Commentary on Prov Ecc SoS Isa Jer Lam Eze Dan, Daniel · Chapter 3
CHAP. III.
Ver. 1. NEbuchadnezzar the King made animage of gold] Having taken Tyre (which was that great ſervice ſpoken of, Ezek. 29.18.) ſubdued Egypt, (which was his pay for his pains at Tyre) and overthrown Niniveh, (as Nabum had foretold) he was ſo puffed up with his great ſucceſſe, that he ſet up this monſtrous ſtatue of himſelf, to be adored by all, on pain of death. That it was his own image which he here erected for ſuch a purpoſe (as did alſo afterwards C. Caligula the Roman Emperour) it is gathered, 1. Becauſe he did not worſhip it himſelf. 2. Becauſe ver. 12. it is diſtinguiſhed from his Gods. 3. Becauſe this was long ſince foretold of him, Iſa. 14.14. that, Lucifer-like, he ſhould take upon him as a god: which becauſe he did, he was worthily turned a grazing amongſt beaſts, chap. 4. Mean-while, take notice here of the inconſtant and mutable diſpoſition of th…s proud Prince, as to matter of Religion. Vel…x oblivio est veritatis, ſaith Hierom, the truth is ſoon forgotten: Nebuchadnezzr (who ſo lately had worſhipped a ſervant of God as a god, and not being ſuffered to do ſo, declared for the one only true God, and advanced his ſervants to places of greateſt preferment) is now ſetting up idolatry in deſpite of God; and cruelly caſting into the fire thoſe whom he had ſo exalted, becauſe they diſſented. Daniel, its likely, withſtood this ungodly enterprize ſo far as he might, and left the reſt to God.
Whoſe height was threſcore cubits] The ordinary cubit is a foot and half: but the Babylonian cubit ſaith Herodotus, was three fingers greater then the common cubit:Plin. l. 34, c. 7. ſo that this image might be Sixty ſeven ordinary cubits high. The Rhodian Coloſſe was yet bigger then this: for it was Fourſcore cubits high, made of braſſe in the form of a man, ſtanding with his two legs ſtriding over an haven; under which, Ships with their ſails and maſts might paſſe. The little finger of it was as big as an ordinary man, being the work of twelve years, made by Chares of Lindum, Theop. P…zel. Mell. hiſt.and worthily reckoned for one of the worlds ſeven wonders. It was afterwards ſold to a Jew, who loaded 900 Camels with the braſſe of it: for it had been thrown down by an earthquake. This image of Nebuchadnezzar was thus great, to affect the people with wonderment (ſo they wondered after the beaſt, Rev. 13.3.) and thus glorious (guilded at leaſt, if not of ſolid gold) to perſtringe their ſenſes, and with exquiſite Muſick to draw their affections. The Papacy is in like ſort an alluring, tempting, bewitching religion. Hierom compareth hereſy to this golden image: Irenaeus, worldly felicity, which the devil enticeth men to admire and adore.
He ſet it up in the plain of Dura] In a pleaſant plain, (mentioned alſo by Ptolomy the Geographer) quò ſtatua commendatior habeatur, Lib. 6. Geog.that it might be the more regarded.
Ver. 2. Then Nebuchadnezzar the King ſent to gather together the Princes] Satrapas, not ſo called, quia ſat rapiant, as Lyra doateth: for it is a Perſian word ſignifying ſuch as were near the Kings perſon. Superſtition firſt looks to wind in great Ones, Ezr. 8.11. the vulgar are carried away to dumb idols, like as they are led, 1 Cor. 12.2. They are ſheepiſh and will follow a leader as well into a penfold as a paſture: they alſo feed moſt greedily on the graſſe that will rot them.
Ver. 3. Then the Princes the Governours] Theſe envying the new favourites, and fearing that the King (by his late confeſſion, chap. 2.47.) had too good an opinion of the Jewes Religion, came readily to this dedication, and, probably, had contrived it for a miſchief to thoſe three Worthies, as thoſe, chap. 6. did to Daniel.
