Commentary on Prov Ecc SoS Isa Jer Lam Eze Dan, Daniel · Chapter 12
CHAP. XII.
Ver. 1. ANd at that time] i. e. In the laſt dayes, and toward the end of the World: for in this Chapter ſeemeth to be ſet forth the State of the Church in the laſt times, that it ſhall be moſt afflicted: yet ſhe ſhall be fully delivered by Chriſts ſecond coming to Judgement. Cyprian was in like ſort wont to comfort his friends thus, Venit Antichriſtus, ſed ſuperveniet Chriſtus; Antichriſt will come, but then Chriſt will come after him, and overcome him.
Shall Michael ſtand up] i. e. The Lord Chriſt (that Prince of Angels, and Protector of his people) not a created Angel, much leſſe Michael Servetus that blaſphemous heretike, burnt at Geneva, who was not afraid to ſay, as Calvin reporteth it, ſe eſſe Michaelem illum, Eccleſiae cuſtodem, that he was that Michael the Churches Guardian. David George alſo another blackmouthed heretike ſaid that he was that David foretold by the Prophets, Jer. 30.9. Ezek. 34.23. Hoſ. 3.5. and that he was confident that the whole World would in time ſubmit to him.
Which ſtandeth for the children of thy people] For all the Iſrael of God, to whom Chriſt is a faſt friend, and will he while the government is upon his ſhoulder, Iſa. 9.6.
And there ſhall be a time of trouble] To the Jews by the Romans (after Chriſts aſcenſion, Mat. 24.21.) to the Chriſtians, by the Romiſts.
And at that time thy people ſhall be delivered] The elect both Jews and Gentiles ſhall be ſecured, and ſaved.
Every one that ſhall be found written in the book] Called the writing or catalogue of the houſe of Iſrael, Ezek. 13.9. and the Lambs book of life, Rev. 21.27. which is nothing elſe but conſcriptio electorum in mente divina, ſaith Lyra, the writing of the elect in the divine mind, or knowledge: ſuch are ſaid to be written among the living in Jeruſalem, Iſa. 4.4.
Ver. 2. And many of them that ſleep in the duſt] Many for all, as Rom. 5.18, 19. theſe are ſaid to ſleep, which denoteth the immortality of the ſoul, and the reſurrection of the body.The ſoul liveth in the ſleep of death, as it doth in the ſleep of the body in this life. And this the poor Jews, when to loſe land and life for the truth, are here ſeaſonably and plainly told of (amidſt other things that are but darkly delivered) to bear up their ſinking ſpirits. Awake they ſhall as out of a ſweet ſleep, thoſe that are good, and then be full of Gods Image, Pſal. 17. …it. The wicked alſo ſhall come forth, but by another principle, and for another purpoſe: they ſhall come out of their graves, like filthy roads againſt this terrible ſtorm, &c.
Some to everlaſting life] Which is here firſt mentioned in the old Teſtament. See Matth. 25.45. Joh. 5.29.
And ſome to ſhame and everlaſting contempt] Chriſt ſhall ſhame them in that ample Amphitheatre, and doom them to eternal deſtruction. Graeviſſima paenarum pudor eſt, ſaith Chryſoſtom. Oh when Chriſt ſhall upbraid reprobates and ſay, Ego vos pavi, lavi, veſtivi, &c. which way will they look? or who ſhall ſay for them? They ſhall look then upon him whom they have pierced and lament,foreign. but all too late: they ſhall be ſore aſhamed of their ſinful practiſes which ſhall all be written in their foreheads: and this ſhall be as a bodkin at their hearts, that ever they turned their backs upon Chriſts bleeding embracements, whilſt they refuſed to be reformed, hated to be healed.
Ver. 3. And they that be wiſe] And withal do what they can do to wiſe others to ſalvation, as all wiſe ones will: for Goodneſſe is diffuſive of itſelf, and would have others to ſhare with it: charity is no churl.
Shall ſhine as the brightneſſe of the firmament] A good amends for their preſent ſufferings, chap. 11.33. with Rom. 8.18. Solomon allowed little or no conſiderable reward to his workmen,Mat. 13.42. Cant. 8.12. but Chriſt doth: For they ſhall ſhine as the firmament, yea as the Stars, yea as the Sun in his ſtrength, yea as Chriſt himſelf ſhineth, they ſhall appear with him in glory, Coloſ. 3.4. Their ſouls ſhall ſhine through their bodies as the candle doth through the lanthorn: their bodies ſhall alſo be ſo light-ſome and tranſparent, ſaith Aquinas, that all the veins, humours, nerves and bowels ſhall be ſeeen as in a glaſſe: for ſo the light pierceth the firmament and Stars. Let us therefore keep theſe bodies of ours clean and filth-free: that they may be fit veſſels and receptacles of ſuch a tranſcendent glory.
