Commentary on Prov Ecc SoS Isa Jer Lam Eze Dan, Daniel · Chapter 7
CHAP. VII.
Ver. 1. IN the firſt year of Belſhazzar] Here beginneth (to ſpeak properly) the Prophecy of Daniel, or rather the ſecond Part of Daniel's works; which is concerning viſions exhibited of God, by divine Revelations, not to others, but to himſelf. This viſion is the ſubject and ground-work of the reſt that follow, to the end of the Prophecy. One not unfitly compareth it to a general Map of the whole world; the reſt to particular tables of ſeveral countries.
Daniel had a dream and viſions of his head] God renewed unto him the ſame thing by viſion, which he had exhibited before by dream:Jun. in recompence of his religious care to know the matter, and to record it, for the Churches comfort.
Then he wrot the dream] 'Twas Gods will, the viſions of the Prophets ſhould be written, Iſa. 30.10. and publiſhed to the Church, Iſa. 31.10.
Ver. 2. Daniel ſpake and ſaid] His writing is called his ſpeaking,Willet. to teach us to receive the writings of the Prophets and Apoſtles with no leſſe reverence then if we had heard them ſpeak with their own mouths.
I ſaw in my viſion by night] The night doth in Scripture frequently ſignify trouble: This viſion by night was of troubleſome buſineſſe, viz. hurlyburlies in the world, and perſecutions in the Church.
And behold the four winds of the heaven ſtrove upon the great Sea] i. e. There was a huge buſſel upon the earth, by means of the four ſucceſſive Monarchies: See Rev. 13.1, 11. The World is fitly called the great Sea, ever unquiet and full of commotions; which are alſo called winds, for their boiſterouſneſſe contrariety of nature, and inconſtancy.
Ver. 3. And four great beaſts] Regnorum feritas beſtiarum nomino demonſtratur, ſaith Hierom, The fierceneſſe of the four Kingdoms is ſet forth by the name of beaſts. Bellum à belluis. Monarchies are moſtly gotten, kept,Regna mundana parantur & retinentur bellis. Commune vitium Monarchiis eſt tyrann…. and governed with violence and tyranny, Pſal. 76.4. Cant. 4.8.
Ver. 4. The firſt was like a Lion] Which is the king of beaſts (as the Eagle is of birds) generous, ſtrong, fierce, fair-conditioned: ſo were the Aſſyrian Monarchs, in compariſon of thoſe that followed them.
And had Eagles wings] Whereby is noted their victorious celerity, and alacrity in ſeiſing upon Kingdoms, as Obad. 4. 2 Sam. 1.23. Jer. 4.13. & 48.40. Ezek. 17.8
I beheld till the wings thereof were pluckd] ſc. By the Medes and Perſians, taming Babels inſolency, and making her Inhabitants tributaries and ſlaves,Xenophon. to till their ground, and to maintain their garriſons; ſaluting them as their Maſters wherever they met them.
And made ſtand upon the feet as a man] i. e. Brought down to the common rank of men, and no longer lift up as an Eagle.
And a mans heart was given to it] Which before thought it ſelf as good as God;Cor humanum, id eſt, molle ac timidum. Piſcat. now had low and common ſpirits: not as once, imperious and impetuous.
Ver. 5. And behold another beaſt, a ſecond like to a Bear] Which is nothing ſo generous and ingenuous as a Lion: but ſlow, dull, cruel, ravenous: Such were the Perſians: a mountainous, tough, uncivil people, of barbarous and beaſtly cruelty.
And it raiſed up it ſelf on one ſide] ſc. By joyning with the Medes, by whoſe help Cyrus ſubdued the Syrians, Xenoph.Aſſyrians, Arabians, Cappadocians, and many more nations not eaſily reckoned: who, to gratify him, deſired to be ruled according to his pleaſure.
And it had three ribs in the mouth of it] Whilſt they conquered three parts of the known World, puſhing Weſtward, Northward and Southward, chap. 8.4. Weſtward by Cyrus, Southward by Cambyſes, and Northward by Darius Hyſtaſ…i….
And they ſaid (or, it was ſaid) thus unto it, Ariſe, devour] Intimating, that it was God who turned this Bear looſe upon the nations, and gave them to him for a prey. Tyrants proſper by Gods permiſſion, Joh. 19.11.