Ver. 4. To you it is commanded] Chald. they command, i. e. The King and his Council, as Eſth. 1.13, 15. But what ſaid the Heathen?Eurlp. in Phoeniſſ. Obediemus Atridis honeſta mandantibus, we will obey Rulers if they command things honeſt: but not elſe, The Biſhop of Norwich asked Roger Coo Martyr in Queen Maries days, whether he would not obey the Queens laws? He anſwered, as far as they agree with the Word of God I will obey them. The Biſhop replyed, whether they agree with the Word of God or not, we are bound to obey them, if the Queen were an Infidel.Act. & Mon. fol. 1550. Coo anſwered, If Shadrach, Meſhac and Abednego had done ſo, Nebuchadnezzar had not confeſſed the living God.
Ver. 5. That at what time ye hear] See on ver. 1. The allurements of pleaſure are ſhrewd enticements to idolatry, 2 Pet. 2.18. Sr. Walter Rawleigh ſaid, Were I to chuſe a religion to gratify the fleſh, I would choſe Popery. The Catholikes in their Supplication to King James for a Toleration, plead that their religion is (inter caetera) ſo confortable to natural ſenſe and reaſon, that it ought to be imbraced! A proper argument. I have read of a Lady in Paris that when ſhe ſaw the bravery of a Proceſſion to a Saint, ſhe cryed out, Oh, how fine is our religion, beyond that of the Hugenots!
That at what time ye heare the ſound] So in the Papacy, when the Ave-Mary-bell rings, which is at Sun-riſing, at noon, and at Sun-ſetting, all men in what place ſoever, houſe, field, ſtreet, or market,Spec. Europ. do preſently kneel down and ſend up their united devotions by an Ave-Maria.
Ye fall down and worſhip] This is all is required; de certa confeſſionis forma imperata, ne gry.
Ver. 6. And who ſo falleth not down and worſhippeth, &c.] Fire and ſword are Idolaters beſt arguments. But Conſcience is the fountain and ſpring of duty; and if that be not directed and awed by the Word of God, in vain are Acts of Parliament and Proclamations, though backed with menaces: as if the ſpring of a clock be down, in vain are all the wheels kept clean, and put in order.
Ver. 7. All the people, nations, and languages fell down.] They that come of the yielding Willow, and not of the ſturdy Oak, will yield with the time, and ever be of the Kings religion. In Queen Maries dayes here, and ſo in the Palatinate lately, ſcarce one in five hundred ſtood out, but fell to Popery, as faſt as leaves fall in Autumn. See on ver. 5.
Ver. 8. Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accuſed the Jews] All the Jews are accuſed, becauſe ſome refuſed to worſhip. So ſtill all the generation of the righteous muſt be charged with the pretended miſcarriages of ſome few amongſt them. The world we ſee, is no changeling, antiquum obtinet. The Jews indeed, ever ſince the Captivity, have abhorred idolatry: and the Papiſts worſhipping of images (for which both Jews and Turks call them idolatrous Chriſtians) is a main ſcandal to them,Spec. Eur. and a let to their converſion.
Ver. 9. They spake and ſaid — O King, live for ever] Thus they inſinuate themſelves by flattery: ſo Act. 24.2, 3.
Ver. 10. Thou O King haſt made a decree] Kings decrees are much urged by ſuch as are reſolved to be of King Harries religion, whether he ſtand for the old Mumpſimus, or the new Sumpſimus.
Ver. 11. And whoſo falleth not down and worſhippeth, that he ſhould be caſt, &c.] This with a graceleſs man is a ſwaying argument: he will rather turn then burn: as he came not frying into the world (as one ſaid in Queen Maries dayes) ſo he cannot go frying out of it.Aug. de …iv. D. lib. 18. c. 41. Epicurus in word confeſſed a God (but indeed denyed him) becauſe Anaxagoras was put to death for denying God at Athens, where Epicurus flouriſhed.
Lib. 15.Ver. 12. There are certain Jews] Everywhere ſpoken againſt, as were afterwards Chriſtians, odio humani generis, ſaith Tacitus, hated for their religion.
Whom thou least ſet over the affaires] This was it that irked theſe ſpiteful accuſers. Wrath is cruel, and anger is outragious: but who is able to ſtand before envy? Prov. 27.4.
Shadrach, Meſhac, and Abednego] Whom though thou haſt highly preferred, and by calling them by the names of thy gods engaged them to thy religion, yet will they not yeild to it, but be ſingular and refractory.
Theſe men, O King, have not regarded thee] Chald. have ſet no regard upon thee. This was ever unicum crimen eorum qui crimine vacabant.