And they that turn many to righteouſneſſe] Heb that juſtify many, ſc. Miniſterially, as inſtruments in Chriſts hand: for we preach Chriſt, yea we give what we preach: We give the knowledge of ſalvation for the remiſſion of ſins, Luke 1.17. we deliver men from hell, Job 33.24. we ſave the ſouls of them that hear us, 1 Tim. 4.16.
As the Stars frr ever and ever] What a glorious place is heaven then? Feſtinemus ad clariſſimam patriam: corrigamus mores & moras, &c. What though Chriſts Miniſters be here ſlighted and ſlurred? they ſhall one day ſhine as ſtars, yea the meaneſt of them — velut inter ſtellas Luna minores. What then the Doctores Seraphici?
Ver. 4. But thou, O Daniel, ſhut up the words] Sith the full underſtanding of them is reſerved to after-t…mes, and event will prove the beſt interpreter; as it doth in all Prophecies, which are as riddles till accompliſhed: and men muſt mean while be content with a learned ignorance.Omnis prophetia priuſquàm compleatur, aenigma eſt. Irenaeus. But what meant Jachid…es the Jew to give us this gloſſe upon the text, God ſealed up the time of the coming of the Meſſias, revealing it only to Daniel; and that his coming might be accelerated by their deſerts, like as for their ſins, which are many, it is retarded? He concludeth well howſoever; God will one day give us a clear viſion, viz. when he ſhall bring back our Captivity, then ſhall we underſtand things as they are.
Even to the time of the end] The time appointed, ver. 9.
Many ſhall run to and fro] For increaſe of divine knowledge they ſhall ſpare for no pains. care or coſt: as the Queen of Sheba, the Ethiopian Eunuch, &c. See Prov. 18.1. Acts 17.11, 12. Increaſe of knowledge is promiſed only upon our induſtry, and it is eſpecially promiſed to theſe latter times, Joel 2.28. wherein we find to be (as in our climate) much light, little heat: our heads are ſo big (like children that have the rickets) that the whole body fareth the worſe for it. Bullinger thus interpreteth the text, that toward the end of the world men ſhall run to and fro, being certain of nothing, but deſtracted in opinion, variis ſe adjungent ſectis, Zegedin.they ſhall joyn themſelves to diverſe ſects. They ſhall run to and fro, ſaith Another Expoſitor, velut canes famelici, as hungry dogs, and there ſhall be much knowledge in the world, that is, there ſhall be innumerable opinions and ſect… abroad, wherewith many being infected ſhall be at no certainty in the matters of ſalvation. For the confirmation therefore and comfort of the laſt ages of the World, wherein theſe things ſhall befal, ſhut up the words, and ſeal the book.
Ver. 5. Then I Daniel looked] As being as yet unſatisfied.
And behold there ſtood other two] Angels, on each bank of the river Tigris, by whoſe interrogation Daniel is further reſolved about the viſion.
Ver. 6. And one ſaid] i. e. An Angel inquiſitive about the affaires of the Church, for Daniel's further information.
To the man cloathed in linnen] Of whom ſee chap. 10.5.
Which was upon the waters] See chap. 8.16.
How long ſhall it be to the end of theſe wonders?] i. e. The forementioned myſteries, viz. concerning the Saints ſufferings, the end of the world, the coming of Chriſt, the reſurrection of the dead, life and death everlaſting?
Ver. 7. And I heard the man] The Man Chriſt Jeſus.
When he h…ld up his right hand and his left hand] Aſſuring and aſſevering the matter with both hands earneſtly.
That it ſhall be for a time and times and an half.] i. e. For a time moſt certain with God, and by him determined; but to us uncertain and unknown. Broughton thinketh that this term of three years and an half ſheweth the term of Chriſts perſecution in the dayes of his fleſh, which was juſt ſo many years. But there is more in it then ſo. See Revel. 6.11. a parallel text; and ſuch (like glaſſes ſet one againſt another) do caſt a mutual light.
When he ſhall have accompliſhed to ſcatter the power] When the Church ſhall be at the greateſt under, when the number of the Elect ſhall be conſummated, and they ſorely afflicted by the Devil and his Agents, then ſhall Chriſt appear to their relief, as it were out of an engine. See 2 Theſſ. 2. 1 Tim. 4. Rev. 6.
Ver. 8. And I heard but I underſtood not] This he ingenuouſly confeſſeth: for the beſt know but in part, 1 Cor. 13. And if any man thinketh that he knoweth ought, he knoweth nothing yet as ought to know. 1 Cor. 8.2. Let this be noted by ſuch as profeſſe to know (beyond the periphery of humane knowledge) all that is knowable. Any created Underſtanding is but (as Aeſchylus ſaith of fire ſtolen by Prometheus) foreign, a ſpark of the All-wiſe Gods fire, The Prophets themſelves underſtood not ſome things that were ſhewed unto them,foreign. Lib. 6. de Rep. without a further light from the Father of lights: whoſe alone it is to illighten both Organ and Object, as Plato alſo could ſay.