Ver. 6. After this I beheld, and let another, like a Leopard] Which is a creature cruel, deſirous of mans blood, crafty, ſpotted, and very ſwift of foot: So were the Grecians; Alexander eſpecially (the founder of that third Monarchy) active, bold, and headlong: but directed much by thoſe who had been Councellours to his father Philip, a ſubtile Prince; Leopard-like, he was ſpotted (by a mixture of virtues and vices) he was very quick of diſpatch (foreign, never deferring any enterprize) he much delighted in wine, and ſo took his death: like as the Leopard is no way elſe to be taken, but by ſuch a bait laid for him.
Which had upon the back of it four wings] Denoting the rapidity and celerity of Alexander, and ſome other of the Grecian Monarchs, in over-running countries, as if they had flown.
The beaſt had alſo four heads] i. e. This Monarchy was, after Alexander's death, divided into four Satrapies, or rather Kingdoms: Caſſander had Macedonia, Antigonus Aſia, Seleucus Syria, and Ptolomy Egypt.
Ver. 7. Behold a fourth beaſt] Not likened to any certain beaſt, becauſe none can be named ſo cruel, which can expreſſe the cruelty of this fourth Monarchy, viz. that of the Romans, no although it were foreign. It is a nameleſſe monſter,Hom. made up of all the properties of the former beaſts, Rev. 13.1, 2. The Rabbines, with their wild-boar out of the wood, Pſal. 80. fall far ſhort of it. Luther not unfitly compareth the Church of God to a ſilly poor maid, ſitting in a wood or wilderneſſe,Loc. Com. and beſet with hungry Lions, Wolves, Boars, Bears, and with all manner of hurtful and cruel creatures.
Dreadful and terrible] Becauſe able and ready to annoy others with great evils.
And ſtrong exceedingly] So that it paſſed for a Proverb, Iraſ…i populo Romano no… impuus poteſt, It is not ſafe for any nation to fall out with the Romans: for they are ſure to be tamed and tawed with their iron teeth.
And it had great iron teeth] i. e. Conquering captains, ſuch as Scipio (of whom Eunius ſang thus,
Si fas coedendo coeleſtia ſcandere cuiquam,
Mî ſoli coeli maxima porta patet.)
Pompey, who by his great acts and atchievements merited the name of Magnus; and Julius Caeſar who be bore the Phraſalian wars, had taken a thouſand towns, conquered three hundred nations,…yl. Geog. took priſoner one Million of men, and ſlain as many.
And ſtamped the reſidue with the feet of it] i. e. With their Provincial Magiſtrates; ſuch as were Verres, Pilate, Felix, &c. ſaid to have nails of braſſe, ….19. and fitly compared to petulan… wild beaſts, which when they can feed no longer, trample with their feet on the reſidue of the prey. The poor Jewes had hard meaſure from them alwaies.
And it was divers from all the beaſts] In reſpect of diverſity and ſtrange multiplicity of formes of government.
And it had ten horns] Which the Angel afterwards interpreteth of Kings or Kingdoms, ver. 24. This fell out not long after Conſtantine the Great, when the Roman Empire began to moulder and fall in-pieces. About the year 456. it appeared broken into ten parts; which by a learned Interpreter are thus reckoned. The kingdom of the Britons, of the Saxons, both in Britanny: of the Frankes, of the Burgundians, in France: of the Weſt-Gothes in the Southern part of France, and part of Spain: of the Sueves and Alanes in part of Spain: of the Vandals in Africa, a little before in Spain: of the Alemans in Rhetia and Noricum, Provinces of Germany: of the Eaſt-Gothes in Pannonia, a little after in Italy: of the Greeks in the remnant of the Empire.
Ver. 8. And I conſidered the horns] For without a ſerious and ſedulous conſideration, I could not have kenned it: ſo ſlily and ſecretly worketh the Myſtery of iniquity.
And behold there came up among them another little horn] This is Antiochus Epiphanes ſay ſome, the great Turk ſay others, the Pope ſay a third ſort (and with them I concur) whoſe Kingdom is here called a little horn: becauſe the Pope was, at firſt, a mean Miniſter of the Roman Church; viz till Conſtantine's time. Afterwards, he was only Primat and Metropolitan of the Churches of Italy: no man took him for a Prince, no not when he began to write Volumus & jubemu…, We will and command you, A. D. 606. but he grew up by degrees, and cunningly gat among the ten horns, till at length he overtopped them.
