The Work of the Age, Part
The Explication. Dan. 2. 31.
31. Verſ. One great Image.] It is very remarkable, that in this Dream, God repreſents to Nebuchadnezzar, the true and proper nature of all earthly formes of Government, which ſhould be in the world, during the time of the four great Monarchies (after Nebuchadnezzar had demoliſhed that Government which was of Chriſts own inſtitution, untill the time that he would reſtore the ſame, and deliver the Kingdome and greatneſſe thereof unto the Saints of the moſt high) under the repreſentation of an hforeign Signifies any form or figure which we make or fancy to our ſelves. An invention of our own, or according to our own minds.IMAGE, even the Image of a Man. Which doth denote unto us thus much; that all the governments inſtituted and erected in the world (under theſe four Monarchies) by men or by humane policy, ever ſince the Government of Chriſt… own inſtitution was laid aſide, even to the time of the iActs 3. 21.reſtitution thereof, are in Gods account, but very Images, or all of them put together, do but make up this one Image, as it is here called. And though I cannot ſay theſe Images and Formes of Government of mens deviſing, are thoſe Images forbidden in the ſecond command (for the word is not the ſame, nor do civil formes of Government imediatly concern the worſhip of God,) yet this is obſervable, that in the next chapter, Nebuchadnezzar frames to himſelf a Golden Image, for divine worſhip, Semblable thereunto. Which hath ever ſince been the wofull Concomitant, and bitter fruit or reſult of ſuch …mage Government. Wherefore Paul taking notice hereof, that it hath been the conſtant practiſe of Gentile Nations, to modle their Divine Worſhip, and Church Adminiſtrations, according to the form of their Civil Governments, he advertiſeth the Romans, not to be conformed to the world, Rom. 12. 2. His meaning is, (as Mr. Cotton hath often obſerved) he would not have the Saints in Rome to modle their Churches, and Church-Adminiſtrations, according to the Pattern of the Roman Civil Power. This IMAGE is here called kforeignone Image] although it comprehended all the Four great Monarchies and Kingdoms under it. To ſhew, that all of them are but parts of this one Image. And their Governments are but Image-Government.
Now the Characters of this IMAGE are theſe four.
1 It was ſo great] to wit, it comprehended the Four Monarchies, or Kingdoms, as it is interpreted, Verſe thirty eight, thirty nine, forty.
2 It is deſcribed by the outward Pomp and Splendor, not only of the Head, but all the parts of it; his ſplendor or brightneſs excellent.] And this is a common Character of all the Four Monarchies and Kingdoms under them, they all affect worldly pomp and glory.
3 It is ſaid to ſtand before him, foreign which imports the acceptance that this Image-Government found in the hearts of all the Kings and Monarchs. And ſo the word is uſed, Pſal. 1. 5. to ſtand with acceptance. And this ſhews the complacency and content they take both in their pomp and ſplendor, and in the Government new Modelled by them. This is the Third Character.
4 This Image is deſcribed by the Tyrannical ſpirit, that appears in all of them, from the firſt to the laſt, from the higheſt to the loweſt; His viſage lforeignterrible,] dreadful, or formidable. This is not here put for a Character of the Little Horn, Dan. 7. but for a common Character of the great IMAGE, and all the Four Monarchies comprized therein, and the ſeveral Kingdoms appertaining thereunto; and this ever hath been, and ever will be the cloſe of all Image-Government of mens deviſing; Terrour and Tyranny are indelible and inſeparable Characters of all worldly Governments whatſoever. Pleaſing indeed are their new deviſed Governments to themſelves, as was ſhewed before elſe they would not indure that they ſhould ſtand before them. But terrible, dreadful, and tyrannical are they to others that cannot comply with them, nor fall down and worſhip them. Theſe are the Four Characters which are common to all the Four Monarchies, and the parts thereof, and they are true of the whole Image, and every part thereof.
The next thing remarkable in this IMAGE, or Image-GovernmentVerſ. 32. is, the progreſs they make from evil to worſe, they are always beſt at firſt; At firſt they are good gold] they themſelves pretend ſo, and many others think ſo. And comparatively they may be called good gold, becauſe their Actions at their firſt riſing are more juſt and righteous, than afterwards they prove to be. A kinde of neceſſity putting them upon it, that they may ingratiate themſelves, and their New Image with the people. And it is moſt natural, that the Head, which is the moſt noble part, ſhould firſt be brought forth, but this continues not long. The durance of the Babylonian Monarchy, or head of Gold was but ſeventy years; the ſpecial Character of this Monarchy is the unity of it, in which reſpect it is called the Head, which is but one.