Ver. 13. Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury] His blood boyling at his heart, as brimſtone doth at the match: for preventing whereof, nature hath placed the heart near to the lungs, ut cum irâ accenditur, Pulmonis humore temperetur, for an allay to the heat of it, leſt perturbations ſhould boyle it into brine.
Commanded to bring Shadrach] Who, it ſeems, were preſent at firſt, with an holy boldneſs, confronting their idolatries in the very teeth of the King and Nobles. Daniel is excuſed by his abſence and ignorance. But perhaps Nebuchadnezzar might ſhew him the like favour as our Henry the eight did Cranmer, who diſputing zealouſly againſt the ſix Articles, Act. & Mon. 1037.was willed by the King to depart out of the Parliament-houſe into the Council-chamber for a time, till the Act ſhould paſſe and be granted: which he notwithſtanding with humble proteſtation refuſed to do: and ſo its likely, would Daniel, who muſt therefore be excuſed as before.
Ver. 14. Is it true, O Shadrach, Meſhac, &c.] q. d. I can very hardly believe it. Certè tu non occidiſti patrem, ſure thou didſt not kill thy father, ſaid Auguſtus Ceſar once to a parricide, whom he had in examination: And Suetonius ſaith that it was uſual with him to examine malefactors in that ſort, as if he could not believe any ſuch thing of them.Tremel. Buxto…f. Some render the text Num de induſtria aut certo conſilio? Do ye this on ſet purpoſe to croſs and provoke me? others (as Montanus) Nunquid deſolatio? q. d. what? you to oppoſe the command of a King? If this be ſuffered, what diſorder, yea deſolation, muſt needs follow? Pride ever aggravateth any thing done againſt its own mind.
Ver. 15. Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear] Many can no ſooner hear flattering promiſes of preferment, as it were Nebuchadnezzars inſtruments, but they preſently fall down and worſhip the Babyloniſh idol: but theſe three Worthies were none ſuch.
And who is that God that ſhall deliver you out of my hand?] What God is he? Sure a mean God he were, thou poor thimbleful of duſt, could he not ſtay thy hand, and ſtop thy blaſphemous mouth with a ſpadeful of mould, and that in a trice.
Ver. 16. Shadrach, Meſhac, and Abednego anſwered] With an heroical faith, and well-knit reſolution. A ſound faith and a clear conſcience (ſaith one) are able by their native puiſſance, to pull the very heart (as it were) out of hell, and with confidence and conqueſt to look even death and the devil in the face.
We are not careful to anſwer thee] The Saint hath a Quietus eſt, that ſuperſedeth all his cares, Philip. 4.6. Some render it Non neceſſe habemus: As the King would admit no diſcuſſing his decree, but would have it abſolutely obeyed; ſo they were at a point never to do it, nor to be removed from their religion. The heavens ſhall ſooner fall, ſaid that Martyr, then I will ſtart or ſtir an inch from what I have profeſſed. With the like undaunted courage anſwered Cyprian the Proconſul, B…ſil the Arrian Emperour Valens; D. Taylor, Stephen Gardiner; Mr. Hawkes, bloody Bonner. A faggot will make you believe the Sacrament of the Altar, ſaid Bonner. Act. & Mon. 1445.No, no, anſwered Hawkes, a point for your faggot: what God thinks meet to be done, that ſhall ye do, and no more.
Paenae ſunt pennae queis ſuper aſtra vehor.
Ver. 17. Our God whom we ſerve is able to deliver us] And deliver us he will either from death or thorough it: and we are by his grace in utrumque parati, wholly at his diſpoſe. Never ask then, O King, Who is that God that ſhall deliver you? Our God is in heaven, and doth whatſoever he will in heaven and in earth. He well knoweth how to deliver his out of temptations, and to reſerve the unjuſt (be he King or Caytiffe) unto the day of judgement to be puniſhed, 2 Pet. 2.9.
From the burning fiery furnace] Sic fortiſſimum Martyrem (ſaith Ambroſe of Laurentius, may we as well ſay of theſe) ſaeviſſima preſecutoris flamma ſuperare non potuit; quod longe ardentius veritatis radiis accenſa mens ejus fervebat. The fiery zeale of theſe mens ſpirits overcame and put out the moſt ſcorching heat of the burning fiery furnace.