Before whom there were three of the firſt horns pluckt up by the roots] Theſe were (according to ſome) Chilperick the French King, Frederick the Emperour, and King John of England, whom he made his vaſſal. Others reckon them to be Chilperick, the Exarch of Italy, in the time of Gregory the ſecond, and Deſidorius, King of Lombards ſlain by Charles the Great at the inſtigation of the Pope. For three Kingdoms coming under him, let it be conſidered whether they be not Spain, Germany and France: or whether this prefigured not (ſaith One) his triple crown?
And behold in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man] In reſpect of his feined curteſy, and profound policy. To be ſharpſighted, is commendable: but to be wittily wicked is to do the devil doubty ſervice.
And a mouth ſpeaking great thing] Big ſwoln with blaſphemies, both againſt God and his Vicegerents upon earth. Pope Boniface wrot to Philip the Fair, King of France, Volumus te ſcire te in temporali & ſpirituali nobis ſubjacere. We would you ſhould know, Sir, that you are to ſubject your ſelves to us,Alſted. Chron. both in temporals and ſpirituals, &c. Accordingly he took upon him to overtop and command, at pleaſure, all Chriſtian Kings and Emperours. The application that the malicious Jew-doctours blaſphemouſly make of this little horn to our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, is worthy of all execration.
Ver. 9. I beheld till the thrones were caſt down] All theſe tyrannous dominions overturned: Some read it, till the thrones were ſet up: for till the laſt Judgement, Antichriſt is to continue, ver. 21, 22, 25, 26.
And the Ancient of dayes did ſit] i. e. God Almighty, whom Thales alſo, an Heathen Philoſopher, called foreign, the moſt Ancient of all that are. The Poets ſay alſo, that Saturn, the father of their gods, had his name from his fulneſſe of years. Gods Eternity and Wiſdom is ſet forth by this his Title here:Laert. in vlt. Thalet. Saturnus eſt appellatus quòd ſaturetur ann…. Cic. de nat. deor. lib. 2. like as alſo is, by his white garments, his Majeſty and Authority: by his hair as pure wooll, his Innocency and Integrity in Judgement: by his throne like the fiery flame, his juſt Anger and Severity, againſt the man of ſin eſpecially: by his wheels (or the wheels thereof, viz. of his Throne: for Princes thrones uſed in thoſe dayes to be ſet upon wheels) as burning fire, is ſet forth his Facility and Dexterity in executing his Judgements: his Efficacy alſo, ſith all things are fiery.
Ver. 10. A fiery ſtream iſſued and came forth from before him] The laſt and great Judgement muſt needs be very dreadful, when as (beſide that wicked men ſhall give account with all the world flaming about their ears) the Law they ſhall be judged by is a fiery Law, Deut, 32.2. the tribunal of fire, Ezek. 1.27. the Judge a conſuming fire, Heb. 12.29. His Attendants flaming Seraphims; his pleading with ſinners ſhall be in flames of fire, 2 Theſ. 1.7. The trial of their works ſhall be by fire, 1 Cor. 3.13. The place of puniſhment a lake of fire, fed with tormenting temper, and kindled by the breath of the Lord, Iſa. 30, 33. Well may the ſinners in Zion be afraid, and fearfulneſſe ſurprize hypocrites: well may they run away (if they can at leaſt tell whither) with theſe words in their mouths, Who among us ſhall dwell with this devouring fire? who amongſt us ſhall dwell with everlaſting burnings? Iſa. 33.14.
Thouſand thouſands miniſtred unto him] There is an innumerable company of Angels, Heb. 12.22. and when Chriſt cometh to judge the world, he ſhall bring them all with him; not one being left behind him in heaven, Mat. 16.27. that he may have their aſſiſtance in the ſentence and execution of Judgement, 1 Cor. 6.2, 3.
Sedendo & quieſcendo animaſit prudens. Ariſtot. Phyſic. lib. 6.The Judgement was ſet, and the books were opened] Terms taken from judgements amongſt men, wherein inditements are read, proofs are produced, Laws alſo are conſidered. The books that ſhall here be opened, are Gods Records, and Conſciences Regiſter: quae ſcripta ſunt non atrame…o ſed flagitiorum inquinamento (ſaith Ambroſe) which are written not with ink, but with ſins filth.
I beheld then becauſe of the voice of the great words] As Antichriſt ſhall be judged for his blaſphemies, ſo ſhall all ungodly men for their hard ſpeeches, Jude 12. yea for their waſte words, Mat. 12.
