were held great Politicians. See Eſa. 19.11, 13.
And ſhall become ſtrong with a ſmall people] He ſhall come in (as Protector and coad…utor to his nephew Philometor) with a ſmall number, left the Egyptians ſhould be affrighted: but being thus gotten in, he ſhall play his pranks to ſome purpoſe.
Ver. 24. He ſhall enter peaceably even upon the fatteſt places of the Province] i. e. Upon Memphis in the very heart of the Country.
And he ſhall do that which his fathers have not done] i. e. Rob and ſpoile, as never any of his Anceſtors did before in Egypt.
Ptolo. hypom. lib. 1. & 5.And he ſhall ſcatter among them the prey] Throwing handfuls of mony among the vulgar as he went along the ſtreets: and all to ingratiate and to ſteal away their hearts. Abſolom did the like at Jeruſalem, 2 Sam. 20.
And he ſhall forecaſt his devices againſt the ſtrong-holds] By ſowing diſſenſion betwixt Philometor, and Phyſcon his younger brother. The devil was as great a Maſter then as ſince, with his D…vide & impera, make diviſion, and get dominion.
Ver. 25. And he ſhall ſtir up his power and his courage] Antiochus ſhall: himſelf being ſtirred up by the devil, that reſtleſs ſpirit, who continually maketh adoe in the world. Fuit etiam Antiochus ingenio inquieto, verſatili, turbido, vago & vario: unde multa machinatus eſt, pauca ad felicem exitum perduxit. Howbeit in this ſecond expedition againſt Egypt, he proſpered.
Ver. 26. Yea they that feed of the portion of his meat] His own Courtiers, Captains and Penſioners, corrupted by Antiochus, betrayed Philometor: ſee 1 Mac. 1. In truſt I have oft found treaſon, ſaid Queen Elizabeth.
Ver. 27. And both theſe Kings hearts ſhall be to do miſchef Philometor being beaten ſhall ſeek agreement, give great gifts to Antiochus, and feaſt him: ſed reconciliatione vultirâ, but with a fox-like and fained amity, each of them ſtill re…ining their ancient hatreds. Burning lips and a wicked heart, are like a potſheard covered with ſilver-dreſſe, Prov. 26.23.
And they ſhall ſpeak lyes] This is ordinary with the wicked, Pſal. 62.9. but it is the property of the godly man to ſpeak the truth from his heart, Pſal. 15.
For yet the end ſhall be at the time appointed] i. e. The end of thoſe wars ſhall be when God ſeeth good, and hath predetermined it.
Ver. 28. Then ſhall he return into his land with great riches] But little content. Gain, when it is either the Mammon of unrighteouſneſſe, or wages of wickedneſſe, is true loſſe.
And his heart ſhall be againſt the holy Covenant] i. e. Againſt the Jews, Gods Covenanters, and againſt the true religion. The Church is, haeres crucis, ſaith Luther: the truth goes ſeldom without a ſcratcht face.
Ver. 29. At the time appointed] After two years.
And come toward the South] Toward Egypt, 1 Mac. 1.30.
But it ſhall not be as the former] Expedition, ver. 25.
Or as the latter] Mentioned ver. 40. God oft croſſeth the wicked in the height of their hopes, Job 20 6.
Ver. 30. For the ſhips of Chittim ſhall come againſt him] i. e. Publius Popilius the Roman Legat ſhall come in Italian or Grecian ſhips, and ſhall,Joſeph. l. 12.c. 6. Liv. dec. 5. l. 5. …pplan. in Syr. …uſtin. in the name of the Senat and people of Rome, command Antiochus to depart with his army out of Egypt, and that forthwith. So true found Antiochus that of the Poet Omne, ſub regni graviore, regnum eſt.
Therefore he ſhall be grieved and return] And reck his teen upon the poor Church of God: turning his rage againſt the Jews.
And have intelligence with them that forſake the Covenant] None are ſo dangerous and deſperate enemies to the truth as Apoſtates, and Renegado's, ſuch as were here, Jaſon, Menelaus, &c. 2 Mac. 4. who privily pack'd with Antiochus againſt the City and people.