In the next place it degenerates from Gold to Silver, which is a Mettal of a baſer alloy; and this is interpreted, verſ. 39. of another Kingdom and Government ſucceeding the Babylonian, and inferiour to it. This Government for the nature was meaner, and baſer, more formidable, and obnoxious to the Church of Chriſt, but of longer durance, and ſo was the Perſian Monarchy. The Character of this Monarchy is Union and Diviſion together, it is one Breaſt, but two Arms, Medes and Perſians Dan. 6. 8.
Thirdly, from Silver it becomes Braſs, which ſhews the worſneſs of the Third, or Graecian Monarchy, which more bitterly infeſted the Jews with Warres, and ſet up the abomination of deſolation, as Daniel ſhews at large in his eighth Chapter. The diviſion of this Monarchy is expreſſed when he ſaith, his Thigh of Braſs.] He doth not ſay, thighes of Braſs, for that would imply only a two-fold diviſion of Alexanders Succeſſors, which was Four-fold, Dan. 8. 22. but he ſaith, its thigh of braſs, to intimate that one of Alexanders Succeſſors ſhould prove very infence againſt the Jews the people of God, as Antiochus Epiphanes in more eſpecial manner was. This Monarchy as it is baſer for the original of it, ſo it is longer for continuance then the Perſian Monarchy.
In the Fourth and laſt place this Image degenerates under theVerſ. 33. Fourth Kingdom, or Monarchy, unto Iron Leggs, and then into feet and toes, part Iron, part Clay. The ſpecial Characters here given of this Fourth Monarchy are theſe three.
1 Its diviſion into two parts, his Leggs of Iron.] And this expreſſeth the diviſion of the Empire after Conſtantine the Great into the Eaſtern and Weſtern Monarchy.
2 The diviſion of this Monarchy into Ten toes, or Ten Kingdoms, which is another Character whereby this Fourth Kingdom is deciphered, and diſtinguiſhed from the other fore-going Monarchies.
3 This Fourth Monarchy is differenced from the reſt by the mixture of ſtrength, and weakneſs, in all the Ten conſtituting parts of this Monarchy. They are part Iron, part Clay.] Iron expreſſeth ſtrength, or prevalency, and clay, or Potters clay expreſſeth the fragility of this Monarchy, after its ten-fold Diviſion, verſ. 42. or the capacity it ſtands in to be broken, in regard of its compoſition of ſuch Heterogeneal parts, the one being fit to break the other into peeces, as it is written, Pſal. 2. 9. Thou ſhalt break them with a rod of iron, thou ſhalt daſh them in peeces like a Potters veſſel. So that by Iron thus interpreted I underſtand the Godly part in theſe Nations, which at length ſhall break down all Image-Government in all the Ten Nations, that will not ſubmit to Chriſt, they ſhall break them as a Potters Veſſel is broken, never to be peiced more. Yet before that time, this Iron part, or better part will mixe themſelves with the ſeed of men, verſe 43. They will make mGen. 6. 2. 2 Chro. 18. 1.Confederacies▪ and Marriages with Carnal men, and adverſaries of Chriſts Kingdom. And this hath been fulfilled in Marriages and Confederacies with Idolaters, whereof I might give plentiful examples both old and new. This is mixing with the ſeed of men, or mixing iron and myrie clay.
Again, as Silver denotes a Kingdom inferiour to Gold; and in regard of the nature of it baſer: ſo Iron doth imply that this Fourth Monarchy ſhould be baſer than the Third, which was of Braſs; and as Iron is harder than Braſs, ſo the Fourth Monarchy ſhould uſe the people of God more hardly than the former. And taking Iron in this ſence it doth not denote the better part, (as when the Prophet compares the Toes to a mixture of Heterogeneal or contrary parts) but the worſeneſs, baſeneſs, and hardneſs of this Monarchy, beyond the Graecian Monarchy next fore-going. And this is for durance longer than any of the reſt, yea than all of them put together.
