Visions and Prophecies of Daniel Expounded, Prophecy 1
Concerning the firſt Viſion of the Image, Dan. 2.
The Controverſal part.
THe main Controverſie in this Viſion, is about the Iron feet and legs, and the ſtone that ſmote them. The opinion of ſome is, that they ſignifie the Succeſſors of Alexander in the Grecian Kingdom, and eſpecially the Seleucidae: and the ſtone cut out of the mountain, Chriſt at his firſt coming, and his Spiritual Kingdom following.
This cannot ſtand,
Firſt, becauſe every metal ſignifieth a diſtinct Kingdom, and the fulneſſe and complement thereof, from the beginning to the perfect end: and therefore the Brazen belly and thighs, are the whole and perfect Grecian kingdom; and accordingly the legs and feet of Iron do ſignifie another kingdom diſtinguiſhed from the Grecian, which cannot be the Seleucidae and other Succeſſors in the ſame kingdom. For as the Golden head doth ſignifie the whole Babylonian kingdom, the Silver breſt the whole Perſian; ſo the Brazen belly and thighs the whole Grecian, including the Seleucidae and other Succeſſors in the ſame kingdom. For theſe make up the integrity and fulneſſe of the Grecian kingdom, as much as the Succeſſors of Nebuchad-nezzar make up the integrity of the Babylonian, or as much as the Succeſſors of Cyrus do concur to the perfect conſtitution of the Perſian. And ſo when the Grecian kingdom is propoſed, Chap. 8.21, 22, it is expreſly deſcribed as conſtituted, not onelyonly of Alexander the Great, but alſo the Seleucidae and other the Succeſſors in the ſame kingdom.
Secondly, becauſe this Viſion muſt reach unto the laſt days, Chap. 2.28; which could not be, if the leggs and feet, the extreme and utmoſt part of the Image, ſhould end in the Seleucidae; foraſmuch as this kingdom expired before the birth of Chriſt.
Thirdly, becauſe the leggs are ſaid to be of Iron, in compariſon of the parts and kingdoms going before, which were of weaker metal: whereas the Seleucidae and other Succeſſors of Alexander, had not the ſtrength of Alexander. Chap. 8.21, 22. Thou wilt ſay, The kingdom is repreſented by Iron, onelyonly in relation to the Church, whereunto it was more terrible then the former. I reply, 1. As the two firſt kingdoms are repreſented by unequal Metals, the firſt of Gold, the ſecond of Silver, to note an abſolute inferiority of the one unto the other, Chap. 2.39: ſo by proportion, the two following of Braſſe and Iron, to note an abſolute imparity in ſtrength, between the later and the former. Wherefore the Iron kingdom muſt be abſolutely and in it ſelf ſtronger then the Brazen, and not onelyonly in reſpect of particular exerciſe and employment of its ſtrength againſt the people of the Church. 2. The Iron kingdom is expreſly ſaid to be as Iron, becauſe it bruiſed all theſe, that is, the former kingdoms; and not becauſe more terrible to the Jews, Verſ. 40. 3. Becauſe it is the ſame with the fourth Beaſt, with the Iron teeth, Chap. 7.7; which is therefore ſo repreſented, becauſe it devoured the whole earth, and not the Jews onelyonly, Chap. 7.23. 4. Becauſe Nebuchad-nezzar and Haman in the former Kingdoms, were more formidable to the Jews then the Seleucidae; and therefore there is no reaſon that in this reſpect the fourth kingdom ſhould be repreſented by Iron, in compariſon of the former kingdoms, as ſtronger and more terrible then thoſe.
Fourthly, in the days of theſe kings, ſhall the God of heaven ſet up the Kingdom of his Son: whereas the kingdom of the Seleucidae and the whole Greek Empire was utterly diſſolved before the birth of Chriſt, Verſ. 44.
Neither can the ſtone that ſmote the Image be Chriſt at his firſt coming, and his Kingdom immediately following unto the end;
Firſt, Becauſe the kingdom ſignified by the ſtone, muſt break in pieces all the other kingdoms: whereas the Seleucidae and kingdoms going before, did not ſtand until the birth of Chriſt, to be broken down by his Kingdom following: and were as broken down before, ſo by another kingdom, the power of the Romans.