Ver. 31. And arms ſhall ſtand on his part] i. e. Antiochus his Princes and Commanders, whom he ſent to ſpoil Jeruſalem; ſuch as were Philip the Phrygian, Andronicus, Apollonius, Bacchides, &c. who made havock of Gods people, and revelled in their ruines.
And they ſhall place the abomination of deſolation] The abominable idol of Jupiter Olympius. The like whereunto was done here in England in thoſe Marian times, of abhor…ed memory, which yet laſted no longer then thoſe of Antiochus, ſc. five or ſix years.
Ver. 32. And ſuch as do wickedly againſt the Covenant] Apoſtates ſin not common ſins, as Karab and his complices dyed not common deaths. Forſakers of the Covenant, ver. …0. will ſoon become wicked doers againſt the Covenant, as here: till they become altogether filthy, Pſal. 53.3. See 1 Pet. 2.20, 22. Matth. 12.43, 45. Luke 9.62.
— non debet aeratro,Sedulius.
Dignum opus ixercens, vulium in ſua terga referre.
But the people that do know their God] The faithful Haſſideans, and zealots,Irritamenta & Terriculamenta. who know and worſhip their G…d aright; theſe ſhall perſevere, and overcome all Allurements and Affrightments of the World.
Ver. 33. And they that underſtand, &c.] God ſhall provide in the worſt of times, that his people ſhall have Teachers and faithful Monitors. I find in the regiſters (and wonder at it, ſaith Mr. Fox) that in Queen Maryes dayes, one neighbour reſorting to, and conferring with another,Act. & Mon. eftſoones with a few words of their firſt or ſecond talk, did win and turn their minds to that wherein they deſired to perſwade them touching the truth of Gods Word and Sacraments.
Yet they ſhall fall by the ſword and by flame] The Inſtructers eſpecially ſhall. Of this perſecution the Apoſtle ſeemeth to ſpeak, Heb. 11.35, 37.
Ver. 34. They ſhall be holpen with a little help] With the valiant Aſmonians or Maccabees who were but a handful, and yet did great exploits againſt the Antiochians; ſo did the Huſſites in Bohemia againſt the Pontificians. But why were they holpen with a little help? that through weaker means, they might ſee Gods greater ſtrength.
But many ſhall cleave to them with flatteries] So did the falſe Samaritans: See on ver. 21. And ſo the Donatiſts went to the Gothes, when the Arians prevailed. Hypocrites will not ſail in a ſtorm. Something they will do for God, but little or nothing tis they will ſuffer.
Ver. 35. And ſome of them of underſtanding ſhall fall] Depth of divine knowledge, and height of holineſſe, is no target againſt perſecution: the beſt fall under it ſooneſt. None out of hell have ever ſuffered more then Saints.
To try them] As hard weather tryes what health: hang heavy weights on rotten boughs, and they ſuddenly break. Withered leaves fall off in a ſtrong wind: not ſo the green, that have ſap.
Act. & Mon.And to purge and to make them white] As foul and ſtained cloathes are whitened by laying abroad in cold froſty nights. Black ſope maketh white cloathes: ſo, ſaid that Martyr, doth the black croſſe help us to more whiteneſſe, if God ſtrike with his batteldors. You know the veſſel before it be made bright (ſaid John Careles the Martyr in a letter to Mr. Philpot another Martyr) is ſoyled with oyle and other things that it may ſcour the better. Oh happy be you, that you be now in this ſcouring houſe:Ib. 1743. for ſhortly you ſhall be ſet upon the celeſtial ſhelf as bright as Angels,&c. Refiners of ſugar, ſaith Another Author, taking ſugar out of the ſame cheſt,D. Goodwin. ſome thereof they melt but once; other again and again; not that it hath more droſſe in it, but becauſe they would have it more refined: ſo dealeth the Lord with his beſt children, &c.
Ver. 36. And the King ſhall do according to his will] In Judaea he ſhall, though in Egypt he could not, becauſe the Romans trumped in his way, ver. 30. put a ſtop to his rage there. But the Jews were looked upon by the proud Romans as a deſpicable people: and of the God of the Jews Cicero ſpeaketh baſely, not holding him worthy to be compared with Bacchus or Venus, Orat. pro. Flacco.&c.
And he ſhall exalt himſelf, &c.] A type and picture of the Pope of Rome, 2 Theſ. 2.4.