What ſhall be the end of theſe things?] An end he much deſired, and the Angel for him. ver. 6. But men muſt have patience, and wait Gods end. Ye have need of patience or tarryance, (ſaith the Apoſtle, Heb. 10.36) that after ye have done the will of God (and ſuffered it too, grievous though it be for preſent) ye may receive the promiſe. Good men find it oft more eaſy to bear evil, then to wait till the promiſed good be enjoyed.
Ver. 9. And he ſaid. Go thy way Daniel] q. d. Though dearly beloved,Quieſce, tibi ſatis eſto. yet of ſome things thou muſt be content to be ignorant▪ It ſhould ſuffice thee to be of Gods Court, though not altogether of his Council: See ver. 13. There is a laudable and learned ignorance; as of Ʋnneceſſaries, of Impoſſibles, or of Ʋnprofitables; ſuch as are the term of our lives, the end of the world, the Reprobation of others▪ &c.
For the words are cloſed up] Viz. Till future ages, which are more concerned in them, and till which theſe things ſhall be concealed.
Ver. 10. Many ſhall be pur…fied and made white. &c.] q. d. It is enough for thee to know, (and that I ſhould now tell thee) quales ſint futuri homines poſtremi ſaeculi, what kind of folk there ſhall be towards the end of the world: Some ſhall be good people, and they ſhall meet with hard meaſure, but all ſhall be for the beſt unto them in the end: See chap. 11.35. Others ſhall be as bad, and ſo deſperately ſet upon ſinning, that they ſhall mind nothing elſe (no not when theſe Prophecies are fulfilled) but be deſtroyed for lack of knowledge, Hoſ. 4.6. Infatuaci ſeducentur, & ſeducti judicabuntur, being infatuated they ſhall be ſeduced, and being ſeduced they ſhall be judged, as Auſtin's Note is on 2 Theſſ. 2.10.
Ver. 11. And from the time that the daily ſacrifice ſhall be taken away.] ſc. By Antiochus, as hath been before ſaid; and with the knowledge whereof I would have thee to reſt ſatisfied.
There ſhall be a thouſand two hundred and ninety dayes] Which are the three years and a half mentioned before, ſaith Diodate, with thirteen dayes over, for ſome unknown reaſon. The Wonderful Numberer hath all in numerato. The Ruſſians uſe to ſay in a difficult queſtion, God, and our great Duke know all this. The Jews in like caſe ſay, Meſſias when he comes will tell us all things we deſire to be informed of.
Ver. 12. But bleſſed is he that waiteth and cometh to the thouſand, three hundred and five and thirty dayes] Here are forty five dayes more then in the former number: and Probably they were, from the reſtauration of Gods ſervice until the death of Antiochus (a bleſſed time to Gods poor perſecuted people, as was here the death of Queen Mary) or elſe until ſome other ſignal mercy, as the victory that Judas Machabaus and his brethren had, about that time, over the Edomites, Ammonites, and Moabites, who thought to root Iſrael quite out.
Ver. 13. But go thou thy way] Here Daniel to his great comfort hath a fair and favourable diſmiſſion out of this life, before thoſe great claſhings and confuſions ſhould come, which had been foreſhewn to him. So Auſtin and Paraeus dyed a little before Hippo and Hidelberg were taken.
Till the end be] Whenever it ſhall be, ſooner or later, thou ſhalt be ſure to awake out of the duſt of death unto everlaſting life, as ver. 2. Yea thou ſhalt ſhine as the Stars for ever and ever, ver. 3. All that thou haſt to do now, is, to prepare for ſuch an end, and to wait till thy change ſhall come, comforting thy ſelf againſt death, with the hope of a bleſſed reſurrection.
For thou ſhalt reſt] Thy ſoul ſhall reſt in Abraham's boſom, thy body in the grave as in a bed of down, until the Reſurection of the Juſt. Mors aerumnarum requies, was Chaucers Motto.
And ſtand in the lot] i. e. In thine own order, 1 Cor. 15.23. and in that degree of heavenly glory which ſhall be given thee as thy lot (in alluſion to the promiſed land, divided amongſt the Iſraelites by lot) and as the reward of a faithful Prophet, inſtrumental to the good of many, who ſhall bleſſe God for thee thoroughout all eternity.
Ipſe quidem ſtuduì bene de pietat… mereri:
Sed quicquid potui, gratia, Chriſte, tua eſt.
Sel….Quid ſum? Nil: quis ſum? Nullus: ſed gratia Chriſti
Quod ſum, quod vivo, quodque laboro, facit.
FINIS.