Thus you ſee a lively portraiture of worldly Governments, and how they do by degrees degenerate. Take them at the firſt, and they are the beſt. They are in appearance good gold; and in ſome reſpect they may be called good gold; for neceſſity requires, that in the firſt entrance of their Government they ſhould put forth ſome acts of Juſtice, uAd faciendum populum.and fairer pretences of publick good, in their new deviſed form of Image-Government, than any other Government that did precede. Now this Image of Civil-Righteouſneſs, cannot be ſatisfied without another Image of deviſed-holineſs ſuitable thereunto, to pleaſe their own Conſciences, and the Conſciences of others that look towards Heaven. Therefore as Nebuchadnezzar did, ſo do they frame and contrive a form of Church-Adminiſtrations ſuitable to their Civil State, elſe they ſhould be counted irreligious.
This being done, the Image ſtands before them, as it is ſaid, verſ. 31. They are well pleaſed with it. And now all men muſt ſtoop and bow to this Image-Government, and Image-Worſhip, or elſe it will become a terrible Image to them that oppoſe it, and cannot in Conſcience comply thereunto. Nothing but Fire and Fagot, and all kinds of Torments and Sufferings ſhal be prepared for ſuch, Dan. 3. 20, 21. Hebr. 11. 36, 37. If Amos be too plain and bold to meddle with great Perſonages, the Land is not able to bear his words, Amos 7. 10, 11. yet Amos eſcaped with a check only. But had he lived in the days of this great Image, as John Baptiſt did, it might have coſt him Impriſonment, Matth. 14. 3, 4. And verily, little do men know what their hearts will be, when they caſt Chriſts Heraulds into priſon. This is the terrible viſage of the Image under all the Four Monarchies, but moſt of all in the Iron-Age of the Roman Monarchy.
The very natural effect of this terrour and tyranny is Diviſion, verſ. 41. The Kingdom ſhall be divided; and the end of Diviſion is Ruine; As our Saviour tells us, Matth. 12. 25. Every Kingdom divided againſt it ſelf comes to deſolation. Thus you ſee the Revolution of all Human earthly Forms or Images of Government, from their Riſe to their Ruine, which you may call the MONARCHICAL Ring or Circle. And let ſuch as wait for the downfall of this Fourth Monarchy, and the Ten Kingdoms thereof, and the ſetting up of the Kingdom of Chriſt Jeſus, remember this for their comfort, that God doth repreſent theſe Toes or Kingdoms (unto N…buchadnezzar) made up and compacted of ſuch parts as are inconſiſtent, and will at length break one another. In which reſpect it is ſaid, The Kingdom ſhall be partly ſtrong, and in part broken, verſ. 42. And it is conſiderable, how the Holy Ghoſt directed the Pen of his Servants in writing. For firſt, when the Prophet ſpeaks of their parts, he writeth the word, oforeignpart of them were Iron, with Jod, which is the numeral letter for ten. And when he ſaith, pforeignpart of them were Clay, he writeth it with the letter Vau, the numeral letter of ſix. As if he would intimate to us, in the very manner of writing. That in the firſt beginnings of theſe ten Kingdoms, there ſhould be more ſtrength and hardneſs, and leſs fragility. But when he ſpeaks of them the ſecond time, verſ. 41. qforeignhee writeth the Pronoun alike, in ſpeaking of the Iron, and of theforeign Clay, to expreſs the equality and likeneſs of theſe two tempers. But when he ſpeaks of them the third time, verſ. 42. rforeignhee writes the Pronoun, as if he would expreſs more fragility offoreign Clay, than ſtrength of Iron in the Toes, towards the end of the Fourth Monarchy; ſo that the brittleneſs of theſe earthly Governments ſeems to be intimated in the various writings of the Pronoun, which I conceive to be the reaſon of their various readings in the Text, and in the Margent.
The laſt thing obſervable in this Dream, or Viſion, is the ſtone cut out of the Mountain, and breaking in peeces theſe former Governments. Touching which ſtone let theſe things bee inquired.
Queſt. 1. What is meant by this Stone?
Queſt. 2. What is meant by that phraſe, cut out but not with hands?
Queſt. 3. How doth it ſmite the Image▪ upon his feet of Iron and Clay? and how doth it break them to peices? and when?
Queſt. 4. What will be the effect of this Stones ſmiting of the Image?