Secondly, becauſe if they had continued till after the birth of Chriſt, yet his Kingdom that was and is between his firſt and ſecond Coming, was not appointed for the breaking down of all earthly kingdoms: this being the time of the Gentiles, Luke 21.24, and for the Adverſaries to reign, and for the Church to be troden under foot, Apoc. 11.2, 15.
Thirdly, becauſe the kingdom here ſpoken of, doth break in pieces all other kingdoms; ſo that thoſe being utterly extinct, this alone doth ſtand in place of them, Verſ. 44. Now this ſtate is not to be expected under the kingdom of Patience, or before the fall of Antichriſt, when the kingdoms of the earth ſhall be the Lords and his Chriſts, and he ſhall reign for evermore, Apoc. 11.15, 18.
Fourthly, what prerogative and advancement had it been for the Kingdom of Chriſt Spiritual, to have broken down the Seleucidae and other horns of the Greek Empire, as long as another kingdom, the kingdom of the Romanes, ſucceeded in their place, to beat down the Church by the Heathen Emperours and Antichriſt, for longer ſpace of time, and with greater and more terrible perſecution then ever was before?
Contrarily I affirm, that the leggs, feet and toes of Iron, do ſignifie the Romane kingdom:
1. Becauſe it is repreſented by a diſtinct Metal coming after the Brazen belly and thighs, which is the Grecian. For no other diſtinct Monarchy came after the Grecian but this, as Hiſtory doth ſhew.
2. Becauſe it is ſtronger then all the reſt, and breaketh them in pieces, Dan. 2.40.
3. The Iron leggs and feet are parallel with the Iron teeth of the fourth Beaſt, which ſignifieth the Romane kingdom, Dan. 7.7.
4. The ten toes repreſenting the ten kings, are accordingly a character of the Romane kingdom, Apoc. 12.3. and 13.1. and 17.
5. It is ſuch a kingdom as muſt ſtand to be deſtroyed by the kingdom of the Saints, in the end of time, and therefore can be no other then the Romane kingdom yet continuing under Antichriſt.
The ſtone is the kingdom of the Saints, as it is interpreted Dan. 2.44, 45, with Chap. 7.26, 27. And that it is the kingdom to be ſet up at the fall of Antichriſt, it appeareth by theſe Arguments.
1. Becauſe it ſhall be ſet up to deſtroy all adverſe kingdoms in the world, which cannot be expected till about the time of the fall of Antichriſt, Verſ. 44.
2. It ſhall be ſet up without hands, or without the help of man, by the hand alone of God Almighty, Verſ. 44. Chap. 8.25.
3. Becauſe this kingdom ſhall not riſe till about the ſounding of the ſeventh Trumpet, which is the time of the fall of Antichriſt, Apoc. 11.15, 16, 17.
4. Then, and not before; it ſhall fill all the earth, Verſ. 34, 35, 44, 45; that is, all kingdoms ſhall be ſubject unto it, Chap. 7.26, 27. Compare Revel. 11.15.
Of the Image, Dan. 2.
The ſecond Part, containing the Expoſition.
FOur Metals do conſtitute the Image: Gold; Silver, Braſſe, Iron. Theſe ſignifie four Monarchies: the head of Gold, the firſt Monarchy, The Babylonian: the ſecond Metal, Silver, conſtituting the breſt and arms, The Perſian. The two Silver arms, the two arms of the Monarchy, The Medes and Perſians, Chap. 8.1, 2, 3. The third Metal, Braſſe, conſtituting the belly and thighs, The third Monarchy, which is the Grecian. The belly noteth the beginning and greatneſſe of this kingdom; under Alexander the firſt King. The joynts between the belly and thighs, note the plucking up of this kingdom after Alexanders death, to be divided into four, whereof the principal were two, the one of the Seleucidae, the other of the Lagidae, figured here by the two thighs of Braſſe. See Chap. 11.4, 5.
The fourth Metal of Iron, conſtituting the leggs, feet and toes, ſignifieth the fourth, which is the Romane kingdom. The two leggs do note the diviſion of the kingdom into the Empire of the Eaſt, and the Empire of the Weſt, firſt begun by Anthony and Auguſtus Caeſar, afterward eſtabliſhed by Conſtantine, anno 330, and again more perfectly by Theodoſius, anno 395.