Cotton the Jeſuite confeſſeth that the authority of the Pope is incomparably leſſe then it was, and that now the Chriſtian Church is but a diminutive.Ver. 11. I beheld even till the beaſt was ſlain] Till the whole body of the monſter, and with it the Papal kingdom came to ruine. This Bellarmine confeſſeth, and lamenteth that ever ſince we began to call the Pope Antichriſt, the Church of Rome hath ſuffered loſſe.
And his body deſtroyed and given to the burning flame] The Revelation (which is an heavenly Commentary upon this Prophecy) hath it thus, The beaſt and the falſe Prophet were caſt alive (for more torment) into a lake of fi…e burning with brimſtone, Chap. 19.20.
Ver. 12. As concerning the reſt of the beaſts] The four great Monarchies (as was before noted) had their times and their turns; their riſe, and their ruine.
Yet their lives were prolonged for a ſeaſon] Such is the Lords lenity, reſpiting his enemies for a time, 1 Kings 21.29. The Perſian and Turk, are yet puiſſant Princes. The ſucceſſe that the Antichriſtian rout yet hath in ſome places, maketh good that which was ſometime ſaid of dying Carthage, Morientium nempe beſtiarum violentiores eſſe morſus, i. e. The bites of dying beaſts are more violent then ordinary.
Ver. 13. I ſaw in the night viſions, &c.] Here comes in the fifth Monarchy (properly ſo called) the kingdom being wreſted from the fourth tyrant. Well might Hierom call Daniel Polyhiſtora, the general Hiſtorian.
And behold one like the ſon of man] So Chriſt ſhewed himſelf oft to the Fathers, before his Incarnation, for their confirmation in that Article, which being the ground of his Paſſion was to be eſpecially believed, for the foundation of Chriſtian faith. Chriſts Godhead alſo (another main Article) is here not obſcurely deciphered, whileſt he is ſaid to be like the ſon of man; therefore he is more then a mere man. Again, he came with the clouds: confer Mat. 24.30. Then ſhall they ſee the ſon of man coming in the clouds, as in his charet of State. Adde hereunto his ſolemn glorious acceſſe unto the Father (that Ancient of dayes, that is the Eternal God) as being his Co…qual, of the ſame nature, power, glory, &c. with his Father, and Coeternal unto him. So the Lamb is ſaid to approach to him that ſat upon the Throne, to receive the Book, Rev. 5.7.
Et qui aſſiſteba… ei abtulerant eum, ſic Cyprian. legit.And they brought him near before him] The Angels did: as great mens Attendants are ſaid to bring their Maſters to the Court.
Ver. 14. And there was given him dominion] Chriſt hath a manyfold right to the kingdom: it is his by Inheritance, conqueſt, donation, &c. This is comfortable to conſider of: foraſmuch as he will not reign without his Members, who all hold all in capite: and have all already, 1. In precio: 2. In promiſſo: 3. In primitiis.
That all people, nations and languages, &c.] Chriſts Kingdiom is firſt univerſal, ſecondly perpetual: ſo was none of the former; though the Roman was very large (teaching from Euphrates to great Britaine) and the Aſſyrian very laſting, of a thouſand and four hundred years duration.
Ver. 15. I Daniel was grieved in my ſpirit] Chald. My ſpirit was ſtabbed thorough, ſo that my body became as an empty ſheath, or ſcabbard. Oh the rerrour of that laſt Judgement, when ſuch a man as Daniel was ſo affrighted to ſee the manner of it in viſion only! If the righteous ſcarcely be ſaved, &c.
In the midſt of my body] Chald. of my ſheath: the body is but the ſouls ſheath (Pliny, in the hiſtory of Hermotinus Clazometius, Lib. 7. cap. 52.maketh uſe of the ſame Metaphor) and compared to the ſoul, it is but as a clay wall that encompaſſeth a treaſure; as a wodden box of a Jeweller; as a courſe caſe to a rich inſtrument; or as a mask to a beautiful face.
Ver. 16. I came near unto one of them that ſtood by] i. e. To one of the holy Angels, as ver. 10. Let us have recourſe in like caſe, to Chriſts Miniſters, who are called Angels of the Churches: like as Angels, by a like change of name, are called miniſtring Spirits, Heb. 1.14. The Preaching of the Goſpel is taken from the Angels, Luk. 2.10. and given to the Miniſters: hence Paul was ſent to Ananias for further direction, Act. 9. and Cornelius to Peter, Act. 10.
And asked him the truth] i. e. The thing hereby ſignified. See Joh. 1.17. & 14.7. holy minds are induſtrious after knowledge.