Anſw. 1 To the firſt I anſwer, That by Stone is meant a Kingdom, as may appear by comparing verſe thirty four with verſe forty four, where it is ſo called; The word there uſed for sforeignKingdom, is the ſame that is uſed to expreſs the Civil Power, and Government of the other Monarchies, verſ. 39, 40, 41. which argues that the Kingdom here ſpoken of is not (as ſome apprehend it to be) a Spiritual and internal Kingdom, whereby Chriſt reigns in the hearts and Conſciences of his people; but it is an external Kingdom, whereby hee rules and guides the World with Righteouſneſs and Judgement, Pſal. 98. 9. He comes to judge the earth; with righteouſneſs ſhall he judge the world, and the people with equity. Of this Kingdom it is ſpoken, That the tforeignGovernment ſhall be upon his ſhoulder. The word there uſed is always put for Temporal Government (as we call it) not for Spiritual; for a Dominion over the bodies, and eſtates, and outward actions of men, not for a Dominion over their Conſciences and Spirits.
Of this Kingdom and Government, it is ſaid to begin in the days of the ten Kings, or Toes of the Fourth Monarchy, verſ. 44. And in the days of them (of theſe Kings) ſhall the God of Heaven cauſe to ariſe a Kingdom that ſhall never be deſtroyed, &c. The words are very obſervable, hee had ſpoken of the toes of the feet, and their unequal mixture, in the next preceding verſes, and now in this verſe he ſaith, uforeignIn the days of them, that is, in the days of theſe Toes, as the Pronoun relative doth neceſſarily infer. And then by way of Exegeſis, addeth a deſcription of the dignity of thoſe Toes, they were Kings. Now in the days of theſe Kings he ſaith, The God of Heaven xforeignſhal cauſe to ariſe a Kingdom; which doth inferre, that the Kingdom here ſpoken of, is ſuch as had not a being, or to uſe the Prophets words was not cauſed to ariſe until the days of theſe Ten Toes, or Kings. Whereas the Spiritual Kingdom of Chriſt, and his Regiment in the Souls and Conſciences of his people, was begun many years before the time of theſe ten Kings, yea long before any of all the great Monarchies, even from the beginning of the world. The Kingdom therefore here ſpoken of, cannot bee meant of an inward and Spiritual Kingdom, but of an external Kingdom over mens bodies, and outward actions.
This Kingdom is here deſcribed;
Firſt, By its Divine original, It is cut out, but not with hands, verſ. 34. 45. Jeſus Chriſt the yGen. 49. 24.Stone of Iſrael, received this power from the Father actually, in the days of theſe ten Kings, towards the end of the Fourth Monarchy, Dan. 7. 14. And to him was given abſolute Soveraignty, and Glory, and Dominion, and all People, Nations, and Languages ſhall ſerve him, &c.
Secondly, This Kingdom is deſcribed by the perfect conſtitution of it, it is ſuch a Kingdom that ſhall never zforeignbee deſtroyed, or as the word ſignifies, ſhall never be corrupted; the Conſtitution being Divine, and the Adminiſtrators thereof Saints, it can neither be corrupted nor deſtroyed, as it is ſaid, Dan. 7. 14. where the ſame word is uſed.
Thirdly, The perpetu…ty of it is ſet forth in theſe words, Shall aforeignnever be deſtroyed, and therefore it is called an everlaſting Kingdom, Dan. 7. 14. Theſe are the Three principall Characters of the Kingdom of Chriſt, or the Fifth Monarchy, as it is called.
Anſw. 2 To the Second I anſwer, That the cutting out of this Stone, but not with hands, doth deny, that it is from any Human policy or contrivement, and therefore the Dominion and Soveraignty thereof is from above. My Kingdom is not of this world, Joh. 18. 36. And therefore his Servants would not then fight for it, till the time was come which the Father had appointed. And then he goeth forth to Warre, and his Servants with him, verſ. 12. 7. & 17. 14.