At the ancles there is a joynt dividing between the leggs and feet, to note the interciſion of the Empire by the Northern Barbarians. By theſe the Romane Empire was diſſolved and broken into ten kingdoms, here ſignified by the ten toes. They began effectually to invade the Empire after Conſtantine the Great, and ceaſed not until they had disjoynted it into ten parts: which came to paſſe upon the death of Valentinian the third, about the yeer 455. Clav. Apoc. on Rev. 8.The ten parts are thus reckoned by a learned Author; Britons, Saxons, Franks, Burgundions, Wiſigothes, Sueves and Alans, Vandals, Alemans, Ostrogothes, Greeks. But it may be alſo probably ſaid, that the Kings dividing the Romane Empire after Conſtantine the Great, are called Ten onelyonly in relation to the primitive diviſion of the Empire, under Auguſtus Caeſar, at which time it was exactly divided into ten parts, Strabo Geogra. in fine.as Strabo expreſſeth. Thus Saracens, Turks, or any other dividing the Empire, may be comprehended under the name of the ten horns, though they be not exactly ten in preſent exiſtence.
Of theſe feet and toes, or ten kingdoms in the divided Empire, three things are propoſed.
Firſt, that hereby the Romane Empire ſhould be divided, Verſ. 41, in theſe words:—And whereas thou ſamest the feet and toes part of Potters Clay and part of Iron, the kingdom ſhall be divided.
Secondly, that ſome of theſe kingdoms ſhould be weak and tranſient, ſome of them ſtrong and permanent. This is expreſſed, Verſ. 41, 42, in theſe words: But there ſhall be in it of the ſtrength of the Iron, foraſmuch as thou ſaweſt the Iron mixt with miry Clay: And as the toes of the feet were part of Iron and part of Clay; ſo the kingdom ſhall be partly ſtrong and partly brittle. The Gothes and Vandals, and divers others, proved brittle, quickly diſſolved; but the Irony ſtrength appeared in the Franks, by whom the Empire was reſtored in the Image of its former glory. But after Charles the Great, this Empire alſo was in diviſions, and the parts continued in the Title of the ten horns, in relation to the diviſion which was at firſt.
Thirdly, it is ſaid of them, that they ſhould mingle themſelves with the ſeed of men; that is, endeavour again by Marriages to unite the diviſions; but yet the kingdoms ſhould not be united, but continue in diſtinction, as Iron cannot be mixed with Clay, Verſ. 43. And of the truth of this attribute, we have had frequent experience in theſe later times.
The deſtruction of this Empire by the ſtone, Verſ. 34, 45.
THe ſtone doth ſignifie the Saints, Verſ. 44. with Chap. 7.22, 26. It is cut out of a great mountain, which is the Romane Empire, bearing rule before upon the earth, the Dominions of Antichriſt, Verſ. 35, 45. From hence the Saints are cut out, by profeſſed ſeparation and victorious exemption. They are thus cut out without hands, that is, by the onelyonly power and finger of Almighty God, as it is interpreted, Verſ. 44, 45. Thus they began to be cut out, anno 1160, in the Waldenſes, and continue ſo unto this day: And the extraordinary hand of God was ſeen therein, as the ſtrange ariſing, growth, prevailing of them doth manifeſtly declare. But their abſolute cutting out and exemption from the power of Antichriſt, is that which is to be expected at the term of the ſlaughter of the two Prophets: when their riſing by the power alone of God Almighty, without the help of man, is thus deſcribed, Revel. 11.11. And after three days and an half, the ſpirit of life from God entred into them, and they ſtood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them that ſaw them: and they aſcended up to heaven in a cloud, &c.
And ſo this ſtone, or kingdom of the Saints, ſhall be ſet up even in the days of thoſe Kings, Verſ. 44; that is, of Antichriſt and the ten horns ſignified by the feet and ten toes: which it ſtriking, ſhall daſh in pieces, and they ſhall be no more, Verſ. 35. Then this ſtone, or kingdom of the Saints, having been ſet up immediately after the three days and half, now upon the deſtruction of Antichriſt his Kingdom, ſhall become agreat mountain, and fill the whole earth, Verſ. 35, 44. A great mountain, that is, the ſupreme kingdom: filling all the earth, becauſe all dominion ſhall be ſubject unto it, Chap. 7.14, 27. Ezek. 17.22, 23.