And he will deliver us out of thine hand] Hereof they were well aſſured, becauſe it would further ſet forth the cauſe of God, and work a greater conviction in the King and his Nobles.
Ver. 18. But if not, be it known unto thee O King, &c.] We ſhould not condition with God, but commit our ſelves unto him in well-doing, as unto a faithful Creator; being unchangeably reſolved, rather to embrace fire then to reſiſt light. Thus did all the Noble Army of Martyrs, beſides many worthy Confeſſors: ſuch as were the Prince of Condee at the Maſſacre of Paris, who would not redeem his life or liberty by going once to Maſſe: John Frederick Prince Electour of Saxony, to whom when Charles the fifth (whoſe priſoner he then was) offered to enlarge him and to reſtore him to his former dignity,Bucholc. Chron. if he would but only aſſent to the Interimiſtical doctrine (as they then called it) he abſolutely refuſed. George Marqueſſe of Brandenburg likewiſe about the ſame time, profeſſed openly at an imperial Diet held at Ausborough, Malle ſae, flexis ibi coram Caeſarea Majeſtate genibus, ſpiculatori cerviceus feriendam ſtati… praebere, quam Deum & Evangelium ipſius abnegare, Scul…ct. Annal.i. e. that he had rather hold out his neck to be cut off by the headſman before the Emperour, then deny Chriſt and his Goſpel. A… ego Chryſoſtomum ſecutus, ſaid Calvin (when he was preſſed to adminiſter the Lords Supper to ſome notorious offenders) after the example of Chyſoſtom. I will dye, rather then do it.Melch. Adam. Lewis the French King being taken priſoner by Melechſala the Sultan, conditions of peace being concluded betwixt them; for more aſſurance thereof, the Sultan offered to ſwear, that if he failed in performance, to renounce his Mahomet: Turk. hiſt.requiring likewiſe the King to ſwear that if he failed, to deny his Chriſt to be God. Which profane oath the King deteſting, and wiſhing rather to dye then to give the ſame, the Sultan wondring at his conſtancy, took his word without any oath at all, and ſo publiſhed the league.
Ver. 19. And the form of his viſage was changed] Chal. the countenance of his face. Paſſionate perſons vex and diſtemper their own hearts and bodyes, Prov. 25.28. and are exceedingly disfigurged with furiouſneſs of the looks, extraordinary painting of the heart, beating of the pulſe, ſwelling of the veines, ſtammering of the tongue, gnaſhing of the teeth, as thoſe Act. 7.54. So the tyrant that martyred Laurence, ſtamped and ſtared, ramped and fared as out of his wits, ſwelling like a toad, looking like a devil, &c. See on ver. 17.
That they ſhould heat the furnace one ſeven times more] Whereas a lingring torment had been heavier, as Biſhop Ridley alſo felt it, and other Martyrs: but he ſpake as his paſſion prompted him, which oft overſhoots, Prov. 11.29.
Ver. 20. And he commanded the moſt mighty men] That they might be the more ſtrongly bound, and no reſiſtance made.
Ver. 21. So theſe men were bound in their coates, &c.] Which, for haſte of the execution, were never taken off, as is uſually done. But theſe executioners were ſwift to ſhed blood, and had blood again to drink, for they were worthy.
Ver. 22. The flame of the fire ſlew thoſe men] Who were over-forward in the execution, and perhaps had been chief perſwaders of the King to this whole action. God uſeth his creatures (as he did alſo at the red ſea) for the ſafety of his Saints, and deſtruction of his enemies.
Ver. 23. And th…ſe three men—fell down bound] Their binders were burnt, but not their bonds ſo ſoon, leſt the glory of the miracle ſhould have been thereby defaced.
Into the midſt of the burning fiery furnace] Where yet theſe holy Salamanders took no hurt. In the creatures there is an eſſence and a faculty whereby they work; as in fire is the ſubſtance and the quality of heat: Betwixt theſe, God can ſeparate, and ſo hinder their working, as here he did. Quiſque ſollicitus ſit non tam de vita quam de vocatione, &c.