Till the indignation be accompliſhed] Till God have avenged the quarrel of his Covenant, and the ſet time of deliverance be come.
Ver. 37. Neither ſhall he regard the God of his Fathers] He ſhall diſannul his own ancient religion, caring neither for the old Mumpſimus, nor the new Sumpſimus, as they ſay, but ſhewing himſelf to be a rank Atheiſt: See 1 Maccab. 1.43.
Nor the deſire of women] ſc. in an honeſt lawful way of matrimony; But be addicted to vagrant luſt, yea and to the ſin againſt nature with women (as ſome ſenſe it) à Deo prohibito & perdito: in which caſe the Turkiſh women, when ſo abuſed by their husbands (thoſe filthy beaſts) may ſue a divorce;St. Henry Blounts voy. into the Levant. which they do by taking off their ſhooes before the Judge, and holding them the ſoles upward, but ſpeaking nothing, for the unnameableneſſe of the fact.
Nor regard any God] See my Common place of Atheiſm.
Ver. 38. But in his eſtate ſhall be honour the God of forces] Or, As for the Almighty God, in his ſeat he ſhall honour, yea he ſhall honour a god whom his fathers knew not, &c. that is in Gods holy Temple at Jeruſalem Antiochus ſhall ſet up Jupiter Olympius, who was none of the dii Syri: for the Syrians worſhipped Apollo, Diana, Atargatis, Geog. l. 16.as Strabo teſtifieth. See 2 Maccab. 6.2.
Shall he honour] This doubling of the word ſeemeth to ſhew the Angels indignation, at the indignity of the fact. See the like, Gen. 49.4.
Ver. 31.Ver. 39. Thus ſhall he do in the moſt ſtrong holds] Heb. in the fortreſſes of munitions, i. e. both in the Temple (called elſewhere a ſtrong-hold) and in the places of defence near unto the Temple, where he ſet a garriſon, to force the people to worſhip his Idols.
Whom he ſhall acknowledge and increaſe with glory] Or, thoſe whom he ſhall acknowledge (to be favourers and furtherers of his abominable idolatry) thoſe he ſhall increaſe with glory: he ſhall raiſe and prefer them, as he did Jaſon, Menelaus, &c.
And he ſhall cauſe them to rule over many] In praeſtantes illos (ſo Piſcator rendreth it) over the godly Jews, Gods Rabbines.
And he ſhall divide the land] ſc. Of Judaea.
For gain] Heb. for a price. Sic omnia Romae vaenalia: All things are ſaleable and ſoluble at Rome.
Ver. 40. And at the time of the end] The year before his death.
Shall the King of the South] Ptolomie Philometor.
And the King of the North] Antiochus his third expedition into Egypt (ſee ver. 39) in favour of Phyſcon.
And ſhall overflow] i. e. Victoriouſly overrun Egypt.
Ver. 41. He ſhall enter alſo into the glorious land] Judaea, as ver. 16. but for no good. In Greece they ſay, Where the Grand Signior once ſetteth his foot, there groweth no more graſſe.
But theſe ſhall eſcape] Becauſe they ſhall ſide with him.
Ver. 42. He ſhall ſtretch forth his hand alſo] He ſhall be very victorious toward his latter end, that he may be the riper for ruine: fatted ware are but fitted for deſtruction.
Ver. 43. Shall be at his ſteps] i. e. Obey him as their Captain.
Ver. 44. But tidings out of the Eaſt, &c.] It it ſeldom ſeen that God alloweth to the greateſt darlings of the world a perfect contentment: but ſomething or other they muſt have to trouble them ſtill.
Ver. 45. And he ſhall plant the Tabernacles of his palace] i, e: 1 Mac. 3.40. & 4 3.He ſhall pitch his tent royal (in token of full power given to his Captains Lyſias and the reſt) in Emmaus, near to Jeruſalem, to keep the Jews in ſubjection.
Between the Seas] The Dead Sea, and the Midland Sea, Polyb. Joſeph. l. 12. c. 12.which are the bounds of Judaea, called here the glorious holy mountain.
Yet he ſhall come to his end] A loathſome and lamentable one: See 1 Maccab. 6.8. 2 Maccab. 9. not ſo much becauſe he would have ſpoiled the Temple of Diana, but becauſe he did ſpoil the Temple at Jeruſalem.