Ver. 17. Theſe great beaſts — are four Kings] i. e. A ſucceſſion of Kings, all of them truculent and ſavage toward the Saints.
Which ſhall ariſe out of the earth] And as toads, ſtrive who ſhall dye with moſt earth in their mouths.
Ver. 18. But the Saints of the moſt high] Or, the moſt high Saints, highly exalted in Chriſt, and preferr'd far above thoſe earth-ſprung Muſhrom-Monarchs, ver. 17. who are of the earth earthy, and partake not of the inheritance of the Saints in light. Now this is a very true definition of a Church, ſaith Junius here, viz. Caetus ſanctorum ad excelſa, a company of Saints partaking of an high and heavenly calling, Heb. 3.1.
Shall take the Kingdom] Take it by force, Matth. 11.12. lay hold on the promiſed inheritance: yet not till it is given them, and the time is come, ver. 22.
Ver. 19. Then I would know the truth] See ver. 16. And take notice that godly minds are not content with the knowledge of things in groſs: but covet a particular and diſtinct knowledge, Phil. 3.10.
Ver. 20. And of the ten hornes] See ver. 7.
And of the other that came up] See ver. 8.
Whoſe look was more stout then his fellows] i. e. Then the ten hornes: Antichriſt exalteth himſelf above Kings, and above all that is Auguſt, 2 Theſ. 2.4. See the Note there.
Ver. 21. I beheld, and the ſame horn made war with the Saints] With the Waldenſes; againſt whom the Pope turned his Croiſado's,Thuar. thoſe armies of the Croſs which had been firſt appointed againſt the Saracens. This war began in the year one thouſand one hundred and ſixty, and yet continueth, and muſt till the end of the reign of Antichriſt, ver. 9 10 26.
And prevailed againſt them] As they did againſt the ancient Waldenſes or Leoniſts: and againſt their poſterity lately in Piedmont. Yea it is the opinion and fear of ſome great Divines, that Antichriſt, before his abolition, ſhall once again overflow the whole face of the Weſt, and ſuppreſſe the whole Proteſtant Churches.
Ver. 22. Ʋntill the ancient of dayes came] Not by change of place, but change of Providence, Zach. 14.3, 4.
And judgment was given to the Saints] As Approvers of Chriſts righteous judgment.
That the Saints poſſeſſed the Kingdom] ſc. In Chriſt their head, ver. 10.
Ver. 23. Thus he ſaid] So ready are the holy Angels to further good deſires, Mat. 28.1, 2.
Ver. 24. And the ten hornes out of this Kingdom] He ſaith not Kingdoms: this maketh againſt thoſe that make the Seleucidae and Lagida, the fourth Monarchy.
And he ſhall be diverſe from the firſt] For the firſt were ſecular Kings, but he ſtileth himſelf chief Biſhop and head of the Church, having both Peters keyes, and Pauls ſword, &c.
And he ſhall ſubdue three Kings] See on ver. 8.
Ver. 25. And he ſhall ſpeak great words] As Pope Julius the third did: when he called for his pork-fleſh (forbidden him by his Phyſician as naught for his gout) al despito di Dio in deſpite of God:Act. & Mon. 1417. and miſſing a cold Peacock which he commanded to be ſet up for his ſupper, he raged extreamly at his ſteward: and being deſired to be more patient, he replied, If God were ſo angry with our firſt Parents for an apple; may not I, who am his Vicar, be ſo much more for my Peacock! See on Rev. 13.5.
And ſhall think to change times and laws] i. e. He ſhall uſurp a power over religion, and mens conſciences, ſet up holydayes, canonize Saints, appoint faſts, order times, &c.
Ʋntill a time and times and half a time] i. e. Untill that time which God alone knoweth, and hath in his power.
Ver. 26. But the judgment ſhall ſit] And then an end of him howſoever.
Ver. 27. And the Kingdom and dominion] When once Chriſts foes ſhall be in that place which is fitteſt for them, viz. under his feet.
Ver. 28. Hitherto is the end of the matter] This ſeemeth added, to ſtop all curious enquiries after things not revealed.
My cogitations much troubled me] For the enſuing troubles of Gods people, under thoſe godleſs tyrants.
And my countenance changed] Chald. my brightneſſes. I looked wan and pale; much ſtudy will cauſe it, Eccleſ. 12.12. as it did in Mr. Fox the Martyrologue, ſo that his friends knew him not.