Ver. 24. Then Nebuchadnezzar the King was aſtonied] God can ſoon aſtoniſh the ſtouteſt; as he did Diocleſian the Tyrant, who laid down the Empire in a diſcontent becauſe he could not, as he deſired, root out Chriſtian Religion; ſuch was the conſtancy and courage of the Profeſſours thereof. Antoninus the Emperour ſet forth an edict in Aſia, that no Chriſtian ſhould be perſecuted: for, ſaid he, it is their joy to dye: they are Victors, and do vanquiſh you.
Ver. 25. Walking in the midſt of the fire] As in ſome pleaſant place. Tua praeſentia, Domine, Laurentio ipſam eraticulam dulcem fecit, ſaith an Ancient, i. e. Thy preſence Lord, ſweetned the furnace to theſe three Worthyes, the gridiron to Laurence, Socrate…. Theodoret.thoſe exquiſite tortures to Theodorus in Julians time, the Leonine priſon to Algerius the Italian Martyr (who calleth it in the date of his letter a delectable orchard) the fire wherein he was burnt to Bainbam the Engliſh Martyr,Act. & Mon. who in the midſt of the flames which had half conſumed his armes and legs, utterred theſe words:Act. & Mon. 940. O ye Papiſts, behold ye look for miracles; here now you may ſee a miracle; for in this fire I feel no more pain then if I were in a bed of down; but it is to me as a bed of roſes.
And the form of the fourth is like the Son of God] i. e. Venuſtiſſima & quaſi divina, very beautiful and Angelical. The Heathens reputed thoſe to be Heroes or demy gods, in whom they beheld and admired any thing above the ordinary nature of men, and their expectation; Truely this was the Son of God, ſaid that Heathen Centurion concerning our ſuffering Saviour, Mat. 27.54. that is a divine man, ſuch as Homer calleth foreign. This fourth perſon here in the fiery fornace, is by many held to be Chriſt the Son of God, who appeared at this time in humane ſhape.
Ver. 26. Ye ſervants of the moſt high God] This was an high title, ſuch as David and other great Princes have gloried in Pſal. 36. title: ſee the Note there. The devil gave it to Paul and his fellow-labourers.Act. 16.17. And they who deny it to Chriſts faithful Miniſters (loading them with names of ſcorn and obloquy) ſhew therein leſſe ingenuity, then the devil himſelf.
Then Shadrach, Meſhac, and Abednego came forth] Not till they were called, had they any mind to come forth; for where could they poſſibly mend themſelves? Any place is a paradiſe, where God is preſent. Ʋbi imperator, ibi Roma. Noah was well content to lye buried, as it were, in the Ark (which was made in the form of a coffin) ſo long as God was there with him. Nos quoque non abhorremus à ſepulchris ipſis, ſaith an Expoſitor; we alſo fear not to go down to the grave,Rolloc. ſo long as we may hear God ſaying unto us as once he did to old Jacob thinking of his journey to Egypt, Fear not to go down into Egypt: for I will go with thee, and I will alſo bring thee up again, Gen. 46.3, 4. Further note, how theſe three Martyrs carry themſelves toward the tyrant: they do ſimply obey his command, and come forth: they are not puffed up by the ſtrangeneſs of the miracle wrought upon them, neither do they tattle, but ſuffer the matter it ſelf and experience to ſpeak; ſhewing themſelves to all ſorts to be looked upon with greateſt humility and modeſty.
Ver. 27. And the Princes, Governours and Captaines] Who were more obſtinate then the King, and willing to have ſhut the windows le…t the light ſhould ſhine in upon them, but that there was no withſtanding it.
Ʋpon whoſe bodyes the fire had no power] See on ver. 23. The creatures are at a league with the Saints, Job 5.22.
Ver. 28. Then Nebuchadnezzar spake] Being convinced, but not converted, as appeareth by the next Chapter, whatever Auſtin and others charitably thought to the contrary. A wicked man may pray and praiſe God extemporally, Job 27.10.
And have changed the Kings word] Chald. ſecundo loco habuerunt, they have preferred Gods Word before it.
Ver. 29. Therefore I make a decree] Magiſtrates then have to do with men in matters of Religion, Deut. 13.6. Rom. 13.4.
Which ſpeak any thing amiſſe] But was this all he would do for God after ſo clear convictions? t'was very poor. A profeſſor of the Turks law proclaimeth before they attempt any thing, that nothing be done againſt religion.
Ver. 30 Then the King promoted] Reſtored them to their dignities, and ſtrictly forbad others to maligne or moleſt them.