Anſw. 3 To the Third Queſtion I anſwer, He ſmites the Image, or Image-Government, by the Miniſtry of his Word, Rev. 19. 15. Out of his mouth goeth a ſharp ſword, that with it he ſhould ſmite the Nations. This is the firſt Act, as I may ſay, of this Stone. Which argues, that when the ſeaſon comes for Chriſt to challenge his Kingdom, his Servants firſt prepare his way, by publiſhing to all the world his Royal Power and Soveraignty, and declaring the incroachments of worldly Powers upon his Royalty, whereby the free paſſage of Judgement and Juſtice hath been obſtructed, and the inhabitants of the Nations deluded with an Image-Government. And having thus ſent his Heraulds before to advertiſe the People and Nations, hee then comes to break and cruſh them with his Iron Scepter, and rules them with a rod of Iron, Rev. 19. 15. Pſal. 2. 9. And who is it that doth not ſee (or at leaſt may) that Chriſt hath already begun to break the Nations, and Governments in the World, and in theſe our Nations alſo, in the late Warres and revolutions of State? And is not this ſome beginning of his Kingdom? As for the time when this ſhall be done, it is ſaid in the days of them, (of theſe Kings) that is, Chriſt will firſt ſend abroad his Heraulds, and ſuch as will not ſtoop to him he will break in peeces, whilſt yet theſe Kings and Kingdoms, or various kinds of governments have a Being. And hath not Chriſt made good all this before our eyes? The Servants of Chriſt, as Heraulds, have gone before to publiſh the Royalty of this only and bleſſed Potentate, witneſs Mr. Archer, M. Tho. Goodwin, and many others, and ſome to this day ſuffer for their boldneſs in that behalf. And that Chriſt hath ruled with his Iron Rod is manifeſt to our own experience. We all know what ſtrange Revolutions, and overturnings▪ of this Government after that, hath been already made.
Anſw. 4 To the Fourth I anſwer, That the effects of this Stones ſmiting the Image-Government of the Fourth Monarchy upon its feet, are clearly expreſſed to be two; Firſt, by the Miniſtry of his Servants, he ſo ſmites them with the word of his mouth, that they become as the chaff of the Summer Threſhingfloors. The word foreign here ſignifieth ſuch an action as reduceth this Image of Gold, Silver, Braſs, Iron, and Clay into moſt fine and ſubtil duſt or powder, whether by rubbing, filing, pounding, or the like, as the next word foreign doth import, which properly ſignifies in pulverem tenuiſſimam redigere. And Daniel himſelf was one of Chriſts Heraulds that filed the Golden head of this Image to limell, Dan. 4. 25. and 5, 25, 26, 27, 28. and yet hee was honoured by Belſhazzer, Dan. 5. 29. The meaning I conceive is this, that Chriſts heralds do ſo ſmite and thraſh theſe Image Governments conſiſting of Heterogeneal parts, to wit, iron and clay (but now become more clay than iron,) that they bruiſe them to duſt. In ſo much as now men grow to be awakened more and more to ſee the vanity of all humane forms of politick governments, and more to reliſh, and admire, and affect, the purity and ſimplicity of Chriſts righteous adminiſtrations. So that now they beginne to perceive the Levity of theſe worldly Governments, and beginne to grow weaned from them. The Second Act or effect of this Stone upon the Image, and all the parts thereof, thus broken to pieces, as duſt in the Summer threſhing floor, is, the utter removall of theſe powers; Which is here elegantly expreſſed, the wind zforeigncarried them away, or lift them up, as the word ſignifies, they were become ſuch light duſt by the miniſtery of the word, that no place was found. They will be totally removed, and forgotten, as it is written Iſa. 65. 17. they ſhall not be remembred, nor come upon the heart. And as the miniſtery of the word and Spirit, doth at firſt ſmite them, and reduce them to powder, ſo now it blows them away, and blots out their memory; Which argues it muſt be a continued Act of the miniſtery of the word that muſt effect this, when the ſeaſon is come of Babels ruine, and a little before.
Now this Stone having broken to pieces and diſſolved all other Governments, hee proceeds to ſet up his own Kingdome, according as it is ſaid, this Stone that ſmote the Image became a great mountain, and filled all the earth. This ſhews the univerſality of the Kingdome of Chriſt over all Nations, which you may make a fourth mark or deſcription of the fifth Monarchy.
And this may ſuffice to have ſpoken touching this Dream or Viſion of Nebuchadnezzer, wherein you may ſee how God repreſents to him, not only what ſhould enſue in his Monarchy and Government, but what ſhould come to paſſe aforeignafter that, even to the utter abolition and removall of Image-government, unto the ſetting up of the Kingdome of Chriſt all the world over. All which hee hath done in moſt exquiſite and choiſe expreſſions and metaphors, ſo as none could make particular Application of the ſame, had not Chriſt firſt gone before us in his word, and after that in his providence, ſo opening the Seal.